43. Kuret

43

Kuret

I'm outside of another one of the caves, hopeful that I am right about genali not being able to come in now, but knowing there's no way for me to be completely sure.

I can still hear Nasrin and the argila. Her breathing has been elevated since I started working and I'm hoping it doesn't mean she is more injured than I realized.

She would have told me , I remind myself.

I'll need to scout this one thoroughly, and I suppose many others.

My mind instantly goes back to the emerald-haired female, Olivia, and I hope that Nasrin is not thinking too much about her being missing. While I might not be completely in agreement with her plan to find the captured female, I will do my best.

If not because of Ree, then because I know it is what Nasrin wants and I want to make her happy.

If I had my way, we would already be heading to Ree and I could return to hunt for the other woman, but Nasrin has made it clear that she will not allow that to happen, which is why I'm stuck here.

Thinking about the other woman, something occurs to me finally. I had been dismissive of what Nasrin said about the kidnapper she had seen, partly because it sounded implausible and partly because I simply didn't want her to be right, but looking back at it, I can make some assumptions.

The monster must be a cave dweller and it probably is the reason those sinkholes kept appearing at random. It must have been after her even before the genali attacked.

Did it know they were there and decided it couldn't wait any longer?

My hands clench. We could have used help, not another creature intent on taking females. What is wrong with these terrible people?

From the description Nasrin provided, it won't be an easy fight. I must prepare myself for what is ahead.

The only thing that doesn't make sense to me is its bright skin color. Creatures that mainly live in caves usually have dark, or muted coloring, likely due to the lack of light, a mystery I'll explore later.

I make sure I am prepared before I move back toward Nasrin where she is sitting by the animals. We need to start making progress, and I can't leave her here unprotected. Once I'm convinced I can keep them safe, then maybe I can go looking on my own.

A few strides later, I hear it, ears twitching in alarm. Thunder and a lot of it. Rain is scarce on my world, but when it comes, it is dangerous. I turn my body in the direction of it and see the dark clouds, eyes widening in alarm when I recognize just how violent it looks. The sorts of storms that flood a desert and level all but the best-made buildings.

I change my walk into a run.