AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ADONE
The rock Summer landed on tipped her into the water. She created a big splash, and the creatures lurking below the surface plunged in her direction, shoving a wave ahead of them.
I slammed back across the rocks to the one she’d fallen from—that was stable now. Not seeing her, I dove into the water. There she was, about a male’s length down. A long, snake-like creature had coiled around her waist. It was dragging her toward the bottom.
I plunged in that direction, and when I reached her, I smacked the creature between its heads. Its eyes widened, and its grip around Summer released. A puff of scatter dye shot from its horns, clouding around us and making it impossible to see. I hoped it fled but didn’t dare take the chance that it would plunge through the dye and grab us. Holding onto Summer, I swam toward the surface.
Our heads broke free, and we gulped in air. I didn’t wait, but hoisted her up onto a stable rock, then joined her. We paused, dripping while we studied the other rocks.
Summer whimpered but lifted her chin. Without saying a word, she leapt for a nearby rock. She kept going, racing across them until she reached the platform. I followed, joining her without another mishap.
“Yuck,” she said, holding out the hem of her shirt. “We’re soaked. Again.”
We steamed already in the heat. “We’ll dry fast.”
“So says the guy wearing only a loincloth.”
I stroked her hair off her face, marveling all over again that this female was mine. “You might complain if I start wearing full clothing.”
Her laughter snorted out. “You know what? You’re right. Keep strutting around nearly naked, honey. You’re easy on the eyes.”
I grinned, liking her assessment and what I took for an endearment.
Our smiles fell quickly, though, when we realized the sun approached the horizon. We didn’t have much time left.
“Do not do that again,” Burmoot hissed, floating close. “I distracted the monitors when she fell into the water, which could’ve automatically disqualified her. You, Adone…” He grumbled. “You left the course to rescue her and endangered yourself as well.”
“Of course I did.”
She leaned into my side. “We’re a team. We help each other. Get over it.”
“Some watchers would say you technically lost,” Burmoot said. “The monitors...” He glared as they floated closer. “As I was saying, your time is nearly up. Give up now, and we will be lenient with you.”
“You don’t seem to realize our wet clothing might give us away,” Summer whispered.
Grumbling, he leaned close, dropping his voice to almost nothing. “They didn’t see it, so they don’t know what happened. It could be sweat.” He backed away, flicking his hand in our direction. “Hurry, now, or I will have to exterminate you.” He rubbed his hands together. “I look forward to doing that, however.”
His sympathetic gaze gave him away. I didn’t know why he pretended to be mean but made things as easy for us as possible, but I hoped I found out.
Later, though. We didn’t have much time.
With a quick nod to each other, we stepped around the barrier and studied the next part of the course.
“It looks like we have to use the hanging rings to reach the next platform,” Summer said. She shot a worried look at the sun that showed our time was running out. “Let’s go fast, not stopping at each platform. We don’t have time!” She leapt and grabbed onto a ring, swinging back and forth until she could grab the next. She made her way to the next platform by moving slowly across the open pit. It dropped away farther than I could see.
I followed, catching up and remaining one ring behind her.
We didn’t pause on the next platform, but continued through the course, this time taking on the challenge of a tall wall with spikes sticking out.
“I’m no monkey,” Summer said, scowling at the wall. “But I guess I’ve got to pretend.” She stepped onto a spike and slowly made her way up the wall. I kept pace behind her.
Burmoot used the propulsion devices on his arms and legs to keep pace beside us, though he said nothing with the monitors watching. He fretted, though, and I wondered what waited for us beyond the wall.
I got my answer when we reached the top and sat on the lip.
A broad, sandy plain waited for us to cross.
Hundreds of scoopeens peered up at us, their pointed tails slicing through the air.
