Lovers in the Woods

by Ann Raina

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You know what they say, that a near-death-experience enhances the ability to love. And if this is not a strange stone, your abilities are just growing.”

  “You would not want to misuse the situation, would you? We just escaped rain and wind and lie here in our sleeping bags, together. I bet you want to sleep right away.”

  “No.” Rayenne met his gaze. “I want to know if the theory is true. Don’t you?”

  “If my lady commands, I will serve to prove your theory.”

  “It’s not—” A kiss interrupted her reply and between sighing and laughing they shed the terror of their narrow escape.

  * * * *

  When the rain intensity lessened, she woke and sleepily moved out of the tent. The Horlyns were still there. She saw a gleaming surface downhill, black and shining like polished marble in the early morning light. It took her a moment to discover that the depression had filled with water. She pulled on some clothes and busied with brewing tea, marveling at nature’s force and the strange saviors.

  Sajitar stirred and slowly turned to the side. His hair was a wild mess that worsened when he rubbed his head. Rayenne smiled, so full of love she thought she’d burst. If he had not survived the night… She shook her head. They were both alive and well—that was enough for the moment.

  “Ray?”

  “Get up, sleepy head. I’ve got some tea for you and a new landscape.”

  Sajitar blinked, sat up slowly and disentangled from the sleeping bag. Rayenne had a great view of his lean body with all accessories. She smacked her lips, then, as if to hide her interest, took a sip of tea.

  “New landscape? What are you talking about?” He took the cup she offered. “Thank you.” He sipped the hot tea. “It’s good. Your own harvest?”

  “Some of it. I learned a lot, those weeks in the village.”

  “I know. Me, too.” Sajitar searched for some dry clothes. The morning was clear and chilly, the ground still wet. Rayenne watched him gaze down the slope. “We would both have died down there.” He shook his head, suddenly shivering. Rayenne put down her cup to embrace him.

  “I hadn’t thought of the ground caving in. Looks like a bowl that always fills with water after the rain. My fault.” He groaned and she could not tell if it was out of pain or self-accusation. “I’m sorry, Ray. This would have ended badly.”

  She cupped his cheek.

  “Hey, we’re both alive. That’s something.”

  “Your optimistic nature is astounding,” he said honestly, holding her hand to his face. “With you, I’ll make it through a lot more than this. Anything you want to do before we ride on?”

  “Besides drink lots of tea?”

  Sajitar put down his cup to look at her innocently.

  “Cuddle?”

  Ray laughed. Maybe a night like they’d just spent was not so bad.

  Chapter Eleven

  Another long week passed before their journey came to an abrupt halt. Sajitar grimaced and got off Tessla to inspect the large canyon spreading before them. For miles there was no end to the gap that looked as if a giant had forked the soil to leave room for a water stream. But it had not come. Instead, plants were growing along the steep slope and at the bottom, dotting the soil with flowers of red, blue and orange. Even a few trees had taken root and were about to claim the depression for themselves. A trickle of water shimmered in the sun and insects as well as birds with large, leathery wings flew up and down, parading their lightness. A sea of flowers in dark orange climbed the opposite side of the canyon, waving softly in the mild wind like a blanket hung to dry.

  Sajitar put his hands on his hips, blowing air across his forehead.

  “What’s up?” Rayenne said behind him and shook her head, exhaling. “That’s one difficulty too much.”

  “Yeah, after floods and trees that tried to throw us off and wild Tusk-turners hampering our way. You are right, we could have done without a fucking canyon on the road home. If there is a home ahead.”

  Rayenne shaded her eyes to look west and east.

  “There has to be an end to this canyon. After all, the road passes through in the east.”

  “Sure. If we ride another, say, four weeks along this fricking joke of nature, we will reach the road and meet all the nice people we’ve tried to avoid for weeks.” He looked at her, angry with the obstacle and his lack of knowledge. “Want to make some arrows and a bow?”

  Rayenne hung her head.

  “Isn’t there a chance of a bridge somewhere?”

