Chapter Nine
There was a very soft, light rain and mist as they approached the island. It wasn't as bad as it had been when Kyle first came with Jack, but it obscured their vision quite a bit. The forests softly faded into the mists as they receded into the distance. Some clouds of mist were visible, sitting on the treetops as they flew over. Sophie was almost bouncing on her feet with excitement and glee.
Now that they were able to take their time, Kyle could see just how deep the green of the leaves were, and how thick the forest canopy was. He couldn't even begin to imagine what it was like on the ground, in the forests itself. Sophie purred as Kyle carefully brought the ship in over the clearing and brought it down as close as he could to the house. The Talon rocked gently as they settled on the soft grass. Kyle sighed as he shut the engines down. He looked at Sophie and smiled.
"Well, we're here," he said as Sophie hugged him, both of them too excited to comprehend they had their own place, home!. Sophie replied with warm feelings and excitement.
Sophie purred as they walked down the ramp of their ship. She tentatively touched the soft, moist grass with her hand. Kyle chuckled as she dropped and rolled in the grass, happier than he could ever remember feeling in his life.
Kyle, this is wonderful! His smiled widened at her approval. He took a deep breath of the sweet fresh air. It smelled of fresh grass and rain. As he looked at the trees, he was awed by how big they were. Now that he really could take the time to inspect them, he guessed they were about one hundred feet high at the edge of the clearing. He noticed that these trees grew further up from the ground, almost like mangrove trees did. Some had an obvious space under the tree itself.
As they walked towards the house, Sophie's tail was waving back and forth in happiness. Oh, Kyle, this is such a wonderful place, said Sophie. Kyle smiled as he looked at the house. Sophie gave a curious trill as she tilted her head. Hmm. This house is nice. I like the shape. Kyle watched as Sophie walked on all fours, carefully inspecting the house. She gently brushed some of the bushes at the base of it with her tail. Kyle followed as Sophie made her inspection. She sat and touched the wood with her hand. The wood is old, but seems to be in good shape. It might look nice if we painted it, Sophie suggested. Kyle agreed as he followed. Sophie trilled as she investigated the remains of the smaller building. Kyle watched as Sophie carefully pulled some of the vines and plants away, pulling out a piece of rotting wood.
Probably an old shed or something, Kyle mused as Sophie investigated the area. Sophie used her tail to puncture the ground.
Nice damp dirt. It smells nice and . . .earthy. This made Kyle smile with happiness.
Might be a nice spot for a garden. Sophie trilled with agreement. Sophie looked up at the house with Kyle. They walked around to the front and Kyle unlocked the house. "Home sweet home," said Kyle as he opened the door. Sophie gave a soft purr as they entered the house. She wiped her hand on the floor, taking note of the dust. Kyle looked up and frowned. "Oops," he said. Sophie looked up to see the kitchen light was still on. "I guess I left the generator on," Kyle mused, scratching his head, trying to remember if he did or not. Sophie purred.
That's good. It means the cells have had time to charge. We do need light in here, not to mention power for other things, Sophie pointed out. He nodded slowly in agreement.
You're right. Thank you, Sophie. She purred as she rubbed against Kyle's side. Sophie was just as curious as they investigated the kitchen. Kyle looked around, making sure there were no leaks or other surprises, while Sophie tried the water. Kyle grinned as she stuck out her tongue and tasted the fresh water from the faucet.
The water is good, she observed. Kyle took the time to inspect the shutters. With a soft grunt, he slid the glass window open and unlatched the shutters, flinging them open. He gave a soft cough at the dust. He noticed the cobwebs on the shutters.
This place really hasn't been touched, he observed, confirming what Jack had said. Sophie stood up, sticking her head out the open window.
I wonder what happened to the last people who lived here? Kyle frowned softly, scratching his head. He had never thought to ask. Sophie gave a soft grunt as she dropped to all fours and walked into the hallway, Kyle following. The lights were brighter now that the reactor cells had time to fully charge, alleviating most of the gloom. The walls needed to be washed, but that wasn't a problem.
Sophie gave a deep purr as she opened the door of the master bedroom. She almost trotted into the room before sitting down and looking around. Kyle walked over and opened a window. He turned back to his mate, who was already thinking on just how she wanted to arrange their new nest. Sophie was thinking in the manner of her own kind, in terms of Hive structure, flow of resin and other such details that were foreign to humans. Kyle smiled as he walked over and stroked her head.
We'll worry about that when we get the furniture in. We need a bed in here, after all. Sophie looked at him and smiled.
You're right. Kyle, this is so wonderful! Kyle showed Sophie into the bathroom, flicking on the light. Sophie gave a soft purr as she inspected the room. It was quite spacious for a bathroom. She walked down into the bathtub, looking at the spouts for the water. This is nice. This is big enough we both could bathe in it, said Sophie. Kyle chuckled softly. Sophie carefully inspected the bathroom, making sure it had everything Kyle needed to keep himself healthy. Once she was satisfied, they left and took a look around the other parts of the house.
There was a second bedroom on the first floor, just up the hall from the master bedroom. They briefly inspected the basement and the reactor before heading up to the second story. Kyle felt like a little kid, exploring. Sophie particularly liked one room on the second floor, that had a large window facing north. Once Kyle got the window and shutter open, he agreed.
This would make a nice studio, the light is perfect, said Kyle as he looked around. Sophie agreed, imagining their work set up there.
As they walked out into the second story hallway, Kyle noticed a pull to open the attic. "Huh. Never got to see the attic," Kyle mused as he reached up and tried to pull it. He gave a grunt of effort as he tried to pull the stubborn thing. Sophie gave a soft chuff as she stood next to him.
Allow me, my love, she said as she grasped the pull and pulled it down with little effort. Kyle smiled at her as they climbed up into the attic. If the dust had been bad downstairs, it was even worse up there. Kyle coughed as they looked around. If nobody had been in the house for a decade, then no one had been in the attic for at least twice that. Sophie noticed something sitting off to the side. She gave a soft purr as she came closer. Kyle came closer, and was surprised.
A wine rack? Kyle grabbed one of the bottles and pulled it out. He blew the dust off, coughing lightly. He looked at the label, and stared in surprise. "Wow! This is a 2575 Burgundy!" Kyle almost couldn't believe it. There were several other similar wines and spirits there. There was even a bottle of Absinthe. Sophie tilted her head as Kyle inspected the bottles.
Why would somebody leave those behind? They're worth a lot, aren't they? Sophie asked. Kyle nodded softly, giving a positive. A faint tickling of unease in his mind.
