Page 24 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

As I scanned our surroundings, I noticed something unusual. A patch of moss clung to the rock face, but it was unlike any I’d ever seen before. The moss seemed to sparkle, its surface glittering with an array of colors that shifted as I moved my head.

I stepped closer, my scientific curiosity piqued. The moss had somehow incorporated minerals from the surrounding rocks into its very structure, giving it a crystalline appearance. It was breathtaking.

“Arkon,” I called softly, not wanting to break the ethereal atmosphere. “Look at this.”

He came to stand beside me, his tall frame casting a shadow over the glittering moss. I reached out, my fingers hovering justabove the surface, itching to touch it but knowing better than to disturb an unknown species.

“Fascinating,” I murmured. “I’ve never seen anything like it. The way it’s integrated the minerals... it’s almost as if the moss and the rock have become one entity.”

Arkon watched me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “We should keep moving,” he reminded me gently.

“Right, of course.” I tore my gaze away from the tempting flora, refocusing on our mission.

As we prepared to ascend the opposite cliff, I noticed an opening in the rock face. A steady stream of air flowed from it, ruffling my hair.

“That cave,” I said, pointing. “do you think it could lead somewhere?”

He frowned, considering. “Possibly. But we don’t have time to explore it now. We need to get back to the surface.”

Reluctantly, I nodded. We reattached the harness, and I once again pressed myself against Arkon’s back. As we began to climb, my nervousness returned. The ascent felt more precarious than the descent, and I tightened my grip on Arkon.

“I’ve got you,” he assured me.

As we climbed higher, my confidence in Arkon’s abilities grew. His movements were sure and strong, never faltering.

Suddenly, the rock beneath Arkon’s hand crumbled. I gasped as we swung precariously, dangling from his other hand. Before I could even process what was happening, Arkon had found new handholds, stabilizing us.

“Are you ready for more?” he asked.

“Yes,” I breathed, my heart pounding. “Thank you.”

We continued upward, the incident only reinforcing my trust in Arkon’s capabilities. Then, without warning, the entire cliff face shuddered. A deep rumble filled the air, and rocks began to rain down around us.

“Hold on!” Arkon shouted, pressing us flat against the wall.

I buried my face in his back, terror coursing through me as the world shook.

The world spun as Arkon swung us to the side. My stomach lurched, and I clung to him even tighter, burying my face between his shoulder blades. The sound of falling rocks filled my ears, drowning out everything else. I felt Arkon’s muscles tense beneath me as he maneuvered us away from the danger.

“Samira, are you okay?” Arkon’s voice cut through the chaos.

I managed a weak nod against his back, unable to find my voice. Arkon’s pulse pounded beneath my hands. Despite the terror of the moment, I marveled at how steady he remained, how his body acted as a shield between me and the falling debris.

A sharp pain in my arm made me gasp. A rock had grazed me, leaving what I was sure would be a nasty bruise. But Arkon’s quick movements had spared me from anything worse.

As the rumbling began to subside, I dared to lift my head. Dust filled the air, making it hard to see. Arkon’s breath came in short, controlled bursts, the only sign of exertion he showed.

“It’s slowing down,” he grunted. “Just hold on a little longer.”

I tightened my grip, pressing myself closer to his back. The warmth of his body was oddly comforting in the midst of the chaos.

“We need to rethink our plan,” Arkon said, breaking the spell. “Another tremor could bring this whole cliff down.”

I nodded, my mind racing. “The cave we saw earlier – it might be our best option. If it extends far enough, it could lead us to a safer exit point.”

Arkon considered this, his tone grave. “It’s risky. We don’t know what’s in there or where it leads.”

“True,” I admitted. “But it’s probably safer than trying to climb the rest of the way with the cliff in this condition.”

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