Page 4

"You killed it. Idiot." The praxiian's words are a displeased growl. "Now we can't bring it back."

"My hands were just too strong," the reptilian protests. "My killing instinct took over. It's because I'm such a fierce fighter."

I have to bite my lip to keep from snorting with derision. Someone thinks highly of himself.

The moden speaks up. "Open it. We can take the khui for one of us and bring the meat back to camp. All is not lost, but we must be quick." He turns to the praxiian. "You don't have a khui yet, Valmir."

The praxiian nods and takes the dead animal from the other. He pulls out a small, crude knife and cuts it open, and the scent of blood fills the wind. After a moment, he pulls out what looks like a glowing blue filament and stretches it on his fingers. "It looks like a worm."

"It is a worm, but what other choice do you have? It's necessary for survival." The moden remains unruffled. "Be quick so the creature's death is not in vain."

The praxiian splice cuts his arm open with a claw, and as I watch, he places the filament there. It disappears before my eyes, and the praxiian shudders and collapses on the ground.

"Great. Now we have to carry him back to camp." The reptilian is disgusted. "He's not going to wake up for hours."

"You should have thought of that before you killed our catch," the moden says. He bends down to scoop up the collapsed praxiian, and as he does, I notice his eyes are a faint blue instead of the normal moden black. Interesting.

A parasite.

Blue eyes.

Necessary for survival.

Will help with the cold.

All of this is fascinating and precious information. I need to find a creature of my own. If what they say is true, Aidy and I both need these worms to ensure we thrive in our new environment.

I watch the direction the males leave, arguing the entire time, and I head in the opposite direction.

I stalk through the snows until I catch scent of game, and then a path full of old mesakkah scents.

A trail of some kind. I note the game and which direction it heads and follow the trail for a bit longer, my need for supplies for Aidy outweighing the hunt for game.

It must be alive when I bring it back, after all, and Aidy might not be if I don't find her warm clothes soon.

The trail eventually brings me to a small cave with a stretched leather screen covering over it.

The people scents are everywhere here, and when I duck inside the cave, I want to shout with joy.

Supplies are piled here. Dozens of furs and dried meat are packed neatly away in baskets and piles.

There are roots and fire-making supplies.

There are fur cloaks and fishing nets and a few spears.

I take some of the carved bone knives and a spear, and a bag of foodstuffs.

I pile several of the furs into my arms and then make the long hike back to the cave where Aidy waits for me, shivering and alone.

When I dig out the entrance to the cave, she's completely quiet. She doesn't twitch when I say her name, and it isn't until I slither my way in next to her that she gasps, her eyes fluttering open.

"Were you asleep?" I ask.

"I…I don't know." Her teeth chatter and her lips are blue. More worrying than that, her expression is dazed, as if she cannot focus. She reaches for me, and her hands are like blocks of ice.

"I found blankets and food," I say, piling them atop our bodies as best I can in the narrow confines. "Put one under you so you don't have to lie on the cold rock, and we'll set the rest atop us. Body heat is still best."

She nods and follows my lead, limply helping me move the blankets. Her shivering abates after a while, her cheeks flushing with warmth. "Well," she says, trying to keep a chipper note in her voice. "This is almost bearable."

I huff with amusement. "High praise."

"Sorry. It's hard to be optimistic when you're dying."

Her tired words fill me with alarm. This is my chance to finally play and show my skills, and I do not want my prize dying on me. "You will not die. I know exactly how we will survive this. Just be patient until I can bring a live creature here."

"A live creature? For what?"

I'm not sure how she'll take the news that she must be given a parasite to survive. I decide to omit that for now. "I brought food. I found a storage cave and pilfered from it supplies. Are you hungry?"

"Starving. You really have food?"

"And water, though it is snow that I scooped and let melt in a water bladder."

"I'll take all of it. I could kiss you right now." She squeezes her arms around me, which must be the "kiss" thing she mentions.

Her happiness makes me pleased. I rub her arm, noting how soft her skin is, and just how fragile and cold her smaller form is. Not good. "I told you I would take care of you, Aidy."

"I know. I just…I'm struggling." She manages a small smile.

I pull out a piece of the jerky I stole from the cave and hold it out to her. "Eat. You will feel better with a full belly."

We both inhale the supplies, but I save most of the food for her.

It is extremely spicy, and Aidy coughs several times as she eats, but she still devours her portion.

