34. Drasuk

34

Drasuk

The jungle seems to hold its breath, the incessant drone of insects momentarily silenced.

The tension is suffocating, so I decide to break it with a touch of my usual humor, a playful jab that usually gets a rise out of her. "Seems your little scouting mission to find pets is turning out to be a little more exciting than you expected, little human," I rumble, a hint of mock arrogance lacing my voice.

She throws a glare in my direction, but it lacks its usual fire. "Yeah, well, thanks to you getting your reptilian freak on over there instead of avoiding things like that, which I'm pretty sure you can do, I almost became monster chow ," she mutters, gesturing toward the creature with a grimace.

"Wouldn't want anything happening to that soft, squishy body of yours before we reach those other pets you're so keen on finding. I was just protecting my investment, but I like to have fun."

A flicker of a smile crosses her face, fleeting but genuine. "Hilarious, though I prefer other sorts of games," she deadpans.

The tension in her shoulders seems to ease a fraction. "So, what exactly was that thing, anyway? Some kind of overgrown jungle cat with a drooling issue?"

I ponder her question for a moment. The creature wasn't native to Maln'Kril or anywhere else I've been, that much was certain.

"No familiar scent signature," I rumble, wrinkling my snout in thought. "Definitely not something I've encountered before. Probably some mutated monstrosity cooked up for this cursed hunting season."

She lets out a humorless chuckle. "Just another delightful addition to our vacation itinerary. Let's hope the next surprise isn't quite so toothy."

I rumble my agreement, the playful banter fading as a wave of weariness washes over me. I focus on the path ahead, my senses scanning the environment for any sign of further danger.

There's a nagging thought that keeps circling in my mind.

Her heat; this arousal that she keeps denying. My senses let me know it's a weak lie, as does the way her eyes refuse to meet mine when I mention it.

At no other point has she been too shy to show me the defiance in them.

The very idea of a human female, especially this particular human female, being attracted to me is ridiculous. And yet, there it is, a persistent ember burning in the back of my mind.

Why else would she keep signaling?

The thought sends a jolt through me, but then I scoff at the absurdity of it, drawing a questioning look from Kira I pretend I don't see.

Drakonids don't mate with other species.

It's simply not done. Besides, Kira is, well, Kira. Stubborn, infuriating, and about as socially graceful as a drunken xicut. Hardly the ideal mate for a proud Maj'Ra.

Still, the image of her fiery defiance and the way her scent fills the air when she is close lingers in my mind. I clench my jaw, forcing myself to focus. This internal monologue is getting me nowhere.

Suddenly, Kira stops.

I glance at her, surprised. She's staring down intently at a patch of sunlight filtering through the leaves, a frown etched on her face.

"What is it?" I rumble cautiously.

"Footprints," she mutters, crouching down to examine the damp earth. They're large, much larger than hers, and unlike anything I've seen before. Three clawed toes, each leaving a deep impression in the soft soil.

"It matches the paws of that cat -like creature," she shares.

I hadn't bothered to look, and a flush of embarrassment follows that realization.

She is simply too distracting, though it's satisfying to see her demonstrate her knowledge and skills.

I look closer now, and note that there are several sets. All seemingly heading in the same direction—deeper into the forest. A tremor of unease runs through me. These aren't solitary hunters like the creature we just encountered.

This is a pack.

"Looks like we're not alone," I mutter, my voice low.

Kira stands up, brushing dirt off her knees. The playful defiance has vanished from her eyes, replaced by a steely determination.

"You have a penchant for the obvious, Drasuk. Great," she mutters, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Just what we needed. A pack of oversized mutant freaks."

"We need to find somewhere to hide," I say urgently. "Somewhere they can't easily reach us."

She scans the surrounding trees, her gaze finally landing on a cluster of thick vines snaking their way up a nearby tree, then moving on, as if she discards it as a viable option.

"Why not the vines?"

"Way up there?" she asks, pointing toward the vines. "Seriously? How high do you think we'll get using those?"

"I'll get higher than you can manage on your own two squishy feet," I retort, a barb creeping into my voice.

Before she can retort, I surge forward, falling on all fours as I propel myself toward the tree. After a burst of power to launch me up as high as possible, I scramble up the trunk, using the thick vines for purchase.

I reach the topmost branches in mere moments, the dense foliage offering a decent amount of cover. I peer down at Kira, who's struggling to get a foothold on the lower vines, her height working to her disadvantage.

With a sigh, I climb back down a bit before extending the length of my prehensile tail toward her.

"Grab on, little human," I rumble, sure to include enough of implied insult in my tone to get her riled.

She hesitates for a moment, then grits her teeth and reaches out, grasping the rough spines of my tail with both hands. With a grunt, I haul her up, bumping her along the tree as she curses quietly before hoisting her onto the same branch I was on before.

She lands with a huff, glaring at me but not bothering to voice a complaint.

We crouch low amongst the leaves, waiting, then we both tense and make our breath shallow when there is a crack of a stick breaking.

The rustling of the approaching creatures grows steadily louder as we wait. Soon after, I can see glimpses of the pack through the gaps in the foliage. There are at least five of them, each one just as menacing as the creature I fought earlier.

Their dark fur glistens in the sunlight, and their swirling eyes scan the forest floor with predatory hunger. They move with a chilling grace, their movements silent and deadly. Kira lets out a shaky breath beside me.

"Any bright ideas?" she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I rumble back a negative, a grim feeling settling in my gut. We're outnumbered, possibly unmatched, and with nowhere to run.

This might be the end of it for both of us.

Still, as I look into Kira's eyes, blazing with a mixture of fear and defiance, a spark of determination ignites within me. I may not be able to guarantee her safety, but if I fail, it won't be because I ran.

A Maj'Ra fights until death, and I can see the same fervor reflected in her pink-eyed gaze, a mirror of my aggression and determination, albeit in a diminutive package.

Nonetheless, both of us err on the side of caution, remaining still and hoping the group will simply move on to other prey.

Instead, they lower their dripping maws to the ground, and move closer, one of them already following the line of our movement toward the tree.

We glance over at each other, both asking a question and offering a response, then she breaks out into a gleeful grin that's reflected in my spines.

Squeezing her waist with my tail, I let out a low growl, a sound that echoes through the trees. The pack stops, their attention drawn to our hiding place.

A tense silence hangs in the air, broken only by the ragged gasps of Kira's breaths. Then, with a guttural roar, the lead creature charges toward the tree, its glowing eyes fixed on us. The others follow suit, a wave of black fur.

I clench my jaw, adrenaline surging through my veins. This is it.

We fight.

For survival. For the sheer perversity of not going down without a struggle.

A feral snarl stretches across my face and my spines shiver. For the first time since arriving on this strange planet, a thrill of anticipation courses through me that reminds me of my days as a hunter.

We both need the other to make it through, and it feels good. Just like any Maj'Ra should feel knowing another Ra will throw themselves into danger until it has passed.

A pleased rumble starts in my chest until it shakes the branch we are on. Kira lets out a long, triumphant oorah sound a moment later.

It's strange, but the sentiment is the same.

We are in accord.

There are very few things that can compare to the ecstasy of a good fight, and who would I be to say no now that the predators in this place are deciding to make things more interesting?