  “No. No settlers ever got this far. We are pioneers. Isn’t that great? The only chance we have is to follow the canyon and maybe, maybe find a better spot than this to climb down.”

  “You don’t sound hopeful.”

  “We might make it down, but what about the B-horses? We need a better way down to save them.”

  “Save them? Well, they can stay behind. If we take off saddle and bridle—”

  “A B-horse always stays with its owner. Why do you think they stay close to the tent at night?”

  “Because we hobble them.”

  “No. I never did. They could wander off far and let us search for them in the morning. They are bred like this. Once you own a B-horse, it becomes connected to you. It understands you and your feelings. Tessla trusts me as much as I trust her. I won’t leave her on this side of the canyon. Don’t ask this of me.”

  Rayenne sighed. Right where she stood, the slope was by far too steep to even think about leading the B-horses down. Both humans and B-horses would tumble and fall and break their necks.

  “All right, let’s go then. Which way?”

  “East and pray that we come up with an idea.” Sajitar turned to see the Horlyns between the trees. If they had human expressions, he would have expected them to hoot and cheer the inability of mankind.

  The canyon’s inner walls varied, but were still too steep to walk down when they made a break at noon. Frustrated, Sajitar ate and took a drink from his waterskin.

  “What will you do after this Wang case is solved?” he asked, to divert from their so far fruitless search.

  Rayenne was re-doing her ponytail and spoke when she had no ribbon between her teeth anymore.

  “I’ll get a new crime to solve, I suppose.”

  “Do you still want to stay on Belthraine with the forces? You could do better. Get more money.”

  “I joined the police to bring justice to the people. Why should I throw this away?” She took out her waterskin and turned to watch the Horlyns, who kept a respectful distance. They were gnawing on some branches.

  “Your father has a large corporation. Why didn’t you stay with him?”

  “I wanted to do something different.”

  Sajitar cocked his head.

  “You don’t talk about your parents or other relatives. Don’t you like them?” By her painful expression he knew he had hit a nerve. “Did they come to Belthraine with you?”

  “Yes, my father and my brother. They wanted to see how I fared in the wilderness of Belthraine. A fatherly joke.” Rayenne exhaled noisily. “And that’s all I will tell you.”

  “So I can share your bed but you won’t share your family news with me? I’m disappointed.”

  “Be as disappointed as you like. Could we get back to the main problem, please?” She thrust back the waterskin into the saddlebag and pushed a strand of hair off of her forehead. “We are still on the wrong side of this damned canyon and I don’t have the slightest idea how we could change this!”

  “Let’s go on for a little while longer.” He took Tessla’s reins and passed Ray by, avoiding her glare. He knew instinctively that something was wrong with Ray’s father or brother or both of them, but for his life he did not know what it could be.

  * * * *

  Rayenne looked down into the canyon and watched the light change while the day waned. She was angry with herself for having lost face, almost saying too much. Yet she should have anti
cipated his question. She knew about his parents and grandparents. Sajitar had openly shared the history of his family as well as anecdotes with her. It was reasonable that he wanted some information in return.

  She remembered the jokes her father had made about Belthraine and that she would not want to stay another moon phase on this boring piece of wood in a galaxy that offered so much more. She had courageously replied that she was old enough to make her own decisions, totally unimpressed by her brother’s boasting or her father’s teasing.

  She cleared her throat, thinking about how to save the situation with Sajitar, when he suddenly turned.

  “Look! Here we might make it down! The slope gets better halfway. The B-horses are sure-footed enough.”

  Ray swallowed the sentence coming to her mind and followed his gaze.

  “Fine, what about me?”

  He shrugged, beaming at her.

  “You’re a trooper, Ray, a brilliant scout. And you're not wearing your high heels today. So what’s the worry?”

  She took a deep breath.

  “Sorry to say, but even if we make it down here—and I admit, I doubt it—there’s still the question how we get back up on the other side. Do you see it? There’s no path, and over there the slope collapsed, probably due to the heavy rain. It will give the moment we try to climb it.”

