Page 87 of Stranded with the Alien

Maybe it was time. Maybe he should tell her. Even if it was just to hear her dismiss the idea ofkalehsh. To mock it, even. Because then at least he could stop wasting his time on hope.

He opened his mouth and in that moment a volley of blood-curdling barks echoed round the forest. Startled, Vahn looked outside the tent.

Rocky was on his feet snarling and baring his teeth at something in the trees.

“Stay here.”

Vahn left Kara in the tent and went to investigate.

An animal was lumbering towards them. Large and black, with a heavy tread and a long tusked snout that sniffed the air as it went.

Kara poked her head out of the tent. Vahn saw the beast turn towards her, nostrils flaring.

Her monthly bleeding. It smells her.

With a low growl, the animal rose to its hind legs, revealing its full size. Even from fifty yards away, it was easy to see its monstrous proportions. It would dwarf even Vahn.

“What the fuck is that?” Kara stuttered.

“Just stay very still.”

“Really? You think?”

The animal’s muzzle wrinkled back to reveal the yellowing fangs of an ageing carnivore. On each side of its bottom jaw a tusk curved upwards. Both were pitted from years of hunting and the one on the left was broken.

The creature’s body was heavily muscled and to Kara’s eyes looked similar to that of a full-grown grizzly bear. An old, rabid grizzly bear crossed with a wild boar. Her mouth went dry.

“Where’s the blaster?” she asked.

“Drek.It is in the bag.”

They both looked towards the bag, several meters away where Vahn had left it. With a roar the animal dropped to all fours and plunged towards them, moving with frightening speed.

Reacting instinctively, Vahn snaked his serpetri towards the creature and pushedarakinto its thigh and chest. It had no effect.

It was either immune or – more likely – the dense covering of coarse hair on its body was preventing the toxin from being absorbed.

It reared up as Vahn drew his blade and swiped it across the beast’s arm, leaving a deep gash. It didn’t stop.

With a screech of fury, it smashed a paw against the Vraxian’s skull. It was a savage blow and without his superior bone density it would have ended him. As it was, the skin on his brow split and blood gushed into his eyes.

Kara ran from the tent, trying to reach the bag. But the creature sensed her, or more likely smelled her, and bolted in her direction. Kara saw it tower over her and froze.

With a flurry of snarls, Rocky leaped for the animal’s throat. The full force of his body slammed into the Grizzly-beast and for a moment, Kara thought it might be enough to scare it off.

But then there was a high-pitched squeal and the hound was sent flying into the undergrowth.

Kara looked towards Vahn, her heart hammering wildly.

“Vahn! Vahn, get up!”

Kara’s cries shook some sense into him and he tried to clear his head. Raising his blade, he lunged forward. The animal clubbed his shoulder and he ricocheted backwards. His head connected with the tree trunk and he went down.

When he staggered to his feet again, both the beast and Kara were gone.

Thirty Nine

Kara saw the alien topple and the beast move in for the kill.

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