Page 114 of Sohut's Protection

He swallowed hard again and even though he was blazing through the forest like Usain Bolt’s alien brother, he didn’t pause or slow down.

He was running for his life…or for hers.

“They’re coming.” was all he said.

She didn’t need to know who they were.

Her whole being knew who they were.

Time paused and there was a sound.

A sound she’ll never forget.

It was a blast so strong, it flattened everything in the surrounding area.

All the trees…the vines…every single plant lay flat on the ground and she knew this for a fact because the light that suddenly flooded around them was so bright it was as if the sun had risen in an instant.

Sohut stopped. He stopped so suddenly, it took her organs a second to fall back into her body from the sudden lack of motion.

The light.

It was so bright.

As her eyes adjusted it became clear, however, that this was no sun.

It was the light from whatever vessel was hovering above them.

She could hear the engine clearly now—a soft hum that cut through the quietness of the jungle. And even as she lifted her head, trying to see through the veil her hair had made, she saw something that cut through her senses, turning her to cold stone.

Someone, some being, landed behind Sohut. A leathery tail swung behind the legs.

She knew those legs…that tail…she’d seen it before.

A long, long time ago…so long ago, she’d thought the memory had been locked in the recesses of her mind, but it was right in front of her now.

Clear as day, she remembered, as if it hadn’t happened over a year ago—as if no time had passed and she was back on that alien slave ship.

It was the legs of one of the guards. The same guards that had manned the ship that had taken her away from Earth.

They were here to take her away. Not the green orcs that had pulled her from the rubble to sell her to the zoo, but them.

She’d rather jump off a cliff than go back with them.

She couldn’t breathe now, literally, and it had nothing to do with the constriction around her neck.

“Merssi…you have been foolish, keeping us waiting so long.” The voice came from behind her and a chill ran down her spine.

There was more than one of them.

Sohut stiffened.

“You’re not taking her.” He was growling, an animalistic sound that would have scared her if she didn’t know who he was, and she knew his fangs were bared.

His arm tightened around her and she heard the unmistakable sound of his claws protracting.

He was ready to fight.

So was she.

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