Page 3

CHAPTER THREE

“We will stop for the night when we reach that ridge,” Maria’s impromptu rescuer said, pointing to a tantalizingly close rocky outcropping.

She almost couldn’t believe her ears, but when she looked around to really take in their surroundings, she realized that not only had they traveled farther than she’d ever have thought herself capable of hiking in a day, let alone running, it was also getting dark around them.

They were just at an elevated location and the sun’s waning rays happened to be illuminating them while lower areas were already in shadow.

“We’re done?” she asked as they slowed to a walk for the final stretch.

“Almost. You’re doing amazing work, Maria. I know it’s been difficult, but this was necessary to ensure you were safe. I would not have pushed you so hard otherwise.”

She noted he was picking some berries from a small patch of shrubs and tucking them into a little pouch. No wonder he’d slowed down. It wasn’t because he was tired, or even to allow Maria a bit of rest. He’d spotted a food source and was going to make the most of it before it got dark .

Zepharos swung his pack around to the front and dug through a side pocket. “Drink this,” he said, handing her a water bottle and a smaller tube of some runny gel stuff.

“What is it?”

“You have sweated a lot today and need to replace the minerals your body has shed along with the fuel your muscles have burned. The gel is a restorative for that purpose.”

“You mean electrolytes?”

He looked at her with an odd expression for a moment. “I don’t think that quite translated right, but I do believe my rune understood the meaning, if not the word. A supplement for your body’s own hydration matrix, yes?”

“I always thought it was what plants craved,” she replied, somehow managing a little chuckle as she sniffed the tube. “But yeah, that sounds about right. Thank you, Zepharos.”

“You’re welcome. We are fortunate it is not a hot day. It would have made the trek a lot more draining on your body. But you have performed quite well, especially for one not accustomed to such things.”

“And you are?” she asked, downing the slightly tart gel, and chasing it with nearly the entire bottle of water, her body screaming yes! as it gleefully absorbed the electrolytes and nutrients.

“Me? More than most, yes.”

Maria could already feel her mind clearing, and her body, while still aching pretty much everywhere, was at least beginning to release a fraction of the tension she’d been carrying since their brazen escape.

“Why is that?” she asked, finishing the last of the gel and water.

Zepharos took the containers and tucked them into the pack.

He’d been careful every step of the way to not leave anything behind on the trail, or lack of trail, to be more accurate.

While Maria was pretty much a city girl in the woods, this muscular outdoorsman moved as though he was born for this sort of thing.

As it turned out, that wasn’t so far from the truth.

He turned to her, an almost happy look in his eyes. “I come from a very small village. Not tiny, but definitely not a city.”

“And that’s why you’re good at this?”

He laughed. “Not exactly. It’s just that my people, the Oraku, eschew technology.”

Maria stopped and stared.

“What is it? Are you injured?” he asked, concern in his gaze.

“You’re telling me that you live here, on an alien world full of spaceships and incredible gizmos, and you guys choose to be Space Amish?”

“Okay, that definitely didn’t translate properly. Amish ?”

“We have these people on my world who avoid technology too.”

“So, you do understand.”

“Yes and no. I mean, it’s just we don’t have space travel, so for them it’s no TV or cars. But here? With all this amazing stuff at your fingertips? This is a whole other level of weird.”

Zepharos shrugged with an amused grin on his face. “I suppose some would see it that way. It’s not the first time I’ve heard it, you know. But I happen to be something of an anomaly among my people.”

“How’s that?”

“For one, you met me at the Husken Games.”

“Right. But that place was packed.”

“Yes, but the Oraku generally keep to themselves and do not leave our lands. I, however, live by my own rules and have traveled far and wide across our world.”

“Have you been to other planets?”

“Well, no. But I do plan to one day. But for now I am content to visit other cities and meet their inhabitants. It’s how I have learned quite a bit about technology and the ways of other races. Pretty helpful when it comes to getting humans out of cages, I’d say.”

“Yeah, and again, thank you for that. Without you, I’d still be locked up back there.”

She looked behind them, marveling at the ridiculous amount of distance they’d covered. Were the days longer here? Without a watch to check what time it was, she really had no idea. It could have been ten or fifteen hours or more. As tired as she was, she guessed closer to the latter.

Zepharos moved closer and handed her the little pouch. “These are for you. Nutrient dense and containing a healthy amount of sugar for a quick boost of energy.”

“Thank you,” she replied, accepting the offering and popping one into her mouth without hesitation.

The flavor was fascinating. Not exactly like a blackberry, though the texture was similar.

There were sweet, floral notes to its juice, and a delicate tartness that snuck up on her as it warmed in her mouth, causing it to water slightly, her own saliva triggering another round of novel tastes when it met the juice.

