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From where I lay, the sunlight dappled through the forest’s canopy, and the constant background noise of creatures was a dull murmur as the day began.It was beautiful, and if I were home, it would almost be peaceful.The forest, aside from the blanket of deep green, was full of odd flowers and plants of incredibly vibrant colors that made the earth’s flora look dull and boring by comparison.Winding up a tree opposite my current hidey hole was an almost black vine that broke off into brilliant orange and purple flowers, opening up and exposing pollen centers of bright red.
Crawling out of my spot, I shook the excess soil from my hair and clothes.My hair was beginning to bother me.I would need to find a way to cut it off so I didn’t have to deal with it.Despite my love for creating unique and personalized hairstyles for other people, I didn’t care much for my own, and I’d have shaved it off if my manager had let me.She said people wouldn’t trust a bald hairdresser.I wanted to call bullshit, but instead, I forced a smile and agreed.
Some of the stone I had used to build the fire on the other night was almost slate-like.If I could break off a shard and sharpen it somehow, perhaps I could hack most of my hair off and keep it out of my face.
My stomach grumbled as I straightened, and I clutched it, still slightly bruised from the aliens’ assault on the ship.Yesterday as I walked, I had cursed myself for not asking that damn forest alien man what I could eat in this place.I’d walked past several plants that resembled fruit, but how could I know?I didn’t fancy hunting for every single meal, but today, I may be left with no choice.If I let myself grow too weak, I wouldn’t be much use against a threat.
Coming out into the open, I almost tripped over a small pile of what looked like fruits and vegetables, apparently left intentionally where I would find them.Frowning, I crouched down, finding also a small skin bag filled with water and a spear that looked to be the right height for me.
“Vitri?”I called, standing, and held my hand above my eyes as I gazed into the shadows.There was no answer.Was he still following me?Or had he come across me last night and decided to leave some food?Either way, I was grateful.Sitting, I picked up the nearest thing.It looked almost like a pear, but its skin was oddly textured like fish scales.After giving it a sniff, I took a tentative bite.The fruit exploded with juice inside my mouth, so much that it ran down my chin and over my lap.The inside of the fruit was almost like jelly, and it began to spill out.Instinctively, I lifted it and sucked the contents into my mouth.Oddly, it tasted like a sweet cheese, and I hummed as I ate because all I was thinking of in this moment was what other tastes I might encounter with this feast Vitri had left me.A pang of guilt stabbed at my chest as I ate because I had dismissed him quite quickly when it appeared he really had wanted to help me.He was playful in an annoying kind of way, but he hadn’t tried to hurt me.
Except when he slammed my face into the tree.
I touched my lip.It was a bit tender, but it had stopped bleeding.I think I could safely assume it was an accident, and he simply thought I hadn’t understood how to get to the water.
It would have been nice to have some company, even if the conversation was one-sided.
There as a rustle of foliage from the trees in front of me, and I paused midway through another piece of fruit—this one purple to match the flowers I had seen, and bitter, but not so much so I couldn’t tolerate it—and picked up the spear to my side.
Coming to my knees, I called out, “Vitri?”
There was no answer, but the rustling continued.I stood and held my spear to the ready, just in case it wasn’t my friendly forest alien or another of his kind but something more sinister.
The air was knocked from my lungs as I was tackled from the side and thrown to the ground, my spear forced from my grip and tossed out of my reach.I managed to roll onto my back as the creature came down on top of me.She was tall and slender, with long limbs that flailed about as she restrained me.Naked, I could see her small breasts, all six of them, and her skin was a deep red, dappled like a seashell and rough to the touch.I tried to grab her arms as she straddled me, trying to pin me down and bellowing at me, the sounds like an angry bird to match her beak-like mouth.Her wild black hair fell around her face and over mine—hair that led to patches of fur that covered the top half of her arms and what looked like most of her back and thighs.She kept screaming at me, her black eyes glassy, and I tried to fight even as another one stepped out from where I had heard the rustling and gathered what was left of my food in her arms before disappearing back into the forest.
