Page 46 of Orange Lake
Again, that persistent stare is bugging me as I look around.
Maybe an enemy, my beast whispered. He doesn’t usually talk to me. This means both he and I are agitated.
“Look!” Amin shouted.
From a distance, we can hear vehicles firing up. This is not like Kilo to abandon his camp without a fight. Definitely a trap. But what?
Our legs sprinted and carried us to the sound of the vehicles. We reached a clearing, the sand dunes flying away like mini sand storms. I barely noticed the caves in some outcropping.
Some of Kilo’s officers are scattered in the area. I can see Kilo. I can see him smirking even at this distance.
No Nialla.
I glanced briefly to the team and knew that we fell right into their trap. Kilo is there but Nialla is nowhere to be found. If Coone was here, it will be easy to find him. Crix has a plan though. I barely felt the juvenile scatter his crystal to find Nialla. At least there is some use of him. He should be with Sonis and Elyat.
“Ah, the Alpha of the Silver Tribe graces us with his presence,” Kilo said with a slight bow of his head. He is trying to stir up Roqs. It is known in the planet that Roqs declared me also as Alpha of our tribe. Yet without a formal mating, it is not acknowledged by most. My beast and I thought that by separating with Roqs, once we see each other, we’ll fall into him and mate at once. Something happened when we acknowledge our mate. Mated males can’t describe it in detail because it is unique among mates. It hasn’t happened to us yet. I always complain that maybe our communication pathway is just faulty. Or something’s wrong with me. Like our triad friends who can telepath each other.
The one thing Roqs and I can agree on, we know how each other work. We don’t need telepathy to read each other’s minds. Years of being together should make us a mate. But the universe probably has another plan.
“Volks,” Roqs whispered into the silence. The vehicles are not roaring. Meaning they are good to go. They are already warmed up. One of the vehicles worries me. It is designed to capture slaves. We have heard and I saw one of this up close. Yet the slaves are out in the field. By now, Volks have freed them.
“Slumming Kilo?” Crix taunted. He always stir up trouble by antagonizing the enemy. That is why Roqs and I are on this mission. If we left it to Crix and his mates, things might turn to a disaster. My friends, fortunately, are aware of this.
Kilo laughed. “Ah, the scourge of the Purple Tribe is here. I barely recognized you with all the weapons you are wearing. I must say I should be delighted. You must beafraidto come face to face with me.”
I stiffened at the same time felt the growls vibrating from all the males in our team. Mine included. Crix is a well-respected leader despite his flaws. This will not end well. We need to attack.
Roqs moved slightly. Telling me I should wait.
I growled louder, telling Roqs we need to fight now. Without knowing where Nialla is, we are big targets here.
Kilo finally addressed me. “Of course, the Silver Beast must be acknowledged. Now tell me, why are you all here?”
Silence.
Kilo moved forward. Just a few steps. Knowing our range, we can reach him in a second. We are all aware of everyone at this point. We can still hear some explosions in the distance. There are still members of Kilo’s gang engaging Volks or the slaves have turned on them.
Could it be that our informant turned against us? I will ask Coone about his informant so I can wring his neck!
There was a static in my ear. “Sightings on Nialla at your 6 o’clock. He has the Shura.”
Good. The juvenile found him. But we had to be sure.
“Confirmed,” Amin said.
With that, we sprang into action. Crix and his men engaged with Kilo and his officers. I, Roqs and 5 others turned back to Nialla’s position. I can see them, in an outcropping. The juvenile and the elder couples are behind the wall, engaging the three gang officers guarding Nialla. It’s as if everything’s happening in slow motion. Nialla slowly lifted his right arm holding the Shura. I can see the dark crystals protruding from the metal rod. It is firing up. To anyone, this is suicide to meet him head on.
I let Roqs get in front of me. My heart beating too fast. What if our plan fail.
A sonic boom that stopped my movement.
Roqs.
I looked at him standing firm. I can see the transparent wall he created. It is massive extending to fifty feet in height and wide enough for an army not to pass through. He overexerted himself. Again.
I placed a hand on his shoulder and he did not react. I took a step in front of him and see his face. Nothing. Damn it, he got hit by the Shura. But his iris is moving, meaning it will only be five minutes before he can recover. But we don’t have five minutes.
We have talked about this. Only Roqs can handle the black crystal. I saw Crix and his warriors engaging Kilo and his members. Like ants, Kilo’s males doubled. Most likely hiding in the outcropping. I can hear someone cried out in the back, one of the elders but can’t tell who.