I don't know why somebody would leave them behind. I doubt anybody would just forget something like this. Sophie gave a very soft growl, clicking her teeth. It was tiny, but it gave her a feeling of unease. Kyle looked at her and grinned to dispel their unease. Well, that means we have something to celebrate with! Sophie smiled at Kyle's happy feeling and thought no more of it.
Kyle and Sophie spent the day airing the house out and cleaning up. Once they fired up the heater, the musty smell began to abate, not to mention the house warmed up. Working together, they had made quite a lot of progress by the time evening fell. They had been able to clean most of the dust out of the living room and the master bedroom, their bedroom.
Currently, they both were in the living room, just finishing a quick polish of the floor. Kyle had made a game of it, with Sophie starting at one side of the room, he on the other, and they tried to see how fast they could meet in the middle and kiss. It was fun. The living room was lit by the soft glow of the peat stove.
They had found a shed built into the side of the house, where there were stacks of peat bricks, dry and ready to burn, as well as new filters for the chimney. It struck Kyle as a little odd, especially the fact that the peat-cutting tools were still up on the wall. It also made Sophie a little uneasy. Even so, they were so happy to have their own home. Sophie purred as she swished her tail across the wall, a rag tied to the end to sweep the dust away. Kyle smiled as he watched the peat glow in the stove. Sophie was a little wary of fire, but liked the warmth. He noticed a soft glow from outside, and walked over to the window, peeking out. The two moons of Zerichs II were visible in the sky, the clouds had parted enough for them to shine through. He turned back to Sophie, smiling. She purred as she removed the rag from her tail.
Kyle, this is so wonderful. This is better than I ever could have thought. Kyle smiled further as he walked over and pressed a few buttons on the PDA. Music softly began to play through the speaker of the PDA, the soft tones of Eric Clapton. Kyle turned to Sophie and bowed to her.
"Would the pretty lady honor me with a dance?" he asked. Sophie trilled as she tilted her head.
I don't know how to dance, Sophie replied. Kyle smiled wider.
Neither do I, but that doesn't mean we can't try. Sophie purred, giving a positive as she stepped closer. Kyle gently took her hands in his and they began to softly sway to the music. Despite the centuries that had passed, and all the talented musicians of many species that had taken up the guitar, Kyle felt that nobody was as great as Eric Clapton.
Lit by the moonlight and the soft, warm, romantic glow of the fire, Kyle and Sophie had their first dance. Soft, slow, soothing and romantic. It was what Kyle had always dreamed of, what he had always hoped for. Sophie thrummed, happy as could be as she and her beloved mate slowly danced, they the only presence, lost in their own world. Sophie stroked his hair as Kyle hummed with the music, her tail gently and lovingly caressing his back, holding him to her. He softly sang along with the song, telling her she was "Wonderful Tonight". Sophie thrummed happily as they shared their first dance, knowing they were finally home.
XXX
The next day, Kyle and Sophie decided to explore the forests. After all, if they were to live on the island, they would need to know at least some about it. It was softly raining, but once they got into the forests, they hardly noticed. The canopy was so thick, it acted almost like a giant umbrella. A soft mist partially obscured the ground as they walked into Eramore's forest.
Sophie was delighted, trilling happily as they walked among the trees and the plants. Kyle noticed the trees, and how much moss there was on them. Many of them were the mangrove-like trees that had the roots extending above the ground. The leaves, though, were lobed, like an oak tree. Some of the ferns were as tall as Kyle was. The grass was wet and the forest smelled of damp earth and decay, but in a good way. There was something so pleasant and relaxing about it. It made Kyle a bit sad to think how many such forests had once been on the Earth. Sophie was having the time of her life exploring. She loved the forest, and how dark and wet it was. Something primal in her was enthralled by this wonderful ancient place.
Kyle, this is amazing! said Sophie as they explored. Every now and then, Sophie would climb up a tree and look around, sometimes leaping to another tree. Kyle smiled as they ventured further into the forest.
It really is. I've never seen such a thick forest. Not in person, anyway. Kyle was surprised when they came to a large gap between the trees. It wasn't a clearing, though, as the treetops still covered it. There was a large, moss-covered stump in the middle, of some great tree that had fallen, many years ago. The twisted, tangled, gnarled roots were mostly exposed, moss hanging down on them. The stump itself was rotting, large parts crumbling under the moss. It smelled heavily of forest decay. Sophie trilled as she climbed up onto it, some of it crumbling away under her weight. Her tail swished with excitement and glee as she explored. Kyle touched his hand to his chin as he looked at the stump. This would make a good drawing. Maybe even a painting, Kyle mused. Sophie agreed.
Yes, it would. Maybe one of your pen and ink drawings with watercolor added, she suggested. Kyle smiled and gave a positive, liking the idea. He particularly liked the way a bunch of mushrooms stood out from one side of the stump. Sophie crawled along the side and into the space under the roots, and back out again with amazing, sinuous grace. I like this place, said Sophie as she jumped down and stood next to Kyle. He smiled and made a mental note of the place as they continued on.
With such a large island, Kyle knew they would only scratch the surface today, but they were excited to have their first peek at the forest. Their forest. It was so amazing to see. Growing up on Berren Prime, Kyle had only seen pictures and videos of forests. It was one thing to see pictures and watch videos, but it was quite another to really live it. The sights, the smells, the feel, the sounds. Kyle was surprised when Sophie gave a very soft growl. Not of anger, but agitation, and some concern.
What is it? Kyle asked, feeling the tiny hint of unease in her mind.
Kyle, as much as we've seen of the forest, where are the animals? Sophie asked. Kyle blinked, surprised. She was right. Thus far, they hadn't seen or heard any animals, not even birds.
Well, given the rain, they're all probably in their nests and dens Kyle suggested. Sophie still had a hint of concern. That was possible, but it didn't explain why she hadn't smelled any animals, or sensed them. Even if they were hiding, she should have at least picked up a scent by now. Something inside her was troubled by that. Her train of thought was broken by the feeling of tiredness and ache in Kyle's legs. She purred and smiled softly as she curled her tail behind him and pulled him closer.
Get on, she said as she stood on all fours. Kyle smiled softly as he got on Sophie's back. They continued to explore, heading for the eastern side of the island. Sophie stopped when she picked up a peculiar smell.
What is it? Kyle asked. Sophie gave an interested grunt as she followed the smell. Kyle had to get off as they came to some particularly thick brush and vines. Sophie used her tail like a machete, cutting a path through the thick vegetation. Kyle was surprised when they came across the ruins of a small hut, or shed. It was heavily covered in vines. Sophie followed the smell next to the ruins. She pulled vines and branches aside until she found the source of the smell. Kyle stared, a soft smile on his lips. It's a hotspring! Kyle exclaimed as they stared at the steam softly rising in the air.
