Page 7 of Sol Survivor

As it bucked and shrieked, Umda yelled, “Now,” and plunged his spear into the vasquva’s ear.It squealed, its whiskers splaying out, its thrashes more violent.

Drafe clung to a strand of hair, spread his legs wide, and buried his blade into the vasquva’s black eye.

Its wail was deafening.With its yellow blood drenching him, he struggled to hold onto his father’s sword.At his desperate cry, his symbiotes reacted, adding texture to his fingers.Able to tighten his hold, he yanked and slid the blade free.The vasquva arched its back on a forlorn squeal and slumped, crashing to the sand in a great plume of dust.Drafe tumbled off, slipping on its blood-slicked skin to land on his back with a grunt.

Umda and Tiyl leaped off the creature to stand beside him.As pain lanced across Drafe’s body, he bit his lip, careful not to make a noise as he dragged himself to his feet.

“Well, this was fortuitous.”Umda’s grin was bright in the moonlight.“Osnir has blessed you, young Drafe.”

Drafe accepted the thump on his shoulder, despite it almost bringing him to his knees.He doubted the god of light had anything to do with this.

Cries rose from the direction of the village, and more venai lights bobbed.

“Go, we will tend to this.”Tiyl gestured to the mass of vasquva to be carved and shared.

“My thanks.”Drafe splayed his hand on his chest, then swayed as he turned for home.

Umda halted him with a hand on his forearm.“Where is your water pouch?”

Drafe closed his eyes against the loss.To replace it required the bladder of a hudu.Regardless of the effort, his father had burned the star into the leather.Where his father had touched, that was now lost to Drafe.

“Taken.”

Umda jerked back, raising a wide-eyed yellow gaze.“Your oath?”

Drafe nodded.“Along with my day’s hunt and a spear.”

“This does not bode well, young Drafe.”Umda ground his teeth.“Leave this to me.Go, seek your rest, for the rite of Uhann is tomorrow.”

Drafe stumbled to where Larya waited.A frown marred her delicate brow, and her mass of braids quivered as she hurried to him.

“What happened?”Her soft voice soothed him despite his dwindling energy.His symbiotes had no more to give until he ate something and tasted the sweetness of water.

“I endangered the village by bringing a vasquva to our borders.”He accepted whatever fate the elders chose for him.“I am sorry, Larya.”

She said no more, slipped her arm around him, and led him home.Taking the carved steps into the caves trembled his thighs, and bending his knees was beyond him.Placing his hand on the smooth cave walls gave him strength, but when she guided him onto his bed, he groaned.

“Here.”She held up a stone bowl of water.

With trembling fingers, he tipped it to his lips, careful to sip and take no more.

“Drink, my brother.I saved from yesterday.”

He hesitated, but she forced his hand, tilting the bowl with a finger.The coolness soothed his grated throat, and he groaned, savoring each drop.It wasn’t enough, but it would do.

“Hungry?”

He shook his head.

She placed a flat stone beside him with strips of garak across it.“Your symbiotes need it, Drafe.”

Taking a sliver, he chewed slowly.His strength had all but left him, and he slumped against the wall.She moved around their small home, gathering a bowl and a cloth.He trailed her with his gaze.The decadent splash of water followed as she poured it into the bowl.

“What are you doing?”His voice was hoarse.

“Washing you.”She soaked the cloth and rung it out, but when she tried to touch him with it, he jerked away.

“We do not waste water, Larya.”He glared at her, prepared to argue with her.

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