Page 31 of Sohut's Protection

Exhausted, she stood on shaky legs before casting a glance back at Wawa’s bed.

She wished he was with her.

Not having him around now made her realize just how accustomed to each other and codependent they’d become.

Where she helped him by removing burs and insects from his coat, he traveled on her shoulder and alerted her whenever danger was close.

Where she made sure he had enough water in his bowl and a warm place to sleep, he would be the one to help scare the little jungle penguins from their hiding places when it was time to hunt for food.

She missed Wawa.

With a huge sigh, she gripped her water bowl, grabbed a few spikes she’d sharpened, and took a step forward.

God help her, she’d go alone and hope she was smart enough to not get caught.

* * *

Close by, the sound of the running spring cascading over the rocky mountainside filled the air. Hidden, Cleo paused in the bushes.

And it was a good thing she’d paused.

The entire trek to the water, she’d crept through the undergrowth as if she was scared of her own shadow.

She didn’t want to miss anything or end up walking right into the hunter.

Luckily, she’d made it without any incidents but now she was faced with another dilemma because, not far from the water, there he frickin’ was.

Of all the places, she hadn’t expected him to dwell at the water hole.

How he’d found it, she had no idea, and the fact that he’d found it so easily only caused her anxiety to rise.

But it made sense.

He must drink water like every other thing that was alive.

Bright sunlight hit blue alien skin as the tall alien inclined his head a little.

He paused, and she saw his nostrils move.

He was sniffing.

Motherfucker.

As he glanced around, she could feel the hairs at the back of her neck rise, their pitchforks raised.

She didn’t know how to describe it, but it felt as if he knew she was there.

She was crouching low, so low she was flat on her stomach, her chin pressed into the ground below.

Alarm bells began ringing as the alien turned his nose to the air, this time inhaling deeply.

A chill traveled down her spine like a train on a track even as the golf ball bobbed up to her throat once more.

She hadn’t considered it before now. But…what if he could smell her?

He looked so…human-like, she hadn’t even thought about it before now.

Fuckity fuck fuck.

---