“You mean the spots? No, humans choose their mates with their heart.”
He led us inside the medical space. “I’ve heard of this in other races.” He tossed Venturi a glance. “You are lucky she cares for you.”
“I am.” Venturi stroked my back.
“You are even luckier that Venturi’s tell sign bloomed for you,” the healer addressed me.
“What do you mean?” I tapped my foot, waiting to see the extent of Venturi’s wounds.
“You didn’t tell her?” Ne’flav gestured for Venturi to sit on the large cot. Well, large for me.
“No.” My mate seemed almost shy. I hadn’t thought that possible.
“Tell me what?” I almost shouted.
Ne’flav examined Venturi’s hands. My mate’s lovely claws were now chipped and cracked. Scabs had formed at the bases and he was missing one on his left hand.
“What happened?” I’d been unconscious for a while and obviously missed something important.
“When you fell sick, I brought you here.” Venturi shrugged.
Ne’flav shook his head while he cleaned the claw bases. “He tied you to his back and carried you here in the worst part of the storm. It’s amazing either of you survived.”
I stared at Venturi’s injured hands, proof again of how wonderful he was. My eyes pricked with unshed tears. It was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for me.
Chapter Six
Venturi
My claws didn’t need tending. At first, I wondered what Ne’flav was doing, then he told When-di about our journey home in the storm.
Her eyes sparkled as she gazed up at my face. The healer obviously understood women much better than I. Even alien ones. When-di drew closer and stroked my arm while Ne’flav cleaned the small wounds. Something had changed. I could feel it in my blood. The looks she tossed me were the same I’d seen other mates give each other. The look I’d been craving for years.
I shoved Ne’flav aside and pulled her into a kiss. She had accepted me with her body last night but finally, she accepted me with her single alien heart.
Ne’flav landed on his ass and laughed. “Looks like you’ll need my space a little longer.” He rose, wiping his pants off.
When-di struggled in my arms. Her small body rubbing against me in all the right places. “What about his wounds?” She cupped her hand over my mouth as I tried for another kiss. “Easy, cowboy.” She directed this to me but I didn’t understand this last part.
Boochu child? Boochu was a grazing beast we hunted in the spring.
“I have no cure for what ails him.” Ne’flav seemed amused by my reaction to When-di’s touches. His wide grin faded a little as his gaze landed on my spots. “Though I do envy him.”
When-di set her tiny hands on her hips and faced off with my friend. “What do you mean? What’s the cure?” I hadn’t seen a true contrast in our sizes until my beautiful little mate confronted the much taller healer. She was magnificent.
“You are, sprout.” Ne’flav lips quirked as I gathered her back in my arms.
She went still and glanced over her shoulder at my face. “I think this is where you explain what he means.”
I scratched my chin. Her innocence was sweet but how did one explain the drive of mating to one who didn’t experience that instinct? It just was.
“Our kinds are obviously different.” The healer came to my rescue. “Tassuone experience the call. When a man and a woman meet and they are compatible, then the call will occur.” He pointed to my arms. “The spots develop as a sign that it has begun.”
I extended my arm to show When-di. I loved the way her eyes riveted on my flexing muscles as if fascinated. She might not experience the call, but she finally was reacting like she did.
“They are a symptom of the hormones released into our systems as we become fertile.”
When-di jerked as if surprised. “You mean you can’t, uh…make babies unless you’re spotted?”
The tips of Ne’flav’s ears drooped with embarrassment. “Yes.”
“But you can have sex?”
The healer’s ears almost curled. “Yes.”
I turned her toward me, saving Ne’flav. “We are only fertile when we find our perfect mates.”
“When-di?” Ne’flav asked. Why was he still here? “Are your symptoms better?”
Instantly, I felt terrible. I wanted the best care for my When-di. I assumed she was all healed, but what did we really know of her kind? First, we would make sure she was all well before we found a private shady spot in the tree.
She rubbed the bump on her arm. “Yes, I feel so much better since you placed the—the bioprocessor.”
Ne’flav gave an understanding look. “I will go now before Venturi decides to retract his friendship and skin me alive.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I’d kill you before skinning you.” I showed him all my teeth.
“I look forward to the day that I find my mate.” The healer bowed to When-di.
“Wait.” She held up her hands. “Do you have more of these bioprocessors?” She sounded excited.
I exchanged a glance with Ne’flav over her head. The bioprocessors were our species’ most prized possession. The more bioprocessors we grew, the more children we could have. Numbers on this world meant strength. Strength meant survival.
She turned from me to him and back again. “Do you have any to give my people?” She gripped my hand. “Venturi, they’ll die without them.”
Something inside me fell in place. I slipped off the table and crouched. Would I orphan my mate? Let her people die so she was the sole human on this world? No. “I will do all in my power to save your people.”
“How many survivors are there?” asked Ne’flav.
All the desire that had been burning in my blood cooled at the sight of fear in When-di’s face. She counted off her fingers. “One man and seven women.”
“Seven?” Ne’flav cleared his throat. “Eight in all.”
