5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Vornas

I tense as the mechanical hunter enters the clearing, my senses on high alert. Beside me, Chloe's breath hitches, her scent spiking with fear. She's going to be as helpless as a newborn kitten. Instinct takes over, and in one fluid motion, I scoop her into my arms, feeling her soft curves press against my chest. I then scale the nearest tree, depositing her on a sturdy branch.

"Stay here," I growl softly. "I'll handle this."

Before she can protest, I drop back to the forest floor, landing in a silent crouch a short distance from the robot hunter. My muscles coil, ready to spring as I face the approaching threat. The scent of oil and metal assaults my nostrils as the robot's frame reflects the pale moonlight filtering through the canopy.

"Go on," I taunt, circling the machine. "Let's dance."

It lunges, faster than I expect. I barely dodge its razor-sharp claws, feeling the rush of air as they slice past my fur. I retaliate with a swipe of my own, but my claws screech uselessly against its metal hide.

The robot slashes again, and this time it clips my shoulder, drawing a thin line of blood. Pain lances through me, but I ignore it, focusing on the hunt.

I have to end this quickly before it can get the upper hand.

I scan the area for anything that might give me an advantage. My eyes land on a large tree trunk that has fallen over in some long-forgotten storm, creating a makeshift bridge between two other trees. An idea forms in my mind, and all I need to do is get the robot under the trunk.

I feint left, then dart right, trying to lure it into position. It's not as easy as I thought; the robot is far more intelligent than I gave it credit for. But after several minutes of dodging and weaving, it finally takes the bait, following me under the makeshift bridge.

Now's my chance.

I leap onto the trunk, using my claws to anchor myself in place. Then I reach up and grab a nearby vine, using all my strength to pull it down. The vine snaps free from its mooring, sending the heavy tree trunk crashing down on top of the robot.

The machine lets out an electronic screech as the weight pins it to the ground. Its limbs flail uselessly, but it's unable to free itself—at least, not any time soon.

I pant heavily, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. I watch the robot struggle for a few moments longer before turning away and climbing back up the tree to retrieve Chloe. She stares at me wide-eyed as I approach.

"Are you okay?" she asks, her voice shaking slightly as she looks over my cuts and ruffled fur.

"I'm fine," I reassure her, though my shoulder stings where the robot clawed me. "We should get moving before it escapes. Climb on." This time, she doesn't protest, and is on my back in moments.

I begin leaping from tree to tree, Chloe clinging on with all her strength. Her warmth seeps into me, her scent a tantalizing distraction with each breath. I suppress a growl, forcing my mind back to the task at hand. Escaping. Surviving. Not dwelling on the intoxicating aroma of the female pressed against me.

The trees thin out as we approach a more mountainous region, forcing us to return to the ground. I land with grace, barely jostling my passenger.

"We'll have to rough it from here," I say, helping Chloe back to her feet.

We face a treacherous incline, slick with moss and dew. I offer my hand, but Chloe hesitates, her chin lifting with that stubborn pride I'm growing to admire.

"I can manage," she insists, taking a tentative step forward.

I watch, tail twitching with amusement, as she picks her way up the slope. Her determination is admirable, if misplaced. Halfway up, her foot slips on a loose stone. In a heartbeat, I'm there, catching her before she can tumble.

Her warmth lingers against my fur as I steady her, and I can't help but savor the moment.

"My, my," I purr, unable to resist a little teasing as her cheeks grow red. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were falling for me."

Chloe rolls her eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "I'm just testing your cat-like reflexes."

She's out of my arms before I know it, and this time manages the rest of the climb without so much as a slip.

As we push deeper into the jungle, I focus on finding a safe place to rest and plan our next move. That robot may be temporarily trapped, but I have no doubt it will free itself eventually. And when it does, we'll need to be ready.

I snap to attention as a distant tree branch cracks, my ears turning to pinpoint the sound. While it might simply be one of the many creatures that have been let loose in this jungle, the robot could be closing in on us at any moment. My muscles tense, ready for another confrontation, fur bristling along my spine. The jungle around us seems to hold its breath, as if sensing the impending danger.

I hear nothing else, but I can't be too careful.

"We need to move," I growl, reaching for Chloe. My claws extend instinctively, ready to scoop her up and dash through the underbrush.

She hesitates, her brow furrowing in concentration. "Wait. I think I might have an idea."

