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When we came upon an exposed ridge, she hurried forward for a better view. I grabbed her arm, yanking her back.
“Careful,” I warned. “The winds have made that edge unstable.”
Kate glanced down at my hand clasped on her wrist. I let go abruptly, a flush creeping up my neck.
“Oh. Thank you,” she said.
We stood awkwardly for a moment. A bead of sweat trailed down her cheek. She swayed slightly, no doubt parched from the unrelenting heat.
“Here.” I unhooked my waterskin from my belt and offered it to her. “You should stay hydrated.”
Kate accepted it gratefully, downing several deep gulps. When she handed the skin back, our fingers brushed. Her touch was electric, like a spark of static shock.
“The view up here is incredible,” Kate said. “Everything looks so small and far away.”
She sat near the cliff’s edge, heedless of the danger now. The winds tossed her golden hair as she gazed out at the desert.
I settled nearby. Far off, I could just make out a dust cloud kicked up by a herd of wild sirocco. Their hoofbeats rumbled through the sand like faint thunder.
“It’s beautiful, in its own way,” Kate murmured. “Harsh, but beautiful.”
I found myself watching the play of emotions across her face more than the rugged landscape. Even weary and travel-worn, she was captivating.
“Do you really mean to stay here?” I asked before I could stop myself. “You could leave, once your ship is repaired.”
Kate considered this. “I don’t know. This place is growing on me.” She offered me a tentative smile. “Despite the company.”
I huffed out a surprised laugh. This strange girl was bold, I’d give her that. She studied me with those piercing eyes, her expression softening.
“You don’t have to be so standoffish, you know,” she chided gently. “I won’t bite.”
Warmth crept up my neck again. I turned my face to hide it, mumbling some excuse about duty and protocol. But I could not deny the allure I felt in her presence. It both thrilled and unsettled me.
Kate only laughed, light and musical. The sound seemed to echo across the desert valley below us.
I kept my eyes scanning the rocky terrain as Kate and I made our way along the ridge. She seemed unfazed by the treacherous path, picking her way nimbly over loose stones and around thorny bushes. I envied her carefree spirit even as I remained wary of any dangers she might stir up.
This outsider stirred up feelings in me I did not fully understand. I was drawn to her in a way that felt strange yet compelling. Her delicate features and smooth, pale skin were so unlike Surlon women. She seemed fragile, like a desert bloom after scarce rain. I had an urge to shelter her that warred with my duty to protect our village.
Kate paused, crouching to examine some small animal tracks in the dust. Her golden hair fell across her face until she tucked it back behind one ear. I tensed as she reached out a hand to trace the tiny footprints.
“Don’t touch anything if you don’t know what made it,” I cautioned. Kate glanced up, eyebrow raised.
“Honestly, Kian, I’m not totally helpless,” she said wryly. “I’ve explored my share of new planets before.”
I bit back a retort, reminding myself her boldness was simply ignorance of the dangers here. She knew nothing of the predators that stalked these lands, like the venomous three-headed snakes. Constant vigilance was needed in the desert.
We continued on. The winds picked up, whipping Kate’s long hair wildly around. She fumbled to catch the loose strands, muttering under her breath. The sight almost made me smile.
“Here, allow me,” I said gruffly. Before she could react, I gathered her golden tresses and swiftly braided them in a single plait down her back. Kate blinked in surprise when I finished.
“Oh. Thank you.” A faint blush colored her cheeks. She touched the braid almost shyly. “That was kind of you.”
I simply grunted, already regretting the impulsive gesture. I needed to maintain distance from this girl. Yet I could not ignore a growing sense of tenderness towards her that left me conflicted.
A flicker of movement caught my eye. I reacted on pure instinct, shoving Kate hard to the ground. She yelped as my body covered hers protectively. In the same instant, a three-headed snake struck right where she had stood. Its fangs gleamed wetly as two of its heads hissed in fury at missing their prey.
My blade was already in hand. With a swift slice, I severed two of the viper’s heads. The last one writhed, spitting venom wildly. I speared the snake through its skull, twisting to ensure it was dead.