I knew what the healer meant. Fate had unbalanced our tribe with a higher birth rate of males. Fewer and fewer couples mated every turn of seasons, of those, even fewer produced living children. Ne’flav swears it was the weakening of our blood. He saw my mating with When-di as a new hope. Especially with eight other humans as potential mates.
“Do we have that many?” I asked.
Ne’flav rubbed his chin. “I’d have to check the gardens and see how many are ready to bloom.”
“What?” When-di clearly looked puzzled. She stuck a finger in her ear as if clearing it. “I’m not translating properly. Did you say check the garden?”
“Yes, are your ears bothering you?” I angled her head to inspect one.
“They’re fine.” She pulled away. “I just don’t understand. What is a bioprocessor?”
“That is a complicated answer.” I straightened, towering over her. The best place to start was at the beginning. As children, we were taught our tribe’s history. When-di did not have that basic knowledge. “Our people crashed here long ago. We, like your people, came from an advanced society.” I set my hands on my hips and searched for the right way to explain without making her despair. “We are”—I gestured to myself then her—“are not the only people to crash here. There are others scattered over the planet.”
“Whoa.” She stepped back. “Other aliens besides you?”
I ran my hand down my face. She didn’t even know about other life forms. I wanted to bundle her up and hide her in the tree. This world was dangerous for innocents.
But there was a ship out there with eight other humans just as naive as When-di. We had to help them.
“How many different kinds of aliens?” The color drained from her face.
I supported her elbow, afraid she’d crumple to the ground. The shock must be unimaginable. “We only know this region. There are three species within trading distance. Not including yours.”
“Sometimes strangers travel through from distant parts of th
e world. Nomads, explorers, some searching a way off the planet and such,” Ne’flav added, his usual jovial expression suddenly grave.
Learning the truth as a child born here wasn’t a terrible thing. Crashlander was home and hearth. We would not fit among our kind if we somehow were rescued. It was different for When-di. This was not her home.
She nodded slowly almost as if reading my mind.
I waited for her questions but she remained silent. “We all crashed here at one time or another. The last race we know to crash here—”
“Wait, what? You all crashed like us? I thought you came here on purpose to like colonize the planet or something.” Her eyes narrowed and she seemed to be thinking hard. “The readings we had on the ship said there weren’t any planets in this system. It’s why we chose to come here.”
“Yes, we’re all descendants of those who crashed here.” My body craved her with such an intensity I was surprised I could even think. “From what we’re told, the same poison that affects our bodies also affects machines.”
“It’s not my fault.” Water trickled from her eyes. She sniffed and wiped her nose.
I gathered her in my arms, exchanging confused looks with Ne’flav. Of course, it wasn’t her fault. Who would blame her for a natural trap this system created? We were all lucky that this world could support life, otherwise we’d all be dead.
She used the hem of her oversized shirt to clean her face and caught our expressions. “I’m the pilot. I flew the ship. I thought the crash was all my fault.” With a watery smile, she brushed her fingertips over my cheek. “I’m fine. Tell me about the bioprocessors now.”
I didn’t agree with her. She was not fine, but with a little time and effort she would be. I would build us a home and trade for some fabric for clothes of her choice and size. She’d feel safe and comfortable.
“All I know of bioprocessors is that they were gifted to my people when they arrived, and Ne’flav is their caretaker.”
The healer leaned against the table. “I grow them.”
That simplified the healer’s many responsibilities. He didn’t like to admit it, but Ne’flav was the smartest member of the tribe. “Let me check on them.” Ne’flav left through the crack that led deeper in the trunk.
I stayed kneeling so When-di wouldn’t have to crank her head back so much. “Though we come from an advance race, do you see any machines?” I gestured around the healer’s space, which was made of wood with clay jars filled with herbal remedies picked from the jungle. “Your people are probably experiencing, by now, the failure of your ship’s remaining devices. Tech doesn’t work on this world.”
“That’s wrong. Our monitors and our short range communications were functioning when I left.”
“It takes a few days for the poison to destroy them.” I shrugged. “Once in a while, someone will make an attempt to build or repair old tech but it never works for long. Waste of time in my opinion.”
Ne’flav rejoined us at that moment and I breathed a sigh of relief. He knew more of our history and science than I did. His hands were fisted closed. “Many of the original crew members from our ship died that first week. Then the Norn arrived with the bioprocessors.” Opening his palms, he exposed the glowing green sphere.
When-di’s lips formed a circle of awe. She reached to touch the precious orb, but Ne’flav drew it away.
“Careful, it’s very young,” he warned.
“I have that in my arm?” She rubbed the fresh bump.
“Yes.”
“What is it exactly? Even though I can see it. I still don’t understand how it cured me.”
“Organic tech is the best way I can explain. It’s most basic function is keeping our systems clean of the poison, but there’s so much more.” The healer cupped his palms closed. “Eight of the bioprocessors are in bloom. Not all are at full strength but the humans are small so maybe it will keep them alive.”
I jumped to my feet. “This is good news.”
“Great.” When-di clapped her hands. “When do we leave?”
I shook my head. “We can’t just take the bioprocessors. They belong to the tribe. We need to call a meeting first and ask permission.”
