Page 55 of Alien Healer's Touch

Kavan nodded once. "Trelleth."

My blood ran cold. I'd heard stories about these apex predators since arriving on Arenix—six-limbed hunters with iridescent scales that shifted color for perfect camouflage. Their twin rows of sensory appendages could detect both heat patterns and neural activity, making them nearly impossible to hide from.

"It doesn't hunt this close to thermal areas usually," Kavan murmured, slowly reaching for his makeshift spear. "The heat interferes with its sensory apparatus."

I watched the creature move into clearer view, its movements jerky and unpredictable. The Trelleth stalked forward, then suddenly retreated, its scaled hide rippling with color changes that didn't match its surroundings.

"Something's wrong with it," I said, my medical training kicking in as I analyzed its behavior. "Look at the erratic movement patterns, the failed camouflage attempts."

"The artifact energy," Kavan agreed. "It must have been exposed during the seismic event. Its system is compromised."

That made the creature even more dangerous—a predator acting outside normal patterns became unpredictable, impossible to counter with standard defensive tactics.

"What's our plan here?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

"We need distance between us and it. Move very slowly toward that rock formation." He indicated a cluster of boulders about twenty meters away. "If attacked, separate and circle back to meet there."

We began our careful retreat, moving with exaggerated slowness. My markings pulsed in warning, responding to both the predator and something else—something in the environment I couldn't immediately identify.

The Trelleth's head snapped in our direction. Its sensory appendages extended fully, quivering as they processed our presence. Then it charged.

"Now!" Kavan shouted, shoving me toward the right while he darted left.

The predator hesitated, momentarily confused by the split targets, then committed to pursuing Kavan—the larger threat. I scrambled toward the rock formation, my markings flaring brighter as I approached a particular area.

I glanced back to see Kavan evading with remarkable agility, his tail providing perfect counterbalance as he leapt between unstable surfaces. The Trelleth followed, its claws tearing chunks from the ground with each bound.

Reaching the rocks, I noted a pool of vibrant green liquid nestled among them—another acid pool, but with a different mineral composition than the others we'd passed. My markings pulsed rhythmically near it, almost urgently.

Understanding dawned. "Kavan!" I called. "Lead it here!"

Without questioning, he altered course, drawing the predator in a wide arc toward my position. As they approached, I scooped up handfuls of loose rocks, testing their weight before selecting several.

When Kavan cleared the last obstacle between us, I saw the plan form in his mind through our link—no words needed, just pure tactical understanding. He vaulted over the acid pool, using his tail to propel himself farther than any human could jump.

The Trelleth followed, but I was ready. I hurled the rocks at its sensory appendages—the vulnerable target points Kavan had taught me about. My aim struck true, hitting several of the quivering stalks extending from its skull.

Disoriented and enraged, the predator missed its landing, plunging one limb into the acid pool. The effect was immediate—a shriek of pain as the caustic liquid ate through its scales. It thrashed wildly, losing balance and slipping further into the pool.

"Move back!" Kavan warned, pulling me away as the creature's massive tail whipped around in blind panic.

We retreated to safer ground, watching as the Trelleth finally extracted itself from the pool, its affected limb and side ravaged by chemical burns. With another shriek of rage and pain, it turned and fled, disappearing into the steam vents.

"That was..." I took a shuddering breath. "That was too close."

Kavan nodded, his breathing heavy. "Your strategy was excellent."

"Our strategy," I corrected. "I wouldn't have known its weak points without your knowledge."

He touched my shoulder lightly, and our markings responded in tandem, creating a momentary circuit of shared relief and adrenaline.

"You're bleeding," I noticed suddenly, seeing a gash along his side where one of the Trelleth's claws must have caught him.

"As are you," he replied, gesturing to my arm where a jagged rock had torn through my sleeve and skin.

Our eyes met, mutual concern overtaking personal discomfort. Without discussion, we began searching for a safer place to treat our wounds.

The sheltered hot spring we discovered seemed almost too perfect—a small, cave-like overhang protected a clear turquoise pool from the elements. Steam rose gently from its surface, not the violent jets we'd navigated earlier, but a soothing mist that filled the space with warmth.

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