Page 47 of Caveman Alien's Terror

He doesn’t need to say much more. Because that’s not even considering those furry monkey-like things that pushed us out here. They likely won’t want Praxigor to go back up inside their weird structure, and then return with the rope. Which it could take several days to find, in the best case scenario. And before he could go anywhere, I’d have to find a shelf or something to stand on. Because right now, Praxigor is my only connection with the rock. And I thinkhisonly connection points are the claws on his feet.

“Maybe you should just save yourself,” I whisper, sure he can’t hear it over the din from the waterfall.

“Oh, that’s what Ishoulddo,” he agrees. “No question about that.”

“Your hearing is incredible.”

He shifts his grip on me and I yelp pitifully, thinking he’s about to drop me.

But he simply swings me around until I’m hanging on his back, clinging to his neck with all my strength. I think he’ll try to climb up with me after all.

“Can you hang on there?” he asks.

“Yes!” I yell.

Then he starts climbing, going down.

I don’t question it. I’m just relieved he’s not tossing me into that black void.

Praxigor moves down in increments, ramming his claws into the sheer, slippery rock with each step. I can only hope that they will hold both of us.

A couple of times his foot slips and we slide down the rock face with a terrible shriek, but he manages to dig his claws deeper and stop the fall.

I don’t know how long it takes. I start quietly sobbing from fear and exhaustion, and I can’t seem to stop.

When Praxigor finally loses his grip on the rock and we fall, my scream is mostly sore and sad. I know it’s the end.

The dragon whips around and embraces me, pushing me into his chest.

Then we hit the bottom and I black out.

When I come to, I’m lying on a wet rock. My eyes have finally adjusted to the near pitch blackness of this cavern, but nothing on Xren is ever all dark. Here, there are patches of moss on the walls that give off a weak, greenish glow.

The waterfall must be half a mile away, but I can’t see where it begins because of the haze it creates where the great masses of water plunge into the pool below it. I’m constantly sprayed by fine drops of cool water.

Praxigor is standing on the rock with his back to me, looking around. He’s wearing his pants, while I’m still naked. Just as well, maybe — the dress would be soaked by now.

“No need to get up,” he says without turning to look at me. “Take your time. We had a hard landing.”

“Are you all right?” I croak, checking my limbs for injuries and not finding any.

“I’m a little… bruised, I think the word is. I’ve never used it about myself before. But at least I got my pants back. Someone threw them down from up there.”

I slowly get up, my knees wobbly. “Thank you for… everything.” I don’t know how to sum up the fact that I’m still alive, but I know it’s because of him. “Sorry there wasn’t any gold.”

“It’s astonishing how those things would go to such lengths to guard their silly building, and there was nothing of value in it!” Despite the waterfall, his voice resonates from the walls of the cavern.

“Maybe it had value to them,” I suggest, reaching out to touch his scales on his back because I need the contact. “Most people don’t want strangers in their homes. And we did behave as if we owned the place.”

“I’m a dragon,” he reminds me unnecessarily. “Any place I’m present, I own.”

“Show me your wrists.”

He holds one hand up to show me. “Not the worst injury, but one of the worst that was caused by something other than a dragon.”

The ropes have cut into his scales and left cuts where golden ichor is still seeping out. “It looks painful.”

“It is. And yet, this is worse.” He turns around.

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