Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
"When I stop shivering, I'm going to ask what the fuck that means. For now, though, I'm choosing to ignore it." She shifts against me, her hands trailing over my torso. "I have to pee and I'm afraid of the answer."
"We will pick a spot a decent length away and cover it with snow again to disguise our scents."
Aidy sighs. "I was worried you'd say that."
"Then you will come back here, and I will pack the entrance of the cave with snow to ensure you stay hidden while I go out."
She rears back, looking up at me in the morning twilight. "You're leaving me?"
"We cannot remain like this. You need warm clothing and food, and a safe place to stay. I need weapons. I'll hunt for supplies and assess the situation, and then I will return for you."
She struggles with this idea. I can tell by the expression on her face. But after a few moments, she nods resolutely. "Just swear you'll come back for me."
"I would never leave you. You are the reason I fight."
Aidy looks unhappy at the thought but doesn't complain. "Let's do our bathroom business before I change my mind and decide to just pee where I am."
A short time later, a shivering Aidy has returned to the cave and I've packed the entrance with snow, then smoothed it out to hide my footprints. There's a small hole for fresh air to get to her, but she is otherwise buried, her scent nearly drowned by the snowfall that comes steadily down. I've left her with a jagged, hand-sized rock to use as a weapon in case she is discovered, but I hope she does not need it. I should be the one fighting.
Arming her reminds me that I cannot tarry. My natural instincts tell me to go slow, to carefully hide my footprints and cut through water to disguise my scent. To scout my surroundings and assess things before making any sudden moves. But Aidy shivers hard when she is not tucked against me. I do not want to return to find my prized female is frozen solid. I will have to hope that the snow will cover most of my tracks…and if it doesn't, that I can fight my way past any trouble.
For now, I need to find supplies.
I painstakingly cover my trail just far enough away to throw off any pursuers from Aidy's scent. Once I'm satisfied, I start walking, turning my head towards any breeze in search of scents. The canyon we're in is narrow and deep, and the only scent that of the animal whose den we stole. There are no tracks in the fresh snow, so I circle around the area, not wanting to move too far from Aidy if I can help it.
As I head toward the mouth of the canyon, I catch a scent. A familiar one, of praxiian and mesakkah blended together to make something different and pungent.
Another splice.
My hackles rise, and the wind turns, carrying more scents. Not just mesakkah and praxiian. There's another splice with strange scents, and a…moden? I'd bet they're all gladiators.
Are they hunting for us? If so, I need to prepare. I sink down into the shadows at the base of one of the nearby cliffs and next to a scrubby-looking bush that seems more thorns than leaves. I dig out some of the snow near my legs and pull it back over my crouching form until my entire body is hidden. They will have to come examine the bush—or the churned snow—to discover me, and I will attack if I must.
I ignore the cold, remain still, and wait. I concentrate on the world around me. There is a distinct lack of insect life here, and all is incredibly silent. The high canyons make my breaths echo and carry on the wind, so I slow my respiration.
Then, I hear voices in the distance.
Male voices. I tense, preparing to fight if I must, because these are likely gladiators sent down for the games like me. They are my enemy.
They grow closer, and I realize they are traveling together. Idiots. Why would you work together? You cannot share a female. She should belong to the strongest male that can protect her. Unless all the other females are dead and they are hunting for mine. The thought makes me furious, and I can feel my claws distending in response. No one is touching Aidy.
Only me.
The speakers walk right past my hiding place, and I count three bodies. Two splices—one reptilian in nature, the other praxiian—and a heavyset moden. They carry spears and seem to be hunting, but they're so loud I doubt they'll catch anything. I could pick them off easily, but something makes me pause. They have fur clothing, and weapons. They got them from somewhere.