Chapter 2 ~ Scree
The night was quiet, the warmth of the air keeping both Spock and Eon content on the giant leaf. They were awakened by Tray screeching loudly. "Easy Tray, I hear them." Eon said, softly picking the Argilz up and placing him on her shoulder, motioning Spock to rise slowly.
She peered over the edge of the leaf, signaling Spock to join her. "Those are Maronias, this planet's equivalent to the Earth's horse." Eon explained, her voice barely above a whisper.
Spock observed the small band of creatures under the tree. They had an arching neck covered with a thick veil of black hair over a sage green coat spotted with tawny Ocelot like patterns along their necks and across their backs. A long, thick black tail swished, brushing against plants at the creatures grazed on the undergrowth. Their bodies were very equine like in figure but their feet were multi toed, each tipped with a sharp looking claw. "If we can catch one, traveling will be much easier." Eon said, pulling her rope from her pack before slowly slipping it off and placing her staff near it. "Wait here, I'll secure us a ride." She said, slowly dropping from the leaf and landing silently to the ground.
The Maronias stirred a bit, their great eyes having caught sight of Eon's motions. She slowly stood, showing herself and her rope to the creatures. A few stepped quickly away while many remained, eyeing her nervously. But one, a bold male snorted, shook his head and pranced towards her, his tail streaming behind him like a banner. Eon did not move as the Maronia stopped short and touched her rope. Eon stroked the long face of the young male, earning a low whistle in response. She tied her rope and slipped it over his nose and behind his ears before leading the mount towards the leaf. "You can come down now. He is willing to take us as far as the closest clearing to the dwelling. From there, we shall walk. No creature dare approaches the dwelling." She said, calling up to Spock.
Grabbing her pack and staff, Spock also jumped from the tree, landing hard on the soft ground. Eon chuckled a bit and offered him her hand. He grasped her forearm, her hand grasping his and she helped him to stand. Even the brief touch between Spock's hand and Eon's forearm sent a wave of emotion into his brain, along with a vivid memory. Visions of blackened skies and of a wall or roaring flames tore through his mind. He saw Eon, but as a young girl, running in terror from the fire, dragging a smaller child behind her. Then, the memory stopped. Eon had broken the connection and was staring at his with wide, yellow eyes. "What did you see?" she asked, taking a step back as Spock straightened his shirt.
"Fire." He replied and Eon's hand flew to her mouth. "May I ask about the fire?"
"I do not know where the fire came from but I lost both my parents and my two brothers in the fire along with most of my distant family. I am alone now, the last one of my tribe…" Eon explained, gently touching the Maronia male, tears clouding her eyes. "The people here do not use fire of any kind. The nights are warm enough, the moon bright enough and we do not eat meat. The only time a light is required is on the rare occasion that the rain clouds block the moon but the creatures and plants all store solar energy to glow during this dark time." Eon explained, placing her pack back at her side and tying her staff to her side.
She swung aboard the tall Maronia and patted his back while Spock climbed on. Touching the male's neck, he swung around and began to walk off towards the Outpost, taking long strides that ate up the terrain. Spock had to hold onto Eon as the creature gained speed. It moved with grace, flying over the terrain as if it were flat land, sailing over large roots and felled trees. The rocking motion of the horse-like creature's stride was like riding silk. Spock could feel Eon's happiness radiating off her in waves. It was infectious and Spock felt himself losing control over his emotions as Eon urged the Maronia faster. Soon, his feet were pounding upon the ground, each foot beating in rhythm. Eon laughed, throwing her hands off the creature's neck, throwing her head back and closing her eyes, a smile on her face. Spock felt this final display break his hold and he broke a smile.
Suddenly, the Maronia came up short and reared up, striking at the air. Eon clung to the creature's neck and Spock clung to her. As the creature came down, Eon swung off, taking Spock with her. She spoke soothing words to the creature, stroking his proud neck before slipping her make-shift bridle off, letting the creature turn tail and gallop away. Spock had no time to observe her before she was wielding her staff as a large, black creature swooped down at attacked them. "Spock!" she shouted as the creature caught him in its talons and taking to the air.
