Page 23 of Charmed By the Alien Warrior

But then with a gasp, I feel the Pugj’s claws dig into my skin harder as he jerks me upright, shaking me. The wind whips around us and my hair blurs my view as he tries to get Kaja under control, but it doesn’t matter because I’ve spotted my chance.

I seize the distraction, and with adrenaline coursing through my veins, I twist my body, reaching my arm around and behind the bulky alien Bigfoot. My fingers scrabble for the satchel secured to the saddle, but they slip off. I grunt as I realize he’s almost managed to steer Kaja away from the other animals.

I try again and with one last desperate reach I manage to unhook the flap. Sticking my hand inside the bag, it only takes a split second before my fingers make contact with the fabric-wrapped handle and I pull out the weapon Crystal gave me.

The blade, comprised of a sharp piece of shrapnel from our crashed ship, gleams in the sunlight, and as soon as it’s firmly in my hand, I don’t hesitate. With another scream, I plunge it into the Pugj’s hairy arm.

He howls, releasing me, and I tumble off Kaja’s back, hitting the ground hard.

The breath is knocked out of me and my vision is blurry, but I know I have to hurry. Ignoring the pain, I scramble to my feet and lurch forward.

We’re along the edge of the grasslands still, and the stampede has almost died down. But the nearest dicros watch me, their panicked eyes reflecting my own fear, as if they’re waiting to bolt. I have to get out of here before they do.

I sprint toward the line of trees, adrenaline giving me a burst of speed that I’ve never had before, hoping maybe I can lose my pursuer in the thick jungle. Just as I reach it, the Pugj gains on me and he lunges, his thick hands just missing me by a few inches as I veer to the left.

My lungs are burning as I pant and my heart pounds like a loud drumbeat in my ears, drowning out nearly everything else. Except the deep guttural growl of his voice.

He snarls, his fangs flashing in the light, as he lunges forward again. But I’m ready and I’m still clutching the shiv in my hand. I thrust the sharp blade into his side, aiming for what I hope is a vital spot. He howls again, and staggers, dark blood trickling out to stain his already dirty fur.

I turn, ready to escape into the jungle and hide, but as I take a step forward a roar pierces the air and I realize my luck has run out.

The Pugj lunges forward again, and this time, he knocks me to the ground and my weapon goes flying through the air landing several feet away. One massive arm wraps around me, encasing me, while the other swings back, and with one powerful blow against my head, darkness closes in.

***

I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I finally wake up, it’s dark and we’re racing through the jungle. This time on foot.

My head pounds and I feel like I’m going to be sick again, but I urge the bile back down. The bioluminescent vines and leaves of the foliage around me blur, and I squeeze my eyes shut, willing everything to settle down.

That’s when I notice the thick, braided ropes binding my wrists and ankles. My jaw aches from the makeshift gag pressed against my mouth—a giant leaf wrapped in more vines.This fucking asshole.

I’m tossed over the shoulder of the hairy beast and with each step he takes I bounce against his shoulder, but I don’t dare react. Let him think I’m still unconscious and helpless.

It feels like we travel for hours, but I’m not sure because I drift in and out of consciousness, darkness pulling me under and spitting me back out. After a while, he slows to a walk until finally, with a grunt, he tosses me to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Pain shoots through my side as I land, but I bite back a sound, glaring up at him.

Is this it? Is he going to eat me now?

With a snarl and a pointed look, my captor stalks off to a nearby stream, bending to drink.

I sit there, propped up against a fallen log and staring at the glowing foliage around me, wallowing in the hopelessness that makes my throat tight with unshed tears of frustration. With a sigh, I tilt back my head and look up at the night sky. There they are—the Sister Moons, their blue glow just visible between the crowded treetops.

My thoughts drift to Sorrin. His arrogant grin flashes in my mind, but then I remember his face from last night—serious and almost reverent as he told the story of Maia and Diierr.

He's such a cocky guy, but in that moment, he didn’t seem that way. The overly-confident grin was gone from his face. And later, when I mentioned my mom, there was no mistaking the concern glowing from his eyes. Nor was there any mistaking how he had gently cupped his hands around my waist this morning when he helped me get on Kaja.

As I stare up at the Sister Moons, I can almost hear his voice telling me to keep fighting. To not give in to my fear.

A bitter laugh bubbles up in my throat. Fighting? Look at me now. Bound, gagged, and at the mercy of Bigfoot over there. I glance at the Pugj, who’s still drinking water from the stream. I know better than to try anything stupid. If I tried to escape now, he would be on me before I could even make it to my feet.

But I can leave a trail. And maybe, just maybe, if any of the warriors come to find me, they’ll spot it. It’s not much, but it’s the only plan I have right now.

Keeping one eye on my captor as he drinks his fill from the stream, I dig the heels of my sneakers into the ground beneathme trying to disturb the soil so that it’s obvious to anyone searching that I was here. But not so obvious to Bigfoot. I don’t want him getting wise to what I’m doing.

The wound on my thigh has already stopped bleeding, but I press my nails into it, reopening it. A sharp sting flares, but I welcome it. As unobtrusively as I can, I rub the fresh blood against a clump of leaves. It’s faint, but maybe it’ll be enough for the Laediriians to track. Their sense of smell is sharp, and I have to hope they’re looking for me.

The Pugj finishes drinking and stalks back, grabbing me like I weigh nothing. Back over his shoulder I go, bouncing painfully with every step.

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