Page 24 of Citrine

I can see the strain in the octo-man's muscles, the determination in his eyes. His face says he's fighting not just for dominance, but for survival, though it doesn't seem like he's in danger of losing.

The alligator's thrashing grows more desperate, its movements more erratic. It's losing blood fast, and its strength is waning.

With a final, savage twist, he slams the alligator's head against a rock jutting out of the water. The impact is devastating, a sickening crack that sends a shiver down my spine. The alligator goes limp, its body floating lifelessly in the water, blood oozing from its wounds.

He releases his hold, his tentacles retracting back into the water. He's breathing heavily, his body heaving with the effort of the fight. The water around him is a gruesome mix of blood and foam, the aftermath of the brutal battle.

I can't tear my eyes away from the scene. This terrifying creature who threatened my life just saved me from certain death. The realization is surreal, almost too much to process.

He turns to look at me, his eyes narrowing.

There's a flicker of something in his gaze—anger, frustration, maybe even curiosity. He's covered in blood, his own mingling with the alligator's. He's wounded, but he doesn't seem to care.

He moves toward me, and I back away with a shiver and a gulp.

"What… why?" I manage to sing out between stammers, my voice trembling.

I can't find the right words to express the whirlwind of emotions I'm feeling.

Rage sweeps over his features.

"If you cannot defeat that, how could you ever hope to defeat me?"

He says the last word in a bellow, then lifts the dead alligator out of the water and uses his tentacles to break its back. Then he flings it. I can't even see where it lands, I just know it hits the water a short while later with a splash.

My body's shaking at the wanton violence of it.

"I don't want to defeat you, I just want to be left alone. Why help me?" I ask again.

He doesn't answer. Instead, he studies me, his eyes scanning my face as if searching for something.

"You are a useless hunter," he mocks me.

I swallow hard, my throat dry. The adrenaline is still coursing through my veins, making my hands shake. I picture the dead alligator sinking down into the lake, its once fearsome body now a lifeless, bloody husk.

A shudder passes over me, and I finally remember all those manners mypadretaught me.

"Thank you," I say, the words feeling inadequate.

With a start, I realize they don't translate. That I spoke them in English, which his look of confusion confirms.

I try again to say my thanks in his language, but I can't. My brow furrows, but I can't figure out what that means right now.

He saved my life, despite his earlier threats.

He grunts again, the sound odd when spoken in whale tones, turning away from me.

I watch as he moves back into the water, his body blending into the darkness. The lake is returning to its eerie calm, the only evidence of the battle is the slowly dispersing dark blood. I'm left standing there, soaked and shivering, my mind racing with questions and fears.

Alive for now, but what does he plan to do with me?

I look around at my makeshift shelter and at the top of the rock I was trying to climb to see that glinting of metal. Should I move back to the silver vehicle?

I let out a sigh. I don't think I can make it to it, since he moved me up and over a large stand of rocks to move me toward the water.

Was his plan to drown me?

Anxiety grips me, and I let out a frustrated groan. Tears well up in my eyes before I can stop them. I wish I could go settle into the red fabric of the silver chamber and pretend none of this is real, but I can't.

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