Page 3 of Fated to the Alien Healer

With unmatched speed, I yank my weapon out of his body and stab him through the chest straight into his heart. The Njeri’s body jerks and blood bubbles out of his mouth and slides down the side of his face. His eyes remain locked on mine until the life drains from them and they turn sightlessly toward the sky. Wetness coats my leg coverings, and I stumble backward.

Someone calls my name.

I jerk my head around and my gaze lands on Zander, our shefir. He too is covered in blood. Some of it his own, but most of it appears to be Njeri. Within his arms is a Tavikhi warrior who can barely stand on his own. I run to them, my steps unsteady from my own injury, and slide my shoulder beneath Rojtar’s arm to help hold him up. Together, the shefir and I get our fallen tribe brother to the healer’s tent.

To my relief, Sage, Remi, Eloise, and London—the shefira—are all inside as well. My apprentice is barking out orders as she works on one of the many injured warriors, and her three tribe sisters follow them. Zander and I place Rojtar onto a platform and I get to work on his injuries, which appear grievous. Benham storms inside with his mate, Maeve, at his side. Tears spill from her eyes and she rushes over to her tribe sisters.

“They took Zara,” she cries and throws her arms around London.

I suck in a sharp breath and pause in my task. Rojtar moans and I curse my distraction and return to treating him. Except I cannot tune out the females’ conversation.

“She was at the forge, but she’s gone.” Maeve’s voice rises. “Benham found one of the most recent swords he crafted on the ground not far from the entrance. There was also blood.Humanblood.”

“Have all the tents that remain standing been checked?” Zander asks.

Benham steps forward. “Katem is searching still, but one of the elders is sure she saw a human with bari-colored hair being dragged by a Njeri warrior toward the hills.”

“We’re going to find her,” Remi exclaims and turns to the shefir. “I’m going with the rescue party.”

She says it as though there is no question one will take place. Considering she is a fierce warrior whose skill with both sword and staff rival some of the younger males, I am not surprised she is the first to volunteer. Her mate, Zydon, will be right at her side.

“I will go as well.” The words spill from my lips before I realize I have said them.

Silence follows my statement. I glance up again from where I am suturing Rojtar’s wounds closed to find everyone staring at me, but quickly return to my task. Zander, Zydon, and Remi discuss the rescue mission and argue about when to leave. Remi, of course, wants to go this instant, but we need to ready supplies and make sure we are prepared, especially as we will most likely be outnumbered.

By the time the two moons have risen fully in the sky, all three of our platforms are occupied and several beds of furs have been placed around the tent containing more wounded. The dead bodies—Tavikhi, human, and Njeri—have been gathered. Warriors have disposed of our enemies’ and the tribespeople will prepare the life celebration for our fallen members, which number far more than any of us would like, including two matedtribespeople, which means that within the next turn of the sun, their mates will join them in the land of the goddess.

The village is somber. It will take many turns of the sun before dwellings have been repaired or rebuilt. The only people remaining within the healing tent, aside from the injured, are Sage and Jodah, who has remained present to make sure his mate takes care of herself as well as her patients.

With his help, the force that had previously been driving her to not sleep or eat for turns of the sun while treating both him and the Krijese kit brought here by his baba is not as strong. That does not mean she is any less dedicated to treating injured tribespeople, but her reasons for doing so have changed. No longer is she seeking forgiveness for something that occurred back on Earth.

I check on the last of the warriors before taking stock once again of the inventory that, since I last looked over it, has dwindled to almost nothing. Supplies were already on the low side due to the cold season. Sage approaches and comes to a stop on the nearest side of the table from where I stand.

Of all the humans, she is the one who has spent the most time here since she became my apprentice many lunar cycles before the shefira and her three tribe sisters arrived. Eloise’s arrival had been unintentional. The ship she was traveling on had been attacked, and her escape pod crash landed on Tavikh. Deeka guided her to our planet where she was found by Zedam, the youngest brother of the shefir.

“I’m a little surprised you volunteered to go with the rescue team.” Sage straightens an empty jar. Our supplies will need to be replenished as soon as possible.

She and I have become friends in the nine or more lunar cycles since she came to Tavikh, yet I am hesitant to explain my reasoning to her. It is a foolish hope that lives within me. Why would Deeka choose me as the mate for the beautiful female who I have watched from afar since the moment she arrived in the village? I have seen many seasons while there are a greater number of warriors younger than me who are also unmated.

All Zara has to do is touch one of the males. When she does, and his mating marks appear, I will once again be alone.

“We have been dealt a harsh blow, and with the amount of severely wounded warriors, Zydon and the rest of the males, as well as Remi, will need all the able-bodied help they can get. Despite how many Njeri did not survive today, their numbers are still greater than ours.”

“Which is why I’m worried about you going,” Sage says. “You’re our healer, and we have seven injured—possibly dying—tribespeople. My skills aren’t anywhere in comparison to yours. And as selfish as it may be, I’m worried I’m not going to be able to save them all if you leave.”

I place a hand on her arm. “I am proud of the healer you have become. You have accomplished much while you have been here. However, no matter if it is you or I looking after them, every one of these warriors is now in Deeka’s hands. If it is their time to join her, then there is nothing either of us can do. No Tavikhi fears traveling to the land of the goddess. It is where our ancestors await. Do not let the worry get to you. You will do the best you can to keep them here. But in the end, the goddess will decide their fate.”

The humans do not hold the same beliefs as the Tavikhi so I understand it is often hard for them to comprehend our faith inDeeka. The goddess has never forsaken us. She will not do so now. Sage’s gaze remains locked on mine for several beats before she finally gives a shallow nod and walks away to check on one of the injured.

When the rescue party sets out for the Njeri village, I will be with them.

Chapter 3

Zara

There isn’t an inch of my body that doesn’t hurt.I’ve lost track of how much time I’ve spent slung over this mammoth beast. The two moons have risen and set at least once. Of that much I’m aware. Or at least I think they have. It’s kind of hard to judge how much time has passed. We’ve been traveling through the dense forest high up in the hills and very little light has managed to sift through the openings between the leaves and branches.

What I do know is during my conscious moments throughout this whole ordeal, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. A dangerous pastime, my sister would have said. It’s hard to believe six months ago I left Earth with dreams of a better place. A place with charming, idyllic cottages and a narrow, winding stream that bisected lush green lands where plants and flowers of all kinds grew. A maniacal laugh bubbles up my throat, but on its heels is the vomit that constantly churns from the upside-down ride.

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