Page 38 of Stranded with the Alien

“Kara.” Vahn’s tone was unexpectedly gentle and it immediately put her on the offensive. She lifted her chin.

“We need to keep looking. Come on.”

“We need to rest. We have some water left, you should drink.”

“I’m not thirsty. Come on.”

She strode off. He followed, wondering how long she could survive on their remaining water supply. There was half a canister left. It would last maybe a day. Two if he himself did not consume any.

Truthfully, his hydration needs were minimal. Water was not a pressing problem for him. But lack of food was.

Vraxian metabolisms burned a lot of energy. He knew if he didn’t eat in the next day or two, he would be in serious trouble.

Whichever way they looked at it, they were both screwed.

Twenty

Over the next few hours Kara’s pace steadily declined. Vahn didn’t say anything but he adjusted his stride to match hers. He knew she hadn’t taken a drink since that morning, trying to conserve their dwindling water.

Her lips were dry and cracked. She tried to moisten them but had no saliva. When she finally stumbled over a rock because she was having trouble focusing, Vahn forced her to sit down.

“You should drink,” he said. “You are thirsty.”

“I’m fine. I can hold out till tonight.”

“By Ayanlesh, are you always this stubborn?” Vahn was exasperated. Could she not see that making herself ill was no help to either of them? “I will not ask again. Drink, or I will hold you down with my serpetriand pour it down your throat.”

His tone brooked no argument. Grumbling, she fished out the last remaining canister and sipped. It was like cool nectar running down her parched throat.

She took another gulp then screwed the cap back on before she lost control and swigged the lot. She held it out.

“You?”

“I have no need. I have not yet reached the stage of dehydration.”

She eyed his tentacles.

“So those things are called serpetri? We call them tentacles.”

“An erroneous term. Tentacles are fleshy organs usually found on invertebrates. Serpetri are elongated limbs comprised of bone and muscle.”

“Okay. How come only Vraxian men have them?”

He raised an eyebrow, surprised.

“You know something of Vraxian anatomy?”

“They teach a lesson on you at the academy. It’s pretty sparse, to be honest. But I know your tenta… serpetri can produce poison.”

“It is calledarak.”

“But why only males? Why not the females?”

“It is of no importance.”

Vahn suddenly looked uncomfortable and Kara was intrigued.

“Come on, tell me.”

---