“Youbitch,”I said through gritted teeth and managed to land a punch on the alien woman on top of me.She bellowed again and placed a hand on my forehead, gripping with her claws and lifted before she slammed my head hard against the ground.I saw stars but continued to fight her off.Next, she went for my robe, pulling and yanking at it until I was forced to roll onto my stomach while it was taken from me.When she tried to steal my pants, I lost it, kicking out at her and landing a foot to the side of her face.She recoiled and hissed at me, showing a line of tiny, pointed yellow teeth before snatching up my robe and disappearing into the forest after her friend.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I moved to push myself up, taking a moment to rub the back of my head and check my body for blood.There was none.
I was barely on my feet when I was again slammed into the ground.She was back on top of me, now wearing my robe and grabbing at my hair, pulling my head back.
When there was a deep roar from ahead of us, the alien woman and I looked up.She released my hair and stood, glancing between where the sound had come from and my pants before fleeing again.Wasting no time, I was on my feet, ignoring the need to sway as my head throbbed, and raced to grab my spear in time to spin around and meet whatever fresh hell this forest was serving up to me now.
Vitri burst through the foliage, his expression such raw rage that I stepped back.His eyes flashed with anger as he surveyed the area around me, taking in the mess of whatever food was left, my partially shredded pajama pants, and finally me, covered in dirt and wielding a spear.
He roared something, a single syllable with a series of clicks after as he looked wildly around again.With his impressive chest still heaving, he approached me as I stood frozen on the spot, barely aware I was trembling.Vitri was radiating danger, and despite his gifts and previous care, he was an unknown and could be as reliable as a wildcat for all I knew.When he was level with me, he gently pried my fingers from the spear, and although I initially resisted, I eventually relented and let him take it and drop it on the ground next to him.Vitri then traced his hands over my arms, glancing at my face intermittently with concern before dropping to his knees and repeating the motion on my legs.
Holy fucking shit.I think he was checking me for injuries.
Whowasthis guy?
I couldn’t stop shaking.For some reason, despite this being an alien forest on a strange planet, I’d felt almostsafehere, like my little routine was enough to protect me from unknowns.Foolish, I knew.The one creature other than Vitri I’d encountered I managed to kill and use for food, and I hadn’t come across anything that seemed a threat to me.The pretty sounds and colors had lured me into a false sense of security, and the appearance of the banshee women had shaken me more than I’d like to admit.
Vitri started making a soothing purring sound that was borderline a growl emanating from his chest.I clenched my hands into fists at my sides because it wasn’t fear, adrenaline, or shock that was making me shake anymore.
Once I calmed from the attack and took a few deep breaths, I realized it washim.
Because this close, Vitri smelled incredible, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.It was masculine and earthy with a hint of spice, and with him kneeling in front of me, it was nothing short of intoxicating, washing over me on the cool, slight breeze that I was now wishing was an ice-cold shower.I wanted to touch him or at least steady myself on his shoulders as he continued his inspection of my body.He was so physically imposing I wouldn’t have thought he was even capable of such a gentle touch, but his fingers danced across my skin, pressing at intervals to make sure I hadn’t been injured.I allowed myself to take in another deep breath, and my head almost spun with the lure of his scent.I’d managed to time it so poorly it was the exact moment he pressed his palms to my thighs where my pajama pants were ripped, and I shuddered.His hands felt amazing on my body, and for the first time since landing on this fucking planet, I felt truly safe.Even having had the dangers so abruptly and thoroughly rubbed in my face, I felt safe with Vitri.
And possibly I felt horny, but I was choosing to ignore that part.
Vitri was a lot of things, but it really seemed as if all he wanted to do was care for me.For whatever reason, he wanted to help.
And how could I say no?I think I’d done all right so far, but how long could I keep this up without a guide to teach me about this planet?How long would I have to walk before I came across another alien?Perhaps one that was from a civilization capable of space travel?I had no way of knowing if they even existed.Maybe Vitri and his forest alien family, wherever they were, were the most intelligent beings on this planet.I didn’t know if I’d survive long enough to find the other girls.I’d be no good to them dead.
“Ackta,” Vitri mumbled, running his fingers along my arms, bringing me crashing back into the moment and making me shudder again.He still smelled amazing, and it was with desperation and willpower that I didn’t touch him back.
Get a hold of yourself, Tori.He’s an alien.
