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ADONE
Ijumped and skidded across the ground, grabbing onto Summer’s ankle before she was swallowed by the hole.
Her upper body had been sucked beneath the sand, and I couldn’t tell if Tumbles was with her or if he’d been stolen by the scoopeens already.
Digging my toe claws into the sand, I used the leverage to drag myself backward, pulling Summer with me. Slowly, her upper body appeared, then her head.
She gulped in a deep breath and coughed.
I rose to my heels and moved away from the hole, tugging her arms completely from the ground.
She clung to Tumbles, and the moment he was free, I lifted them both and raced up the next hill, not stopping until I reached the relatively stable top.
I held them when I sat down.
Summer wiped sand from her eyes and kept coughing.
I patted her back and helped her brush the sand off her body and out of her hair. The water flask still hung at her hip. I undid the top and helped her tip her head back. “Let me wash out your eyes.”
She held still while I did it, and the terror in her gaze when she opened her eyes stabbed through me. “I . . .” She shook her head. “That was horrible. I saw him sucked away. Tumbles!”
“He is with us.”
Her attention fell on her lap, and she shuddered.
Tumbles lay without moving on her thighs, his bristly fur extended. Whenever she cuddled him, he would soften and relax his fur. He loved and trusted her, and this was how he showed it.
I wove my fingers past the sharp barbs at the tips of his bristles and stroked his tiny face. His eyes remained closed, but his soft breath feathered across my finger.
“Tumbles,” she cried, lifting him. “Tumbles!”
“I believe he is all right.”
“He’s not moving. He’s not waking up.”
“He breathes. He lives.” I smoothed his fur, and it relaxed along his body. He started to coo, telling us he was unharmed. And when he opened his eyes, he yipped and snuggled into Summer’s lap.
Summer lifted him, holding him close to her neck. Tears left trails on her pink face. The sun had done its damage today, burning her, and I wanted to gnash my teeth and rage.
Hatred for the Universal Council rose inside me, rivaling the anger I’d felt for Lord Vunne. If the Council stood nearby now, I’d make sure they never ran another Galaxy Game again.
No, we would run a series of games, and they would become the competitors. That, I would pay handsomely to see.
Wasting energy on them did absolutely nothing, however. They’d continue the path they’d started down, and there was nothing I could do to stop them until they reached the bitter end.
But if—when—we made it out of here, I would do whatever I could to end the Galaxy Games. My brothers would help. Together, we were undefeatable.
Tumbles started quivering, releasing tiny yips.
My heart soared. He was alive for now. I truly thought this was the end.
I scratched his head while Summer sobbed, overcome with relief. She gave me a watery smile. “He’s going to be okay.”
I hoped so.
I rose with both of them in my arms and rushed across the desert. Nothing would induce me to put them down. I’d hold them and keep them safe.
The sun peaked overhead, then slid down toward the horizon. I ran for a long time, but our destination still appeared as far away as when we’d left the obstacle course.
