Page 60 of Saving the Alien Chieftain

With alarm, I fumble at my back. It’s then I realize I’ve lost my bag. A sinking feeling weighs my stomach down. I half-heartedly check the river for signs of it, but it’s nowhere to be seen.Shit, my weapons!I grasp over my shoulder, relieved I can feel my bow and spear, but it turns to disappointment examining the bow. The wood is split in half as it barely hangs together by the string. And I can’t see the quiver of arrows anywhere. I sigh in disappointment as I set the once beautiful weapon aside.

At least I still have this.Grasping the spear, I thrust the weapon into the air, testing its weight. I turn the blade over, examining the three-pronged blades, relieved that it remains intact. The same cannot be said of my coat, however, as the poor thing is sliced along the left side four ways. I’ve ruined Harkus’ gift. The realization weighs heavily on me.

The coat is still usable, but hangs awkwardly, practically ribbons on the left side. As I inspect it, I notice the four huge grooves slashed into my golden exoenhancer armor, revealing my torn skin beneath, leaving me gasping in shock. If the armor had been a touch weaker, the venefex would’ve cut me into six pieces.It’s a miracle I’m still alive.

Feeling dazed and battered, I cautiously make my way toward the riverbank, each step a reminder of the ache on my left side. I dip my hands into the blue-purple water, drinking handfulsof the refreshing liquid as hunger pangs echo in my stomach. Searching the nearby bushes, I hope I can find ripe zarberries.

I hear Cupcake stomping around in the distance, eating something wiggling from her talons. I wish I was as good a hunter as her. Not far inland, I notice a bush with many dangling zarberries that glisten red in the light. I hurry over excitedly, plucking a few of the juicy red berries from their stems.

Carefully, I turn them over, examining them. Turns out after Xandors “failed experiment,” also known as “explosive shits,” we both learned that zarberries are only safe to eat when fully red. Satisfied these meet the criteria, I greedily scuff handfuls of the sweet juicy berries.

Somewhat satisfied after my small meal, I refocus on my mission ahead. Sunaisor is near the river mouth. Without needing my compass, which is probably sinking somewhere nearby. I know I can trace my path by following the river’s course, estimating I have less than half a day’s journey left, and anticipation swells within me; I can almost picture Krogoth’s imminent freedom… and our reunion.

Calling out to Cupcake, the huge avian animal looks over as she slurps down some eel-like creature. A chuckle escapes me at her ferocious appetite as she ambles towards me, with the eel still being munched. We move along the banks of the river, following the flowing water as the land declines slightly. Like the initial days of the Proving, I use the trees and bushes for cover, dashing between them in a blur. Cupcake seems perplexed by my movements as she tilts her head, looking at me before taking off to hover high amongst the tree branches overhead.

For hours, I continue along the riverbank, never taking my eyes from the water or the surrounding foliage. With each step that brings me ever closer to Sunaisor, my confidence grows. The lush vegetation here makes great cover.Maybe I can get the whole way to the temple unseen.

Once again, theterrain shifts. The river becomes narrower, the end growing closer. Up ahead, the river becomes more like a tickling stream that passes beneath a crevasse. Giant mounds of soil form steep walls on either side. I continue following the stream, entering the tunnel-like path. Cupcake voices her disapproval with a bark at the entrance before soaring into the sky. Unlike her, I’ve no choice but to continue north through this natural passage.

It’s dark inside the enclosed space, with only a small ray of light passing through the gap overhead. The only sounds are of my heavy breathing and tickling water as I move cautiously through the narrow passage. I gaze about, making sure there are no vipertails clinging to walls. Only some skittering insects with glowing red bodies illuminate the area.

An obstruction passes above, momentarily blocking the light. I pause, hearing only my labored breaths. Is Cupcake soaring above? Just as I’m about to resume, a loud sniff reverberates through the opening, dislodging loose soil onto the stream.

My heart thumps in my chest, like a war drum as something above breathes in so much oxygen, it sounds like a wind tunnel. I clutch my spear in my unsteady hands, looking at the ceiling, unsure if I should flee or fight. Abrupt scratching sounds follow, with more chunks of soil falling, sending me into a panicked scramble against the wall, dodging the debris.

The widening gap allows more sunlight to filter in, illuminating the space. My eyes dart around anxiously, trying to determine the source of danger. Then I see it!

