9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Vornas

I watch Chloe as she eats the breakfast I prepared, my thoughts a brewing storm. Her earlier words about "taking it slower" still echo in my mind, a confusing idea that clashes with the primal instincts thrumming through my veins.

Humans are such perplexing creatures.

How can she not feel the intense connection between us, after we mated so intimately?

The pull of fate that brought us together is as tangible to me as the air we breathe. Perhaps she's simply overwhelmed from being thrust into this dangerous game against her will.

Or maybe… Maybe she still doesn't trust me yet.

The thought sends a pang through my chest, sharper than any claw.

I clear my throat, pushing aside my doubts. "Chloe," I begin. "I was thinking we should use this time in the Mother Tree wisely. How about I teach you some climbing techniques? It could save your life out in the jungle."

She looks up from her meal, a spark of interest igniting in those captivating eyes. "That's actually not a bad idea," she replies. "I could definitely use the practice."

"Excellent," I purr, standing and offering her my hand. The urge to pull her close is almost overwhelming, but I resist. I must respect her wishes, no matter how much it ruffles my fur. "There are plenty of branches and trunks inside the tree. It's the perfect training ground."

Once we make our way to a section with numerous low-hanging branches, I demonstrate the proper technique, my movements fluid and graceful as I scale a nearby trunk.

Chloe observes intently, and when it's her turn, she approaches the trunk with determination. Her first attempt, however, is far from graceful. Her fingers scrabble against the rough bark, and she lets out a frustrated groan.

"Perhaps try less vocalization," I suggest.

She shoots me a look. "Seriously? You try climbing without built-in claws and see how quiet you are."

I nod thoughtfully. "Fair point. Your claws really are useless."

Chloe's eyes narrow. "I'm aware. No point in rubbing it in."

I shake my head, an idea forming. "No, that's not… Wait here. I'll be right back."

With a graceful leap, I make my way toward the Mother Tree's root chamber—an underground labyrinth that every Mother Tree creates as it grows. I descend into the cool, dimly lit cavern, the steady pulse of the tree's heartbeat thrumming through my feet.

And inside, I will find just what I need for my mate.

I emerge from the root chamber, clutching the roots I've harvested from the Mother Tree. Chloe watches as I approach, curiosity evident in her gaze.

"What are those?" she asks, reaching out to touch one of the pliable strands.

"These," I explain, holding them up proudly, "are going to solve your climbing problem. They're a special material that hardens under fire. I can fashion them into claw gloves for you."

Chloe's eyebrows shoot up. "Really?"

I nod and settle down on the ground, spreading out the materials. Chloe sits close beside me, her warmth radiating against my fur. As I work, carefully shaping the roots and using strips of leather from my own clothing to create a comfortable base, I find myself purring contentedly.

There's something about serving my mate and taking care of her that fills me with a fuzzy, happy joy.

My purring grows louder as I work, and Chloe keeps scooting in closer to me, until I can no longer resist one of the most natural urges that comes to a Saberkai.

Without thinking, I lean over and run my tongue through Chloe's hair.

She jerks back with a yelp. "Whoa! What was that?"

I blink, confused by her reaction. "I… Sorry. I was grooming you. It's what mates do for each other. Isn't it?"

Don't tell me this is yet another thing humans don't do…

Chloe's expression softens, and she lets out a laugh. "Oh, I see. Well, humans usually use these things called ‘combs' for that. Your tongue is a bit… rough."

My ears flatten slightly in embarrassment. "Oh. I apologize for startling you."

"No, no, it's okay," Chloe says, her smile genuine. "I appreciate the thought."

An idea strikes me. "Perhaps… my fingers would be more suitable?"

Chloe considers this for a moment, then nods. "Yeah, that could work."

Carefully, I reach out and begin to run my fingers through her hair, untangling the silky texture. Chloe leans into my touch, her eyes closing in contentment.

"This is nice," she murmurs.

I can't help the purr that rumbles through my chest. "It is."

After a few moments, Chloe opens her eyes and gives me a mischievous look. "My turn?"

Before I can respond, she reaches up and runs her fingers through my mane. The sensation sends shivers through my body, and I have to stifle a groan of pleasure. My skin tingles as she works her way through the thick fur, her touch both soothing and electrifying.

As we sit there, grooming each other in comfortable silence, I'm struck by how much I adore this strange, fascinating creature. My mate. My Chloe. I want to tell her, to express the depth of my feelings, but I hold back. I can't risk scaring her away by moving too fast.

For now, I content myself with this moment of connection, savoring every second as her fingers work their magic through my mane while I finish putting together her climbing gloves.

"There," I finally say, holding the gloves up, the claws glinting. "Now we just leave the claws in the fire, and they'll cure and harden." I place the claws into the campfire, then I grab some fruit growing by the stream for us to eat as we wait.

As we settle down for lunch, my gaze drifts over Chloe's form, lingering on the scar that mirrors my own. It's a reminder of our connection, of the fate that brought us together in this strange contest.

