Into The Fire

Classified Level X: Eyes Only

April 11, 2831 CE

Page 1/2

TO:    President, Republic of Terra

       Minister, Terran Colonization Ministry

       Director, Records Department, Terran Colonization Ministry

       Officer in Charge, TRAF Colonial Intelligence Department

       Secretary, Xeno-Environmental Management Agency

FROM:  Terran Republic Armed Forces Colonial Intelligence Department

RE:    Rho Coronae Borealis IV “Heaven”

It has recently come to our attention that the colony, “Heaven,” inhabiting RCB IV is depositing colonists on RCB V, a restricted Class IIIC planet (see Colonization Suitability Report dated 11/23/2432, ES Galileo (PE-003) Capt. R.S. Nathan, commanding). They have been depositing colonists since June 2725.

Cdr. Voris W. Karnovskaya, commanding TRS Alexander(PS-674):

January 16, 2726

TO:   Officer in Charge, TRAF Colonial Intelligence Department

     FROM: Cdr. Voris W. Karnovskaya, commanding TRS Alexander

(PS-674)

     RE: Rho Coronae Borealis IV in violation of Colonization Charter

Sirs,

On routine surveillance patrol, a shuttle lifted from the surface of RCB IV, destination surface of RCB V.  Upon arrival, approximately sixty colonists were deposited on the surface, violating Section 191 of the Colonial Charter granted to Colony “Heaven”, dated 4/17/2434.

In ordinary circumstances, this would be of little concern, but our observation of RCB V has produced evidence of a sentient species inhabiting sub-surface caves and tunnels.  We have no way of knowing how deep these penetrate into the planet, or how technologically advanced this species is.

Currently, it is unlikely these colonists will come into contact with the Xenos, which live in the mountains nearly 140km away, given the vicious native wildlife.  However, I would like to stress the importance of this find.  If colonists do make first contact with the xenos, the results will be unpredictable at best.  If they have technology beyond ours, the likelihood of obtaining said technology is low.

Recommendation:  Permanently removing space capability from RCB IV.  Investigate sentient activity on RCB V, and make contact.  Please see my detailed report for more information.

Very Respectfully,

Voris W. Karnovskaya, TRS Alexander(PS-674), commanding.

Classified Level X: Eyes Only

April 11, 2831

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Based on Cdr. Karnovskaya’s report, action must be taken.  We can not allow untrained colonists to make first contact with these new Xenoformss.  The results, as stated by Cdr. Karnovskaya, could be catastrophic, especially if the new xenos are technically advanced.  Worst case, we could have an interstellar war.

Recommendation:

Our priorities, in order, should be:

1.              Make first contact with RCB V Xenoform sentients, ensuring peaceful contact at all costs.

2.              Minimize impact of colonist presence on RCB V.

3.              Revoke charter for RCB IV, ‘Heaven’.

4.              Form a colonial governorship, accountable to the Terran Republic Colonization Ministry.

5.              Purge RCB IV government of seditious individuals.

Once these objectives are obtained, we can concentrate our efforts on negotiation with the Xenoforms, for trade or technology, whichever is appropriate.

Population of RCB IV was last known to be 138 000 colonists as of the date of Cdr. Karnovskaya’s report.  Approximately 12 000 are armed, but have no military training.  Projections anticipate roughly 215 000 population, with 17 000 to 20 000 armed.

A strike force of 10 000 Marines with air support will be more than sufficient to revoke the charter and replace the government.

Once again, I urge immediate action.  The possibility of contact between colonists and Xenoforms grows each day.

Very Respectfully,

Lieutenant Randall K. Westmoreland

Data Analyst, Colonial Intelligence Department, TRAF

END OF FILE

I sensed Bran approach from behind.  I didn’t turn away from the vista before me, but just stood there gazing at our shared enemies, the jungle below and the fires burning in the trees.  A slice of meat skewered on a stick dangled in front of my nose.

Turning to him, I took the roasted beast gratefully.  “How does it taste?”

“Try it, Jus.  It’s good.”  I tore off a small chunk and chewed cautiously.  The meat had a mild sweet taste like nothing I’d ever eaten before.  It was delicious.  “Eat all you want.  There’s more where that came from.  We probably don’t want to carry it with us tomorrow.”