  “Then we march on the bottom of the canyon for a while and search from there.”

  “If there’s no proper spot to climb up we’re caught.”

  He turned to her, blowing out air, squinting. “Do you want to cross, or to search for flaws in my tactics?”

  “I don’t want to walk into a self-made trap. Look, we might get down, but if we can’t see a way up, it’s worthless. I don’t want to walk for days down there. If there’s another rainfall or a large predator, we don’t have a chance to escape. I remember the Tusk-turner well enough, thank you.”

  He hung his head. “Boy, how I hate it when you’re right.”

  “Thank you very much.”

  “Still…” He looked beyond the B-horses grazing on the sprigs the canyon wall provided. “Take your small axe out of your saddlebag.”

  “You want to cut down a tree?”

  He nodded.

  “Are you nuts or just out of your mind?”

  “Do it.”

  Sajitar stared at the Horlyns while Rayenne did as commanded. He's lost it. He’s so eager to get out he’s not thinking clearly anymore. The axe was buried deep in the saddlebags and it took her a moment to pull it free. When she turned, the Horlyns were getting closer, tweeting and chirping loudly enough to make other animals leave cover and jump and run. Rayenne had not thought about how thick the population around them had been. Mesmerized, she watched small brown birds fly up and Dikis hop over low bushes to leave the area. The Horlyns approached noisily, disregarding the lower branches and young trees they trampled along the way.

  “You’d better think about it,” Ray stated flat-voiced.

  “Give me the axe.”

  “Do you—”

  “Give it to me!” When it was safe in his hand, he took it to the closest tree. “We force our way across the canyon,” he told the Horlyns. “We are human and our mind is strong. Yes, you can keep us here. Yes, you can kill us if you want to, but you cannot change our minds!”

  Rayenne and the B-horses jumped backwards and almost tumbled down the canyon wall when the female Horlyn thrust forward to keep the axe from hitting the tree. Its protest was deafening.

  Sajitar hit the trunk with all the strength he could muster. The Horlyn pushed forward, knocking the axe out of his hand. Sajitar stumbled and fell on his butt. His hand bled.

  “No!” Rayenne cried out running to him. “Leave him alone!”

  The female Horlyn had all legs and antennae pointed in Sajitar’s direction. He held ground, gritting his teeth.

  “What are you doing?” Rayenne yelled. “They will kill you!”

  “It’s the only way!”

  Rayenne stood in front of him, knowing well it was a pointless gesture if the Horlyns wanted to kill Sajitar. The axe lay five feet away from them and the second Horlyn approached to gently touch the broken bark, uttering a piteous whine.

  “Help us or let us help ourselves!” Sajitar screamed and put both hands to his temples, groaning when the pain must have hit him. “Stop that!”

  Rayenne turned. She wanted to help Sajitar, but had no means to stop the mental attack. He writhed on the ground, eyes closed, fighting the assault until it abated. In the meantime Rayenne heard the male Horlyn break the axe in three pieces. Only the metal head lay shimmering amid a bed of leaves. She viewed the destruction and a shiver ran down her spine. How could he dare oppose these beasts?

  “Saji, come, talk to me.” She knelt beside him, held him in her arms and waited for him to open his eyes. “You’re very brave, but stupid. It cost us an axe and a headache and we aren’t closer to the other side than before. What did you do?”

  “I showed them what will happen if they don’t help.”

  “Clever. How are you feeling?”

  He sat up slowly, squinting.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Your nose and ear are bleeding. Not to mention your hand. You’re not fine.”

  “I see, your sharp police senses cannot be fooled.” He smiled weakly and wiped his nose, grimacing at the blood. “We’re still alive. That’s the best part, I guess. I could use something to drink now. Would you mind?”

  She got up to fetch the wine for him. When she unscrewed the flagon she took a swig herself.