The spring was pale in color, the stone and earth a pale whitish color, the smell of hot water and minerals strong, but comfortable in the air. Sophie gave a curious trill as she came closer. She tentatively stuck her tail into the water. She gave a snort as she swiftly pulled it back, surprised at the heat. "What's this?" Kyle wondered aloud as he pulled at something covered in vines. Sophie came over and pulled the object out. Kyle was surprised to see it was a skull.
It looked like a goat skull, as it had horns. Sophie looked at the skull, turning it, before she noticed something else. She dropped the skull and pulled the vines away, revealing an old, rotted doorway. Kyle stared as he looked inside what he realized was a large, hollow tree someone had turned into a house. His guess was right, as there was the rotted remains of a table, just barely standing on three legs. There were a few other pieces of rotted, wooden furniture there as well. Sophie trilled in glee as she studied the vines.
Kyle! These are grape vines! He came out and looked. Sure enough, the leaves were like those on a bunch of grapes he had bought back in Zeraven. There were some dried grapes, raisins, on the vines as well. Kyle smiled broadly as he looked around.
"They must've been using this place to grow the delicate crops," he mused. Sophie wandered over and began to pull the vines away from the small ruined building. She found more bones, and Kyle guessed it was either the building where they slaughtered animals, or a tannery. Maybe both. Sophie was excited by their discovery. She looked around, and found a raised bed, overgrown with vines and other plants. She could smell some horseradish plants still there, which she liked very much.
Kyle, this is amazing! Sophie exclaimed, delighted by their discovery. Kyle stood up from where he had been knelt.
It looks like there was a water channel here. Help me clear it, said Kyle as he pulled some smaller vines away. Sophie helped to pull the bigger ones away, ripping them up and pulling them away from the stone-lined water channel. Sophie trilled as the hot water of the spring began to flow again. Kyle watched as the water flowed. Wonder where it goes? Sophie pulled him onto her back.
Let's find out. She followed the water as it flowed through the woods, through the small range of Coralyte hills and spires. They came to the top of a cliff and stopped. They both stared in awe at their newest discovery. It was a lagoon.
A narrow opening exposed it to the sea to the east. The sides of the cliff were overgrown with vines and tree roots. The hot water from the hotspring was flowing down into the lagoon, almost like a tiny waterfall. Sophie climbed down the cliff, Kyle held to her back with her tail. Kyle climbed off as they reached the ground, looking around.
"Wow. This is amazing!" Sophie slid into the water and investigated the bottom. She found curious things there. They were made of Coralyte, carved with holes in them, almost like a mesh, or lattice. She could sense the remains of creatures inside. Many were overgrown with barnacles and such, but Kyle knew what they were. Lobster pots! This was an aqua farm, Sophie! Sophie was excited at their latest discovery. She even found a few tasty mussels and clams for a nice snack. She trilled as she surfaced.
This is amazing! We'll have to clean it out so we can raise our own! Kyle nodded as they explored the lagoon. The rain was still softly falling, but Kyle could imagine how nice it would be. The high cliffs protected it from the harsh western winds, but left it open to the soft breezes and tides from the east. The cliffs were a good hundred feet high or so, the trees at the top giving it even more privacy and comfort.
This is a paradise, Kyle mused. Sophie gave a soft, curious growl as she noticed an opening in the Coralyte and rock. It was filled with rocks and debris. She pulled some out, tossing rocks away until she had cleared it out. She carefully looked inside, and was surprised to find the floor had been carved into rough steps. Kyle followed her as they wound their way through the tunnel. It opened up into a large cavern, as big as their house. The large opening was covered with a curtain of vines. Kyle glanced up, seeing how the ceiling rose several hundred feet above.
They were inside one the of large Coralyte spires they had seen on the eastern side of the island. Gosh, we could park the ship in here, it's so big, Kyle mused. Sophie agreed, excited and happy at their discoveries. What wonderful and amazing things they had found, and it was only their first day! Sophie purred as she hugged Kyle, happy and delighted. They moved the vines aside, and were surprised to find they were in another clearing in the forest, a small meadow in fact The rain was softly falling, but getting heavier. Sophie extended her tongue, smelling the air.
We're not that far from the house. Let's head back and warm up. We can explore some more when the rain stops, Sophie suggested. Kyle agreed, feeling a little cold and delighted by the idea of sitting by the stove with Sophie and having something nice and hot. Or snuggling in bed. Sophie thrummed at the idea, pulling Kyle onto her back as they headed for home. The one thing that still troubled Sophie was: Where were all the animals?
XXX
Back on the Talon, Kyle was looking over the pictures of the island on the PDA that he had downloaded just after they bought the island. There was a picture of what looked like a small creek or river, somewhere to the north. Kyle was curious to find it and see it. There also were marshlands and peat bogs on the island, too. There was so much to see and explore. Their island was big. Not as big as Zemura, of course, but big enough. Sophie was happy, purring contentedly as she snuggled under the blankets of the bed. As he looked at the pictures, something caught Sophie's attention as she watched through their link.
Wait a minute. Go back, said Sophie. Kyle did, Sophie looked carefully at something overgrown. She purred as she remembered one of the things humans used to get power. Kyle, that looks like a waterwheel. Kyle blinked and stared. It was hard to tell from the photo, but it did seem to be man made, whatever it was. If there was flowing water, having a water turbine made sense. Kyle looked up at the windshield of the ship, the rain sheeting off of it. They would have to wait before exploring further in the forests, as it looked like it was going to rain for a while. Sophie purred as she patted the bed. Here. Come snuggle with Sophie, she purred. Kyle smiled as he slipped under the covers, Sophie's arms and tail sliding around him lovingly and protectively.
XXX
It was a little over a day before the rains stopped. As it was, it left the island somewhat cold and misty. Kyle and Sophie explored even further into the forest, traveling northward. Some parts of the forest were so dark, Kyle needed a flashlight in the middle of the day. They knew they were getting close when Sophie smelled a wetter smell, and could hear the trickle of water. Kyle was almost surprised when the forest opened up and they found the creek.
It was slow-moving, and looked more than a bit muddy. There was quite a bit of debris in it, twigs, leafs, and other things. The creek was barely a trickle. Kyle put his hands on his hips. It wasn't very wide. Kyle would have been able to jump it without Sophie's help. Sophie sat next to the creek, looking at it. She gave a soft snort as she reached into the water and pulled something out. Kyle frowned as Sophie pulled up a bone. It was a small bone, maybe from a bird. Sophie rummaged around and pulled out the skull of a fish.