“Yeah.  Just what we need:  some huge predator dogging us for a few scraps of meat.”  He nodded in agreement.

“Why don’t you come over by the fire, Jus.”

“I’d rather be alone right now... with you.”

His face softened, the ruddy light of Wrath’s large moon, his eyes a deep purple.  “I love you too, Jus.”

“Kryss knows about us.”  He stopped mid-bite, staring at me in disbelief.

“No way.”

“He asked me some rather pointed questions, Bran.  He knows.”

He lowered his hand, seemingly losing his appetite.  “What’s he gonna do?”

“Nothing.  He said he didn’t care.”

“We have to talk to him.  I won’t feel comfortable until I do.”

I looked into his now worried face.  “Do you want me to go get him now?”  He swallowed hard, and after examining his dinner on a stick, nodded.  “Really, babe,” I whispered.  “There’s nothing to worry about.”  Again he nodded weakly.  Sighing, I squeezed his shoulder, wishing I could just hug him outright. 

I found Kryss in quiet conversation with Matt, each patting their full stomachs.  They both looked up and smiled as I approached.  I did my best to return it and asked Kryss if he would speak with me for a bit.  He and Matt exchanged a glance, then Kryss rose to join me.  On the way back to Bran, I grabbed another chunk of meat to share with him.  He needed to eat, too.  Our muscles were growing to compensate for the increased gravity on Wrath.  We needed the protein.

The three of us sat on the ground.  I tried to give bran a piece of the roast beast, but he declined.  There was an uncomfortable tension surrounding us.  Bran started to say something, but stopped himself and sighed.  Kryss just looked at him without expression, waiting for us to bring up the only topic this conversation could be about.

Again Bran started to speak and stopped himself.  His fist hammered at his thigh once, twice, and then he folded his hands together.  He locked eyes with Kryss and said with an edge in his voice, “What do you think you know?”

“That you two are more than friends,” Kryss replied calmly.

“And how did you come to that conclusion?”

“It took me a while to put it together, but you two always seem so close, and when you aren’t, you always look at each other.  Sometimes you have the same look my mom and dad had back home.  It’s obvious, to me at least, that you two love each other, and not as brothers.”

Bran’s furrowed brow told me he wasn’t happy at all.  The idea that we had only known this guy for –ten?  eleven?- days and he had us figured out didn’t sit well with either of us.

“What are you going to do, Kryss?  Tell everyone?”  Bran’s voice trembled, whether with rage or fear I couldn’t tell.

Kryss shrugged unconcernedly.  “None of their business.  No reason to tell them.”

“I don’t understand something,” I said.  “You went to church just like we did.  You heard the messages condemning who- what- we are.  How is it you don’t hate us?”

“Simple.  I hate the church.  Period.  I can’t believe that the God described in the ancient texts of the Bible, the document our religion is founded on, could be as hateful as they say he is.”

“Huh?”  I was intrigued now.  Bran had withdrawn into himself, but was listening intently.

“Look.  What was God’s message in the New Testament?”

“Um, love others as yourself.”

“Right.  So, if that is God’s message, why would he have His church persecute others?  Sin is sin, right?”  Kryss sat forward, warming to his topic.  “No one sin is greater than another.  If we believe that, being gay is no worse than taking God’s name in vain or any other sin.  And that’s the Old Testament.  If they taught the New Testament, our whole society would collapse with it’s own brutality.

“And you guys.  The church says God is infallible; perfect in all things.  They also say God created us in his image, just as he wanted us to be.  So why would He make one of His children gay?”  Kryss was really getting agitated.

"You want to know why I’m here?  I asked these questions of the Father at my church.  He told me I was blaspheming and pulled out his cane and started to beat me with it.  I defended myself.”

“Wow.”

Bran asked, “How bad did you hurt him?”

“It doesn’t matter; the punishment is the same regardless.  They told me he would live, that’s all.”  He slumped back, as if the realization he was here on Wrath hit him full force.  He looked between Bran and me, searching for something in our eyes.  “We’re all going to die here, aren’t we?”

Choosing my words carefully, I responded, “We have a chance to survive.  It’s not going to be easy.  We have a long way to go.”

“Long way to go where?  There’s nothing to go to.”  Kryss’s frustration was evident.

