Chapter 4

My heart pounded as I raced up the mountainside, from more than just exertion; a fissure of fear had been burrowing into my gut for some time now. I had thought it was a good idea to find a translator chip, one that would allow me to talk to Eve. I would never have left if I had known the storm was going to hit that afternoon.

It wasn't the common season for storms, but that didn't mean they didn't happen. Of course, that one came out of nowhere. And it was a vicious one.

How prepared was Eve for the storm? She had camped right out in the open, and I worried that her tent technology was not strong enough to stand against the intense winds.

I needed to find Eve and make sure she was safe. Was she at her camp? I knew she had been exploring the area, and I feared she had gotten lost.

Traveling as far from her that day as I had was a mistake. Pushing my body harder, I sprinted until I could finally see her tent through the trees. Only then did I slow my pace, trying to recover my breath. I didn't want to scare her, especially now that she had shown trust in me.

What would she say, what would she think, when I gave her my latest gift?

I cursed as the skies above opened up, and rain fell. Large, heavy drops fell on my head. It didn't take long for my clothing to become soaked.

The world around me became a sheet of white as the rain fell heavier and heavier. The pitter-pats of the rain turned into a crescendo, drowning out the sounds of insects, birds, and leaves blowing in the wind.

Maybe it was because my body was so attuned to hers that I heard her.

"Balroth!" Her shout was panicked.

She screamed for me. The very sound intensified my desire to protect her.

I spun, rushing back the way I came. The ground beneath my feet quickly turned slippery, but I refused to stop.

Knowing she called for me, I needed to see her. But more so, the fear in her voice pained me.

"Balroth!" She raised her voice. I saw her running towards the cliff's edge, panicked.

I rushed towards her and reached out, grabbing her around the waist. The downpour was so hard that I could barely see her myself. She did not know how close she had come to falling. My heart pounded, knowing that a few more steps and she would have plunged to her death.

Eve screamed, fighting against me with sudden ferocity. She raked her fingernails against my skin, but they were too weak to truly do damage to me.

"Eve, it's me. Eve!"

She looked up at me with wide eyes. Her chest heaved as she took frantic little breaths. Recognition dawned, and suddenly she was pushing herself against my body. Her face pressed into my chest, just over my heart, and she wrapped her arms around my waist to cling tight.

Never had I felt such bliss.

We stood in the pouring rain, with a storm raging around us, but I had never felt such peace in all my life. My arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close and holding her to me.

Something sharp hit my shoulder, snapping me out of my reverie and leaving behind a sting. I glanced up, half expecting an attack. As soon as I did, another object hit the top of my head, leaving behind an even more painful sting. Then another, and another.

I cursed. The last thing I needed right then was hail.

Eve pulled back from me, taking her warmth with her. She looked down at her palm, inspecting the small ice-ball that had fallen from the sky. I watched with horror as she flinched when another hit her. Almost immediately, her exposed skin turned pink. Her skin wasn't as thick as mine. She was ill-suited to be out in this storm. And no experienced hunter would be out in a storm this turbulent.

I scooped her up, lifting her small body against my chest. She cried out, stiffening in my arms. I was relieved when she turned and pressed her face against my neck, her hands lifting enough to grip onto the fabric of my clothing.

As fast as I could, without risking slipping in the slick mud, I dashed towards my small cave. As much as I needed to get Eve to safety, I never wanted this moment to end. I loved the feeling of her in my arms, perhaps a little too much.