Page 24 of Survivor
I laughed, though highly temped. “We’ve been gone almost all day. Vysar might get worried and come looking for us. Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?” Vraxxan’s father was good at giving us space, but the jungle was a dangerous place, and protectiveness seemed to be a genetic trait.
Vraxxan raised his eyebrows, the concept of embarrassment something he needed to ponder. After a minute, he acquiesced with a heavy sigh, took my hand in his, and led me toward the treehouse.
The path we walked was a narrow trail that the Peecha had carved through the dense jungle. It meandered from the babbling creek, winding its way through a lush area where fruit trees flourished, their branches heavy with ripe, colorful bounty. The route would take us longer to return to the treehouse, but Vraxxan wanted to check the snares he had set nearby. Not to mention a kipawa tree laden with delicious fruit beckoned.
With a gentle reminder not to wander and a playful swat on my rear, Vraxxan left me to gather the ripe kipawa fruit while he ventured a few steps further down the path to check his snares. He was only a few feet away, and I could still catch glimpses of him through the lush foliage. His presence, even at a distance, was reassuring. The warmth of his recent confession lingered, and I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face as I started plucking fruit from the branches.
Kipawa fruit bore a resemblance to a peach, yet its skin was thicker and fuzzier, much like a kiwi’s. When eaten fresh, it was a delightful treat, bursting with sweetness. However, I had discovered a way to cook it, crafting a jam-like concoction thatwas nothing short of delicious when spread overdotvasleaves, a thick, spongy leaf that stood in for bread. I hummed as I worked, my ears attuned to the sounds of Vraxxan moving through the underbrush, checking and resetting his snares, along with an uttered curse or two when he came up empty. He was hunting for a small creature known as ahcikkna, which, strangely enough, tasted just like chicken. He knew I loved it, and despite the small possum like creature being difficult to catch, Vraxxan persisted. Anything to make me happy. How could I not fall for him?
I glanced over my shoulder at the nearby bushes. Though he was no longer visible, I could hear Vraxxan grumbling about empty snares, a low, frustrated murmur mingling with the rustling leaves. I smiled to myself, returning to the task of picking fruit, happily tucking piece after piece into the bag I wore slung over my shoulder. I’d almost filled the bag completely when an unexpected chill crept over my skin like a ghostly whisper. I paused, straining my ears, only to be met with an eerie silence. Not even Vraxxan’s rustling was audible any longer—just total stillness that seemed to scream through the air. I turned slowly, my eyes darting through the foliage in search of Vraxxan. But instead, I found something else entirely. Death. Well, if death could take on an animal form.
The creature blended with the shadows at the edge of the trees, towering at twice the height of Vraxxan and nearly twice his width. Its skin, a rich and vibrant shade of green, might be almost beautiful if not for the grime and crusted streaks of dried blood marring the surface. The head bore a striking resemblance to that of an alligator, perched atop an elongated neck that swayed back and forth with a predatory grace. Its long, muscular arms ended in ten-inch black claws, while the lower half of its body reminded me of a T-Rex, though its tail was slenderer and whip-like, suggesting a fearsome agility. Its wide, inky black eyeslocked onto me with unsettling intensity, and a long, gray tongue darted out to moisten its lips in a disturbingly human gesture of anticipation. Vysar said that predators only emerged at night. This thing obviously didn’t own a watch.
I screamed.
The beast bellowed, the sound echoing like the thunderous rumble of an enraged freight train as it lunged for me. Its massive bulk, a blessing in disguise, rendered it sluggish enough to give me time to dive out of its path. With a ferocious roar, the creature collided headfirst into the sturdy trunk of the kipawa tree, utterly obliterating it in a shower of splintered wood and ripe fruit.
Fragments of wood, leaves and fruit rained down upon me as I scrambled to my feet, my mind racing. Vraxxan? My gaze frantically darted the tree line but found nothing but shadows. The thought that the beast might have reached him first sent a chilling wave of dread surging through my veins, my heart sinking like a stone into the pit of my stomach.
The creature turned slowly, its massive form shedding limbs and twigs from its head with a jerk. Its dark eyes locked intently onto me once more. Panic surged as I stumbled backward, the realization dawning that there was nowhere to run, no sanctuary in sight. The treehouse was too far away to reach in time. The jungle, with its dense underbrush and towering trees, promised no refuge, especially after witnessing what the beast had done to the kipawa tree.
“Vraxxan!” I screamed his name, my voice a raw blend of anguish and anger echoing through the trees. The only way he would leave me to face this creature alone was if he was dead.