Kyle looked more closely at the creek, and noticed that there was a distinctive "stepped" appearance to it. He blinked in surprise as he realized they were small dams. Sophie gave a growl as she looked at the bones. There was a fish skeleton laying on the other bank. Sophie leaped across to have a look, and was surprised when something moved under the weeds and vines with a squeak. She gave a startled snort as she turned. She tilted her head as she pulled weeds away. Kyle jumped across and came to investigate. He blinked as Sophie pulled the weeds away to reveal metal. Kyle looked at the rest of it, and realized what it was.
It's a windmill, Sophie. Sophie gave a curious trill as she looked and could see the rest of the metal structure, covered with weeds and moss. The windmill had fallen down partially into the creek, goodness knows how long ago. With such ancient technology, it was hard to tell exactly how old it was. Sophie noticed something else covered in moss and weeds.
As they came closer, Kyle saw a stack of something square. Upon closer inspection, they were found to be blocks of stone, stacked and ready to be placed. When Kyle saw the square foundation, he realized it was the beginnings of a building. Sophie pulled the weeds away, and found a strange disk of stone, sitting against the side of the building. Kyle smiled as he put the pieces together. "Ah, they were making a mill. That's a millstone. That explains the waterwheel, the windmill, and everything else." Sophie gave a soft growl.
But why didn't they finish it? These stones were just left stacked. It's like they abandoned it right in the middle of building it. Kyle frowned at that. Sophie did have a point. He looked at the fallen windmill, and wondered what had knocked it over. It was certainly possible that the winds did. Sophie was investigating the place where the front door was going to be. Next to the stone steps, she found something else. She gave a soft chuff as she pulled up another bone. This one, though, was larger.
It was a piece of an animal's jawbone. Sophie took immediate notice of the sharp, triangular teeth, with their saw-like serrated edges. As a predator herself, she knew the mark of a hunter. She dropped the bone and glanced around as she sat, her tail slowly swishing. She could hear the sounds of the waves of the ocean, and the trickling of the creek, but nothing else. That was what worried her. Where were all the animals? Where were the birds? She looked back down at the jawbone. Something was amiss.
Kyle was looking down the creek, towards the ocean to the east. The creek had carved a small canyon into the rock over time, heading out to the ocean. He was surprised when Sophie came up and began knocking down one of the small dams. He smiled and nodded.
Good idea, Sophie. Fish probably spawn upstream from here. I'm guessing that's why they built those dams, to catch the fish. But it's making everything muddy and dirty now, said Kyle as he helped Sophie knock down the dams. Further upstream, they found the water turbine. It was covered in moss and vines, the wheel choked with the growth. The housing, though old and rusty, was intact. The cable led off into the forest, back towards the house. Kyle smiled. It would be helpful to have an alternate power source. Sophie continued to knock down the dams as they went, increasing the flow of water downstream. They followed the stream into the woods until they finally found its source.
The lake was still. Deep, dark and cold, small clouds of mist hanging on the surface. The lake looked ancient and foreboding. As Kyle looked around, he could see marshes and reeds all around the edges. Sophie crouched near Kyle, her tail still as she examined her surroundings.
She suddenly gave a growl, startling Kyle. He looked to his right, just in time to see a small head dart back into a hole in a formation of rocks out in the marshes. Sophie could sense the small animals in the rocks. They were afraid, but whether it was of her, or something else, she didn't know. Kyle smiled softly. See, Sophie? There's animals here, we just had to find them. Kyle looked down at the place where the creek flowed out from the lake. It was obvious why the flow was so tiny; the opening was clogged with debris. This dam, though, didn't look man made. This appeared to be natural.
Sophie gave a snort as she reached into the water, and pulled out more bones, this time a whole handful. They were stained brown, nasty and dirty. They had been in the water a long time. There was a shell of some kind of turtle, as well as a skull from whatever those small animals in the rocks were. It reminded Kyle of an otter. Sophie clicked her teeth uneasily. Kyle looked around, and realized the lake had been backing up for some time, making marshes and wetlands where there used to be forest. He could see where some trees had come down into it, resting in the water.
She looked at the dam and used her tail like an ax, smashing it with great force. Kyle smiled and gave a positive. Good idea, Sophie. This will help the forest, said Kyle. Almost immediately, they could see the water levels begin to drop. Kyle couldn't help wrinkling his nose as the stench of the stagnant water. Sophie gave a growl, deeper as she saw how many bones there were. Kyle scratched his head as he watched the running water expose the watery graveyard. Probably this is where predators came to eat their catch, and left the remains behind. All the bones built up over the years, said Kyle as he remembered seeing about similar places on Earth and other planets. Sophie looked out at the lake, still troubled.
XXX
Back in the ship, Kyle and Sophie were happy to sit down to a nice warm meal in their cozy ship. Sophie had found a few Albarr, a type of abalone native to Zerichs II, down by the lagoon. Kyle had made them into a wonderful hot stew. As they ate, Kyle noticed Sophie's mental state. She wasn't exactly worried, but she was troubled by the little bits and things they had found. Kyle smiled as he put his hand on hers. Sophie, what's wrong, darling? She purred gently she she looked at him.
It just . . . troubles me, those things. Kyle frowned softly as he thought. They had found a few vacu-crates stored in the house, filled with spices and other things. The crates were the best date they had, as they were an older model that hadn't been in use for fifty years. That said, the people of Zerichs II regularly made use of older technology, because they couldn't afford newer types. They also usually didn't see a need for the latest and greatest. Kyle blinked as he thought of something he hadn't before.
Contraband! Sophie tilted her head at this. Kyle smiled at her, gently holding her hand. That's it, Sophie! Zerichs II was, and still is a smuggler's world. They must have had a still here, and other things that weren't exactly legal. I'll bet that's what that unfinished building was for. They probably left it when they were discovered. Kyle smiled further. Maybe we'll luck out and find some buried treasure. Sophie trilled, tilting her head the other way, confused. Kyle showed her mental images of Blackbeard and other famous pirates. Sophie couldn't help a small laugh at it. Kyle cupped her face and gave her a peck on the lips.
Thank you, Kyle. You're right, Sophie purred in reply. He slid his arms around her, pulling her into a warm, gentle hug. Sophie thrummed as she embraced him, rocking him slowly.
I love you, Sophie. She stroked his hair lovingly as they enjoyed being close.
And I love you, Kyle. My sweet and wonderful mate.
XXX
The next day found them doing more cleaning in their home. Kyle wanted to get as much done as he could before they went back to Zeraven and bought some furniture. A bed and a table were the most important items on the list, but he also wanted to get other things, like chairs and a dresser. Sophie was wiping the floors in the hallway with a rag, her tail swishing as she cleaned the walls with a rag tied to the end. Sophie was humming one of the Eric Clapton tunes as she walked backwards, her tail sweeping the walls as she polished the floor. She was so absorbed, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. As her shapely black backside pressed against the wall, she was startled when it clicked and moved. With a startled snort, she whirled, watching as the wall slid open.
