Page 35 of The Delver
“I won’t.”
Urkot drew in a deep breath, ignoring the burning in his lungs. With a snarl, he dragged himself forward, pushing with his arms and legs. The weight of the stone atop him continued its resistance.
I will not let this be our end. I will not let Callie share the fate of so many others I have lost.
Gritting his teeth, he called upon all his strength. His body trembled with the exertion, but he did not relent, even as more rocks came free and fell around him. He felt rough stone scraping his hide, felt everything atop him shift as his hindquarters and legs began to come free.
With a great heave, he thrust himself forward, tearing the lower half of his body free. Callie cried out beneath him. The pain and fear in that sound chilled him to his core, but he could not tend to her yet. He curled around her again, caging her with his arms and legs as he tumbled down the rubble. Stone fell behind them with a great clamor, a second rockfall triggered by his escape.
When he felt the solid cave floor beneath him, he scrambled away, cradling her against his chest. The sound was thunderous. Callie clung to Urkot, arms around his neck and face buried against him.
Her warm, heavy breath against his hide was a source of comfort; so long as she breathed, he had not yet failed.
Urkot pressed his shoulder to the wall. Keeping his back to the rockfall, he shielded her body with his until the sound offalling stones finally ceased, leaving only his and Callie’s ragged breaths to break the silence.
“Is it safe?” she asked.
He lifted his head and glanced over his shoulder. Though fresh dust had risen, it wasn’t as thick as before, and it was the only thing moving behind them. “For now.”
Carefully, he stood up, setting Callie on her feet before him. Aches and pains radiated through him from the tips of his legs to the point of his headcrest, but he gave them none of his attention. Instead, he stepped back, placing his hands on Callie’s shoulders as he looked her over.
She was covered in pale dust, which made it easier to spot the places where blood welled from her broken skin. He turned her. Her pack had protected her back and shoulders from the rocks, but her thighs and calves…
Her cry echoed in his mind.
Urkot growled as he lowered himself to the ground, hands dropping to her hips to keep her still. The skin on the backs of her legs had been too delicate to withstand the harsh, jagged stone where they’d been pinned.
“Callie…”
Twisting her torso, Callie looked down at him and settled a hand atop his. “I’m okay, Urkot. They’re just scrapes. They’ll heal. It… It could have been much worse.”
Urkot let his head fall forward, pressing it to her lower back as he closed his eyes and clutched her hips.
It could have been much, much worse. His Callie could have been taken from him. But she was here, alive. He could feel her softness beneath his palms, could feel her heat, her touch.
A tremor wracked him as he breathed in her scent.
“I am sorry,” he whispered in vrix.
“Hey now,” she said gently, turning in his hold.
Before he could raise his head, she cupped his jaw. He opened his eyes and gazed up at her.
“Don’t do that. We’re okay.” She brushed her thumbs along the sides of his face and smiled. “We’re alive, and that’s what matters. We’ll figure the rest out.”
He flexed his fingers upon her hips, tempted to draw her closer. Instead, he nuzzled her palm, relishing her touch and her scent. But it was too dangerous to remain here, and the others…
The others.
Urkot jerked up. Callie lowered her hands and took a step back, giving him space as he turned to look at the aftermath of the rockfall.
They’d dropped into another tunnel, and the rubble was piled to the ceiling, allowing not even a glimpse into the chamber they’d come from. Dully glowing blue crystals were scattered amidst the debris, shedding soft light.
The walls of the crystal garden must’ve collapsed as well. Gods, but it didn’t seem possible that he and Callie had survived relatively unscathed.
Thank the Protector for shielding us.
“Zotahl?” Urkot called, stepping toward the rubble. “Tahlken, Enikor?”
