Page 36 of Hope Forged
“How do you feel?” she asked, running her fingers where the slashes had been.
He shivered. “Better. I might need new skin.” His voice was hoarse.
“What? Why? The med-gun did well.” She eyed his discarded armor; shredded metal fibers like torn cloth threads mimicked the lacerations.
He offered her a smile. “It prevents scarring and adds protection during the continued healing below the surface.”
“We must find Seba.” She pocketed the med-gun and gestured to his hand. “Try your wrist thingy. Maybe Coll or Brac will hear?” She winced at the pathetic hope in her voice.
“We call it an Optical Data Implant or O.D.I.,” he said, then shook his head. “The rock will offset our transmission.”
“We should…” She drew in a steadying breath and stilled. “Do you smell that?”
When he said nothing, she met his gaze. His focus was on her. The air in her lungs seized. The earlier euphoria he’d sparked within her leaped to life. Her cheeks warmed.
“Illan?”
“Yes…I smell it.”
A splash had him leaping to his feet, taking her with him. He tucked her behind him, shielding her with his body. Heat poured off him. Before she could control herself, she splayed her fingers across his bare shoulder. Together, they waited.
Nothing charged at them from the shadows.
Except…
She lunged around him and fell to her knees when a familiar tread sounded from the darkness. Illan tried to stop her, but she held out her arms. Seba padded toward her, a ceaza in his mouth.
“You sly Seba,” she scolded, burying her face in his wet fur.
He grumbled something, dropped the catch, then nudged her with his head.
“This is how he must have helped your father.”
Tears burned her eyes. “Seba’s family,” she managed.
“He is,” Illan said. “Now be a good Seba, and show us the way out.”
He growled at Illan.
She laughed, happier than she could recall being in a long while.
Seba pulled away, his gaze fixed on something in the darkness. He pushed her in the direction he’d come from.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice cracking.
Illan stood between her and whatever Seba was focused on. “We need to move,” he said, his back to her.
A distant thwack-thwack accompanied his warning.
Ice shivered down her neck. “Elorach, not that creature—”
Seba whined.
She scrambled to her feet. “Take us home, ohara.”
He bolted.
She followed him, checking over her shoulder for Illan. With the weak light from his flare, she made sure to place her feet where Seba had until he veered right, galloping over water. A sand bank had formed a bridge to who knew where. And in her new boots and pants, the splashes barely registered.