Kyle! Come take a look at this! Kyle came running in from the kitchen. He stared in awe at the wall.
Well, I think that confirms the smuggler theory, said Kyle as he got a flashlight. Sophie peered in, extending her tongue to smell the air. It smelled like damp earth, but other than that, there was nothing else. Kyle returned with the flashlight, flicking it on. The passageway was very tight. He would have to twist his shoulders to get through. It was between the walls, which explained why it was so narrow. Sophie, though, had no problem. After all, if she could squeeze into an air vent, she wouldn't have a problem here. It led down, under the ground and outwards. Sophie's keen sense of direction said they were moving northeast, towards the forest. Kyle was relieved as the tunnel opened up and gave him enough room to walk normally. The ceiling was just barely a foot above his head, meaning that Sophie had to walk on all fours.
Sophie stopped as she noticed a doorway. Not a big doorway, nor one with an actual door, just an opening. She carefully peeked in. She gave a soft trill, signaling it was safe. Kyle came up and shined the flashlight inside. There was a large wooden barrel there. Several in fact, stacked on supports. Sophie smelled them, and purred at the absolutely delightful scent from inside. Kyle took a better look and saw writing on the barrel: Malt ale. Kyle raised an eyebrow. He ran his hand across the wooden barrels, that were as long as he was tall. Sophie looked at the spigot and carefully turned it. What gently flowed was not ale, but malt vinegar, and the most smooth and tasteful Sophie had ever tasted.
This is wonderful! Kyle looked at the other barrels, and saw several of brandy and other liquors. He turned and shined his flashlight on the far wall. There were stone bottles, in a large rack that stretched from floor to ceiling. There had to be a thousand bottles in it. Kyle removed one, looking at the carved lettering: Drambuie. New Scotia, 2525. Kyle almost had to pick his jaw up off the floor.
Oh my god! He stared in awe at the wall of bottles.
What's this? Kyle turned and saw Sophie was looking at a stack of vacu-crates against the other wall. He looked at the label. While it was faded, it was still readable: Sugar-Malt seed. Kyle grinned, finally answering at least one piece of the puzzle.
So, they were raising crops of malt and wine here. That explains it! The hot water, the grape vines, now the malt seed. Sophie took a healthy swig from the barrel of malt vinegar, purring at the delightful flavor. She gave a positive, agreeing with him. Kyle looked carefully and the vacuum-sealed crates, and saw they were in good shape. He couldn't be positive, but it was safe to say at least some of the seeds inside were still viable, despite their age. They left the liquor room and followed the tunnel further down.
It led a good ways further, before Kyle's flashlight fell on a door. Kyle unlocked it and pushed. At first it wouldn't budge. Another push, and some light came in through the narrow crack. Sophie helped to push it open, and they were surprised to find they were in the woods. Kyle blinked, his eyes adjusting to the light. It was still a little dark in the woods, but not as much as the tunnel was. They stepped out into the forest, and Kyle turned to see the tunnel ended in an old tree stump. All this time, it had been disguised carefully, hidden all these years, right in plain sight. Sophie looked around and trilled, recognizing where they were. She led Kyle further on, out into the clearing where the spire was. Kyle smiled as it confirmed his theory.
He guessed that whoever had lived there had been making their own wines and liquors, growing the malt and grapes, brewing and storing them, before taking them down to the lagoon, probably where they docked their boat, then shipping it off to wherever it was needed. It could easily have been in use for hundreds of years, by many successions of people, perhaps even whole families. Sophie's worry seemed to ease tremendously at this. Kyle looked at her as he slid his arm around her waist. Do you like the island? Sophie purred as she wrapped her arms around him.
I love it, Kyle. But it wouldn't mean anything if I didn't have you. Kyle smiled as he stroked her face lovingly. Kyle was surprised when the sun began to shine. They looked up, and the clouds were clearing. It was the first time since they had been there that it had been sunny. Sophie purred as the sun began to warm them.
That evening, as they returned to their ship, Sophie stopped at the bottom of the ramp, her head coming up. Kyle stopped and turned to her.
What is it? Sophie gave a soft grunt as she let Kyle hear what she could. It was a sound not that unlike a bullfrog, but there was something off about it. It was too high in pitch, for one. For another, it had a sound to it that made it more akin to a bark than a croak. Kyle frowned softly before shrugging his shoulders. Must be something that lives here. See? There are animals here, Sophie. They just don't like to be seen is all. Kyle went into the ship, but Sophie gave the forest one last glance. Something about that call brought back the wariness. She intended to find out what animal made that call. She turned back and headed into the ship.
XXX
The next day, the sun was shining, and it was bright, sunny and warm. It was just like the weather back on Zemura Island. Now that it was warmer and sunny, the forests seemed almost entirely different. The bright shafts of sunlight that shone through the canopy of the trees made the wood less gloomy and more inviting. Sophie had wanted to explore more of the forests and see what they were like with the change in weather.
That said, she and Kyle were exploring in a much more stylish way.
"Yahoo!" Kyle whooped as Sophie leaped from tree to tree, Kyle riding on her back, held safely with her tail. This way, they could cover much more ground quicker. At this rate, they could explore the other side of the island in a day, if they wanted. Kyle laughed as Sophie bounded from tree to tree, clinging to the side of the trunks. Sophie was happy as could be as she and her mate explored their new home. She loved the forest. In the bright, warm, pleasant weather, she forgot her unease, able to relax and enjoy herself with Kyle.
Ah, the forests seems different. It's nicer, said Sophie as she stopped on the side of a tree, looking down at the ground below. Kyle agreed as he looked around.
Yeah. Now that it's warmed up, it feels better to be out. Indeed, it was warm enough that Kyle could go out in his long sleeved shirt without the need for a jacket. Sophie gave a soft purr as she turned to face upwards, towards the treetops.
I like these trees. They're very old, said Sophie as she slowly climbed higher. She climbed up onto a branch and sat, Kyle still on her back. He smiled as he stroked her head.
This is wonderful, Sophie. You're really something else. Sophie purred, giving warm and loving thoughts to her mate. Kyle kissed the back of her head in reply, earning a trill from her. Sophie looked up at the very top of the tree. She wanted to explore, but it was too dangerous with Kyle on her back. He could get hurt, or even knocked off. Kyle smiled as he patted her shoulder. Let me off here, and you can explore. Sophie turned her head towards him. She didn't really need to turn her face towards him, but she did out of instinct.
Are you sure? Kyle smiled and gave a positive.