  “I should be careful. You might come to like this stuff.” He drank and exhaled, watching the Horlyns just a few steps away. By their stance they were still willing to defend every tree the humans might dare touch. He smiled. “Maybe they don’t want us to die. What do you think?”

  She used a dry piece of cloth to wipe his hand and nose.

  “I think it was a close call, you stupid son of a bitch.” She took the flagon from him, thought about another mouthful and let it be. Carefully, she bandaged his hand and he nodded, acknowledging her nursing qualities. “What did you show them?”

  “Our smashed bodies at the bottom of the canyon. That we would use a fallen tree to get to the other side if they don’t aid us. I also showed them that we wouldn't go back or give up.”

  “They don’t understand human nature.”

  “Well, there are many who cannot imagine living outside the woods, right?” He gazed at her, but she refused to take the bait. “I hope they won’t let us hang here forever.”

  “We can still try and find another place to climb down.”

  “Yes, and get closer to the crossing with every day. No, that was not on my mind.”

  She helped him up.

  “It’s close to sunset. Let’s pitch camp and ride on tomorrow.”

  “Sounds like a good idea to me.”

  Above the canyon, a Flying Cordell made a low approach and they hastened to take cover.

  * * * *

  “Do you think the Cordell got a picture of us?”

  “Maybe.” Sajitar was too tired to think about it. Even after an undisturbed night, he felt the strain of having communicated with the alien beasts. His hearing had been impaired and still he heard as if he were under water. “But we were quick.”

  “They cannot scan the area all in one sweep,” Rayenne agreed as she packed their belongings. The B-horses already stood saddled between two large trees. The Horlyns waited in the background, dark shadows with changing outlines. “Are you ready?”

  “As ready as I can get.” He was about to mount Tessla when the female Horlyn stepped forward. One of its antennae poked his chest to keep him from the saddle. Sajitar blew out air and lifted his hands in defense. “Hey, what’s this about? We didn’t cut the tree, we're just try to find another crossing point.”

  “What does it want?”

  “Do I look like an interpreter? We won’t ride, that’s it.�
��

  “We could—” She stopped in mid-sentence.

  Sajitar followed her gaze. Two young Horlyns flew through the canyon, wings flittering. Their colors changed and glimmered like crystals. Slowly they ascended from the canyon floor to hover at its rim. Their wings made a low humming sound that went through the bones. Their dark orange bodies and heads looked like smaller versions of the grown-up beasts and their eyes were directed at the humans, who waited flabbergasted and unable to move. The older Horlyns got closer, tweeting.

  Sajitar shook his head.

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “Say, is it good or bad?”

  “They don’t tell me what’s on their minds. I get nothing.” He raised his brows. “If you want my guess, they’ll either usher us back or—”

  “Take us over,” Ray completed, unable to believe her words.

  At that moment the female Horlyn stepped aside to let the younger ones fly closer, and Sajitar received the single image of a flying Horlyn taking him to the other side.

  “All right, they’ll help.” He took a deep breath and sent back the image of Tessla, equally transported across the canyon. He could not add a question mark, but the Horlyn seemed to understand. The young one stepped toward Tessla. The B-horse reared and would have bolted without Sajitar at its reins.

  “Ho, slow, my dear, calm down. It’s just a flight to the other side.” He followed her steps and put a hand on her head, softly stroking her nostrils. “Nothing will happen to you. We’ll meet there, all right?”

  If the B-horse got the meaning, he could not tell, and she still pranced uneasily when the Horlyn made its approach. Then, in the blink of an eye, the B-horse was airborne and he followed suit.

  Heart sinking to his knees, he looked down at the bottom of the canyon. If the beast dropped him, he would be lucky to survive, but he would at least break his legs and ribs. He held his breath until the rim came into view. The humming of the Horlyn’s wings appeared to go right through flesh and bones and he shook like a leaf when the Horlyn put him down. Even his teeth clattered. Sajitar lay on the ground, eyes closed, thanking the gods he knew while Tessla walked away from the rim as if saying that she would not repeat that adventure.