“We don’t know that yet.  Someone had to build these camps; they don’t just appear out of thin air.  They lead to the mountains, which makes sense anyway, because this jungle is just too hostile to live in.  If there’s anything or anyone to find, it’ll be in the mountains.”

“Do you think we’ll make it?”

“To the mountains?”  I sighed deeply.  “If we meet nothing worse than we’ve met so far, then yes, we’ll make it if we’re smart.”

“And if we meet something worse?”

“You don’t need me to answer that question.  We’ll do the best we can with what we have, and go on.  It’s all we can do.” 

Kryss fell silent, lost in his thoughts.  I moved closer to Bran, allowing our knees to touch as we sat on the ground.  I just needed some contact at that moment.  I didn’t like thinking about the future and all the possibilities.  I’d drive myself insane imagining all the worst possible outcomes and dwelling on them.  Bran put his hand on my knee, and squeezed it tight.  I covered his hand with mine and stared into his eyes for a long time.  I wanted to hug him so badly that I was literally shaking with desire.

Kryss cleared his throat, bringing us back to reality.  I heard someone approach.

“Everything’s taken care of, Just.  Who’s on guard tonight?”  I turned toward the voice.

“Thanks, Kale.  Tonight it’s you and Moira first, then Kryss and Darryn.”

“Okay.  You look terrible, Just.  You need to get some sleep.”

“I will.  We’re almost done here.”

Kale grunted and called for Moira and Darryn, giving them their assignments.  Kryss again examined Bran and me with his eyes for a short while, then smiled slightly.  As he stood, he said, “You guys are safe with me, okay?”

Looking up at him, I nodded, not really sure I was ready to trust him, but knowing I had no choice.  Bran was thinking the same thing.

Bran and I sat there talking quietly well into the night.  We hadn’t given ourselves time to be together since we got to the forsaken planet known as Wrath.  Leaning against the fence, we sat back and watched the stars.  They looked the same as they did back on Heaven.  I found this vaguely disconcerting.  Bran pointed out a star over the western horizon.  It was a bluish green color.  I’d never seen that star before.

“What do you think it is?” I asked.

“Home.”

The night suddenly seemed much darker.

The night passed without incident.  Kryss woke me just as the eastern horizon was turning grey.  As I stretched, I caught a whiff of an unpleasant odor.  Upon closer examination, I realized the stench was emanating from my own filthy body.

“We need baths,” I muttered to myself.

“Did you say something, Just?”

“Nothing important.”  For the first time, I realized how filthy we all were.  We hadn’t bathed since we left that first hill where I was injured.  We were all covered in grit, and stank.  Not only was the smell a nuisance, but it was dangerous, allowing predators to track us that much more easily.  Another issue was the chance of infection should one of us be injured.

I coughed.  The air seemed relatively clean compared to how it was yesterday with the ash falling.  At least we would be able to make some progress today.  I really wanted to get away from this volcano.

I cast my gaze North and East.  The fires that I had seen last night looked to have grown slightly, confirming my fears.  We had to get moving.

“Kryss, get everyone up, please.  I want an early start today.”

“Yessir.”  I stared at him.  He grinned back, and flipped me the saddest imitation of a military salute I’d ever seen.  I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

We made it to the next hill with a couple hours of daylight still left.  Either this hill had been closer than the last couple, or we’d made really good time. 

The only problem encountered during the day’s march had been going around a leaper that was eating its latest kill.  It roared at us before we had seen it, so we were lucky it was already occupied, or someone probably would have died.

I took advantage of the daylight and ordered everyone to take a bath.  There was the expected grumbling, but I didn’t expect the outright refusal I got from Michael.  He would not bathe with heathens, it seems.  I told him, “Fine, have it your way, but you’ll be the first to go if there’s a predator following us.  I don’t have a real good sense of smell, but I can smell you ten feet away.  Imagine what a hunting animal can smell.  If it doesn’t die of your stink, that is.”  He eventually lowered himself to wash with us.

Moira was the person I expected the refusal from, but she stripped down just like the rest of us without even a blush.  You could definitely tell she was female.  Jacen was quite embarrassed, perhaps seeing a naked female form for the first time.

I didn’t take my bath until everyone was back in camp.  Instead, I stood guard the whole time.  Bran, of course, volunteered to stand guard for me.  Kryss knowingly herded everyone up slope with Kale’s help.  I couldn’t tell if Kale knew or not, but if he did, it didn’t affect he way he acted.

