Page 40 of Dealing With Drak

“There’s a cave system here!” she shouts, standing to her feet. “It’s behind the waterfall, and I can’t believe I freaking forgot it. Caleb and I used to hide in there when we were little.”

“You think your brothers may have returned there,” I gather, getting up as well. “Should you like to go look?”

An-nana nods and starts to gather her things, tightening her belt and checking her weapons. I do not have to prepare as all my things are in order, so I simply watch her as a redness blooms up her neck. Her heart is beating very wildly, and I believe she is excited at our new lead.

“Do you have a flashlight?” she asks, looking at me all over like she may find what she is asking for on her own.

“What is this flash-light?”

“Portable light for the dark cave,” she clarifies. “You have a literal laser bomb, if you don’t have some kind of light, I’ll be genuinely shocked.”

Scratching my chin in thought, I pull my multi-tool from my belt. It is a small cylinder with many shifting options inside of it. Knives, smashing tools, and more.

Gliding my fingers over the touch commands, I select ‘sun’ and watch as bright light with a surrounding purple hue flows from the tip of the device.

“Will this work?”

An-nana covers her eyes, backing away, and I click it off as it seems to be harsh on her eyes. “Damn,” she exclaims. “Does that thing have any lower levels?”

Actually, yes, it does. “I can turn it down,” I inform her.

“Well, that’ll work then,” she replies, rubbing her eyes and blinking a few times rapidly. “And what is it with your planet in making lights purple? The lasers were purple too.”

“It is the color of our sun and sky,” I state proudly. “Your hu-nim lights are white and yellow like your sun.”

“Right,” she agrees, shaking her head at herself like she has been silly. “Can we go now? I want to get out of there before sundown so I can sleep on the ship instead of being stranded in a cave.”

“You would not be stran-dead,” I declare. “If we take too long, I will simply carry you back to the ship so you may do your sleeping.”

“I—” She looks like she may argue with me but decides against it. “Alright, let’s go.” I hope she takes too long so I must carry her. It would be most pleasing to do this for my Mean One.

Flashing my fangs at her, I grin. “Lead the way, An-nana.”

Only several minutes later, I am not smiling at all. The cave An-nana wishes to explore is much too small for me to fit inside. When I inform her of this, she suggests that I wait outside of it while she goes in alone.

Obviously, the thought is horrifying.

“No, An-nana, it is not safe.”

My tiny hu-nim friend gives me a scathing look that makes her appear less tiny. “Did you just tell me no?”

“You are not thinking properly,” I tell her with a wince.

She only glares at me harder. “I’m not what?”

I breathe out, trying to find my words. “An-nana, there could be other hu-nims in there. Bad hu-nims. The water is too loud for me to hear properly. What if you enter and they take you from me? How will I save you if I do not fit?”

“I have to check,” she counters stubbornly. “What if they’re here or they have been? I have to check, Drak.”

I hesitate. It is entirely unsafe, but if I deny An-nana this, she may resent me for it. She is a capable hunter, but she is very small. If she is cornered on her own, I do not know how she will fare.

“You will take my blaster,” I tell her firmly. “It will not run out of metal thingies like your hu-nim gun.”

Immediately, it is as if the sun consumes her with the way she glows. She tosses her arms around my middle and squeezes. She pulls away before I may return her hug.

“Thank you, Drak,” she says softly. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

“You will use your voice loudly so that I can hear you in there?”

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