Page 58 of Keeping Freya
Within seconds, I am crouching down by her side. The High Commander is climbing a rocky path to one of the Arches while he randomly fires at us. The second feline emerges and starts pushing at Fr’Ya to get her to safety. I lift her in my arms and rush to safety behind some rocks.
“Go get him, T’Rak, please,” she whispers.
“But… I cannot leave you!”
She waves me off. “You can. I have Begul watching over me. You have some killing to do.”
I like this feisty side of her, and gently kiss her forehead. “I sure do.”
Freya
My heart squeezesas I watch the big guy go after his sworn nemesis. Firing his gun as he runs, he uses his tail to jump and skip over rocks. The way he moves is mesmerizing. It is not without danger, though, because the High Commander is also firing at will. I lose sight of them for a moment, but then the High Commander appears on top of the Arch, walking backwards and continuously firing his gun.
They are too high up for me to see exactly what’s happening, but something happens, and the High Commander drops his gun. He starts running again, and I see T’Rak following.
Begul bumps his head against my hand, and I keep him close. “Where is your mate, buddy? Where is my lovely Trjegul?”
Cold terror grips my heart when I see T’Rak emerge high above us. The High Commander is almost at the end, until he suddenly stops and starts walking backwards.
I grin when I see where the other cat went. Trjegul walks up to the arch, tail straight up in the air. There is nowhere he can go. T’Rak is behind him, and a feral cat is in front of him. I see T’Rak lunge for him and cannot hold in a yelp. There’s a dark pit in my stomach that’s telling me something bad is gonna happen. I just know it.
The High Commander spins, and then they are fighting.On top of a fucking arch. In the middle of a tropical thunderstorm, when rain comes pouring down. The thunder keeps getting closer, and next thing I know, the sky darkens. I can only see their silhouettes now when the lightning is striking. Two figures fighting, I can barely make out who is who. Blows are being thrown, kicks are being dealt. Then, one strike has T’Rak stepping backwards. Lighting hits, and all I see is T’Rak standing on the edge of the Arch.
No, no, no! This can’t be happening!
The High Commander steps closer, getting ready for the final blow, when suddenly—Trjegul. The stupid cat throws her body at the High Commander, and the last thing I see before the lightning dies down is both of them falling over.
CHAPTER 35
Freya
Ibellow out an anguished scream. Begul shoots away from me, and I am left alone. Lightning strikes again and I see T’Rak’s form on top of the arch. A sob escapes me. He is alright, and I am very, very happy about it, but Trjegul. She sacrificed herself…
I run towards the bottom of the arch and try to look beneath it. It’s too dark and I’m afraid of what I will find. What if the High Commander miraculously survived, but my cat is dead?
Before I can completely lose my shit, T’rak, jumps to the ground next to me. I fling myself into his arms, clinging to him. He lifts me up and kisses me, and for a blissful moment, I let myself be enveloped in his arms, his strength. Forgetting about the world when he kisses me.
Breathing hard, he puts his forehead against mine. “I should go check.”
I nod. “I willcome with you.”
We walk together to the part of the river beneath the arch. It’s shallow here, and there’s a heap lying at the edge of the water. T’Rak pulls out his gun and moves towards it. I follow, clinging to his harness.
The High commander is lying face down. T’Rak kicks his side, rolling him over, and he does some scanning with his wrist com.
“He is dead.” His tone is flat, and I make a mental note to check in with him later
Bitterness fuels my veins. “Good.” We stand in silence until a mewling sound pulls us from our thoughts.
“Trjegul!” I hurry towards the sound, T’Rak hot on my heels, and I get down on my knees in front of the pair of cats. I throw my arms around Trjegul, petting and checking her for injuries.
T’Rak does some scanning before saying the magic words. “She is alright.”
I beam at him. “That is the best news! I hoped they would be like Earth cats, always landing on their feet, and I guess this arch is high enough for her to land safely.” He smiles.
“T’Rak! Are you even listening?”
He shrugs and does one of his signature grunts.