I stripped down to my skin and cleaned my jumpsuit the best I could, wetting it and then beating it over a nearby rock.  Bran watched on appreciatively as I drenched myself in the frigid water, and used a stick to scrape myself as clean as I could.  The stick did a passable job.  At least I felt refreshed. 

As I stepped away from the pipe, Bran wrapped me in his arms, giving me the embrace I so desperately wanted.  “If you want to, we could....”  I smiled up at him and nodded.

A short time later, as Bran held me, an overwhelming sense of despair hit me all at once.  The pain was so real that I tried to double up, and had Bran not been holding me, I would have fallen.  Tears rolled down my cheeks and the irresistible urge to cry settled in my chest.  Bran held me tightly as the paroxysm continued, until at last I was cried out.  It wasn’t until then I saw he was crying too.  I buried my head into his chest, thanking whatever power was out there that Bran was here with me now, when I needed him most.

Then it was my turn to hold Bran as he cried.  He tried to be so strong for me, but one can only be so strong for so long before something has to give.  As he wound down, I stroked his hair gently, maintaining the contact as long as possible.

“Just?  Bran?  Food’s ready.”  I coughed hard, clearing my chest of the mucus generated by my crying. 

“We’ll be there in a minute!” Bran called in response.  We embraced tightly once more, as if it were our last chance, then reluctantly parted to climb up the hill, before we started crying again.

Another night passed.  Another march, and another night.  Each night, I looked to the east, to the fires in the jungle and over the mountains, and each night, my fears grew.  The fires were spreading quickly.  Would we have time to make it to the mountains? To safety?

We reached the next hill.  Everyone was exhausted including myself.  Even Bran was dragging his feet.  Just three more days and we’d be in the mountains at last.  As Rho set on another short day, I once more looked east, toward the fires blazing behind us.  They covered the horizon below us.  Our fate was approaching.  I estimated two days before the fires overtook us.

We moved hard the next two days, stopping at the next hill just long enough to make a fire and some torches.  In the distance, I could see the raging fire gaining on us.  A hot, dry wind blowing from the east carried the stench of smoke, making everyone cough and breathing much more difficult.  We moved on into the night.

  The nocturnal hunters were out there in the trees, but the fire we carried kept them away.  We heard all sorts of animal noises flowing around us, staying outside of the gloomy light cast by our brands as they fled the fire.  We caught flashes of movement more and more often as we traveled.

Darryn had a close call with a small leaper, but after recovering from his fright, killed it easily.  Matt fell into a shallow bog, but pulled himself out on his own.  Moira tripped and fell several times as we traveled, as her fatigue caught up with her.  I had trouble catching my breath between the hot air and the smoke.  Kale and Bran all looked worse for wear, but still we kept on.

Tensions were high.  As we traveled, arguments broke out, sometimes escalating to physical violence.  Michael was praying to his god that he be saved from this trial.  Kryss told him to keep it to himself, which prompted Michael to pray that much louder.  When he’d had enough, Kryss swung his spear like a long club, catching Michael in the ribs, then closed for a fist fight.  It took Kale, Bran, Jacen and myself to pull them apart, blood dripping down their faces.  It was a good thing the smoke would cover up the scent.  We put Kryss on point and Michael on rear guard to separate them.

The night grew long and dark.  Nerves were frayed beyond endurance.  We jumped at even the slightest noise, fearing the worst, waiting for the inevitable.

I estimated it was about an hour before dawn.  The smell of smoke was thick in the air, making it difficult to breathe.  It seemed that I was coughing every step, as were Jacen and Matt.  Darryn looked like he was ill as well.  We were all short on sleep and long on fatigue, not having completely adapted to the heavy gravity on Wrath.  We caught glimpses of flame through the trees every now and then, coming closer and closer.  With an effort, Kale, Bran, and I averted a panicked flight away from the flames.  We couldn’t separate now, at this late hour.

A short, sharp barking noise came from behind us, a noise I’d heard before, but I couldn’t place it.  Another bark came from our right.  I could see nothing in the gloom outside of the torchlight.  A tree branch ahead and to the right broke, sending a shower of sparks to the floor of the jungle.  Underbrush quickly ignited, sending another round of panic through the group.  Another bark, this one to our left, and an answering bark behind us.  We were being hunted by a pack of something, and I didn’t want to find out what.

