When he was a foot from the surface, the banaari shoved its snout closer, its teeth inches from his hands.He hesitated, then whipped out his knife, slashing across to either injure the beast or scare it off.All he needed was a moment to find his feet on solid ground.
With a huff at the lost meal, he took out the vibuy and tossed it through the crack.It landed with a thud on the opposite side of the path.When the banaari leaped over the crevice, he hurled himself up and out, his gaze on the banaari tearing into the lizard.
He untied the rope and gathered it into a loop, not daring to blink lest the beast decided it was still hungry.Then, with the rope over his shoulder, he inched backward.The beast watched him between bites, its eyes glowing with intent.The crunch of lizard bones between its teeth made him wince.When he stumbled and caught himself with his hand on the rock, he didn’t glance away.
Once far enough, he swiveled on a heel and exploded into a run.The banaari wailed.The thomp-thomp of its massive paws chased him down the mountain.He leaped over boulders, skirted the fossilized tree, all while aiming for the flickering torches that marked the cave’s entrance.He bellowed warnings, his voice hoarse.
The two guards rushed forward, spears drawn.
Nenn skidded to a halt and faced the banaari, his harvesting knife in hand.
“Another, Nenn?”Laec demanded, his red eyes glowing.
His brother, Juirr, harumphed.“You have been busy.”
“How fares Tugo?”Nenn asked, not taking his gaze off the banaari hovering on the outskirts of the torch light.
“Not well.The damage is too much for his symbiotes to heal him.It is good you left for the russmar.”Laec nudged him.“Go!We can take care of one beast.”
Nenn hesitated then sheathed his knife.“My thanks.I assume he is with Kimgi?”
“Indeed,” Juirr said, then flicked his head as if to say ‘hurry.’
Nenn did, sprinting into the cave, taking great leaps over the narrow steps and into the bowels of the volcano.Warmth poured off the hewn walls.Steam rose from pools a few used to bathe in.He spared it all a token glance.Along various tunnels, he loped, wincing whenever he trod funny or jarred his legs.His poor body had endured much this day.Exhaustion hounded him, dogging his feet.When he rested, his body would recover.
At the fourth torch, he veered left until he reached the seventh door carved into the stone.He yanked on the chimes made of precious stones, strips of discarded metal, and molded balls of volcanic rock.The clang reverberated through him after the silence of the past hour.
The door, made of a thin sheet of stone, slid away to reveal Kimgi’s pale face.“Nenn?”A smile twitched her mouth.
“I have them.”He looped off the pouch and shoved it at her.
She took it, her fingers trembling.“Come.”She shifted aside and gestured for him to enter.
Elder Qon kneeled beside Tugo, bathing his foot in water.Tugo chomped on a strip of leather, sweat trickling over his cheeks.
“Nenn?”Elder Qon raised a hopeful gaze.“Did you find any?”
“I did,” he said.
Kimgi hurried forward, the pouch in a death grip.
“Good.”Elder Qon broke off a petal, pulled out the leather strip, and shoved the russmar into Tugo’s mouth.“We wait a moment for the numbness to take effect.I need boiling water, Kimgi, to make a paste.”
She darted around their home.A bed carved into a wall housed Tugo’s bulk with ease.Alcoves acted as shelves for food and garments.And a fire burned in the hearth, fueled by the gases leaking through cracks in the mountain.
Elder Qon worked in silence, mashing all the petals into a paste before applying it to Tugo’s foot.
“Nenn,” he crooned.“Where have you been?”A giggle escaped him, and he slumped, his gaze on the ceiling where tiny embedded venai stones merged to offer a warm light, shining like the stars in the sky.“What happened?One moment, we were pock-leaping and the next, I am home with mygevatia.And why is my tongue furry?”
Nenn forced a grin when he was far from lighthearted.“Banaari hunted Elder Lama down the mountain.I have never seen him run so fast.”No, he hadn’t caught a glimpse of the ‘agile’ Elder Lama, but the imagery was amusing.“You missed it all, my friend.”
Tugo mumbled as sleep claimed him.
“Find Dumis, and tell him, there is hope,” Elder Qon whispered, rising to squeeze Nenn’s arm.“You did well, young Nenn.”
“But they believe you caused it.”Kimgi clasped her hands before her, sadness in the gaze resting upon her mate.“The symbiotes refuse to reveal what led to this until your return.The tribe gather in the hall below.”
Nenn gaped, his mind reeling.“Why would I harm—”
