Page 46 of Claimed by the Alien Warrior Triad

If an oversized wolf decides to hunt me, I’m going to be eaten on this jungle planetfor real.

I’ve had twenty years to prepare, and twelve more before that todream.

I grip the steel of the pistol I stole. I trained extensively in small firearms while I was making my way towards the post of Secretary of Defense. If a beast tries to make me lunch?

I’ll put hot lead through its throat instead.

I’ve got nine shots in the gun and one clip to reload. It’s not much, but as long as it can get me to the mountain home of the Aurelians, it will be enough. I haven’t been here in thirty years and yet everything is the same. I touch the ground, feeling the familiar softness of the densely-packed, yet moist dirt through the grass.

There are a million predators out here, and I probably won’t make it to the Aurelians mountain home.

But I’m here. Oh, God, I’m here!

I start walking in my boots, holding the grip of the pistol tight as I make my way towards the mountain in the distance.

One thing is different. Vast swathes of the ground are burnt. Naked and devoid of plants and vegetation, and I shudder as I realize that dragon must still be alive and terrorizing the planet. I might be able to survive an attack by one of the great golden eagles or one of the wolves – but if that dragon sets his sights on me, I’ll be a goner.

A warm breeze touches me, and I breathe in deeply – tasting the freshness of the air. It feels like there’s more oxygen and less gravity on this beautiful, dangerous world. Every breath fills my lungs completely. Every step is bouncing.

I’ll have to find a way to tell them the gray in my hair is not real!

Facing such danger, I laugh asthat’sthe first thought crosses my mind. I know Stryker, Haleon and Brigg will not have changed at all. I just hope desperately that they haven’t completely forgotten about me.

Something in my primal mind – my deepest, most basic senses – warns me that danger is near. I dive down, pressing myself against the grass. I peer out between the long stems, looking for a glimpse of whatever caused my senses to tingle.

My jaw drops as I see a magnificent tiger striding past me.

It stands as tall as a one-story building, its haunches moving powerfully as it creeps through the grass. The beautiful predator is the length of a few city blocks away from me, and walking in the other direction. The breeze passes through the grass, rippling and creating a beautiful rustling sound as I watch the majestic beast. Thankfully the wind is blowing towards me, so my scent isn’t brought towards the huge tiger’s nostrils. Instead, I watch with fascination as the beautiful tiger walks away.

This is all real.

The thought makes me giggle, then smile. It’s allreal. I just witnessed something no one else on Earth willeverget to see. I just saw a beast that could feature in a movie – but only if it was computer-generated!

No one else alive gets to see these things! No one – and yetIdo.

I keep walking at a trot, the mountain grower ever larger and larger in my vision. I’m breathing heavy by the time I get to the base of it.

I look up at the towering mountain, my heart pounding as I realize how close Ifinallyam. Then my eyes go wide as I see the brutal scars marring the side of the towering rocks.

The dragon must have been hunting these grounds too, and that means he might come for me. Burns have levelled trees and scorched the rock of the mountainside in long swathes; more obvious and devastating than I’d seen thirty years ago.

I start climbing, and halfway up the mountain I hear a snarl that makes my blood run cold.

I freeze up, turning to find an enormous mountain lion – and I meanenormous, the size of a moose from back on Earth - just fifty feet away.

Long, lithe, and dangerous, it covers the ground in massive leaps and bounds; traveling at a speed that’s truly daunting.

I don’t have time to think.

I raise the pistol and fire. I fire until the gun starts clicking and I’ve burned through an entire clip.

The mountain lion staggers to halt, confused and in pain. It whimpers, and then staggers to the ground.

My heart pounds as I stare, wide-eyed, at the mountain lion. It’s huge and bleeding – yet still so majestic and elegant. The dying beast breathes with wide, uncomprehending eyes, blood pooling from its jaws.

I’m suddenly wracked with guilt at what I’ve just done. This beautiful, elegant creature was merely doing what nature designed it to do – and I justendedit.

I can’t bear to see the beast in such pain. I’ve already shot off the loud, powerful gun nine times, and I know that I’ve already called attention to whatever other animals are lurking on the mountainside.

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