I said to Bran, “We’ve got to run for the hill.  It can’t be that far.  It’s the only place we can go where we might survive this.”

He nodded.  “We’re being stalked.  Those barks are signals.  They’ll attack soon.” 

I coughed again, spitting out bitter phlegm. “Let’s go for it.  We have nothing to lose.”

“Okay.  You stay with me, okay?”  Bran was so sweet.

“In your hip pocket.”

I cleared my raw throat.  “Listen up!  The camp is that way.  We’re going to run for it. Try to stay together if you can, but don’t wait for anyone, and don’t stop if someone falls behind.  It could mean you get left behind, too.  This is it, guys, it’s every man for himself.  See you in camp.”

“Wait!  Why are we splitting up?” Jacen asked fearfully, as he moved behind me.

“We have the fire right behind us, and there’s something else out there, hunting us for it’s dinner.  We don’t have time to waste.”

“Here they come!”

I turned my head to see what was after us.  The thing looked like a cross between a lizard and a bird with fur, but stood at least sixteen decimeters tall. Its short front legs had vestigial hands, fingers tipped with gleaming black talons at least a decimeter in length that reflected the flickering light from the flames that nearly surrounded us.  The muzzle of the creature looked more like a sharp birds beak than anything else.

To our left, another one appeared, and another to our right, and another stopped near the first.  They stood there watching us, shifting their heads from side to side to get a better look at us.  A single bark came from the first creature, and they melted back into the underbrush.

Realizing we had a moments reprieve, I started moving backwards toward the dubious safety of the camp.  Jacen and Bran followed my example.  The others were moving in that general direction as well, some more quickly than others.

An explosion to our rear showered us with splinters and larger fragments of wood.  Glancing back, I saw a tree had exploded, and the fire was marching inexorably forward.  In a matter of minutes, we’d be surrounded. 

The explosion startled Moira, and she took off running toward the hill, not paying attention to where she was really going.  Michael, Darryn, and Matt took off after her, charging through the underbrush without a thought.  Kryss and Kale were making their own way, parallel to us, at a deliberate but slow pace.

“Let’s go.  Keep your eyes peeled for those things.”  I took the point position, putting Jacen behind me and Bran at rear guard.  I picked up our pace a bit.  We had a way to go to reach camp, but not too far.  Maybe fifteen or twenty minutes if we moved normally, but creeping along, looking for our would-be hunters slowed us down considerably.

A tree fell behind us, emphasizing the need for haste.  “Come on.  We’re moving too slow.”  I had lost sight of Kryss and Kale to our left, but it didn’t matter.  More important at that moment was getting ourselves to safety.  I picked up the pace again, moving at what would have been a normal walk, but much faster than I wanted to in this dangerous situation.

Trees were disappearing in the flames thirty meters behind us, fueling the blaze.  The heat was noticeable.  We were in the danger zone.  The fire could jump on us at any second. I picked the pace up again.  Jacen, Bran and I moved at a trot, increasing the distance between us and the fire. 

A roar sounded to our right, a bit behind us.  A leaper was jumping forward in great bounds trying to outrun the flames that had already consumed its fur.  It roared again, this time in pain, and jumped into a tree full force.  It went down, and I lost sight of it.

More and more jungle creatures were racing past us as we made our way.  None of them paid any attention to us, so caught up in their own flight to safety.  A glance back told me we had gained on the fire, but not enough to slacken the pace any.

A scream split the air somewhere to our left.   A high pitched scream.  I couldn’t tell if it was a boy or girl.

“Who was that?” Jacen asked.

“I don’t know, but we can’t worry about it now.  Keep moving.”  Jacen whimpered a bit, but he kept up the pace.  The poor kid was scared out of his wits.  Truth be told, I was too.

Ahead of us, a wall of flames shot up as if it had magically appeared.  Glancing left and right, I saw no easy way through.  I stopped about ten meters from the fire, going over our options.  To our left, I saw a place where the flames were only a couple feet deep, giving us the chance of running through them if we hurried.  If we were surrounded after, though...  Making a decision, I went for it.

“Follow me.  Don’t stop, don’t wait, just do it.  The faster you get through, the less likely you are to get hurt.”

