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He turned his head slightly, nostrils flaring as he tried to catch a scent or a sound. “They’re coming,” he whispered so quietly I almost didn’t hear him.
“Who’s coming?” I hissed, trying to keep my voice down.
“Them.”
He grabbed my arm, pulling me into the shadows of the underbrush.
Every instinct told me to run, to scream, to do something, but his firm grip and the intensity in his eyes kept me rooted in place.
Seconds felt like hours as we waited, the atmosphere around us becoming increasingly tense.
I held my breath, praying whatever was out there wouldn’t find us.
And then, we heard it — a distant rustle, gradually growing louder, followed by a deep, guttural growl that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I clung to Talan, his strong arms wrapping around me protectively.
Without warning, he pulled me behind a towering tree, its bark rough against my back.
He placed a finger against his lips, signaling for silence.
Our would-be pursuer moved closer, the menacing sound echoing through the trees.
I could feel Talan’s heartbeat racing against my back as he pressed himself closer to me, trying to shield me from whatever danger lurked nearby.
Then, as suddenly as it had started, the noise faded, moving off into the distance.
Talan waited a moment longer, ensuring it was safe before finally releasing me.
He looked down at me, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress. “Are you okay?” he asked, genuine concern evident in his voice.
I nodded shakily, taking a deep breath. “Thanks to you.”
He smiled, but it was short-lived.
With a sudden urgency, he whispered, “We need to keep moving.”
As he led the way, navigating through the thick underbrush with ease, I couldn’t help but wonder what other surprises this alien world had in store for us.
* * *
The tension in the air was palpable as we made our way deeper into the underbrush.
It felt like a pressure cooker situation where every little rustle, and every quiet murmur from the alien flora and fauna amplified my anxiety tenfold.
Trying to draw as little attention to ourselves as possible, we moved slowly, hoping to put distance between us and any potential pursuers.
What had Talan told me?
The alien males wanted toClaimme?
What did that even mean?
It was then that we heard it: a low, gurgling growl that sounded nothing short of menacing.
I tried to pinpoint the direction, my ears straining, but everything in this alien jungle seemed to play tricks on one’s senses.
A heavy rustling nearby told us that we weren’t alone, and whatever was coming our way was big.
