Page 85 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

85

The Suns Are Setting

A nubis

“Anubis?” She looks dazed as she touches her belly and then looks at the blood coating her upturned palms.

Now that she’s breathing, I need to attend to her other needs. That beast had rows of tiny, sharp teeth. They penetrated hundreds of places on Sadie’s stomach and back.

My owners taught me nothing, but I watched vids and read things on the Intergalactic Database after I discovered a workaround from their censors. Even I am smart enough to know the marsh she fell into had to be swimming with bacteria. All of her wounds are probably already becoming infected with germs and parasites.

I’m a geneslave, built to fight and kill in rough terrain and dire situations. The scientists who created me built me for times like this. Perhaps on purpose, perhaps by accident, my saliva has curative properties.

After severe beatings, my canine DNA compelled me to lick my wounds. I couldn’t always reach my back, although I used the feline method of licking my hands and then touching the wounds that were hard to reach. The scientists were very pleased with how quickly my injuries responded. They even created new wounds just to watch my saliva’s healing properties.

I never tried to use them on another living being, but now is the perfect time to try.

I tear off her tattered shirt and see the area under what she calls her halter top is untouched. Then I get to work licking every wound. First, I clean large swaths with my tongue, then I address each individual wound.

“Anubis, it’s sweet of you to try,” Sadie manages between pained breaths, “but that’s just instinct.” She reaches up weakly and tries to push my head away. “Filthy.”

I can’t explain, so I don’t try. I just keep methodically licking each little puncture.

If this works at all, and even if she heals as quickly as I do, we don’t have time to wait for my saliva to work. I ease her shirt back onto her, lift her under her knees and around her back, and run.

I have an unerring sense of direction, so I strike out in a direct line to the flagpole. I’ve been holding back, maintaining a moderate pace so my Sadie could keep up and wouldn’t realize she was slowing me down.

Now I have no reason to slow my steps and every reason to run faster.

We’d planned to go around what, on the map, looked like a thick forest. I decide to power through it. The faster we get to our destination, the sooner I can set Sadie down, get her some nutrition, and see if TGN has any medication to treat her.

“I can walk,” she protests even as her head lolls on my chest because she’s too weak to sit up straight.

“In a minute,” I lie. It’s good she can’t understand me.

“I’m so tired, but I want to pull my weight. I’ll just nap for a minute. Wake me in a bit.”

She’s asleep, or maybe it’s a coma. The poor little female was bitten and dropped and drowned. And that was just part of what she’s endured over the last few days. She’s a fighter. I simply have to keep running until we reach safety.

Although we were ahead of schedule before the flying lizard, we’re behind schedule now. The first sun is about to set. The forest is waking up with animals that like to hunt at dusk.

“Don’t mess with me, fuckers!” I shout into the trees, although I know my words are unintelligible and none of these creatures could understand me even if they weren’t.

I dash over fallen logs and around thick, wide trunks. When a sharp-beaked bird flies in my direction, I growl so long, loud, and viciously it makes a detour and looks for easier prey.

I’m built to run for hours, but these last few days have taken a toll on me as well. Plus, I now have emotions, and my fallen, ill mate is in my arms.

I’m panting with exertion for the first time in my life. My response? Pour on more speed. We’ve got to reach the flag in time.