Page 21 of Heart's Keeper

As Xerus lunged at the woman, a shadow burst from the forest and shot toward him, blocking Xerus' reaching hand, then striking at his chest with what looked to be a sharpened blade. Xerus dodged the attack and leaped back, snarling. The shadow, which was in fact a large alien male with purplish skin, snarled back, placing the woman behind him. With his upper torso bare, Lana could see the alien had dozens of white swirls and stripes all along his body and a skull-like face fixed around a pair of large, orange eyes. His scary, intimidating looks coupled with his use of a bladed weapon told them he must be the hunter.

The hunter crouched low, not moving away from the woman as Xerus paced in front of him. The hunter had two blades in each hand now, and he looked ready to fight. Xerus was not intimated or afraid. He growled low and leaped for the hunter, who shot back. The hunter said something to the woman, and the woman scrambled to her feet, running off down the coast and toward the ships.

Lana turned out of their ship’s cabin and started for the exit.

"What do you expect to do?" Xilya called out.

"I need to get the girl before we lose her. If she sees the others, she'll run, but I might be able to stop her!" Lana called back. She rushed down the hall and opened the ship doors. Bright light and warm mist hit her as she slipped out and headed toward the beach.

Gyrix and Krel met up with her, and she pointed in the direction of the coast. Seeing her fear and urgency, they didn't hesitate or ask questions and started quickly off into the jungle. The sisters followed after them as they passed. Aryus was by her side in no time as she ran through part of the jungle, cursing her slow human legs. As if guessing her frustration, he picked her up mid-stride and had them flying toward the beach. As they hit sand, he put her down, and Lana started up the coast until she saw the figure of a woman running toward them.

The woman kept looking back and slowing as if unsure whether to turn around or keep going. Then she saw them, and she froze.

She saw Aryus first and took up a defensive stance, fists at the ready as if she were fully prepared to take on the vrisha warrior without a thought. But as soon as she saw Lana not far behind him, her eyes widened, and her arms dropped. She blinked at her, dumbstruck, as Lana ran up, motioning for Aryus to back off.

"It's all right, don't be afraid," Lana said as she got closer. The woman's brow furrowed. She didn't respond, giving Lana a confused sort of look. Her dark eyes flitted over Lana's clothes and armor, and her hands turned back to fists.

Lana stopped a few feet from the woman and put up her hands. She went to speak again and realized in her thoughtlessness that she had spoken in vrishan, not English or any other common Earth tongue. Wanting to smack herself, she tried to speak again, but the woman said something first, making Lana stop. The woman looked at her for an answer, and Lana couldn't seem to respond.

"Who are you?" the woman asked again. Lana stared at her, disturbed to find that it took a lot more effort, not only to understand her but to find the right words as a reply. It had been so long since she'd heard the human tongue (even she and Aly had only spoken in their alien languages using a translator) she'd not only forgotten what it sounded like but barely remembered the words.

"I'm Dr. Lana Hart," she finally replied. At least she knew her name, for all it was worth.

The woman's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. "Dr. Hart...TheDr. Lana Hart."

Lana nodded. "Yes. Who are you?"

The woman glanced at Aryus, then back at her. "Elise Star—Stirling. Ex-military."

Lana thought over her words and said slowly, "What are you doing here?"

Elise was about to respond when someone or something roared close by. They both jumped, and Lana looked over Elise's shoulder to see Xerus still fighting against the hunter, only this time he wasn't alone. Gyrix, Krel and the twins were there, circling the hunter as well but were also keeping a wary eye on Xerus, who began to lash out at them, rage twisting his features.

"You need to go." Lana passed by her, heading toward the fight. "Head back...to the ship."

"Wait!'' Elise shouted to her. "Please call them off!"

Lana stopped and turned back. "What?"

"He isn't one of the bad guys. He's with me," Elise said.

Lana found that almost hard to believe. "If he coerced you somehow—"

Elise grabbed her arm and forced Lana to look at her as Lana started to turn away. "He didn't. I'm with him, do you understand? He's my partner."

Lana looked at her like she was crazy.

Elise rolled her eyes. "My mate or whatever. Now, tell them to stop."

Lana studied her for a second longer to make sure she was serious, then gently pulled her arm away. "Come with me."

They ran back toward the fight with Aryus beside them. When they reached the group, Lana called out to the others. "Don't attack!" she cried as the vrisha began to close in on the hunter, lashing out with claws and tails which the hunter dodged if only barely. He had a few lashes on his thighs and chest, but miraculously, he was still going as if the wounds meant little. As Lana signaled to them and ordered them to stop, the group immediately backed away at her command. All except Xerus, who continued his onslaught, his anger seeming to grow the longer they fought. The hunter returned his focus to him and struck out, nearly cutting into Xerus' stomach. Xerus growled and whipped out his tail, just barely missing the hunter's neck.

"Xerus!" Lana cried out. "Xerus, stop!"

He didn't listen.

Lana moved to try and get closer but was promptly held back by Gyrix.

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