Page 26 of Diamond

I close the distance in three strides, my knife raised, ready to strike. I will end this creature and prove that I am here to help.

But just as my blade is about to connect, the creature shuts its eyes and makes a low bellow toward the wailing female, and it dawns on me. I pause. The realization hits me like a blow, it's not trying to harm her, it's protecting her.

The swing of my blade lands despite my attempt to pull back. Though I manage to divert the strike slightly, the blade cuts deep into the animal's back. Bright blue blood seeps out of the injury as the animal makes a sound of pain but does not move.

I take a step back. The wound is deep, but hopefully not deadly.

The animal bleats again as the human female wails louder, a long keening sound that causes my hearts to constrict painfully on either side of my chest. Her cry cuts through me more painfully than any blade, filled not with physical agony but an emotion far deeper.

Her hand goes around the short neck of the creature, her tiny fingers digging into the fur of its head as she pulls it closer to her.

The creature's legs are so low that it is nearly sitting on her midriff, but she does not seem to care about that in the slightest. She continues to howl, and I take a few steps away from them. She soon runs out of breath and all I can hear is panting, interrupted by a low whine from her and quiet braying from the animal.

The creature turns its gaze to me, protective and fierce, with its large dark yellow eyes and lurches forward aggressively, hissing at me.

The human female mumbles something to it and it turns back to her, crouching even lower than I thought it could. How has she managed to inspire such loyalty from an animal who can't even speak?

Its legs tremble visibly, yet the creature remains steadfast, its body a protective barrier around her. As it turns to face me again, its large dark lips curled into a snarl, I take another step away from them and look down at my blade, watching as the blue blood on it starts to dry against the brown from the male.

I can see the fear in its eyes mixed with a sort of determination, intelligence clear in its gaze.

It dawns on me that this animal is the one whose tracks I saw earlier, then I notice the rope tied looped around its neck. It's what was pulling the cart, I realize.

"I have no honor," I mutter to myself as my dagger falls out of my grasp and lands on the ground.

The creature hisses at me again, but I do not pay it any heed.

I drop to my knees before the human female and her unwavering protector, the sting of a sharp rock slicing into my left knee going unnoticed. I do not deserve to feel pain or even speak of it. My judgment has led to harm, both to the woman I vowed to safeguard and the loyal creature that stood by her side.

Any honor I gained from saving her from the rapist is gone, and I do not know how to get it back. At this rate, she will never put her trust in me.

Maybe Ree is wrong to trust me too, and I am wrong for thinking I could do this. Why did I even think I was capable of such a task? They should have found someone better suited for this. What do I know about females that I thought I was qualified for such a delicate mission? I am ashamed.

The pain in my knee is nothing compared to the burning shame in my chest as I gaze upon the scene before me.

I should have known better.

16

Rin

"Roshan," I mutter as the boring story of my life plays behind my eyes, unrolling as an empty chasm of unachieved dreams and begging for the right to exist.

The argila brays softly, its cool nose nudging me, as if it can see the thoughts going through my head. Tears start to prickle at my eyes. In this hostile, unforgiving world, the only kindness I have received on this forsaken planet has been from an animal. A precious, spider-legged blue not-horse creature that is the only reason I am still alive.

A lone tear rolls out of my eye and Roshan sticks out his wide, black tongue to lap at it gently.

It tickles and the movement hurts, so I raise a hand to my face to stop his ministrations.

It's almost like he is determined to continue until I stop crying. The pain in my stomach stops me from laughing, but Roshandoes not let up. The poor animal is only trying to help, but I could do without it.

I try to roll over and out of reach, but the agony puts a firm stop to all of that.

A rustling sound from somewhere above reaches my ears, followed by a low grunt, sending a chill down my spine. My breath catches, and a small whimper escapes me as dread takes hold; it's the big, angry alien, and it has found us.

Roshan stops licking and makes a concerned sound. His head tilts in a way that feels almost inquisitive before he turns around, positioning himself protectively once more.

I peek out from underneath him and see the alien bounding toward us with the same thirst in his eyes. Fear grips me. I've seen firsthand what he can do when sufficiently motivated. We aren't safe.

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