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Kate lay trembling beneath me, eyes wide. Gently, I helped her sit up, hands lingering perhaps overlong on her slim shoulders.
“Are you hurt?” I asked urgently. She mutely shook her head, still shocked.
My heart was hammering. I had acted just in time. If I had hesitated even a moment... A cold fury went through me at the thought of Kate being harmed. She stared up at me with those piercing eyes, her face pale.
“You saved me,” she whispered.
“I told you to be cautious,” I said gruffly, trying to hide how affected I was by her brush with death. “The desert is unforgiving to those who ignore its dangers.”
Kate’s expression turned indignant. “I didn’t ask that thing to attack me! Maybe if someone warned me about three-headed snakes before dragging me out here-”
“You should not have wandered so far to begin with,” I snapped.
Kate scrambled to her feet, hands balled into fists. “I’m so sorry my desire to explore bothers you so much,” she shot back hotly. “It’s not like I planned to get stranded here!”
We stood glaring at each other. The winds whipped around us. Kate’s braid had come loose, her golden hair streaming like a battle flag. Gazing at her, I was struck by her ferocious spirit. Like the desert itself, she was harsh yet beautiful.
My anger drained away. With a sigh, I retrieved my blade from the snake’s corpse.
“We should return,” I said wearily. “The light is fading.” I turned towards the village, not waiting to see if Kate followed.
After several moments, I heard her footsteps trailing behind me. We walked in prickly silence. I could sense Kate’s lingering agitation. But when I glanced back, I saw she had paused to gently gather some tiny desert flowers growing in a rocky crevice. Their delicate blooms looked striking against her pale hand.
Watching her, I felt a pang of remorse for my harsh words. She was not to blame for this dangerous land. And I could not deny it would be a tragedy to crush the joy she took in exploring new things. Her thirst for adventure was a part of who she was.
As we reached the village outskirts, Kate hesitated, then came to stand beside me.
“I’m sorry I worried you,” she said quietly. “And...thank you. For saving me.”
She held out the tiny bouquet of flowers like a peace offering. I accepted them, their frail beauty humbling me.
“I should not have lost my temper,” I replied. “You are still learning our ways.” I met her eyes. “But you must be more cautious.”
Kate nodded solemnly. She reached out and lightly touched my arm. Even through my shirt, her fingertips seemed to brand my skin.
“I will try,” she promised.
We stood close, the desert wind swirling around us. I was struck by a wild urge to pull her into my arms. I nearly reached for her, drawn like a lodestone. But uncertainty held me back.
With effort, I stepped away, breaking the spell of the moment. There were still too many unanswered questions between us. I needed time to unravel the tangled feelings this girl stirred in me.
“Come,” I said gruffly. “Night falls swiftly here, and the village will be wondering where we’ve gone.”
Kate fell in step beside me as we headed back. I could not stop glancing at her, this mysterious girl who blazed like a flame in my barren world. She was changing things in ways I did not yet fully grasp. But I knew somehow that my life would never be the same.
* * *
That evening, I joined Kate for dinner by the fire. She sat cross-legged on the woven grass mat, her blonde hair glowing in the flickering firelight. Though she wore one of our traditional Surlon dresses, she still looked so alien to me. Her skin was pale and smooth compared to our blue, scaled hides. Her limbs seemed delicate, her fingers slender and dexterous in a way no Surlon’s were.
I settled across from her, wary of getting too close. She smiled brightly at me, unafraid despite my imposing size and horns.
“Thank you for joining me, Kian. It’s nice to have some company.”
I nodded, eyes lowered. I still did not fully trust this strange creature who fell from the stars.
We ate in silence for a few moments. Kate kept glancing at me shyly when she thought I wasn’t looking. I could feel her curious gaze taking in my features - my long braided hair and the slight sheen of my deep blue skin.
Finally she spoke. “Your village is really beautiful. I can’t get over the homes that are carved right into the rock. It must have taken ages to complete.”