A colossal single red eye pierces the darkness, emanating malevolent intent, and fear roots me to the spot at the sight of the monstrous white venefex.

An earth-shattering roar reverberates, shaking the very ground beneath me. The creature, having spotted me, redoubles its efforts, its massive claws ripping clumps of soil from the gapabove as it rages for my blood. Backing away, I shield my head from the falling earth.

With fury, the beast squeezes its body through the hole it’s dug and comes crashing down before me. It stands as a titan looming above me, bigger than an elephant, but moves with an eerie feline grace. I can barely breathe from fear, staring up into the single glaring red eye as its scarred face twists into a menacing snarl.

This huge white-furred venefex making me its personal mission is too unfair. “Leave me the fuck alone!” I roar in defiance, stabbing my spear with lightning speed upward at the huge, scarred head of the monster. It flinches back at my assault before it attempts to swipe with its claw, but the narrow enclosure prevents it.

Frustration fuels the beast, unleashing a torrent of foul-smelling saliva in my direction as the deafening sound causes me to wince defensively. Its massive saber-toothed fangs curve menacingly, adding to its ferocity. In its enraged state, the monster squirms through the narrow passage, dislodging chunks of soil from the walls, slowing its pursuit. I dart backward, keeping my distance, relentlessly striking with my spear against its snapping jaws and grasping paws.

My weapon struggles to penetrate the venefex’s coarse fur and tough hide, though yellow streaks of blood adorn its paws and face. Each strike only incites further fury, urging the immense creature to exert more force as it presses through the confined space.

Retreating to a wider part of the enclosure, the beast gains room to launch a blindingly fast sweep toward my legs. I try to evade as swiftly as possible, but one claw nicks the back of my greaves. Pain shoots through my mind, causing me to lose my footing and tumble backwards into the trickling stream.

The monster rears up onto its hind legs, about to crush me with a finishing attack. My breath freezes in my lungs, knowing I won’t be able to dodge in time. I close my eyes, awaiting the end. Until the frantic barking from Cupcake erupts from behind the monster. She hovers behind the huge white venefex, tearing and biting savagely at the back of its neck.

I don’t miss the opportunity to regain my footing as I hear the monster roar in agony. Cupcake flutters her wings in a whirlwind of talons and fangs, tearing vast swathes of white fur from its back. Concern floods over me. “Get back!” I yell at Cupcake, fearing the worst. The venefex twists and turns wildly, attempting to dislodge her but is hindered by the tight passageway.

The whole tunnel shakes and rumbles as the mad venefex thrashes hysterically, sending rocks and soil flying in every direction, as if the entire world is about to collapse. Ignoring the debris, I thrust my spear into the monster’s face, desperate to draw its attention away from my brave Cupcake. In a flurry of strikes, I finally land a solid hit into its neck, causing the beast to snap back instantly, nearly catching me in its huge fangs.

The creature fixes a murderous gaze upon me, its red eye ablaze with fury. It crouches low, coiling its muscles before propelling itself into the air. I’m caught off guard, stumbling backward in panic, failing to realize the monster has created enough space for it to leap.

I can’t dodge it in time!

Left with no choice, I angle the tip of my spear toward the beast’s gaping maw, gritting my teeth and pressing the weapon tightly against my body, leveraging its strength as much as my exoenhancer armor permits.

As the creature hurtles through the air, its gaping maw inches from my face, I brace myself for impact. With a sickening thud, the monster impales itself onto the tip of my spear, its weightdriving the weapon deeper into its own mouth. The force of the collision sends shockwaves through my body. The sheer mass of the beast threatens to crush me against the ground.

Battered and sore, I lie there, dazed and struggling to catch my breath as the weight of the beast presses down upon me. Through the haze, I feel Cupcake flutter down beside me. With a gentle touch, she licks my face as she wags her bushy tail. I can’t help but smile, giddy that I survived such a brutal attack.

Summoning every ounce of strength, I slowly struggle to push and heave against the immense weight bearing down on me. Gradually, I wriggle out from beneath the creature’s colossal mass, my muscles protesting with each movement. As I rise unsteadily to my feet, I survey the damage, noticing the severe dents and cracks in my once gleaming golden armor, now mangled and battered.

---