Page 5 of Fated to the Alien Healer

“Fuck off.” I gingerly climb to my feet—a task made difficult by the tether around my ankles—and glare at our surroundings, not sure why we’ve stopped.

While I was unconscious we’ve moved to a place in the forest where the trees have thinned out. In fact, it appears as though we’re on flat land. And the grass has shifted shades. It’s not so much yellow anymore, but more of an orange. Through a break in the trees, there’s a large lake spread out to the left and my mouth waters at the thought of quenching my thirst. Aside from a couple brief stops to drink and relieve themselves, they’ve been riding hard, no doubt to put as much distance between us and the Tavikhi as they can.

Since we’ve stopped, I assume they feel confident no one will catch up to us. The ten males set up camp while my least favorite guy pushes me toward them. I stumble on my weakened legs and barely keep myself from falling flat on my face. I can’t tell if this is the same jerk who showed up at the village three months ago or not. With their snow-white skin, bald heads, and red demon-eyes, all these assholes look the same to me. Except the one with the egg-shaped head. His noggin looks like it had been shat out by some chicken. I snort at the image.

My captor demands something that’s pure gibberish to my ears with a jab of his finger toward the fire that’s barely caught flame.

“I don’t know what you’re saying.”

He repeats what’s clearly a command with a none too gentle shove. The other ten dudes stop what they’re doing and stare.

If my hands were untied, I’d slam them against my hips. I settle for tossing them over my head. “Can’t you get it through your thick skull? I don’t understand you. How many times do I have to say it before you figure it out, you dumbass?”

He moves so fast, I don’t have time to dodge the blow. My head whips to the side and I lose my footing. A snapping sound hits my ears before the pain registers. “Motherfucker.”

I curl into a fetal position and cradle my bound wrists against my chest as the tears fall and spots dance behind my closed lids. For people who want women, they sure don’t know how to treat us.

“No wonder all your women fucked off if you kept slapping them around, you giant cock-wad.” The words come out garbled between my clenched teeth. “If you weren’t such a chicken shit and had to tie me up, I’d have gotten the hell out of here too. Your company leaves a lot to be desired.”

Harsh voices and a sharp nudge to my back is the last straw.

I’m sorry, Amelia. I really did try. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon.With that I release an inhuman scream, ignore the excruciating pain, scramble to my feet, and charge head-first into the cocksucker who I’m pretty sure just broke my arm.

Chapter 4

Kyler

Mellenje scatter from the trees and take to the sky as a primal scream rips through the air. Complete and utter silence follows. Not even the breeze blows to disturb the leaves around us. I exchange glances with the Krijese male on one side of me and with Katem on the other.

“Christ on a cracker, that sounds like Zara.” Remi’s voice shakes and she adjusts her grip on her sword.

Zydon’s tail wraps around her waist and his gaze scans the forest.

“I believe it came from this direction.” Kala points his war axe. His tracking skills are as good as, if not better than, any of ours.

There’s only a brief glance between us all before we take off again. I don’t wait for Remi to climb onto Zydon’s back before I’m bounding from limb to limb high above the ground with my other tribe brothers keeping pace with me. Kala and the two Krijese race along the ground at an almost unnatural speed.They’re not quite as fast as Tavikhi are when we swing from branch to branch, but they’re certainly faster than us when traveling by foot.

Even though there are nine of us, it is most likely we will be outnumbered by the Njeri. We can only hope we’re enough to defeat them before they get any closer to their village. It has been two turns of the sun since the attack on our people. Two turns since they took my—the—female. We’ve been on the move since. None of us have slept. Not even Remi, which caught me by surprise. But she is a strong female.

What had been more surprising is the Krijese’s presence. Shortly after the start of the cold season, Kala’s son Sorin had grown deathly ill. Desperate, he brought him to our village for healing. Sage saved the young kit’s life. In return, Kala swore an oath of repayment to her. His presence, as well as that of his two tribe brothers, has seen the debt paid.

The sound of raised voices grows louder, and up ahead, light filters through the trees indicating they have thinned. I do not slow until I reach the last one. Katem and the other warriors stop as well and below me I catch a flash of movement from the Krijese before they halt as well. Just ahead, before the tree line ends and a large field opens up, are eleven Njeri arguing amongst themselves. My heart stops at the sight of the small female body lying unmoving at their feet.

A sharp inhalation comes from a nearby tree but is quickly cut off. Since no Tavikhi would make a sound, I can only assume it was Remi. I cast a glance to either side of me and the warriors more versed in battle send a silent message to each other. Katem nods in my direction and points at the circle of Njeri. They have not appeared to have sensed our presence yet.

I nod in return and from the sheath slung across my chest, I withdraw the sword at my back and wait with impatience. My tail remains tense and tightly looped around the nearest branch, ready to push off and propel my body toward our enemies and the female. When one Njeri makes a move toward Zara and reaches for her, I can no longer wait. He willnottouch my female again.

With a roar that echoes around me, I launch myself out of the trees and onto the ground. I land roughly, but roll to my feet and charge forward, trusting my tribe brothers, sister, and the Krijese to do the same. Perhaps I am being reckless, but a force greater than me is ruling my choices. My opponent is the one who tried to touch Zara. Something tells me he is the reason she lies on the ground.

The Njeri and I battle.

I have a vague awareness of fighting all around me, but my entire focus is on the male in front of me. I will not let anything distract my need to kill. This is a new feeling rushing through me. Since I was a kit, I have only ever felt the need to help and heal. But the instinct to protect the female lying not far from where I defend her is stronger than anything I have ever known.

“You are weak, Tavikhi,” the Njeri taunts me with an evil grin as he strikes hard against my sword.

I do not let his words bother me. Instead, I return the blow with one of my own and before he can recover, I land another. We trade hits, neither of us drawing blood until I spot an opening. A line of blood appears across his side, and he hisses in pain. I use it to my advantage and swing my sword hard and fast, first in one direction then the other causing him to retreat several steps.I twist slightly and use my tail to sweep his feet out from beneath him.

He collapses to the ground and I drive my blade through his chest, pinning him to the dirt. I stand over him and push my sword even harder downward, hatred giving me strength.

---