Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
"Maybe I changed my mind." We stare at each other for a long moment, and I wait for her to tell me what's really bothering her, why she's been acting so strange since we returned. There's a massive splashing sound down by the shore and a cry of awe rises up from the group that's headed in that direction. "You want to go see the snails that Devi's been so excited about?"
"I don't know," she admits, and her hand moves over Makana's fur. "You don't think we are going to eat them, do you?"
"I don't know." At her grimace, I gesture at the distant shore. "Let's go see what all the fuss is about."
April nods and moves to my side. I put a hand at the small of her back to guide her, and just being able to touch her like this sends heat flaring through my veins. She feels so good right next to me. Perfect, really. Like it's the spot she was meant to be in. The warmth of her caresses my skin, and her delicious scent floods my nose, mingling with the sea air. I want to wrap my arms around her and just...drink her in.
She pauses after a step, gazing down at our feet. "Your ankle. How is it?"
"Fine," I lie. It feels hot and achy right now, but I'm not ready to go lie down again. Not when we're actually talking. "Come on. I'll protect you."
She arches a brow at me as if my promise to protect her is amusing, but she doesn't refute it. Perhaps she's realizing that even with a wounded ankle, I would give my life to ensure she's safe. The realization that I'd give my life for a female I'm not even sure likes me is a sobering one. When the kef did that happen?
We head closer to the beach, rounding the bend and passing a few more huts before the first nautilus comes into view.
It's...massive.
A spiral shell the size of April's hut is upright in the shallow waters, the waves pounding against it. As I watch, a dozen greenish-blue tentacles push out from the mouth of the shell, shoving it farther up the sandy beach by a good length. Water fills in the trench behind it, and the creature pauses in the breaking waves.
"Kef me," I mutter.
"I...don't think we're eating it," April says, voice faint.
We both stare up at it in silence. When Devi had said that the beach would become invaded by creatures — nautili, she called them — I'd pictured the ground being littered by the smaller shelled things that cluster on the rocks at low tide. She's said these were enormous, so I pictured big snails...maybe the size of my hand.
Not the size of huts. Somehow that part didn't sink into my head.
We watch as the creature slowly pushes its way up the beach, ignoring the people who are clustered around to watch. All the tribe has gathered to stare in awe, mothers holding the hands of children. Ashtar has both of his sons in his arms, hefted up so they can watch. The big shell beaches itself and continues further, until it is tucked right between the hut shared by Steph and Juth and the supply hut that is shared by Tal'nef and his brother. The shell shifts and rocks, and the edge of the supply hut crumbles, the wall falling inward.
April clutches Makana to her chest. "I should get my stuff out of my hut if I want to keep it."
This, at least, I know how to do. "I'll help you."
CHAPTE 13
APRIL
It feels so strange to be packing up my things while outside there's the endless scraping of yet another sea creature beaching itself. Devi had warned us that this might happen, but hearing about it is very different from seeing it. A curled shell the size of my house is terrifying. The fact that it has tentacles flailing out of it? Doubly terrifying.
Valmir seems calm, which helps things. I want to panic, but when I look over at him and he's unruffled, it soothes some frantic part of me. I hand him Makana. "Hold him while I pack?"
"I should pack your things," he says, frowning. "It is my duty."
"Bullshit it is." I point at the stool on the floor near the fire. "Go and park that near the door and watch for snails. If one looks like it's heading in our direction, warn me. We should be able to get away with plenty of time."
He grunts. When he sits down, I notice he favors his bad ankle, and it makes me wonder if he's been pushing himself too hard. "Make sure you pet Makana so he doesn't dart off. I don't want to chase him."
Valmir strokes my two-fang while I toss things in baskets. "Has this creature ever tried to run off before?"