Page 43 of Swipe Right for Stardust

I chuckled softly. “I’m not sure either. But listen carefully. Do you hear that?”

Vanessa fell silent, her brow furrowing in concentration. After a moment, she sat upright. “Water! But where’s it coming from?”

“I believe we may have found our escape route,” I said, sitting up and helping Vanessa to her feet. “There must be an underground river nearby. If we can locate it, we should be able to follow it out of this cave system.”

Vanessa’s quick understanding impressed me. “That’s brilliant! But how do we find it?”

“We follow the sound,” I replied, gathering our equipment. “And hope it leads us in the right direction.”

I assessed our gear. Most of it seemed water-resistant, but I worried about Taffy. The little creature chirped nervously from Vanessa’s pack.

“Here,” I said, handing Vanessa a waterproof container. “This should keep Taffy safe and dry.”

She gently coaxed Taffy into the container, sealing it securely. “There you go, little buddy. Cozy waterproof home for you, with plenty of air for a short trip.”

As I watched Vanessa care for our unexpected companion, a strange thought echoed in my mind. Mate. The word sent a thrill of excitement through me, followed quickly by uncertainty. What did this mean for us? For our future?

I pushed the thoughts aside, focused on the here and now. “Ready?”

Vanessa nodded, determination etched on her face. “Lead the way, big guy.”

We followed the sound of rushing water, our path illuminated by the bioluminescent organisms clinging to the cave walls. Eventually, we reached a wide, underground river.

I knelt at the water’s edge, testing its temperature and current strength. “The water’s cool, but not dangerously cold. The current is strong, though.”

Vanessa peered into the dark water. “I trust you, Zarnak. You won’t let me drown, right?”

Her faith in me was both touching and terrifying. I stood, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Never. I’ve got you.”

I guided Vanessa into the water, my protective instincts in overdrive. She gasped at the temperature, but quickly adjusted. Taffy chirped nervously from the pack.

“It’s okay, Taffy,” I said, surprising myself by addressing the creature directly. “We’ll keep you safe.”

Vanessa grinned at me. “Look at you, going all soft on our little mascot.”

I felt my cheeks warm. “I’m merely ensuring the well-being of all team members.”

“Sure, sure,” she teased, splashing water at me playfully.

As we navigated the rapids, I used my strength to steer us through the turbulent waters. Vanessa’s adaptability amazed me. She quickly learned to read the river, pointing out potential hazards and helping to guide our course.

“You’re a natural at this,” I said, admiration coloring my voice.

She beamed at me. “Thanks! I guess all those whitewater rafting trips with my dad are finally paying off.”

As we moved through the water, I wondered how our physical intimacy had changed our dynamic. There was an ease between us now, a connection that went beyond mere teamwork. But was it just the heat of the moment, or something more lasting?

We rounded a bend, and I saw the river disappear into a low, dark tunnel. My gut sank.

“Vanessa,” I said, pulling us to a relatively calm spot. “The river goes underground. We’ll need to swim through a submerged passage.”

Her lips pressed tightly together, but she didn’t panic. “How long?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “But it’s our best chance of getting out of here.”

She nodded, face grave. “Okay. What’s the plan?”

I marveled at our wordless understanding. No arguments, no hesitation - just trust.

---