Page 37 of Hope Forged
She halted with a grimace. Before her was a solid wall of rock.
“Seba?” she called.
“He wants us to go up,” Illan said, offering her the flare. His breath was warm over her ear and cheek.
She lifted the light high above her head and caught pink eyes gleaming at her. Balancing on the edge of a rock was her big friend. Clenching the light stick between her teeth, she searched for a spot where she could lodge her toe. Then a crack for her fingers. She raised herself a little at a time; with each toehold and finger grip, she made progress.
Illan gazed outward when the creature’s movements echoed in the cavern. The water below his feet rippled, forming waves. Yet, he didn’t budge.
“Illan,” she called.
He glanced at her, then threw himself onto the first ledge, easily finding holes and footholds to reach her.
The stench of rotten ceaza and burned dava reached her. She gagged, and hanging from one hand, she threw the other across her mouth and nose. She dared to glance down, her vision worsened by the light so close to her. A gigantic lump of limbs barreled toward them, snapping teeth on every inch of its tentacles. Its central mouth was agape in a silent scream.
She swallowed her fear and scaled up the rock, paying attention to a grip at a time. Illan would die first if they didn’t reach the platform of rock Seba stood on.
He roared at the creature.
Bright spurts of light painted the edges of her vision red. A peek below showed Illan firing at the creature.
She pulled herself onto the ledge, nudged Seba aside, and sprawled. Spitting out the stick sent it rolling toward the back, illuminating the scene.
She thrust her hand down to Illan just below her and yelled, “Hurry.”
He harnessed his blaster, then leaped, catching her hand palm-to-palm.
She gritted her teeth against the influx of sensual imagery, keeping her focus on his upturned face. His weight dragged on her arm and shoulder. The burn made her whimper, but she tugged him up. Scrambling back allowed her to use her legs for added leverage, but it was too late. A scream tore from her at the deafening pop. The agony was excruciating, and her grip slackened.
Then Illan was gone.
“No,” she cried out, struggling to draw the blaster with her good hand while her numb arm lay limp beside her.
Frustration had her blaring his name until she held the heavy weapon. She tapped the yellow button with her chin and fired at the creature below. Each shot did nothing but fizzle when it struck its skin. At least it wasn’t climbing toward her. She tossed the blaster aside and grabbed the flare to peer over the edge.
Illan’s body wasn’t beneath the creature. Had he landed in the water on either side of the sand bridge?
“Illan,” she hollered. A sob strangled her throat, and she buried her nose in Seba’s neck. Minutes ticked by, the silence peppered with thwack-thwacks from the creature’s limbs hitting the rock below. “What are we going to do, Seba? Maybe find Brac?”
A slap of flesh on stone froze her. She peeked down again, half expecting the creature to be looming over her.
Instead, blue fingers clamped the platform’s edge, then Illan appeared.
She gasped, joy spilling her tears as she offered him her good hand. He met her gaze and accepted her aid. She pushed back, using her legs, until he sprawled before her.
He lay there, catching his breath.
Seba lunged onto him, giving his cheek a wet lick.
She giggled. “I think he likes you.”
“Indeed,” Illan muttered, then crawled toward her. “Come, let me heal you.”
She winced, glancing at her arm cradled in her lap. In her shock, she’d forgotten about it. “I’m sorry I drop—”
“Not your fault,” he said, sitting beside her to run his med-gun over her shoulder. Its pop back into the socket was so unexpected that she yelped. The fresh wave of pain held a note of heat, but that also eased.
Seba whimpered, then peered up.