I'm not afraid of heights. Sophie carefully lifted Kyle from her back with her tail, gently setting him down on the branch.
Please be very careful, Kyle. It's a long way down, and I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you. Kyle stroked her face tenderly.
I'll be careful, Sophie. She gave him a quick peck on the lips before she climbed up into the canopy.
Kyle sat down on the branch and admired the forest. Near as he could figure, they were somewhere south of the lake. That reminded him, they would have to check that lake, see how it looked after being able to drain for a few days. He glanced around, looking at the forest from high up in the tree. He was about fifty or sixty feet up off the forest floor. It gave a nice view. He took a deep breath of the fresh air. It was nice. He was surprised when he felt something jar the branch slightly. He looked to his side, and stared at the funny creature.
It was about the size of a medium dog, with an odd combination of fur and leathery, almost reptilian skin. Two horn-like structures extended back over its neck, forming a sort of crest. The body was covered in what reminded Kyle of a Shamolene's feathers. The wings were leathery, like a bat might have. The creature had a beak, but not like a bird's beak. It reminded him of a triceratops. It stared at him with glittering golden eyes. Kyle realized what he was looking at. It was a Balwar, the Zerichs II version of eagles from Earth. The Balwar seemed to just sit there, watching him. As Kyle stared at it, the Balwar tilted its head this way and that, as if it was trying to figure out what he was. As the Balwar shuffled on the branch, Kyle took noticed of its feet, and the large, sharp talons it had. This made him a little nervous. He carefully raised his hands. "Shoo! Shoo!" The Balwar ruffled its wings, looking a little startled, but stayed.
"Baff!" it replied. Kyle was surprised by the bark of the Balwar. He briefly wondered if it was what made that noise Sophie had heard. Remembering the sound, he realized no. The Balwar shuffled a little closer. It barked again. It seemed more curious than anything else. As Kyle looked back, he saw a hollow in the tree. He wondered if maybe he was blocking its nest. He looked in, and saw not a nest, but a cache of some type of nuts. They looked like large, flat hazelnuts, but were more heart-shaped.
He picked one up, and the Balwar looked excited. It barked repeatedly, bobbing its head. He was surprised when it clicked its beak and made a sound that was not quite a purr, but not a trill, something in between. Kyle looked at the nut in his hand. As he moved his hand, the Balwar followed it. He smiled, realizing what it wanted. He carefully placed the nut on the branch and pulled his hand away. The Balwar snapped the nut up, crunching it with the powerful beak. Kyle pulled more of the nuts out and placed them on the branch. The Balwar ate several more.
As Kyle placed more on the branch, he noticed that the Balwar was now, instead of eating the nuts, seemed to be storing them in its mouth. It grasped a handful in one of its feet, the long, curved talons holding the nuts. He watched as it looked at him, then dove off the branch, spreading its wings and gliding off into the forest. He stared for a long moment before smiling.
Did you make a new friend? Sophie asked. Kyle smiled as he looked up. Sophie was perched on a branch above his head, her tail swaying gently.
Did you understand it? Kyle asked. Sophie was amused.
Not entirely, but I knew enough that it wasn't aggressive. It likes you. Kyle smiled as he looked off into the woods, where the Balwar had flown.
It said that Balwar are omnivores, but I didn't know they eat things like nuts. Sophie gave a purr as she climbed down the tree.
Neither did I. It smelled like the ocean, so it probably lives near the sea. Kyle climbed on her back as Sophie wound her tail around him. Kyle looked around, and frowned. He didn't see any nuts on the tree, or any of the other trees, for that matter. Now that he thought of it, in most forests there were usually piles of acorns and all manner of nuts and fruits. He and Sophie hadn't seen any. It struck him as a little odd.
XXX
The next day, Kyle and Sophie spent the day cleaning around the lagoon. Sophie had found other water channels that flowed from the hotspring out towards their house and into the woods, near to where the mill was going to be. Their discovery of the hidden cellar had answered many of their questions. The more Kyle looked at the lagoon, the more he was sure it had been used as a makeshift dock by whoever had been there before to ship their stock of booze.
Sophie was enjoying herself as she explored the floor of the lagoon, pulling up the destroyed remains of some of the lobster pots and traps there, making note of the ones that were intact. Kyle was on land, cleaning away some of the brush and debris. Now that the warm water was flowing, he noticed that certain kinds of fish and shellfish were coming there, seeming to like the warmer water. There seemed to be more Albarr than before, so he guessed they liked warmer waters. Look out on land! said Sophie as she tossed one of the damaged lobster pots out of the water and onto the shore. Kyle smiled as Sophie climbed out of the water and shook herself.
Well, how did it look down there? Kyle asked. Sophie smiled at him.
Better. Now that we've cleaned it up, the fish seem to like it, and the clams and Albarr seem to like the water from the hotspring. Kyle nodded ad he looked up at the miniature waterfall of hot water.
That must be why they made the channel for it; because the fish liked it. If this was their aqua farm, it makes sense. They were surprised when they heard a loud screech. Kyle looked up, startled. Sophie gave a soft growl as she climbed up the cliff and went to investigate.
Sophie carefully climbed along the cliff-side, looking for the source of the sound. She didn't have to search long, as she heard it again, further up the cliff. As she approached, she saw two shapes fluttering around a section of the cliff. When she got closer, she recognized it. It was the Balwar. The same one Kyle had met. It as not alone. The other one had a different scent. They seemed distressed, clawing at a hole in the rocky cliff-side, almost frantically. The Balwar pair screeched again.
Sophie was surprised when she heard another screech, smaller, echoing out of the hole. It was like the screech of the Balwar, but higher in pitch, and smaller. Sophie swiftly ran back and got Kyle.
Sophie, what's wrong? Sophie pulled him onto her back.
The Balwar have lost their baby. Kyle stared in shock as Sophie ran along the cliffs. As they approached, the Balwar looked even more agitated, seemingly fearful of Sophie. Seeing Kyle, though, the male Balwar seemed to know they meant no harm. Sophie climbed closer to the hole, the Balwar fluttering and flapping. Kyle peeked in, and could make out a tiny shape. Sophie crouched as low on the rock as she could to enable Kyle to reach as far in as he could. He winced when he felt something pinch his hand, but he persisted.
I got him, said Kyle. Sophie helped him to pull out the screeching, squealing baby Balwar, frantic and frightened. Kyle gently petted it, trying to soothe it as Sophie climbed back up to where the Balwar had their nest. "Easy little fella, easy. Nobody's gonna hurt you. Here. Here's mama and daddy," said Kyle as he carefully let the little Balwar jump into the nest. It squeaked as it snuggled up against its mother's fur, frightened, but relieved. The Balwar mother used her wings to shield her baby as the father looked on, relieved. They looked at Kyle and Sophie.