I darted into the opening in the flames.  The heat was intense, the air too hot to breathe, but as I made these observations, I was through and on the other side.  I ran another fifteen meters to get away from the flames, and saw Bran right behind me.

“Come on, Jacen!  We can’t wait!”  Bran looked back toward the flames, willing Jacen to appear, but he didn’t.  “Jacen! Now!”  The gap in the flames was disappearing, cutting off Jacen’s escape.

“I’m scared!” came the almost inaudible reply.

“So are we, but you have to do it now while you still can! Please!”

Jacen growled loud enough for us to hear him, then he appeared, running full speed.  He tripped on something a short way from us and tumbled to a stop at our feet.  Only then did I notice that his hair had been singed, and his jumpsuit was smoking.  We helped him to his feet and half carried him with us until he recovered.  “Good job, Jacen!”

The stench of burned hair permeated the air, even overriding the smoke. He was shaking, but was moving on his own.  “I’m okay!  Let me go.”  We did as he asked and resumed our pace, leaving the flames behind for the moment.

Another scream rent the air.  It was definitely a boy’s voice.  Another scream, and another, and a final scream cut off mid-way.   Jacen started crying, unable to deal with the overwhelming fear.  We kept him moving, getting that much closer to the camp.  And suddenly, there it was!  The base of the hill.

“We’re almost there!”  We accelerated to top speed, crashing through the remaining distance to the hill.  The air was cooler here; fresher.  It didn’t last for long, but while it was there, I gorged myself on it, trying to clear my lungs of the smoke, coughing hard the whole time.

Slowing down as I reached the base, I started the ascent only after Bran and Jacen had reached me.  Together we climbed toward the camp.  Then, several barks sounded from behind us.  Looking back, I saw two of the furry lizard creatures, staring at us with unblinking eyes.  I slowly pulled Jacen around behind me.

“Bran, Jacen, back away slowly, but keep your spears ready,” I said quietly.  We backed up the hill at an agonizingly slow speed.  The creatures shifted their heads side to side, getting a better look at us, sizing us up. They took a tentative step forward and stopped, one of them sniffing the air.

I glanced back and realized we were only a third of the way up the slope.

 The two monsters were upon us before we could do more than set our spears.  Their speed was unreal!  One of the things impaled itself on my spear as it swiped at me with its claws, leaving a deep furrow down my left arm.  Gritting my teeth against the pain, I managed to get out of the creature’s grasp.  I attempted to retrieve my spear, but it broke, leaving a thirty centimeter shaft sticking out of its chest.

The other creature seemed to have retreated.  Bran and Jacen were watching the tree line where it had disappeared.

“Keep moving,” I panted, “don’t wait for it.”

“Are you okay, Jus?”

“Yeah.  Just get your ass to the top.”  My arm was bleeding, but not profusely.  Looking closely, it seemed a superficial cut, not cutting too deeply into the muscle. I don’t know how the thing missed all the major veins, but it did.  I had been very lucky.  I flexed my arm and hand, testing it.  Painful, but I could use it.

A series of barks sounded from the tree line.  There was no way to tell how many of those monsters there were, so we kept moving to the top.

As we approached, we found the camp ready and waiting for us.  The door was even partially built.   We stumbled inside to find Kale and Kryss working on the fence.

“You guys made it!” Kryss said happily.  “God am I glad to see you guys.”

“Anyone else here?”

“Not yet.”

Bran said, “There’s a pack of those hunting creatures down there just beyond the trees.  They chased us most of the way here.”

“We didn’t see one.  We got lucky.  You didn’t though.  Let me look at that wound.”  Kale tried to take my arm, but I stopped him.

“We have other things that are more important.  Keep the door open unless you see those things poke their head above the ridge.”

“You have to get your arm bandaged.”

“We don’t have time!”

“Just is right, Kale.  We have other priorities right now,” Kryss said.  I could see Kale fighting himself, torn between taking care of me and taking care of business, but business won out.

“Bran, help me look for anything that can be used as a weapon.”  He moved around the camp looking for rocks, sticks, anything at all, but we came up pretty empty.  We found one rock that weighed at least twenty kilos.  We could use it to crush something, if we got that close.  As we took the rock back to the center of camp, we heard some one yelling.  We couldn’t make out the words, but it was getting closer. 