But as I observe her, my contentment gives way to an unexpected wave of guilt. My mind wanders back to the choice I made at the start of this, when the Host presented me with an impossible decision. The fate of my people—of all the races on Mythos—had rested in my hands.

A cure for the infertility plaguing our females—but would it be for all, or just the Saberkai?

The singular cure had seemed so clear then, so obviously the right decision for my people.

But now, as I watch Chloe, doubt gnaws at me. The Aquarians, the Drakari—they're suffering too. Who am I to deny them hope? The weight of my choice presses down on me, heavier than ever before, as a single terrible thought crosses my mind for the first time.

What if my mate disapproves of my decision?

After a few minutes, I find the strength to glance at Chloe again, her face bright with curiosity as she examines another piece of fruit.

Has bonding with her truly changed me so much?

The Vornas who made that terrible choice feels like a stranger now. That Vornas wouldn't have hesitated to sacrifice the Drakari and Aquarians for the good of the Saberkai.

But what if I was wrong? What if the other kings experienced this same shift? This… softening?

A sinking feeling settles in my gut as I realize the full weight of my decision. I may have doomed two entire races for nothing. The fruit suddenly tastes like ash, and I lose my appetite, tossing it aside.

"You okay?" Chloe's voice breaks through my brooding. "You look like your mind is off in outer space."

I force a smile. "Just thinking about our next move. Are you ready to test out your new gear?"

She grins. "Born ready. Let's do this."

I grab the claw gloves and hand it to her, then we head back to the training area. She straps on the gloves, flexing her fingers experimentally.

"Remember," I instruct, "use your legs to push yourself up. The claws are there to give you grip, not to pull your entire weight."

Chloe nods, approaching a nearby tree. She takes a deep breath, then leaps, digging her new claws into the bark. To my surprise, she scrambles up several feet before pausing.

"Holy crap!" she exclaims, looking down at me from her vantage point. "This is amazing!"

I beam with pride. "You're a natural. Now, try moving laterally."

For the next hour, I guide Chloe through various climbing techniques. She falls a few times, but each time she gets up with renewed determination. Her resilience is admirable, and I find myself more impressed with her by the minute.

As the Mother Tree's gem begins to dim above us, Chloe descends from a particularly tall tree, her face flushed with exertion and excitement.

"I think I'm getting the hang of this," she pants, grinning widely.

"You've made remarkable progress. We'll make a jungle dweller of you yet."

As I watch her catch her breath, that nagging doubt creeps back in. I've given her these tools, taught her these skills, all to help her survive in my world.

But when she learns the truth of my choice, will she be repelled? Will she choose to return to her own planet, instead of the one I've doomed for all but my own race?

Whether or not she feels the same, I know deep in my heart that she is my mate, and that I'll have to come clean about everything. The thought terrifies me more than any mechanical hunter ever could, but even worse than that is the guilt that's already settling in my chest.

As the glow of her accomplishment fades, Chloe studies me for a moment, her gaze softening with concern. "Hey," she says gently, "something's been bothering you all day. Want to talk about it?"

I hesitate. "You're rather perceptive," I admit, my voice soft. "Yes. There's something I should tell you."

Chloe settles herself on a nearby root and pats the spot beside her, a small, encouraging smile on her face. "I'm here to listen, whenever you're ready."

I sit beside her, steeling myself for what's to come. "Before the games began—before you were brought out—the Host presented me with a choice. He offered me a cure for the infertility plaguing my world."

Chloe blinks. "That's good, isn't it?"

I shake my head, shame burning in my chest. "The choice was whether the cure would be for all races of Mythos… or just the Saberkai."

The silence that follows is deafening. Chloe's face goes through a range of emotions—shock, disbelief, and finally, disappointment.

"You chose just the Saberkai, didn't you?" Her voice is quiet, but I can hear the disappointment in it.

I nod, unable to meet her gaze. "At the time, it seemed like the right decision for my people. But now…" I trail off, the weight of my choice crushing me.

"Now you realize you've potentially doomed two entire races," Chloe finishes, her voice hard.

"Yes," I admit, my ears flattening against my head. "I know I made a mistake, Chloe. I've been a fool. I was blinded by my duty to the Saberkai. I had figured Draven or Krakenos would have taken advantage of my people's mammalian reproduction—that it would take us much longer to get our numbers back up, that the two other races could crush us entirely if we all received a cure. But now I know that was wrong."

Chloe pauses, and for a moment she seems to set aside her immediate emotions as she considers my original line of thinking. "You mean the gargoyle guy and fish man—their races can hatch eggs?"

"Hundreds of them—maybe thousands. As soon as they receive a cure, they can immediately rejuvenate their numbers."

"Oh. Well, I guess that would put your people at a big disadvantage. But that doesn't make it okay."

"I know."

She pauses again, mulling it over. "What changed your mind, though? What made you realize it was the wrong choice?"