I shake my head. The urge to flee, to protect, thrums through my veins like a primal drumbeat. "There's no time for thinking. We need to—"

"Just hear me out," she insists. "It's about what the Host said earlier. Something's been nagging at me…"

I blink at her, unsure just how analyzing the Host's ramblings is going to help us. "What are you talking about?"

Chloe takes a deep breath, clearly trying to organize her thoughts. "Okay, remember how the Host mentioned ‘pursuit algorithms' when he was bragging about his robots?"

I tilt my head, the unfamiliar word rolling awkwardly off my tongue. "Al-go-rithms?" The translator device installed in my temple fails to find a matching word in my mother tongue.

She sighs, rubbing her temples. "Right, you're a jungle cat. This might take some explaining…"

I growl softly, my patience wearing thin. "We don't have time for this, Chloe."

"I know, I know," she says quickly. "Just… bear with me for a moment. Think of it like… a hunting pattern. The robot follows a specific set of rules to track us down."

I nod slowly, the concept starting to take shape in my mind. It's not unlike how I stalk prey through the jungle, following a set of instinctual guidelines. "Go on."

Chloe's eyes light up, sensing she's getting through to me. "Algorithms are like… rigid hunting patterns. They follow strict rules, unlike our more adaptable minds. We can think on our feet, but the robot? It's locked into its programming."

I feel my whiskers twitch as understanding dawns. "So you're suggesting we outsmart the machine?" A low purr of approval rumbles in my chest. "I like the way you think, little one. Tell me more about this trickery you have in mind."

She bites her lip, clearly still formulating her plan. "What if… What if we create a circular track? If we make it loop back on itself, we might be able to confuse the robot. Make it chase its own tail."

I stare at her, surprised by the cleverness of the idea. "That… could actually work," I admit.

"You really think so?" Chloe asks, a hint of pride coloring her voice.

I nod, already scanning our surroundings with fresh eyes. "It's worth a try. And if it fails, we can always fall back on running and clawing."

We set to work immediately, the urgency of our situation lending speed to our movements. I use my claws to carve deep grooves in the earth, while Chloe breaks branches and shuffles her feet through leaves to make our trail more obvious. We move in a wide circle, carefully connecting the end back to the beginning.

As we work, I find myself continually impressed by Chloe's quick thinking and adaptability. She may not have my physical strength or jungle instincts, but her mind is as sharp as any claw.

We finish laying our false trail and step back to survey our work.

This might just be enough to buy us some precious time.

"Now what?" Chloe asks, wiping sweat from her brow. The exertion has brought a flush to her cheeks, and I find myself captivated by the sight.

I grin, a thrill of excitement coursing through me. The hunt—even if we're the ones being hunted—has awoken something primal within. "Now," I purr, "we disappear. We must climb, leaving no tracks behind. I'll have to sheath my claws to not leave any marks, but it's doable."

Chloe eyes the towering trees warily. "Yeah, maybe for you… But upper body strength isn't exactly my thing. How am I supposed to—"

I don't let her finish, and in an instant, I scoop her up, cradling her against my chest. "Hold on tight," I purr.

She yelps in surprise but quickly wraps her arms around my shoulders. I feel her heart racing, smell the mix of fear and… what's that? It's something delicious in her scent…

No, no. I must focus.

I scale the trees with powerful leaps, my muscles bunching and releasing as I carry Chloe ever higher. We traverse the upper reaches of the jungle until we're near the very top. My keen senses remain alert for any sign of pursuit, while I'm acutely aware of Chloe's ragged breathing and the slight tremor in her limbs. It seems we're getting close to the limits of her stamina.

Just as I feel Chloe's grip beginning to slacken from exhaustion, I spot our salvation. A colossal tree looms before us, its gnarled trunk wider than any I've seen thus far. Nestled high in its crown, a cluster of thick branches intertwine to form a natural alcove.

"Almost there," I purr as I make the final leap toward our sanctuary.

I settle us into the leafy alcove, gently setting Chloe down. She immediately collapses against me, her breathing heavy.

"That was… intense," she pants, her eyes wide.

I smile down at her. "Welcome to my domain."

I scan the branches around us, my keen eyes spotting clusters of ripe, purple fruit nestled among the leaves. Perfect. With practiced ease, I reach out and pluck several of the juicy orbs, their sweet scent filling the air.

"Allow me to be your royal taste-tester," I purr, a mischievous glint in my eye, though I'm nearly certain such a plump fruit isn't poisonous. It's always the little ones that are tricky.