He kept his eyes down to see Eon racing faster than the Maronia had traveled. She actually passed the already fleeing Maronia but kept on running. Spock decided to take a good look at the bird-like creature carrying him off. It was a strange shade of blackened purple. It had a sharp grey beak and legs ended in vicious looking talons. From its beak, talon like teeth poked out from the sides of its large maw. It was a very upright bird, similar to that of an Earth Kiwi bird but with a shorter, broader beak and thick legs.
When Spock looked down again, Eon was gone. His pulse quickened when the bird creature gave a loud shriek. The, he heard a war cry and Eon shot straight up from a tall tree, rope in hand at tied the rope around the bird's neck. It shrieked in protest and shock from the added weight and the choking power from her rope. "Garb onto me!" she called over the birds scream.
Spock wrapped his arms around her waist. She took her staff and wacked the bird in the legs, making the bird shriek louder, letting Spock go. Eon's hold on the rope kept the two of them from falling to their deaths and continued to pull the bird down, squawking and screeching. Eon grasped for her knife, began to cut the rope and the bird continued to descend. "Hang on." She said as the last thread of the rope broke and they began to fall, the bird shooting upwards from the lost weight.
They landed on soft leaves of a large tree. Eon landed on top of Spock, slightly straddling him. She gazed down at him for a moment and her cheeks blushed a vivid red before she quickly rolled off him, her breathing quick and rather labored. Suddenly the distant sound of thunder crashed, vibrating the leaf. "Damn." Eon whispered, getting up and spider walking towards the hem of the leaf. "Looks like rain… and we are stuck here…"
"What was that creature?" Spock asked, sitting up.
"That," Eon began walking back towards him and sitting down. "Was a Scree, the only predator here. They are few and far between since they are very territorial and will kill other Scree if found out of breeding season which is only every 11 years." She touched the slashes made by the Scree's talons.
His green blood oozed slightly as her fingers ghosted over the wounds. "Do they hurt?" she asked, removing her hand.
"A bit but they are not deep enough to cause lasting harm." Spock said.
"Scree talons carry many different diseases on them." Eon said, taking out a canteen of water, some leaves and a modified needle and thread. "I have your permission to clean and bandage them?"
"If it is necessary." Spock replied.
"It is." Eon replied with a sweet smile. "Please remove your shirt." She said, motioning towards the tattered clothe.
Spock complied, taking the shirt off with a silent grunt of pain. Eon set the shirt aside and said, "This will sting a bit since the rain here is caustic thus the drinking water holds a bit of a sting to it."
Spock nodded and Eon slowly let the water wash over the three slashes. She was right, it did sting but the pain lasted a brief moment before it was gone. Eon cleansed the wounds before placing the leaves carefully over the slashes. "These leaves will draw out any toxins and keep the wounds clean." She explained, letting her fingers brush against his skin.
Spock's pulse quickened at the accidental touches and he could feel the blood in his cheeks rush up and green his features. Their eyes locked momentarily before Eon dashed her eyes to the side. She reached for something but Spock grasped her wrist, making her look at him. "I thank you for fighting off that bird." He said, his voice having dropped a few octaves.
"There is no need to thank me." Eon said and the sky opened and rain began to dump.
"That Scree brought us back far farther than where we started from and this rain may not let up for a day or two." Eon explained, looking away and out into the storm.
Spock could stand it no longer. He grabbed her upper arm and brought her back to face him before kissing her lips. Eon leaned into the kiss, Spock pressing her against his body but winces when he pressed her too hard against his wounds. She felt the wince and slowly pulled away. "As much as I enjoy this, you are injured Spock." Eon said softly before reluctantly pulling away. "You should rest and let the leaves do their work." She suggested, reaching into her pack and pulling out some grape like berries.
They ate together before Spock conceded and leaned against the trunk of the tree to sleep. Eon waited until she was sure he was asleep before picking up his shirt and holding it out in front of her.