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Please, let it be a cave,I said in a silent prayer.
Set off to the side of our path was a blunt cluster of rocks along the side of a hill. A dark crack in the rockface looked like it led somewhere...somewhere the rain might not be able to touch us.
I hoisted Lex back over my shoulder as adrenaline pulsed through my veins. My feet moved with renewed purpose, and I rushed past Joon toward the rocks as fast as I could, Lex still firmly in my hold.
I hesitated for a brief moment before stepping inside the cave. It was deep enough, but it was so hard to see. I set Lex down then raced back out to retrieve Joon.
Once I had them both situated inside, I moved my hands around the stone floor, thankful to feel the remnants of a fire pit. Pulling the flint rocks out of Joon’s satchel, I immediately set to work lighting a fire. Within moments the leftover firewood came to life, casting a dim glow over the space. I thanked the Moon when I found a small stack of dried sticks that someone had left behind. It wouldn't be enough to last us more than one night, maybe two, if I was careful, but even the thought of a few moments of warmth filled me with excitement.
I dragged Lex's tiny body toward the fire by the hem of his cape, then slipped the hood off his head. I gasped and jerked away from the shriveled creature. Its sickly grey skin was wrinkled and hairless, without any real features other than a slit for a mouth and white, cloudy orbs for eyes.
"It's just Lex, it's just Lex," I chanted.
I pulled the cape away with shaking hands, wanting to strip off his robes to allow them to dry, but he wore nothing underneath. He was completely naked.Were his clothes a part of the fantasy he projected? Was he always truly naked?
His hands and feet held three digits each and spread out like a bird's talons at the end of his stick-like arms and legs. He trembled, and I gently ran a hand over his back, humming softly. My fingers brushed over tiny little feathers embedded in the withered skin along his spine. It was terrifying to see his true form, but it also somehow brought me comfort. I could feel my friend deep within the creature under my fingertips.
Once Lex stopped shaking and relaxed into the glow of the fire, I turned my attention to Joon. The massive Alpha was a whole other beast to strip down, and I prayed to the Moon for strength.
I made quick work of his cape and pants, grounding my feet into the stone floor and heaving backward to get them off. But the shirt was another battle altogether. I had to wedge myself under and around him, shoving his body every which way to navigate the wet garment off his arms and finally over his head. I sat for a moment, panting and sipping slowly at our water supply.
Once I had him situated closer to the fire, I turned his head to look over his face. He was pale with deep frown lines around his eyes and mouth, even though he was out cold. To see such a strong and imposing wolf so broken and weak made my heart ache. I wanted to pour what little strength I had left into him. I wanted to see the fire in his eyes, hear his roaring laugh, and poke his adorable dimple.
I ran my fingers over his eyebrows and down the bridge of his nose, hoping to soothe him. He was so beautiful. While he made no sound, his breathing did eventually even out. I didn't know whether it was from the fire or my ministrations, but a part of me hoped it was the latter. I wanted him to find comfort in me. I wanted a part of him to need me.
I placed a soft, lingering kiss on his lips, inhaling his smokey, sweet scent.
I needed him awake. I didn't want to do this without him. I needed the Alpha to hold me and run his hands through my hair. Exhausted, I pushed my nose into his chest and closed my eyes.
And for the first time since I left home, I didn't dream of Korban.
The Cave
Joon
Thunder rumbledand water tapped on stone. The scent of wet rock filled my nose…and fire.I could smell the wonderful, musky scent of ash.Was I dead?
I moved my hands over the ground beneath me. It was cool but dry. Slowly, I opened my eyes, looking around. I was in a small, dark cave.
My eyes fell to the fire blazing next to me and I let out a grateful groan of relief. Thankful to have a break from the wicked rain. The air in the cave was still heavy and wet, leaving a thin layer of moisture all over my body and hair, but it was still a welcome change.
I moved to stand, and my head spun making me sit back down quickly. Trying to center myself, I sucked in several deep breaths. The sharp ache that clung to my bones wasn't near as bad as before. It was bearable.
I scooted closer to the fire, absorbing as much of the dry heat as I could. I had never missed the desert so much. My clothes were laid out on the ground around me, and I glanced down, noticing for the first time that I was naked.
A small, pale body laid on the other side of the fire, and I crawled to it, bending down to check on Lex. He looked awful. His smooth skin was grey and dull, his normal glittering complexion gone. His face was smooth with the faint outline of lips and a nose, and he had no hair to speak of. It was as if he was molded poorly out of clay, the features were there but not completely drawn out. I leaned down to scent the siren, but the rain had washed out my nose. All I could smell was wet stone and burning wood.
"You're awake," Tzidal said as she entered the cave. She held two fat, yellow melons and a bundle of soaking wet sticks.
"I don't think those will burn," I said, my throat strained and raw.
"They're not for us," she smiled, setting the wood down. "I thought it would be kind to leave them here to dry for the next travelers. Whoever left this saved us," she motioned to the fire pit.
She handed me one of the melons and pulled off her cape, revealing her small body in only her shirt.
"I didn't want to risk getting my pants wet until I had to," she said, noticing the look on my face.
She settled next to me in front of the fire, drying her wet feet. We ate quickly, fashioning a plan for once we left. We had lasted almost two days before Tzidal truly felt she couldn't go any further. So if we couldn't make our way out of the cursed lands in that amount of time, we might truly be fucked. Luck was on our side at the moment, but who knew what tomorrow would bring.
