Page 63 of Healing Creek
“We need rest. It has been a long day for us both.” And the first part of the day had been spent with her healing his injuries and him recovering. “And it will be a long journey back.”
“Zachary—”
“I believe the others found him about the time I left the plateau.”
“That’s good.”
“Let me check in with them to let them know I found you.”
Her eyebrows drew together in question, and he used a careful finger to gently trace the arc of one and then the other. He was getting more used to having his claws back. His cheeks were tight with the happiness he felt at finding her alive and relatively unharmed. He lifted his chin to the canopy of trees overhead and howled. Their howls were not a language he could use to convey any detail. But they would know by his tone that they were safe. He filled his lungs again and bellowed twice in the lowest tone he could manage. They would carry the farthest. Faintly, he heard a return howl.
Creek twined his fingers with Grace’s and set out for the closest edge of the primate territory. “Step careful but quick.”
She followed his lead as they walked in silence. The scuttle of small creatures moving in the cool of the night echoed around them, and the soft grunts of the primates drifted overhead. Good. They had calmed. They were not nocturnal creatures and were finding their own beds.
All signs of their calls had stopped an hour later when the terrain began to change. The trees were as dense as ever, but a mossy covering began to soften the roots and rocks that had made the ground where they walked treacherous. Bioluminescent flowers glowed white and blue in the vines that wound around the tree trunks.
Creek squeezed her fingers as he released a sigh of relief. “We’re out of their territory, now we only need to find a good spot to stop. Can you walk a while longer.”
“Yes.” She’d been so quiet. “Creek.” He stopped and looked back at her. “Thank you for coming for me. For saving me.”
He shook his head. “I’m so proud of you. You fought and you saved yourself.” He cupped her face with one hand and brought his lips to hers. They were soft and warm and welcoming. He dipped his tongue into her mouth and she met it without hesitation. Reluctantly, he ended the kiss. “And I will always come for you.”
She grinned sadly. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Creek released her and led her onward until he spotted the large round bulbs of a stand of chiluy plants.
“Look.” He pointed at the saffron yellow and emerald green spheres of the chiluy. “Those glowing orbs deter insects and rodents.” He reached for one of the broad leaves of the tysee bush and broke it at the stem. “We can use these to make a bed over amongst the chiluy.”
Grace followed his lead, gathering the leaves as they made their way over. “Are there any other dangerous predators out here,” she asked softly.
“The chiluy discourage their prey so the predators keep to the darker sections of the jungle. We’ll be safe enough to sleep here tonight.” Creek led her to the center of the stand of waist high bulbs and started arranging a bed from the leaves they’d gathered.
Grace inhaled a deep breath. “They smell like mint.” Some of the stress had left her voice and her cookie sweet scent mixed with the herbal scent of the chiluy.
When Creek was satisfied with his task, he put out a hand to guide her down.
She smiled at him in wonder. “Look at you.” She took the offered hand and settled next to him, keeping his hand in hers. She ran a finger over the surface of one of his claws. “I never imagined the healing would go this far. It’s actual restoration. And you’re moving like you have no more pain.”
He pulled her fingers to his lips and brushed kisses against her knuckles. Her skin was salty and sweet. “Tell me, my butterfly. How did you heal me?”
Her eyes had been wide and fixed on his face. Now her head lowered, and her gaze drifted away. “I gave you my blood.”
“I don’t know much about medicine, but I don’t think a simple blood donation can heal wounds like I had. Let alone the many other things that have been healed.” Creek lifted her chin and met her gaze.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t explain first, but…”
“I was dying.”
“Yes. And I couldn’t imagine a life without you in it.”
He twined his fingers with hers. “So, you gave me your blood?”
She nodded. “And my blood is full of medi-bots.”
“Machines?”
“Tiny ones, yes.”
