Page 43 of Desperate Measures

“Sometimes we go to keep from getting sick,” the warrior soothed. He sat Ejia on his shoulders, and the elevated position cheered the excitable child.

Seot and Nayun were next. Then Cifa emerged, carrying Jordan. Anrel preceded Shalia, who held a chirping Evelyn. As a human who couldn’t be infected by the virus causing so many problems on Kalquor, Shalia had been spared the testing.

The hybrid children of Kalquor were less susceptible to the virus’ ravages, but there had been one of their number who’d succumbed, a newborn. They had the ability to be carriers who displayed no symptoms, a danger to pure-blood Kalquorians.

“Our travel bins should be sterilized and ready to go by now,” Resan told the group. “Since the rough part is done, what do you say we get this holiday adventure started?”

The children cheered their agreement. Anrel and Jordan raced to Betra, eager to claim him. Anrel reached him first and clambered up to wrap her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. She stuck her tongue out at her younger sister. Laughing at Jordan’s adorable pout, Betra put her on his shoulders as Oses had Ejia. She squealed happily to be given the perch, where she could look down on her scowling sibling.

Resan stooped to let Nayun ride ronka-back as Seot sighed, “Kids, don’t be pests. Your uncas aren’t pack animals.”

His fellow Dramok winked. “They’re fine, my friend. By the time we see them again, a couple of them might no longer agree to be carried. We’ll enjoy it while we’re able.”

They headed out. Betra fell in step with Shalia, who carried Evelyn despite Cifa hovering close, ready to claim the youngest of their brood.

“Let the fun begin,” she laughed. “Hopefully, you won’t disown this gang before it’s over.”

“Not a chance,” Betra insisted, beaming at her. Being next to her, carrying the older girls…it felt amazing. Intimate.

It felt like clanship.

* * * *

“Are we sure Wildlife Management didn’t breed and release the senilows on purpose? I barely have to aim to hit them.”

Betra grinned at Shalia, then scanned the landscape. Her clanmates were busy some distance away tending to the four children they’d brought along on the hunt. Ejia, who was partnered to Larten, couldn’t be seen in the tall grass. Cifa had Jordan, who was also invisible. The top of Nayun’s dark head floated alongside Seot, who had charge of Evelyn too. Anrel had opted to hunt with Oses, and they’d disappeared heading northeast. Resan, in the company of his grandmother Nekis, was likewise nowhere to be seen.

Shalia snorted as she inspected her kill, her bow slung over her shoulder. The long-clawed herbivore, part of a species that wreaked havoc on crops when it grew too numerous, lay with all four legs in the air. It had been felled by a single dart, which Shalia had sent through its heart. “How many so far?”

“You’ve claimed five in the last two hours.” Betra sent up a red flag to signal the downed animal to the officials who’d claim and sell it to meat processers. Most Kalquorians and humans didn’t care for the stringy flesh of the senilow. It was often sent to other planets whose species enjoyed the taste and texture. The cull kept the numbers of the beasts manageable, allowed hunters to enjoy the pastime, and benefitted the local economy.

“There are so many this trip. Even Ejia, as loud as he is, should be able to shoot at least one.” She smiled to see Larten lift their exuberant son high enough to fire a metal dart, or “arrow” as Shalia called it. Their quarry, a staggering senilow Larten had apparently already hit, was quickly overtaken by the fleet Nobek. Ejia fired his dart and hit it in the neck. Larten finished it quickly so it wouldn’t suffer any longer as the youngster cheered himself. Larten tossed him in the air and caught him, shouting in victory.

“You were right. He got to claim a prize.” Betra glanced around at the mottled furred backs moving in the grass. The hunting party was spread out and had confused the beasts. They couldn’t help but blunder toward Nayun, Evelyn, and Seot as they rushed to escape the noise Larten and Ejia made.

“On to the next, though it’s hardly a challenge today. Don’t take it the wrong way; it doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying myself. It’s so good to wander freely.” Shalia lifted her face to the sun and closed her eyes as she absorbed its warmth on her face. She kept walking while basking in delight. “This stupid virus has kept us—whoa!”

She yelped as she stumbled and fell headlong into the grass. Betra, a few steps behind, raced to her side. “Are you hurt?”

Her pained grimace answered for her. “I just had to find a hole to step in, didn’t I? Way to go, Shalia Monroe.”

Betra crouched next to her. “Which leg?”

“Right ankle,” she gasped. “How stupid am I to walk in a field while my eyes are closed?”

He felt around the calf-high boot. “Does this hurt? That would be a yes,” he answered when she hissed and instinctively jerked from his touch. “Could be a sprain.”

“It better not be worse. I’m an idiot. I swear despite this, I’ve come a long way from the trouble magnet I was back in the day.”

Betra laughed. “When we were taking you and the other women from Earth to Kalquor, I often had to squash the urge to put you in a stasis chamber, where maybe you’d be safe for a change.”

“Do you remember the Little Creep? The It? We were boarded by Tragooms, what, twice?” She laughed despite the obvious pain she was in. “If there was danger, it went out of its way to find me. It’s a wonder you and Oses didn’t start avoiding me before we were halfway through the trip.”

“You had a few redeeming qualities that made it worth sticking close.”

Her eyes met his, and longing filled him. For all the misadventures they’d shared, Betra wouldn’t have traded those months of being her lover for anything.

Perhaps she felt it too. Her features softened, and he knew she was remembering the days when they weren’t having to fight for survival. When they shared themselves intimately, body and soul. When they were every bit as close as clanmates and loved without inhibition.

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