Even if they were animals, they clearly could feel gratitude. They gave soft barks that Kyle took as thanks. He smiled as Sophie purred. "Better keep a closer eye on him. Don't want him to bounce out again," said Kyle. Sophie gave a soft thrum as they headed back. Kyle looked down at the sharp rocks and harsh waves below, his stomach turning as he thought about what could have happened to the baby if he had missed that hole. Sophie gently stroked Kyle's mind, easing his worry.
You're a very nice person to help like that. Kyle looked at her and smiled.
What about you? I wouldn't have known where to go, much less been able to help if not for my special lady, Kyle replied with a wink. Sophie gave an amused and proud purr at that. As they got back to their lagoon, Kyle reflected on all that they had seen of the wildlife. I think this island has more life towards the edges and the shores than inland. Sophie's lips twisted in a frown as she thought.
Maybe, but we still haven't looked beyond the lake. And I want to see how it looks after it drained. Kyle agreed.
Maybe it smells better, now. It smelled pretty nasty last time.
XXX
The next day, it was even warmer, a nice spring day. Kyle had packed a lunch for them in a bag. Today they were going to explore beyond the lake. Kyle had a light jacket, just in case, but it was warm enough he could wear a t-shirt. This time, Kyle had parked the Talon in the clearing with the Coralyte spire, so they had less distance to travel. Sophie held Kyle on her back with her tail as she leaped from tree to tree. They reached the lake in record time, and were surprised at how much smaller it was.
The lakebed was very muddy and mucky. Sophie walked along the treeline, examining it. She noticed some bones caught up in some of the plants. As they walked around, Sophie saw one of the plants had what remained of an animal of some sort tangled in it. Sophie gave a growl as she stopped. She saw movement, and it wasn't from the wind.
Those plants are carnivorous, Sophie growled. Kyle blinked as he looked at the plants. He looked at the opening of the stream, then back to the plants.
Well, that certainly explains a lot, said Kyle, a slight shiver in his shoulders. With a deeper growl, Sophie climbed into the trees, leaping from tree to tree, Kyle held safely on her back. They ventured further into the forests of Eramore. The further they went, the deeper and darker the forests got. They were even thicker east of the lake than in the other parts they had seen. Kyle had still brought a flashlight, just in case. He was glad he did, as he wouldn't have been able to see, otherwise. Sophie focused her senses on her surroundings, and was troubled by the silence of the forest. At the very least they should have heard insects. Kyle snapped his fingers as a thought hit him. It's still spring, Sophie. Maybe everything is still in hibernation here. It has been kind of rainy and cold for a while here. Sophie gave a positive, but something still niggled in her mind.
They were surprised when they found a clearing, bright and sunny. Sophie carefully walked into it, feeling the grass and looking around. Nothing seemed out of place. She did, though, detect an odd smell. It was oily and kind of musky, and not in a pleasant way. It was faint, though. She let Kyle off. He stood and looked around, smiling. "Hmm, this is a nice place." He looked up at the fluffy white clouds in the sky and the shining sun.
Sophie walked around, almost like a dog sniffing the area. Kyle noticed a large formation of rocks and walked over to them. He carefully climbed up, and found a nice spot to sit. He sat down and opened the bag, pulling out a small sketchbook and pencil. He looked up at the line of trees and began to draw. He glanced up as Sophie looked into the darker part of the woods. Go ahead and explore, Sophie. I'll be fine here. She looked at him as he sketched. He looked at her and smiled warmly. Go on. When you get back, we'll have our picnic. Sophie smiled and gave a positive before she ventured into the forest.
It was darker in that part of the forest than any other they had seen. The few streams of sunlight that managed to penetrate were strong in the dark gloom. Kyle would have been completely blind, but Sophie could perceive everything easily. That was one of the advantages not having eyes. The air was still on the forest floor. Sophie could detect the moisture in the air, and she was sure that a mist would form if it were any cooler.
As she walked along, she noticed a shape high up in the trees. She stopped and gave a soft, curious trill. She tilted her head as she headed for it. As she got closer, it became clear it was square. She climbed a tree, getting closer. When she got up high enough, she was startled to realize it was a house. A house, up in a tree! She had no idea such things existed among humans. She would have to tell Kyle. She carefully came closer. As she did, she saw the windows were broken and the rotting door was ajar. She climbed onto the deck, taking note of the ladder that was still visible on one of the tress, leading down to the forest floor. She stopped in the doorway, looking around at the inside of the abandoned dwelling.
She could see what remained of a table, laying overturned and covered with moss. As she entered the building, she tilted her head as she took notice of the thick layer of old leafs and twigs. She looked up, and saw what she thought were beds, long since rotted. She gave a soft snort as she walked around, looking at the dwelling. The trunk of the tree came right through the floor and up through the ceiling. She could see a stove with what looked like a teapot on it. She looked at the tree in the middle of the house and noticed a small opening in it. She tilted her head, curious. As she walked towards it, her tail swished, brushing the layers of old leafs. Sophie looked into the opening of the tree. She gave a shocked screech as she almost shot backwards in shock.
There was a small skeleton inside. A human skeleton. In the arms were clutched what remained of a stuffed animal. Sophie felt something under her hands. She flicked the leaves away, and found more bones. Another human skull stared with an eyeless gaze at her. Sophie gave a shuddering screech of distress. One of the skulls was far too small to belong to an adult, or even a small child. Sophie frantically looked around, surrounded by the smell of decay and death. She saw the marks of sharp teeth on the bones. What remained of the wooden bowls were also scarred by sharp teeth. She hissed as she looked up at the shattered window, seeing claw marks in the wood. Panic began to fill every fiber or her being. Her head suddenly snapped up, looking out the door.
Kyle! Sophie ran faster than she ever had before in her life, leaping out the door, flying through the air, landing on one of the trees and quickly leaping to another. She had to get back to Kyle as quick as she could. As she leaped, she suddenly felt pain lance through her right leg. Her leg was unwounded, so that could mean only one thing: Kyle was hurt. She picked up the pace, moving as fast as she could, on every surface that would bear her weight. As she got closer, she could feel fear, and pain. When she got close enough to hear Kyle's thoughts, what she heard chilled her:
I'll never see Sophie again . . . Sophie leaped to the ground and pushed every ounce of her strength into running, dashing, faster than she ever thought she could. She could see the light of the clearing ahead.
Kyle, I'm coming! Sophie bounded into the clearing and was shocked.
