Page 55 of Monstrous Hunt
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KROKTL
Crouched on top of a boulder, I watched as two humans walked up the trail. The man was definitely Snyder, so the female must be Holly, Natalie’s friend. The sun was barely peeking above the horizon, yet the man was already drenched in sweat. I was surprised he hadn’t brought a small army of mercenaries again, but perhaps he’d run out of money.
Helpless rage simmered in my blood. Natalie needed us. She couldn’t deliver our youngling unprotected in a dark, tiny cave. In pain. Alone. Completely intolerable.
Yet there was nothing I could do but eliminate this human who’d hurt her and then race to her as quickly as possible.
:I call dibs on his head, but you can share the rest of him.:
Lohr huffed with disgust.:He’s a scrawny little runt. Let Riz have the snack. He needs it more than us.:
:I’m not that injured,:Riz protested.
:The fuck you are,:Snryx retorted.:Swallow him down in one gulp so we can head towards Natalie. We need you up and flying to map the quickest route.:
Lohr’s tongue flicked out, tasting the air.:Ozone. Incoming.:
Fuck yeah. Something worthwhile to fight, maybe wear off some of this rage, and feed the entire squad at the same time. A blue ring rippled on the ground between us and the approaching humans. A pillar of blazing light charred the ground before dissipating.
Revealing Natalie and Axxol, lying in a heap on the ground.
Shifting in mid-stride, I leaped to her, scooping her up against my chest. She cried out and opened her eyes, dark with pain. “The baby’s coming.”
Also shifted, Snryx dropped to his knees beside us and immediately attached himself to her. “Applying a pain reliever to make you more comfortable. Everything’s going to be just fine, Natalie.”
Axxol mumbled, his speech so slurred that I couldn’t make out what he said. I didn’t feel him on the grid, either. Pale and clammy, he twitched and flopped as if he couldn’t control his body movements at all.
The human male screamed. He must have gotten a good look at Lohr. Or maybe Rizan. “What the fuck are you?”
I expected them to run for the hills, but the woman came closer, though she gave Lohr a wide berth. “Natalie? Oh my god. What happened? Are you…pregnant?!”
“Impossible,” Snyder whispered. “It can’t be. She’s only been missing a month. Maybe two.”
Natalie’s face tightened with pain, and she gripped my arm, digging her nails into my skin. “Still hurts.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” Snryx said. “I can’t eliminate the pain completely for fear your labor will stall.” He hesitated, looking up at me and then back to her for a moment, as if he wanted to make a suggestion but wasn’t sure how it would be taken.
She nodded, closing her eyes briefly. “Makes sense. Can you heal Axxol?”
“I’ll take a look.” Touching an implement to him, Snryx let out a sour grunt. “How’d you manage to jump in this state?”
Axxol mumbled louder, his eyes rolling. He tried to sit up but fell backwards, gasping like a fish.
Natalie lifted her head, searching for something on the ground. She picked up a thin, silver rod and before anyone could react, she jammed it into Axxol’s shoulder. “He didn’t.”
Color rushed back into his skin, and he thrashed on the ground, knocking Snryx aside as he shifted into his massive beast.
:Fucking ow!:Axxol bellowed on the grid, making me wince.
:You’re fucking welcome,:Natalie replied.
On the grid.
I cupped her cheek, searching her eyes. “How is this possible?”
Another vicious cramp tightened her stomach. I could feel it like it was my own body. I breathed with her, holding her gaze as the pain increased to a peak and then slowly bled away. “It’s a long story.”
