Page 26 of Ruarc
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a glow approaching, and before I can say a word, a small figure comes into view. Atasha is holding the lamp up as high as she can, trying to peer through the haze of the hot spring. “Kallen, is that you?”
The lantern drops hastily as she runs our way. Gently gathering Kallen up, I get both of us to our feet a tic before Atasha crashes into my legs. Bracing myself, I ensure my precious mate and youngling sister keep their feet as they embrace one another. I look behind her, expecting Slavic, or at least mam to be with her, only to realize she is alone. Before I can ask her how she found us, her tears are soaking through my thin pants as she reaches up for Kallen, her words hard to understand through her hiccups, as she has been crying hard for some time.
“I tried… to fff-ollow the others earlier…, but before I ccc-ould get here… they made everyone gg-go back to the main hall. They kept telling me… that you were all-right and that you would be right bbb-ack, and I waited and waited… bbb-ut you never came! When mam was ccc-alled away, I took one of the
lll-anterns out of my room, but I got really sss-cared when I kept www-alking and still could not… find you. I thought for ss-sure I was lll-ost, and because I ddd-id not tell anyone, no one www-ould know www-here to look for me. Then I hhh-eard yourvoice… and I rrr-an as fff-ast as I ccould. I really wish… you www-ould stop lll-eaving me!!”
Lowering Kallen down, we both pull Atasha close, holding her as we try to understand her little words, which are all mixed together. Just as I push her hair off her tear-streaked face, I feel a tremor.
CHAPTER 16
RUARC
Kallen and I look at each other at the same time. Grabbing both of them, I swing them up into my arms just as the vines above sway back and forth, and the water starts splashing onto the floor. I stumble as it feels like the ground suddenly shifts beneath my feet.
“Kallen, we must get out of here. Grab Atasha’s lantern and hold on.” I lean down just enough for Kallen to grab it and then sprint through the doorway. The water is now above my ankles as I look around, trying to figure out what our best path forward is. A rumble in the distance makes the decision for me, and I start running with both of them tucked against my much larger frame.
Kallen holds the lantern out so that I can see the few twists and turns coming our way, while Atasha’s small arms are twined tightly around my neck as she looks behind us. Just as I start to recognize where I am, Atasha screams, and it is like the pressure all around us changes. I flinch when the first rock hits my shoulders. Pushing my body as quickly as I can, I plow my way forward, dodging the rocks and debris falling all around us.
Out of nowhere, a wave of water hits me from behind, and the force of it knocks me off my feet. The swell of water rolls us amongst all the debris rushing along with the rising flood. I try to hold on to Kallen and Atasha as we are slammed into the wall. Gasping in pain at the impact of my body against the unforgiving wall, I inhale a lungful of water. Coughing, I fight to my feet, relieved to find the water is only up to my waist. “Are you two alright?” Atasha leans away from me, nodding her head, her eyes wide with fright as she fights with her hair one-handed while keeping a death grip around my neck with the other. Kallen leans out of my arms, spitting water out of her mouth before answering me.
“Yes, I believe so, but what happened?”
“I am not sure, but there must have been a cave-in or possibly a planet tremor. That may be why this area was abandoned; it might not be a stable environment. We have to get out of here before the water rises any higher. Do you recognize anything?”
“No, but I was not in the best mindset when I was heading this way.”
“I do not recall much either, but we know we cannot go back to where we were if this water level is accurate since that entire chamber will be underwater now. I think I came from that direction over there, so we will just have to take our chances. Wait! This is a long shot since they were not working well before but hit my comm unit and see what it does. I do not want to put you down, so you will have to operate it.”
“What am I looking for?”
“Are there any dots on the screen?”
“Yes, two of them are green.”
Triumph and relief fill me when Kallen answers me positively. “Hit one of them.”
The moment she does, I hear Slavic’s voice. “Where the frack are you, Ruarc? The entire compound is shaking under our feet. I am evacuating everyone until we can determine the cause. I commed you several times but could not connect with you or Falon.”
“I am trying to make our way back, Slavic. Kallen and Atasha are with me, but I am turned around. Can you give me directions from your location?”
“You are not a great distance away. Take the left fork when you reach it, and it will lead you to the main complex. The front area has not sustained any damage, so we are bringing everyone to that area until we can find out what hap…...”
Slavic’s voice is abruptly cut off before I can answer him back, and the floor once again shakes, swirling the water all around us. “Kallen, hold the lantern up and help me look for this fork Slavic was talking about.” I do not make it three steps before the entire roof directly in front of us starts crumbling from above. Turning, I dart under one of the archways just in time to turn my back toward the falling rocks. Grunting in pain as my shoulders and back are battered by the falling stone, I try my best to shelter Kallen and Atasha. I feel Kallen pull Atasha in tighter, both of them screaming in terror as the world seems to be closing in around us.
After what seems like forever, but I am sure was only a few tics, the world appears to steady itself once again, and now the silence feels eerie. “Kallen, the water is not deep here, so I am going to sit you and Atasha down. Do you think you can stay here while I take the light and try to see if I can find a way out for us?”
Atasha grabs on tighter. “NOOOO, you cannot go!”
“Little star, I know you are scared. I am too, but we must find a way out, and I can do that quicker if I am not worried about you.”
“You will come right back?”
“The gods willing, yes, I will return to you.”
I try to project a confidence I do not actually feel to my sister and smile at her in reassurance before looking over at Kallen. Her large amber eyes peer up at me as she hands me the lantern. I reach up, wiping a streak of blood off her forehead before leaning down to kiss her quickly.
“Ruarc, do not take any chances. We need you.”