The beast reared its massive head, scales glinting ominously in the sunlight, and unleashed a thunderous bellow that reverberated through the air. This time, however, something else answered the beast’s roar. A deeper, morefurious growl that seemed to vibrate from the very ground beneath me.
Vraxxan erupted from the dense forest, his sudden appearance sending a wave of relief crashing over me with such force that I staggered and fell to my knees. He gripped a long, sturdy branch, wielding it like a club as he swung at the creature. He wore no weapon, except the short blade at his side that would be no help against this creature. Yet he wielded the club like Hank Aaron stepping up to home plate. The force of his strikes sent the beast retreating, even if only briefly, allowing a fleeting moment for his eyes to lock with mine. In that instant, his expression was a tumultuous blend of affection, fury and fear, emotion contorting his features.
“Run!” he bellowed, his voice a desperate command.
I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding as I sought refuge beside a towering boulder at the forest’s edge. Despite Vraxxan’s yell echoing through my brain, I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to abandon him.
Vraxxan turned back to the beast, brandishing his makeshift weapon. His growls and bellows of rage filled the air as he and the creature circled one another, a dance of predator and prey, though it was impossible to discern which was which.
The beast’s claws slashed through the air as Vraxxan deftly dodged, narrowly avoiding swipes that could have easily cleaved him in two. He landed strike after strike against the creature’s head, which cracked through the air like thunder, yet seemed to do little more than disorient the beast for a moment or two. The battle seemed to stretch on endlessly, each second feeling like an eternity as Vraxxan swung his branch while the beast deflected, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash its claws upon the man I loved.
And I did love him.
Dammit! Why did realizations like this always seem to come at the most inopportune moments?
A low, involuntary sound escaped my lips, a deep resonance that spoke of the writhing emotions within me—fear and love locked in a fierce struggle for dominance in my soul.
The sudden sound captured Vraxxan’s attention, and the beast seized the opportunity. Its claws swung through the air, aiming straight for Vraxxan’s head. At the last possible moment, Vraxxan managed to parry with his club, a movement that sent the creature’s slash angling downward. Vraxxan jumped back, yet he wasn’t quick enough to prevent the creature from leaving a deep, ragged gash across his torso. Blood poured from the wound, a crimson river that made me scream in horror as Vraxxan staggered backward, his strength momentarily sapped.
The beast pressed the advantage, striking out once more with terrifying speed. This time, Vraxxan barely raised his club in time, deflecting the blow just enough to avoid a fatal strike. However, the force of the impact sent him hurtling through the air, his body twisting helplessly before crashing into the sturdy trunk of a nearby tree. He crumbled to the ground, his form unnaturally still and lifeless.
A cry of anguish tore from my throat as I ran, not away from the danger, but toward Vraxxan, my heart pounding with desperation.
The beast wasn’t content with just one kill. With a powerful leap, it landed in my path. The collision knocked me backward with such force that I landed hard on my ass, my body jarring against the ground making my teeth clack together painfully.
The creature prowled around me in a slow, deliberate circle, its eyes locked onto mine and its long gray tongue flicking out to savor the anticipation of the moment. Desperately, I tried to scramble to my feet, but before I could regain my balance,one of the beast’s muscular arms lashed out, its claws ripping through the flesh of my left leg from knee to ankle. The pain was excruciating, a searing agony that wrenched another scream from my lips. My suffering seemed to please the beast, its monstrous mouth splitting into what could only be described as a sinister grin. As its maw opened wide, revealing row upon row of razor-sharp teeth, I resigned myself to the inevitable. Unlike cancer, at least it would be quick.
A piercing scream shattered the air, seizing both my attention and that of the creature. Vraxxan struggled to his feet, blood gushing from a deep wound carved into his chest, while one of his arms dangled awkwardly, definitely broken. His teal eyes locked onto mine, a storm of pain and regret swirling within them, and he took a faltering step toward me.
“Vraxxan, run!” I cried out, desperation tearing from my throat. Only one of us needed to die. My leg burned as if a thousand needles were stabbing into it, killing any hope I had of escape.
Vraxxan lurched forward, collapsing onto his knees. He would not abandon me. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my cheeks. This would be our end, but at least we had been together and happy.I love you, I mouthed, knowing my words would not reach his ears but hoping that they reached his heart.
Vraxxan’s teal eyes focused on mine as he struggled once again to stand. He made it to his feet staggering as he moved toward me then he….