I take a generous bite, savoring the burst of flavor on my tongue. "Mmm. Well, if it's poisonous, it sure is deliciously so." I offer one to Chloe with a dramatic flourish. "Care to live dangerously?"

To my surprise, she plucks it from my hand without hesitation. "After everything we've been through? This is hardly a risk." She sinks her teeth into the fruit, then her eyes widen, and a small moan of pleasure escapes her lips. "Oh wow," she mumbles, wiping her lips. "I'd eat fruit every day if it tasted like this."

I nod. "Agreed. Fruit is good on occasions, but I too prefer the savory delights of flesh. Nothing quite compares to sinking one's teeth into a fresh kill, feeling the warm blood—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Chloe interrupts, her eyes wide. "That's not what I meant at all!"

I tilt my head, confused. "No? But you spoke of preferring a different taste…"

She laughs, a melodious sound. "I was talking about human treats, silly cat. Things like chocolate, cookies, ice cream…"

"Choc-o-late? Ice… cream?" I test the strange words on my tongue, my translation device failing to find a Saberkai equivalent yet again. "Des-serts? Not prey?" The concept baffles me. Why would one consume something that isn't for sustenance or strength?

Chloe's eyes glitter with mirth. "Yeah, like treats. Sweet, indulgent food we eat purely for pleasure." She pauses, a wistful look crossing her face. "I used to serve them, actually, at my old job."

My tail flicks with interest. "You… served food?" I struggle to picture this fierce little human in such a role. In Saberkai culture, only the lowest-ranked members of the pride would be tasked with food distribution. Surely Chloe deserves a more prestigious position?

She must sense my confusion, for she quickly adds, "It was just a part-time job to help pay for my studies. Nothing glamorous, but it had its perks." She grins mischievously. "Like sneaking the occasional taste of delicacies."

Intrigued, I lean closer. "Tell me more about these… des-serts."

Chloe's face lights up. "Well, chocolate is this rich, creamy confection made from cacao beans. It's smooth and melts on your tongue." Her eyes close briefly, as if savoring a memory. "And ice cream? Imagine the smoothest, coldest, most sweet… " She pauses, searching for a comparison I might understand. "It's like… eating a frozen cloud of flavor."

I find myself captivated by her enthusiasm, my own mouth watering despite the alien nature of these foods. "You make them sound almost as tantalizing as a fresh kill," I purr, only half-joking.

We then turn our attention back to our feast, relishing the sweet nectar. I find myself oddly captivated by Chloe's evident enjoyment, the way her face lights up with each bite. It stirs something primal within me, a desire to provide, to give her everything she could ever want. But I push the feeling aside. Now is not the time for such thoughts.

Once we finish our impromptu meal, I notice Chloe's eyelids growing heavy. The tension begins to leave her body, replaced by the weight of exhaustion. Then, without a word, she leans against me, her warmth seeping through my fur.

I remain perfectly still, not wanting to disturb her. Her breathing slows, becoming deep and even. When I glance down, I find her eyes already closed, her body fully relaxed against mine. It seems the adrenaline crash has claimed her, pulling her into a deep slumber.

A protective instinct surges through me as I watch her sleep. I wrap an arm around her, my tail curling protectively at her feet. I have only properly known her for a day, yet I can't imagine ever letting any harm come to her now.

I adjust my position, cradling her more comfortably against my chest, and for the first time since we met, I have a chance to really look at her.

Chloe's rich brunette hair falls in soft waves around her face, framing features that are so alien and yet… captivating. My gaze traces the curve of her cheek, lingering on the scar that mars her skin. It's a mark of survival, of strength. In my culture, such scars are worn with pride. Yet I can sense her unease about it, the way she tries to hide it.

My eyes wander lower, taking in the soft swell of her breasts, the generous curve of her hips. She's built nothing like the females of my species, who are all lean muscle and sharp angles. Chloe is… softer, rounder. I find myself entranced by her form, a deeper part of me growling with desire.

I want to claim her, to mark her as mine. The urge is so strong it takes all my willpower to resist. But I know I can't. Not yet. There's a wariness in her, a reluctance to trust that speaks of past hurts.

How could the males of her world be so blind? To not see the treasure they had in their midst? It makes me want to snarl, to hunt down those who made her feel unworthy and punish them for the error of their ways.

But that's not what Chloe needs. She needs someone to prove themselves worthy of her trust, her affection. And I find myself determined to be that someone.

But for now, I content myself with holding her close, listening to the steady rhythm of her breathing as the jungle night falls around us.