At the door, I looked and saw Darryn running for all he was worth.  A roar announced the presence of a leaper, which landed no more than three meters behind Darryn.  It leapt again and landed just outside the door, blocking Darryn’s entry.  He slipped trying to  stop and fell to the ground, rolling into the rear end of the leaper.  We readied for a fight, but the thing jumped again, landing in the back half of the camp, then disappeared with another prodigious leap.  With much relief, Darryn righted himself and jumped over the half-made door and collapsed on his back, gulping air into his oxygen-starved lungs.

“Did you see anyone else?”

Darryn’s customary contempt was forgotten as he answered in gasps.  “Yeah... Michael... Moira...  dead....  Got... separated... from Matt.”

I thought about leaving the door open in case he made it, but I could hear more barks coming from the jungle.  The decision made itself.  “Close the door.”

Jacen was shocked.  “But Matt is still out there!”  Kale and Kryss hesitated

“Do you want to get eaten alive?  Close the fucking door!”

“But...”

“They’re coming!  Close the door NOW!”

Kryss and Kale did as I said.  Jacen watched on as the wall grew higher until the gap was filled.  Tears ran down his cheeks, and he turned away when he noticed me watching him.

If Matt was alive, I’d probably just sentenced him to death.  There was no way we could get the door open soon enough if he appeared and those creatures decided they wanted him for dinner.

More barking.  They were moving closer.  “Everyone have a spear?”  I received grim nods from Kale, Kryss and Darryn.  Bran squeezed my shoulder and nodded.  I met his sad eyes and mouthed, “I love you, Bran.” 

He smiled, mouthing, “I love you more.”  He squeezed my shoulder painfully, and then took up his position.

“I don’t want to die!”  Jacen screamed through tears.

“Easy Jacen. We’re not dead yet.”  More barking, much closer this time.  “Be strong, Jacen.  I’m with you.”  He swallowed hard, but nodded, wide eyed.

“They’re outside the wall!” Kale said as he backed away.  We formed a loose circle in the center of camp, waiting for one of the monsters to make an appearance.

The awful anticipation didn’t last long.  One of the creatures leapt over the wall, falling on its face near the door.  Others tried to make the same leap, but fell on the wall and disappeared from view.  We shifted to form a semicircle in front of the thing.  Another beast made it over the wall and joined it, staring at us without moving.  We shifted nervously, waiting for the attack that must certainly come.

With lightning speed, the creatures charged.  They covered the intervening distance in a fraction of an instant, and were among us.  Only my reflexes allowed me to sidestep the hard-thrust beak of the creature in front of me.  I stabbed at it with my spear, but its fur deflected the point to run down its side harmlessly.  The beast retreated a step, and then dove back in, aiming for Jacen this time.  Jacen voiced a blood-curdling scream as the monster’s beak sank into stomach, knocking the boy down.  A mixture of pain, horror and disbelief crossed his young face before he lay still, blank eyes staring at the night sky.  The creature withdrew its beak, leaving a gaping, bleeding hole in his gut.

“JACEN!” A rage like I had never felt took over my body.  My entire being focused on killing the creature that had taken Jacen’s life.  I stabbed at the creature, trying to bury the spear in the thing’s side, but it twisted away from me, dodging my blow.  It tried to sweep my feet with its tail as it continued to spin in a circle, but somehow I managed to jump over it as it passed.

Turning back to me, it stabbed at me with its beak, but I sidestepped quickly, and brought my spear down over it’s head like a club, catching it at the base of it’s skull.  I heard the wood crack, but the creature seemed unaffected.  Taking the chance, I lunged at the beast, driving my spear at the creatures chest. My aim was off, but I felt it hit home just as the creature swung its head into me.

The next thing I knew, I was on the ground with the monster on top of me, its claws scraping against my ribs.  I punched at the thing, trying to inflict some damage, but my injuries and loss of blood had weakened me.  Everything changed to slow motion.  The creature drew back its head, taking forever to reach the top of its arc, then plunged it downward.  Time slowed even more.  It was like I could see every detail of every millimeter of its travel. White hot agony shot through my entire body as its beak stabbed deeply into my shoulder.  I screamed.  Time stopped. The world went black.

Copyright Notice - Copyright ©2004 by Dewey.

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