“Argeer left with some of the builders to assess the damage to the aqueducts. They should be back before dark.” Ne’flav frowned at his closed hands. “I have to put this back.” And he left us alone again.
When-di seemed deflated. “We have to wait another day?”
“We need to do this the right way. We can’t steal them.”
“But they’re just sitting there doing nothing. Why wouldn’t they want to save my people?”
“There are four women carrying pups. Should we sacrifice their lives?”
Her mouth hung open for a second. “No, never. I just wasn’t seeing the whole picture.” She hung her head. “What will we do?”
“For now, I want to eat and show you a special place.” I gave her a shy smile, suddenly nervous to see her reaction to my world. I loved her so much and needed her to accept our new life together among the canopy of the mother trees. “Then we will fight together for your people.”
Chapter Seven
Wendy
Carrying a bowl of fruit, Venturi led me from the hollow onto the main trail that wound around the trunk. I tried to keep my gaze glued to the spot between his shoulder blades yet somehow it would wander to the edge. Heights never bothered me much until we arrived here.
Gravity worked differently on a spinning space station. There weren’t any high places that I could recall, to be honest. Here? The ground seemed impossibly far. And these people? They lived up here, away from dragons. With a heavy heart, I gazed over the alien village of half-repaired huts below. Smoke drifted in a central fire pit.
I shivered at the sight.
“What is it?” Venturi leaned over my shoulder to see what pulled my gaze.
“Fire.”
“What about it?” He stroked my back as if sensing my apprehension. “I don’t understand.”
Learning a language overnight wasn’t as fantastic as it sounded. Most words translated fine but others didn’t have any context, leaving gaps. Fire was one of those words, like tree. I had one word for these things. The tassuone had many for each and I had just used the wrong one for the campfire below. The one I used was reserved for wildfires, the kind that burned down villages. For me, all fire was bad.
“Never mind.” This life was so strange. I didn’t fit. Computers, buttons, trajectory calculations—these made my heart tick. This place had none of the things that made me feel secure and, from what Ne’flav explained about tech, it never would.
This place sucked. It was hot and savage, and I didn’t know if I wanted to stay here when a rescue came.
If a rescue came.
If.
Venturi crouched. “Do you want to get closer?”
“No, it just seems dangerous to light a fire on a tree. Aren’t you afraid of it spreading?”
“Stones are carried from the surface to build hearths. This prevents scorching the mother tree.”
“Huh.” Simple yet effective. Would I have thought of using stones in their place? I doubted it. How would any of us survive without tassuone help? I couldn’t picture my sister cooking without a microwave or Tammy hunting or me sewing. We were royally screwed sidewise.
“Come.” Venturi took my hand and we climbed higher. I noted my breathing remained steady and I didn’t feel over exerted like when we traveled toward the mountains. Was it the bioprocessor?
We moved along a less traveled branch that was dense with foliage. To the point that even I had to duck.
“Where are we going?”
He tossed me a playful grin. “You will see.”
Of its own will, my mouth responded in kind. I was defenseless to his charm. Giving his hand a squeeze, I hurried after him.
The foliage unexpectedly gave way to an open space that looked over the expanse of clear blue water. The sparse br
anches were overtaken by a flowering vine.
Venturi sat and set the fruit bowl aside. He cut a piece of a familiar melon. “Eat.” He offered the slice.
I savored the fresh flavor.
“It’s such a pleasure to be able to speak to you.” He continued preparing the fruit, handing me another piece as soon as I finished the first.
“It’s better than drawing stick figures on leaves.” Butterflies took wing in my heart as a hint of a smile curved his mouth. God, he was beautiful.
“That was a smart idea.” He brushed his lips over my forehead. “My mate is not only lovely but smart. I am a lucky man.” He tossed a large chunk in the air and caught it with his sharp teeth.
I sobered at his claim. “What if there’s a chance I can go home…” Dropping my gaze, I looked away. My heart pounded a slow, unhappy beat as if torn apart at the very thought of being separated.
He clasped our hands, weaving our fingers. My pale skin clashed over his dark. “Fate has brought us together.”
That only made me feel worse, like I had no control over my own destiny and that no matter what choices I had made, I would have ended up crashing on this world. “What if fate wasn’t involved?” I rubbed a fingertip over the back of his hand, still fascinated with his almost invisible fur. “Maybe you should take some time to reconsider this. I mean, I’m not going to be very useful as a mate. I can’t even look at the sky without feeling I’m going to float away.”
“No.”
I waited for him to finish, but he just watched my face. “No, what?” Maybe I didn’t understand the translation.
“No, you won’t float away. I wouldn’t let you.” He kissed the back of my hand with a teasing twinkle in his cat slit eyes.
I snorted. Of course, he wouldn’t. He had dived off a treetop to save me without a care for his own wellbeing.
He jerked me off my seat and onto his lap. The motion so sudden I squeaked. “I want no other.” The confidence he set in his tone sank into my bones. “It’s unthinkable.” The he grew thoughtful. “I choose you, like you choose me.”
Venturi, Complete Serial Parts 1-4: Alien SciFi Romance (Crashlander) Page 13