I smile. I can't help myself. "You, Chloe. You've already given me so much hope, so much to fight for, to be a better king for. I can only imagine that Draven and Krakenos have undergone a similar change. If their females are anything like you, I can't imagine either would allow for another race to be vanquished."

I watch Chloe's face carefully. She opens her mouth, then closes it again, seemingly at a loss for words.

"I… I had no idea," she finally manages, her voice soft. Her gaze meets mine, and I feel a jolt of electricity run through my body. "You really feel that?"

I nod, my ears perking up at her reaction. "Every word, Chloe. You've shown me a different way of thinking, of seeing the world beyond just my own people's needs. It's been… transformative."

Her fingers fidget with the hem of her skirt. "Like I said before, that's a lot of responsibility to put on someone you've just met," she says, but there's a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

I purr softly, the sound rumbling in my chest. "Perhaps. But sometimes, the most profound changes come from the most unexpected places."

Chloe's smile grows, and she reaches out, hesitating for a moment before gently placing her hand on my arm. The touch sends a shiver through me, and I have to resist the urge to pull her closer.

"Well," she says, her voice stronger now, "I guess we'll just have to figure out how to make things right, won't we?"

Her words fill me with a warmth, and I feel a glimmer of hope for the future—not just for my people, but for all of Mythos.

Then the dread creeps in, and I say, "But there's something else that's been bothering me."

Chloe's eyebrow arches. "What's that?"

"The Host's reaction. He seemed… pleased with my choice. Almost as if he wanted me to choose that option."

This gives Chloe pause. "That is weird. Why would he care about your decision?"

I shake my head. "I don't know. But I have a theory that if I'd chosen differently, the game might not have proceeded at all. Like it was all a test, and by choosing the selfish option, he could proceed with… whatever this wretched experiment is."

"Isn't this just some stupid intergalactic game show?"

"That's what I had thought." I motion widely. "But where are the cameras? It's as if the Host has done away with all the pretense."

Chloe nibbles at her lower lip before concluding, "I do not like the sound of that."

Before I can agree, a sharp scent hits my nostrils, and my fur stands on end.

"What is it?" Chloe asks, noticing my sudden alertness.

"Smoke," I growl, my tail lashing back and forth. "We're not safe anymore."

Chloe's eyes widen. "Do you think…?"

I nod grimly. "Yes. It seems our next hunter has found us. And it's not playing nice."

We scramble to our feet, gathering what little supplies we have. The smell of smoke grows stronger, seeping into our sanctuary. I hear the crackle of flames outside, and the Mother Tree shudders beneath our feet.

"It's… It's burning down the tree?" Chloe gasps, horror etched across her face. "How could it do that?"

"It's a machine," I spit out. "It doesn't care about the sanctity of life."

In only moments, the smoke is clawing at my lungs, its tendrils snaking through our sanctuary. Chloe coughs, her hand flying to her mouth in a futile attempt to filter the toxic air. Without hesitation, I grasp her arm, my claws careful not to pierce her delicate skin.

"This way," I growl, guiding her toward where I sense the Mother Tree's energy is pulsing strongest. As if responding to our desperation, the ancient bark before us groans and splits, offering us an escape, a last act of protection before succumbing to the flames.

But even this opening is blocked by a wall of fire.

We skid to a stop and watch the outside flames burn.

"Vornas…" Chloe says, her voice trembling.

I turn to her, cupping her face in my hands. "Our only chance lies beyond that inferno."

Chloe's eyes reflect the angry flames. "You can't be serious," she chokes out between coughs.

I grasp her shoulders, feeling her tremble beneath my paws. "We have no choice. It's either certain death here or a chance at survival through there."

The heat intensifies, nearly burning my fur. Chloe's wheezing grows more pronounced, each labored breath a knife in my heart. I pull her close, our bodies pressed together as we face the fiery barrier.

"We jump together," I say. "On three. One…"

She grips my arm tightly.

"Two…"

I coil my muscles, ready to spring.

"Three!"

We launch ourselves forward, plunging through the curtain of flames. For a heart-stopping moment, all I feel is searing heat and Chloe's fingers digging into my fur.

Then we're through, tumbling onto cool earth, the fire's roar muffled behind us.

I roll to my feet, Chloe stumbling beside me, coughing and covered in soot, but mostly unharmed. Relief floods through me as I help her up, both of us trembling from the adrenaline of our desperate gambit.

But now we're exactly where the robot hunter wants us.

Out in the open, completely exposed.

"Come!" I shout over the roar of the flames. "We must move!"

We stumble away from the burning Mother Tree, the heat at our backs pushing us forward. The jungle around us is chaos, animals fleeing in all directions, the air thick with smoke and ash.

As we put some distance between us and the inferno, I take a moment to look back. The sight of the majestic Mother Tree consumed by flames sends a pang of grief through my heart. It's more than just a tree—it's a piece of my history, my culture, burning away before my eyes.

But there's no time for mourning now.

We need to keep moving, before the hunter finds us.