Drasus

Coral is unimpressed.

With absolutely everything. So far, she has complained about the weight of her pack, the weight of my pack, the rations included, the rations not included, the fact I have a pulsar weapon (and some psi-grenades, but she doesn't need to know about those), the fact she doesn't have a pulsar weapon. The distance to the hangar, having to use a gyik flyer to get there, the entrance to the caverns themselves.

I'm exhausted and we haven't even started.

"Enough, female," I croak as she appears to be limbering up vocally for another round of complaints. "The sooner we go, the sooner this is over."

"At least that's the one thing we can agree on," Coral mutters. "For the record, this is a terrible idea, you're not strong enough, and I object to this entire thing."

I fire out an arm and drag her against me, smoke escaping through my nose as I glare down at her.

"Your objections are duly noted." I luxuriate in the warmth which spreads through me as her scent invades my rational mind, assuaging the rut raging within. "But I am very strong, and do not think I am incapable of protecting you if required."

An expression flits over her face I can't quite fathom.

"Whatever," she says, pulling free of my grip and walking towards the entrance to the caverns.

I'm not entirely sure what to say in return. "Whatever" doesn't seem to convey anything, especially confidence. I furrow my brow, pick up my pack, and follow her.

"Here." Drega shoves a map-cube into my hand. "The control room we've identified is approximately three legions inside."

"You've identified?" I query. "You haven't been?"

"You've been out of it, Drasus. We've had to prepare the Golden Orion as well as mopping up the Belek insurgence. The fact Daeos managed to identify this place on the mapping system in the first place is a minor gift from the ancestors."

I mutter under my breath how I feel about Daeos and his gifts. Drega doesn't disagree.

"So, this is unknown territory? You're sending me and my mate into somewhere unknown?"

Drega claps me on the shoulder with a grin. "Your rut makes you stronger every ev, warrior. This is an easy but vital mission. If you unlock the star map, you will have the undying gratitude of your superiors."

"And presumably if we die in there, you'll put our names on the memorial." I don't even look at him. Instead, I'm looking over to where Coral waits, kicking at the dust on the ground with the toe of her boot.

"Would I send you on a suicide mission? Would Draco?" Drega asks.

"Spaceworms," I growl.

"Ah." He has the good grace to look very nearly contrite. "That was different. This is you getting to spend your rut with your szikra. I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities for mating on your route. What more could any warrior want?"

Given Coral is doing a very good impression of a female contemplating envenomation, I highly doubt there will be mating. Despite her pleasure yesterday, she has hardly spoken a word to me since, and the more she ignores me, the more my rut has raged. The need for her, to claim her, to protect her, wars within my broken body, spearing me with pain and desire all at the same time.

It has not been much fun.

"If my female is hurt in any way on this mission, I will kill you, Drega," I growl as a parting statement.

"As it should be." He gives me a brief bow, not allowing his eyes to leave me for a moment, like a good warrior.

I release a grunt and the pent-up smoke which I've been holding before turning towards my Coral. She doesn't acknowledge me as I reach her. Instead, she sets off into the caverns, and I join her, easily matching her pace.

"What did Drega say?" she asks, not even looking at me.

"The control room is approximately three legions inside the cavern system." I show her the map-cube, but she ignores it. "It's around two evs' walk." I look down at her little legs. "Maybe three."

She speeds up.

"Let's make it two days and get this over and done with," Coral says as I increase my stride a little to keep up with her.

Ahead, the way splits into two darkened passages. I activate a glow-light and hand it to her before activating my own. Coral doesn't wait for me. She takes the left passage.

I do not follow. After a while, she reappears.

"It's this way." I point to the right passage, holding up the map-cube.

The sound she makes is surely one of a female who will envenomate me in my sleep. Given I sleep like the dead these days, my body desperate to shift and heal, I may have to re-evaluate the sleeping arrangements.

The last thing I need is to be envenomated, no matter how much I rut for her.