“These are really good,” she mumbled as she chewed.

“I’m glad you like them. I could see you are in need of a boost for our final push before we stop for the night.”

“Stopping sounds divine.”

“Soon. But we are not in a safe place yet. It is still a little while before sundown, and in addition to providing better shelter, the more distance we can put between ourselves and your former captors, the better. But once the sun sets, we will have no choice but to stop. In other regions, we would push on well into the dark, but in this area it can be a bit treacherous at night. ”

Maria felt a slight flare of worry. “Treacherous?”

“Nothing serious. But there are unstable geologic formations. Sinkholes and springs. Easy to avoid in the day, but they can catch your foot at night.”

“I hadn’t noticed any.”

“Because I was leading you around them,” he replied with an amused glance. “Like I said, it’s easy to avoid them in the day. I’ll show you how to spot them from a distance tomorrow. We will be dealing with them for a little while longer, so it will be a useful skill for you to learn.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“As I said, my people avoid technology. It’s not to say they do not know how to use it, but they opt for a very basic, almost primitive existence in harmony with nature.

So, naturally, my early years were spent doing what all youths in my village do.

Namely, hunting, gathering, exploring. Learning to navigate by the sun and stars, how to find food, water, and shelter in just about any setting.

And tracking and trap making, of course.

I always enjoyed those. The thrill of the hunt was exciting for a young boy. ”

“But then?”

“Then I grew older. And what might be fun for a boy is not so satisfying for a man.” A look of something akin to regret flashed across his face.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Nothing. It’s just that I spent a long time behaving in a manner I now realize to have been…less than ideal.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s just say I have enjoyed experiences across this world, but did not always care about the ramifications of my actions.”

“Ah. You were a player.”

“Player? I’ve heard that term before, and yes, I suppose you could say that. ”

“So, you got any baby mamas out there you just found out about?”

“What? No! We do not reproduce with other races unless we are bonded. In fact, without the Infala bond, it cannot be done between different races without great effort and medical intervention.”

“Hang on. You’re saying you can only get your own kind pregnant?”

“If we are not Infala bonded, then yes. I must apologize, I forgot your circumstances and means of arrival here. You see, this is common knowledge among the population.”

“The pregnancy thing? Well, that’s got to be a relief. But I bet a lot of people catch things as a result. Being carefree sometimes has consequences.”

“Ah, another facet you are unfamiliar with. I forget twice in as many minutes.”

“What are you talking about?”

“That the Dotharian Conglomerate’s eradication of all sexually transmitted illnesses happened hundreds of years ago. There have not been those sort of infections for longer than any can remember.”

“You’re saying that not only can women not get accidentally knocked up, but also there aren’t any STIs in this entire Dotharian realm thingie?”

“Essentially, yes.”

“Meaning you were out there breaking hearts all over the place. I can see the appeal.”

“I suppose, yes,” he replied, but his mood had darkened somewhat.

Maria took it all in, her mind processing that tidbit in a flash.

Despite her utter exhaustion, the realization hit her that getting your freak on had no consequences, at least, not physically, on this world.

Sure, feelings could be hurt, and it seemed like Zepharos had done his share in the past. But the man also seemed like he was genuinely remorseful about it.

That, however, was a subject she wouldn’t be broaching.

At least not now. While she was curious to learn more about her savior and his life, this was hardly the time.

Silence hung like an uncomfortably damp cloak weighing upon them as they walked. Her levity about his past trysts had rubbed a nerve. A change in subject was definitely in order.

“So, you came all the way to the games. Have you been before?”

“Oh, yes. Many times.”

“How far from your home is it?”

His shoulders relaxed slightly at the welcome shift in topic.

“It’s a long trip by foot, but a relatively short flight.

I would typically fly in, but I found myself in need of some time to myself after, well, no need to get into that.

Suffice it to say, the walk was long and exactly what I needed.

” He looked up ahead, gauging the distance remaining.

“We should pick up our pace. I’d like to have some daylight in which to get us situated for the night. Are you good to continue a bit faster?”

Maria was exhausted, but she also knew the end of the day’s ordeal was near. The sooner they got there, the sooner she could rest.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just don’t go too fast. I’m still a lot slower than you are.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t leave you behind,” he said, then turned and started off at a slow jog.

She fell into a steady pace behind him, watching his broad shoulders and sculpted ass as he moved in front of her.

He wouldn’t leave her. Somehow, she was certain of it.

More than that, he’d put his own freedom in jeopardy to save her.

She didn’t know much about this man, but whatever his history might have once been, one thing was certain.

He would protect her as best he could, and without ulterior motive.

On this strange alien world, he was the first, and only, man to do so.

Somehow, Maria had found the most unlikely of protectors, and her life was about to take another drastic turn as a result.