Page 31 of Diamond

Taking a slow step forward, I reach a hand out to the woman and she flinches, alarming the odd-looking creature. It stands tall and places itself as a barrier between her and me once more, its big black lips pulled back as it hisses at me.

I can appreciate its goal, but now is not the time. "I know it is protective of you, but I have to get close enough to help."

She shakes her head up and down before placing a hand on one of the creature's legs and petting it. Her voice is low when she speaks to it, scratching at the sides of its head and under its chin in what I assume must be her language.

The animal responds to her, but doesn't take its menacing yellow eyes off me. I find it both endearing and agitating because things would go along much quicker if it just let me help.

It is getting rather late and I need to find somewhere safe. This area is good for hiding, but there are far too many rocks to be able to find a good place to rest.

The woman's voice takes on a higher pitch as she scratches somewhere it must like, and its eyes flutter shut when it lets outa quiet sound. I decide to use this opportunity to pick up my knife, but when I bend forward, the animal immediately opens its eyes and lurches forward, hissing at me.

It's more intelligent than I had previously thought. It obviously does not speak, although if it did, it would be easier to settle whatever problems it has with me. Maybe then the female wouldn't be so terrified.

I hold my hand out to the animal as some kind of peace offering and watch it flinch away, almost like it expects me to hit it again. I kick my dagger out of the way and take a tentative step closer, but it brays and steps back, its eyes locking with mine.

It bares its strange teeth at me and I take a step back and pointedly look at the female.

She is still talking quietly to it, but my presence obviously disturbs it. If this creature continues to stand in my way, I may have to get rid of it. I see how much she likes it and it seems like they have a great partnership and killing it will make her even more upset, but it seems like that might be the only way to even help her up from where she's laying.

The creature is calm once again, but its eyes don't leave me. I keep my eyes on it when I pick up my blade, clean it off, and shove it in my boot.

I need to get her to Ree. I could easily throw her over my shoulder the entire way there and withstand whatever weak punches her small, five-fingered hands might throw, but I don't want to do that. Those sorts of decisions shouldn't be forced.

I look at her and see how she is gazing at the creature with tenderness. My chest constricts again. I want her to look at me like that, without disdain and fear.

Dragging her the entire way against her will won't get me anything more than anger.

I have never felt the need to struggle for the affections of anyone before, mostly because it came naturally. It is uncomfortable, to say the least, this nagging feeling in my chest that discourages me from taking the necessary steps to make sure that she is safe.

It is rare for one female to be alone with a male, and it grates against my skin to constantly feel like I must be doing something wrong. Maybe she is feeling the same, and that is why she is so defensive. It could be that she is just as new to being around males as I am females.

I try to think of a way to comfort her and then remember the blue creature. "Neither one of us is alone with the other as long as your animal is with us."

The nagging feeling continues in my chest, its bitter taste traveling down my throat, something like guilt, but not quite.

I shake it off.

Nothing should be in the way of protecting a female.

18

Rin

Fear is an emotion I am well acquainted with.

At first, I was scared of the dark. Then, as I got older, I became afraid of my immediate surroundings and eventually, that fear grew into feeling scared for my life every time I stepped outside my door. After that, I tried to cover it up with conviction.

It was still there, just buried beneath something more important.

If you had asked me before I was brought to this alien planet, I would have said I had conquered my fears and could face most situations with my head held high.

Still, nothing compares to the kind of fear that has gripped me in the chest since the moment I found myself inside that silver cage. Every moment since then has been a terrifying, spine-chilling experience.

My heart is pounding so loudly that I can hear it in my ears, and tips of my fingers are growing cold. My body still hurts all over from that fall, leaving me in no shape to do anything—let alone defend myself if the situation calls for it.

Then I think over his words instead of just letting fear take control of my wandering mind. He talked about Roshan as if he was part of our group—not just some dumb work animal, like Tehlmar saw him.

Maybe that's a good sign? But then I see another rivulet of blood drip from him and am reminded that he is clearly insane.

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