Page 57 of Treasure of the Abyss

“I think I have plenty for now. We can goback.”

“How long do these plants last, now that we have gathered them?” he asked, retrieving thecontainer.

“Some last longer than others. Not much more than a week, probably, but I’ll eat it all before itspoils.”

Jax nodded; his people lived on raw meat, so she guessed they were used to eating soon after obtainingfood.

He led the way on their return trip, retracing their path with startling accuracy. Several times, she stepped in her own footprints in the few patches of soft, exposed ground they crossed. Being on land didn’t seem to hamper his sense ofdirection.

The air changed immediately when they emerged from the vegetation — the cloying, earth scent of the jungle was replaced by a cool, briny oceanbreeze.

“Thank you.” Macy gathered her hair and pulled her hood over it. “I wasn’t sure if you’d agree to bring me onto land, much less comealong.”

He smiled at her; he seemed more at ease now that they were returning to the water. “You have faced the sea with me. This is the least I can do, foryou.”

He’d brushed it off as unimportant, but this trip was another extension of his trust — more than ever before. Jax had taken her ashore, followed her into the unknown, into an environment he wasn’t made for, and relied upon her to warn him of potentialdangers.

Macy watched him, lost in thought, as he moved toward thewater.

When he realized she wasn’t following, he turned toward her, tucking the container under an arm to extend a hand to her. “Come,Macy.”

She grinned and brought the mask to her face as she went to take hishand.

Together,they fought the tide and entered the open ocean, swimming slowly toward the cave. Jax’s tentacles felt odd; the discomfort of crossing plants, roots, dirt, and rock lingered long after he’d left land. Moving up there hadn’t hurt, but the alien textures had made him long for thesea.

He led Macy to the bottom, placing the container on a rocky shelf near a large coral growth. The area was full of life and color, home to more creatures than he couldcount.

After gesturing for her to remain with the container, Jax pulled himself along the seafloor, altering his skin to match his surroundings as he went. He slowed as he neared the coral. A few fish hurried away, driven by instinct. Their movement spooked other creatures intofleeing.

Pressing himself into the sand, he willed his hearts to slow and waited. Hunting was often a matter ofpatience.

Macy wasn’t far; hefelther eyes on him,watching.

Patience; it wouldn’t help either of them if he caughtnothing.

Before long, the fish emerged from whatever hiding places they’d found. Small creatures with segmented shells hurried around Jax in the sand, but they would provide little meat, and he wasn’t likely to catch more than a few before theyfled.

Had Macy ever hunted? She’d mentioned hunters amongst the humans, but it wasn’t likely that she’d been one of them. Not because she was incapable, but because her role had simply been different. She had provided food for her people in a differentway.

Could she learn to hunt? There were likely tools in the Facility that could compensate for her lack of natural weaponry, and she was intelligent. Though Jax took pride in providing for her, he had a sense that she’d be more content if she were able tocontribute.

This, however, was no time for such thoughts; he shifted his attention back to the surrounding waters. Small fish darted through holes in the coral and moved in and out of the nearby plants. Occasionally, a larger fish drifted past, but none came near enough tograb.

Something pressed down on hisback.

Jax shoved himself up and spun, tentacles splayed to strike. Through the cloud of sand, he made out the dark shape of Macy’s suit; his hearts skipped, and he halted. The fear on her face was apparent as the sandsettled.

She was speaking and gesturing frantically toward something behind and above Jax. He looked over hisshoulder.

His blood wentcold.

It was a razorback, easily as long as six kraken from its mouth to the tip of its tail. With skin the same blue as the surrounding water, the powerful beasts were difficult to spot despite their size. Slightly darker spines crested its head and ran along its back and belly, and two sets of large fins propelled it through the water, aided by the motion of its longtail.

They ate whatever they chose, kraken included. And this one was moving directly toward Jax andMacy.

There was no time for thought — they had no adequate weapons, and the razorback had already spotted them. Jax wrapped his arms around Macy, hugging her to his chest, and darted forward. She clung to him as he sped along the bottom, toward the more pronounced rocks near thecoast.

He risked a glance over his shoulder; the razorback was closing the distancerapidly.

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