Page 46 of Alien Guardian's Vow

The admission hung between us, neither accusation nor regret. Simply truth.

A distant rumble shook the ground, reminding us of our purpose. Rivera checked her scanner, frowning at the display.

"The tremors are increasing in frequency. We need to reach the western compound by tomorrow."

"Then we should move now." I pushed myself up, gritting my teeth against the pain.

"In the dark?"

"The moons provide enough light. And we've rested enough."

She didn't argue, though her concern flowed through our bond. Instead, she helped me to my feet, her touch gentle but firm.

Outside our shelter, the landscape had transformed in the moonlight. The cracked earth glittered with mineral deposits, and steam from the fissures created ghostly columns in the cool night air. In the distance, the silhouette of the western ruins stood against the horizon – our destination.

"The scanner shows a relatively stable path if we head northwest for about two kilometers before turning west," Rivera said, studying the device.

I nodded, taking a careful step forward. My body protested, but less violently than before. The rest and Rivera's treatment had helped, if only slightly.

We moved slowly through the night, the twin moons our guides. The cooler air made breathing easier, though occasional gusts carried strange, acrid scents from the disturbed landscape. Twice we had to detour around newly formed fissures, steaming and bubbling with unknown substances.

"Look," Rivera pointed to a set of massive tracks crossing our path. "Something big came through here recently."

I studied the impressions in the soft earth. "Ikthar. A predator. Moving away from the ruins, like everything else."

"Smart predator."

"Smarter than us, apparently."

She laughed softly, the sound unexpected and welcome in the desolate landscape. I caught a flash of her amusement through our bond – a bright spark amid the worry and determination.

We continued in companionable silence, conserving energy for the journey. The bond between us thrummed with shared purpose, a connection deeper than words. Occasionally her markings brightened as she sensed something in our path, guiding us around dangers I couldn't perceive.

Dawn broke as we crested a ridge, painting the landscape in harsh light that revealed its true devastation. What had once been fertile ground now resembled a war zone – cracked and broken, steaming with noxious gases, devoid of healthy life.

"Hammond did this," Rivera said, her voice tight with anger. "All for power."

"And resources." I surveyed the destruction. "The drilling operation extracts rare minerals."

"At what cost?" She gestured at the ruined landscape. "This isn't sustainable. He's destroying everything."

Another tremor shook the ground, stronger than the previous ones. We braced ourselves, watching as a nearby fissure widened, spewing sulfurous steam high into the air.

"We have to keep moving," I said once the shaking subsided. "The western compound can't be far now."

Rivera nodded, adjusting her grip around my waist. I leaned on her more heavily than I wanted to admit, my strength waning despite my determination. The fever had returned, sending alternating waves of heat and chills through my body.

The sun climbed higher, beating down with unnatural intensity. Sweat beaded on my skin, making the fabric of my clothing stick to the wound. Each step became an exercise in endurance, my world narrowing to the placement of my feet and the steady presence of Rivera beside me.

"Water," she said, guiding me toward a small depression where liquid had collected. She tested it with her markings before filtering it through her device. "Drink slowly."

I obeyed, the cool water momentarily reviving me. Through our shared bond, I felt her growing concern, her calculations of distance and time, her worry about my condition.

"I won't fail," I told her, meeting her eyes. "We will reach the compound."

"I know." She capped the water container. "But at what cost to you?"

I had no answer that wouldn't sound like empty bravado. Instead, I struggled back to my feet, focusing on our goal.

---