Food will help her strengthen, and we both sip the cold water.

It tastes a bit like dirt, but I don't care.

It's something to drink. Aidy's shivering eventually stops, but her toes and fingers remain cold against my skin.

"I saw others," I confess to her. "They were working together, possibly looking for us."

She stiffens against me, worried. "What do we do?"

"We leave this spot and head somewhere farther out, somewhere we can defend easily.

" I am fascinated by the soft curve of her cheek, and wonder if she is as soft there as she is on her arm.

My fingers twitch, eager to touch her there, but I keep stroking her arm instead.

"Do you think you can travel after you rest again? "

She makes a weak sound that might be a chuckle. "Do I have a choice? I'll figure it out."

"Just be patient?—"

I break off as I hear the crunch of snow nearby. I go still, putting a hand over Aidy's mouth to quiet her. She tenses under my hand but does not protest, her eyes wide. I don't breathe, straining my ears to listen. Did the other gladiators find us? Or is this some different predator?

There's another crunch of snow, and then a familiar pungent scent—the owner of the cave has returned.

I must protect Aidy.

The moment the thought crosses my mind, a shadow falls over the mouth of the cave.

I catch sight of a massive feline head, and for a moment I think the praxiian splice has found us.

A second later, a large paw swipes down into the cave, and the creature hisses.

I swat it away from Aidy, protecting her even as she cringes back.

This is not a praxiian—this is some sort of oversized dangerous snow cat with bad breath.

He's not getting my mate.

The creature shoves his head in further, trying to bite, and fangs as long as my fingers open wide.

Aidy screams.

I grab the cat by its muzzle before he can push further and shove.

The thing falls back, and I keep pushing, using my feet to propel myself forward.

I do not let go of the muzzle, even when its teeth cut into my palms. It begins to whip its head back and forth, trying to shake me loose, but I hold fast.

Shoving it backward, I lose control when the creature breaks free, his head no longer confined by the cave.

I scramble to follow him and keep the advantage.

The cat pounces on me the moment I climb out of the cave, and then it's tearing at my hide, all claws and teeth.

A cold, logical part of my mind expects this and I'm able to calmly react.

Grappling with the creature, I push aside its face and try to fend off its heavy paws, all the while waiting for an opening.

When I see the opportunity, I grab it—I grab one ear and then the other, and when the fierce, saliva-covered fangs are nearly reaching my face, I kick the creature's thigh.

It's distracted by the pain, and I wrench its head to the side with all my might, using the energy I was storing while I let it take the lead in our fight.

There's a loud cracking sound, and then the creature slumps over, dead.

Panting, I get out from under it and wrench the head again, just in case. Good. One problem down. I turn to the mouth of the cave, a few feet away in the churned-up snow. Aidy's face is just visible in the shadows, her eyes wide with terror.

I hold out a hand. "Knife."

"W-what?" Her response is dazed.

"I had a knife with me. One made of stone. Bring it here."

"Is it not dead?"

"Oh, it's very dead." I watch as she crawls hesitantly out of the hole and into the chilly weather. "But we need its parasite."

She hands me the knife, her face uncomprehending. I kneel next to the creature, thank it for its brave sacrifice, and then sink the knife into the chest. I cut the creature open even as Aidy makes a shivering sound next to me. "Wait, did you say parasite?"

"I did." I pull organs out of the bleeding cavity, looking for the glowing blue filament.

I don't see it anywhere, so it must be in the heart.

Figures, since the heart is the one that is most difficult to get to.

Knife set aside, I put both hands on the ribcage and pry it apart, the cracksatisfying to feel under my hands.

There, nestled in its cage of bones, is the heart, still glowing from within. I pull it free and squish it in my hand like an overripe piece of fruit. From there, it is easy to pull out the glowing filament that writhes and squirms, hating the cold as much as we do.

I hold it out, my arms covered in gore up to the elbows, and demonstrate it to Aidy. "This will save us."

She stares at it for a long moment. As I watch, her eyes roll back to whites and then she collapses on the ground.

I am a touch annoyed that she has no words of praise for my feats of strength, but I remind myself that it is cold and Aidy is suffering.

At least her being unconscious makes it easy to implant the creature.

I make a small nick on her arm and hold the parasite close.

As if it can sense the welcoming heat of her body, it surges off my hand and slithers into the cut on her arm.

Hope I didn't kill my female.