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We raced over the rugged terrain, but the storm gained ground rapidly, blanketing the sky behind us in brooding darkness. Grit pelted my skin like tiny needles. My eyes watered. I could barely see Kian ahead of me now.
“There!” His shout carried on the wind. He veered toward a rocky outcropping lined with caves along the base. We leapt off our mounts and Kian grabbed my hand, pulling me and the siroccos into the nearest cave opening. Inside, the rock provided respite from the furious gale.
We hurried deeper into the cave, the ground sloping downward into cool darkness. The shrieking wind faded behind us until all I could hear was the rasp of our breathing.
Kian inspected the small cavern we’d taken shelter in. “We should be safe in here until it passes.”
I sank down against the cave wall, adrenaline still coursing through me. “How long do the storms usually last?”
“Sometimes only an hour or two. But occasionally they rage for days.” He sat down beside me. “All we can do is wait.”
My heart sank. Days trapped in this cave could quickly become miserable. But it was certainly better than being shredded by the unforgiving storm outside.
As the light faded, Kian gathered some brush at the cave entrance and used his laser rifle to ignite a small fire for warmth. We ate dried provisions from our packs and sipped from our canteens, conserving what little water we had.
The wind continued its eerie shrieking, punctuated by booms of thunder. I huddled close to Kian and eventually drifted off to uneasy sleep.
When I awoke, howling wind still tore at the cave mouth. No sign of the storm letting up. My muscles were stiff and sore. Kian gave me a sympathetic look. Neither of us were used to forced inaction like this.
We passed the time talking and learning more about each other. Kian described Surlon myths and legends, while I told him old fairy tales from Earth. Anything to distract ourselves.
By the second day, we were both feeling the effects of confinement. Kian paced the cave restlessly. I tried to stretch my cramped muscles. Boredom and frustration mounted.
We ventured out to the opening once to check on the horses and gather more brush for fire fuel. Sand scoured at any exposed skin like tiny knives. The storm’s fury hadn’t lessened at all.
Returning to the cave, Kian’s frustration boiled over. “I can’t stand being trapped like this!” He slammed his fist into the rocky wall.
I touched his arm gently. “I know it’s hard. But we’ll get through this.”
He let out a long breath, regaining control of his emotions. “You’re right. Sorry.” Taking my hand, he gave it a grateful squeeze. We were in this together.
On the third day, we had to ration drinking water. My head pounded from dehydration and inactivity. Even Kian’s endless patience was wearing thin.
To distract myself, I inspected the cave walls and crevices, searching for anything of interest. I discovered a small tunnel leading deeper into the rock.
Kian frowned when I showed him the passage. “Could be unstable. I’d rather not risk it.”
But the lure of exploration called to me. Anything beat the mind-numbing sameness of the cave. “I’ll be careful,” I promised.
Reluctantly, he agreed. I crept into the tunnel, squeezing through narrow cracks, heart racing. To my disappointment, it soon dead-ended.
I returned and shook my head. “Just more cave.”
Kian managed a wry half-smile. “Some adventure, huh?”
I had to laugh. “Not exactly what I signed up for.”
***
I fiddled with the comms device, trying once more to boost the signal. The storm’s interference made it unlikely, but I had to try. Kian sat brooding nearby, sharpening his knife on a whetstone. The repetitive scraping grated on my nerves.
“Any luck?” he asked flatly.
“Not yet. The storm’s making it impossible to get a steady signal.”
Kian gave a curt nod and went back to his task. I bit my tongue in frustration. Ever since I’d mentioned working on the comms device earlier, he’d grown cold and distant. I didn’t understand it. We’d been getting along so well until now.
The wind shrieked outside, punctuating the tense silence between us. I missed our easy conversations. Missed his smile and laugh. This moody, brooding Kian was a stranger to me.
