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“Check her head,” he insisted, his anger at the vile reptiles rising.

“They didn’t knock me in the head. I think they shot me in the back,” Elena admitted.

“You, check her back!” Payim pointed at the medic, his anger doubling that someone dare shoot his female.

Elena eyed him, her expression indulgent, with just a mix of chagrin. He pursed his lips refusing to interrupt her again, though he couldn’t make any promises.

“So, I woke up on the cruiser and saw there were now just two. I freaked out. I was worried about you.” Elena’s eyes turned glossy and he instantly forgot his anger.

“I am fine,” he reiterated as he sat on the gurney and wrapped his arm around her.

Elena nodded then pulled in a deep breath. “I know that now, but I freaked out and dove for Spiny’s gun. He fired, damaging the ship.”

Payim closed his eyes as he pictured how wrong her stunt could’ve gone. She could’ve easily been shot. Elena’s laugh was unexpected and his eyes flew open.

“What happened next was totally unexpected. As pissed as the nasty bastard was, I thought he was going to kill me as the cruiser went down,” she snorted. “But thankfully the asshole wasn’t that dense. We stopped struggling on the floor and strapped in,” she relayed in disbelief.

“Did they survive the crash?” Thorac eagerly asked.

“Yes, unfortunately.” Elena nodded with a disappointed frown. “I ran the moment the cruiser stopped, but they were out before I could get away.”

“I was wrong. I can’t hear this.” Payim shook his head. He could feel the fear she must have experienced and it twisted his gut.

“I want to hear.” Faktil moved closer.

“Payim?” She looked at him in concern.

He closed his eyes and gave a curt nod.

“Well, I convinced them they wouldn’t make it if I wasn’t their guide. I don’t know what you’ve experienced of the planet but it’s pretty rough out there,” she informed the males.

“That’s an understatement,” he agreed.

“We’ve been watching that string of volcanoes. I do not want to be here when that big one blows. The small ones are bad enough.” Faktil adamantly shook his head.

“How did you earn their trust?” Thorac asked, obviously stunned.

“Wasp bombs.”

“Insect repellent,” he translated for her.

“It was hard helping those reptiles. I really wanted the wasps to sting them to death, but there weren’t enough of the flying menaces at the crash site,” Elena groused and he could imagine her frustration.

“The wasps are as big astopekewith a sting like acarbota,and they swarm when you get into their territory,” Payim explained to his friends as he grimaced.

“Truly?” Faktil looked horrified.

“Giving them the insect repellent, I managed to convince them they needed a guide,” she explained.

“Quick thinking,” he murmured, relieved. If Elena hadn’t been so quick-witted they would’ve undoubtedly killed her.

“Yeah.” She smiled at him. “I was so pissed when they made it past the hot springs. The volcanoes on that side of the mountain must bake the rock harder,” she huffed, still aggravated. “But the pilot went down on the geyser flats, boiled alive when one of those babies erupted.” A wicked smile spread across her face.

He could only imagine how she’d led them through the geysers yet managed that feat. Payim shivered at how close to death she’d been, but seeing how proud she was made him smile.

“That still left one,” Thorac interjected, looking as anxious as Payim felt.

“Yes. Spiny was suspicious of me. I pointed out how dangerous the planet is and he couldn’t really deny it. Although, he was right to be suspicious.” She wagged her brows, making him chuckle. “I tried leading him north, but he insisted we head across the volcanic desert straight toward their base. Unfortunately for him, we crossed paths with a herd of gryphons, who eat reptiles.” Elena grimaced, and stuck out her tongue in disgust.