Page 66 of Caveman Alien's Bride

He’s holding a single long hair. A long,redhair.

Piper is the only person I’ve seen on Xren with red hair. No caveman has hair that long. That could easily be one of hers.

But I’m not sure it’s enough. “Did she say something? Also to show the message is from her?”

“She only say, ‘gegoin’.” Dren’in nervously looks over his shoulder as he wraps the hair back up.

It takes me a moment to understand. “Get going?”

“That was it. ‘Gedgoin’. I didn’t have much time! There were also other men looking for her, and I had to get back to them and direct them away from her hiding spot.”

Thatwouldbe something she might say. It would be impossible for Dren’in to guess that English phrase. I would have preferred a written message, or something that I would know for a fact came from her. But giving the messenger a phrase in English is what I would do if I didn’t have much time. I wouldn’t expect a caveman to remember a long sentence.

Kind of a weird thing to say, even so. Okay, she was pressed for time and nervous. At least she gave Dren’in a hair to identify her.

I have to make a decision right now.

Do I go to Korr’ax and trust him to help me find Piper without capturing her as some kind of booty he can exchange for status? Or do I come with this man who I always thought was creepy?

What is the way back to Earth that Piper has found? Could it be the small gray aliens that have come back? Or is there some other way? After all, we know practically nothing about this planet and who might live here.

The drums beat calmly below in the village, and the chanting has reached a slow phase. Suddenly it all feels so strange and distant.

Korr’ax seems honorable and decent. But he also forced me to marry him. And based on his own story, he did harass Breti’ax until the old man relented and gave up the chief’s position. He may be more power-hungry than I want to realize.

“Come on,” Dren’in whispers urgently. “There’s not much time!”

If Piper has really found a way back to Earth, then that’s what the two of us dreamed of with such intensity that it took our breath away. These past few weeks, my need to go home has been much less. But with all the weirdness in the tribes, maybe it’s best for everyone if I leave.

I change into my best clothes, fasten the mirror to my belt, and grab a fur.

“How far away is she?” I ask.

“We’ll be there a little after midnight if we start now,” Dren’in whispers. “Come on! I know a way out where nobody can see us.”

I look down at the village. If I leave now, it will be forever. One way or the other.

Down there is the best man I’ve ever met. And the scariest.

My hand goes to my neck and unsnaps the irox-tooth necklace. I carefully take it off and place it in the middle of the floor, on top of two folded-up furs so it looks orderly. It must be obvious thatI’m leaving on my own accord.

“If only you hadn’t forced me to marry you,” I whisper as my throat constricts. “If only you had given it some time! Now I can’t trust you.”

Then I wipe my face and nod to Dren’in. “You first.”

- - -

The jungle at night is the most nerve-wracking place I’ve ever experienced, and this night is no different. There is rustling everywhere, the sap that drips on my hair from above keeps scaring me, my feet keep catching things without me knowing what they are, and the smells are somehow worse and more intense.

I see eyes everywhere, I hear predators salivate and I feel terrible things pulling at my skirt. Several times I draw my sword because I think I see a dinosaur. My nerves weren’t strong to start with, but now they’re totally frayed.

Dren’in led me out of the village through a hole in the wall that looked a lot like the one Piper escaped through, except this one was big enough for a thin caveman.

“Come on,” Dren’in hisses nervously. He waits for me beside a bush before he hunches his shoulders and stalks on, bent low.

This caveman is much less confident in the jungle. He keeps jerking at sudden noises, and he seems to scurry from tree to tree. It’s completely different from Korr’ax’s calm but quiet movements.

Well, Korr’ax said this guy is a good hunter, so maybe there’s more than one way to make your way through the jungle. I will be trailing this guy for a while, because midnight is still hours away.

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