Page 103 of Citrine

Then I feel Wroahk's tentacles grab me. Finally, my dark knight has arrived.

"Where the hell have you been?"

He drags us into our cave, then puts his finger to his lips, shushing me. I'm more than ready to speak my mind, but his gaze is on the Many Teeth. There's excitement in his eyes, like a man getting prepared for a long hunt.

I've only seen him like this a few times and the result has always been a bloodbath.

"Don't tell me you want to hunt that thing?"

"It's been hunting you. Why not?"

I sigh, giving up. There's no stopping a man from indulging in his hobby.

"Just don't come back covered in blood again. And wash out your teeth. I don't like tasting blood, unlike you."

"Why wouldn't I wash out my teeth?"

I pull him in for a kiss, taking away the trepidation I've felt since waking up until now. He draws me in closer, holds me by my waist and kisses me back even as the alien reptile threatens to smash down the walls of our cave.

"I'll be back."

My fists clench as I watch him swim off. That thing is bigger than him, but he doesn't relent as he smashes into it. He manages to draw it away from the cave, leading it deeper into the lake. If he goes too far, he'll get surrounded by a nest, but I don't think I'll have to worry about that.

44

Wroahk

The beast has been tracking her for some time, though it slipped away each time I pursued it. More intelligent than most, so I had to set a trap for it.

I will not allow something ominous following us around and I certainly am not capable of holding my temper enough for it to continue. So, I decided to do something drastic. I used her to draw it out. I assume the reason it hasn't shown itself yet is because I'm always around her and I'm always watching.

I am closing in on it, and as I get closer I recognize it. It was the same one whose nest she disturbed yesterday.

I catch up to it, slamming into it and push it farther away from the cave. It manages to strike me with its large tail and gain some distance from me, turning to growl.

I easily move out of the way, taunting it, trying to move it farther away from her. The farther we are, the better. I doubt I will fail,but it is large enough that I would rather give her time to escape if it is needed.

After I move it far enough away, I make a dive for its tail and grab on to it with my tentacles, using my body weight to detach it. My attack is successful, though at the cost of half a tentacle to its tearing teeth. Its roars of pain shake the entire lake, but I know it won't draw the other many teeth here.

They are likely finding a hole to hide in, no interest in challenging the largest creatures of the lake.

I extend the pleasure of the fight, pulling chunks and bites from it here and there. Unfortunately, all too soon, it loses too much blood and lies limp in the water. Staying here is worth it for herkindhands, but it's at the cost of another part of me.

There is no thrill here. No challenge.

I cleanse my body and teeth and take up the fish I already hunted for breakfast.

45

Eli

While he's gone, I return to the shore. Now that there's no threat to my life, I can safely gather the things I need to start a fire.

For now, I'll start a pit, then all I have to do is supply it with some sticks, and find out a way to start a spark.

I'm in the middle of setting up when Wroahk returns and slaps two fish by me before splashing back into the water. I don't say a word and go back to moving stones.

"Are you injured?" I ask him.

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