The whole clearing was filled with them! Everywhere, snapping, snarling, growling. They were furred, with long tails and two legs and four arms. Kyle was up a tree, clinging desperately. She could smell his blood, as could the Serrex, which were trying to climb the tree and get to him. Several Serrex were tearing at the corpse of one their own at the bottom of the tree where it had fallen trying to get Kyle. Sophie screeched as loud as she could, getting the attention of the nasty beasts.
Sophie! Sophie gave an angry snarl as she charged, leaping at them, pouncing on one in the middle of the group and swinging her tail in a great arc. Those unlucky enough to be at the end were caught by Sophie's tail blade and either decapitated, or cut in two. Those caught by her tail itself were either killed by the tremendous impact, or knocked senseless.
Sophie heard a shriek that wasn't from the Serrex. She looked up as the Balwar pair dived on the Serrex climbing the tree, knocking them down to the ground. One hit the sharp rocks with a wet crack, and was instantly set upon by its brethren. Sophie snarled as the Serrex charged her, snarling with anger and hunger.
Stay up there, Kyle! Sophie cried as she swung her claws, tearing into her foes with unhuman strength and fury. Another swipe of her tail sent them all sprawling and created enough of an opening for her to leap onto the tree and grab Kyle, pulling him against her with her tail as the Balwar pair harassed the Serrex long enough for them to escape. Sophie leaped up and over their heads, landing on a tree and leaping to the next as quick as lightning.
As Sophie leaped from tree to tree, she could smell Kyle's blood. She could feel it on her skin. Moreover, she could feel Kyle's fear, his terror. His leg was numb for the moment, but that wouldn't last. She could feel Kyle trembling against her. She caressed his mind with hers, gently enfolding his mind in hers as much as she could and still focus.
Sophie . . . you came back, Kyle weakly managed.
Always, my love. I'd never leave you. Kyle grimaced, not in pain, but sorrow.
I'm so sorry, Sophie. Sophie gently stroked his mind in reply. Sophie was worried as she felt Kyle's blood flowing down her side.
We'll be there soon. Just hang on, Kyle! Kyle weakly gave a positive.
Sophie arrived at the Talon in record time, pulling Kyle off her back and into her arms, carrying him up the ramp and into the ship, closing the door behind her. She hurried over to the Autodoc. Kyle winced as he touched the keypad, the pain beginning to pulse in his leg.
"Please verbally state the nature of your emergency," said the automated male voice of the Autodoc. Kyle winced, trying to speak without gritting his teeth.
"Claw wounds, right leg. Bleeding. Possible-" Kyle stopped and gritted his teeth in pain. "possible infection." The machine beeped in reply.
"Laceration, right lower extremity. Hemorrhage. Bacterial infection precaution. Please enter the chamber." Sophie helped Kyle to swing his legs up, and she got a good look at his wound.
Three long cuts ran from just below the side of his knee, almost down to his ankle. His leg and what remained of his jeans were covered in blood. His shoe was soaked in it. Sophie gave a sad moan at the horrible sight.
Oh, Kyle, she couldn't hide her sorrow from Kyle. He winced as he laid inside the Autodoc.
I'm sorry, Sophie. We shouldn't have gone. Sophie gave a negative as she held his hand and kissed it.
No, my love. It's not your fault. Sophie could feel Kyle's pain as the machine whirred and began to move.
"Running diagnostic," said the Autodoc as it activated and scanned Kyle's wounded leg. "Confirmed. Soft tissue damage, striated muscle, tendon and ligament damage. Damage depth to eleven millimeters. Severe hemorrhage detected. Applying anesthetic." Sophie moaned softly as she stroked Kyle's hair as the Autodoc sprayed Kyle's leg with a numbing agent. He winced at the stinging sensation before the anesthetic began to work. "Administering five milligrams morphine." The Autodoc gave Kyle an injection of the painkiller into his neck. He sighed softly as he began to feel warm and fuzzy, the pain receding. He swallowed as Sophie stroked his hair.
We have to lock the ship, Kyle said weakly. He looked at Sophie through lidded eyes. I'm so sorry, Sophie. They came so suddenly- She gave a negative, letting her warm, loving thoughts flow into his mind, soothing him.
Don't apologize, Kyle. There's nothing to be sorry for. If anything, I'm sorry for leaving you alone. He held her hand as she kissed his forehead.
"Initiating debridement," said the machine as it began to clean Kyle's wound. Sophie thrummed as Kyle felt sleepy.
You sleep and get better, Kyle. Sophie's right here, she soothed. Her long, black fingers gently and tenderly stroked his hair. His eyes fluttered shut and she felt his mind slip into sleep. Sophie gave a shuddering moan as she looked down at herself. She was covered in Kyle's blood. A trail of her beloved mate's blood led to the door of their ship. She hung her head, her tail curling around her. She felt horrible. She felt like she had failed him. She had failed to protect him when he needed her. Sophie shivered from her head to her tail, wracked with sorrow and guilt.
Her mind drifted back to her horrible discovery, of that child, hidden in the tree. How long had they waited there for a rescue that never came? How long did they cry for their mother and father? She remembered the vicious claw marks from where those nasty beasts had tried to get at them. She thought how frightened they must have been. It tore at her, it tore at every feminine fiber in her. As she thought on the child, something began to burn inside her. A spark that began to grow. She began to growl, growing louder as she shook with anger. Not anger at herself any longer, anger on where it belonged. Her head snapped up as she felt a presence approach the ship. Her lips quivered as she began to drool in anger, her lips peeling back from silvery teeth.
The two Serrex sniffed as they approached the ship, sniffing and snorting as they followed the trail of blood. As the sun began to set, they grew bolder. Serrex were night hunters for the most part. They were not very big, three feet high was normal, and these were a little under that. It was the numbers of Serrex that gave them the advantage. These two were only scouts, on the trail of wounded prey. They had no concept of "man made" or what metal was. As such, they had no fear or hesitation as they followed the trail of warm blood up the metal ramp. The larger Serrek sniffed as it came up to the closed metal door, scratching lightly at the metal. It looked up and gave a growl, preparing to give out a call to alert the rest of its kind it had found where the prey was hiding.
Suddenly the door flew open, a long, obsidian-black tail flying out with lightning speed, spearing the Serrek through the mouth and out the back of the head before it could call out. The other Serrek gave a startled and angered screech as the body of its companion was flung away like a rag doll. Before the Serrek could retreat, a huge form leaped on it, pinning it to the ground with enough force to break several of its bones. The screeches of pain were cut off as a tube-like tongue shot out of the dark being's mouth, piercing the Serrek's skull. Not just once, but again, and again and again, until there was nothing but a red stain in the dirt where its head had once been.
Sophie snarled as she looked at the bodies of her foes. They had made the biggest mistake of their short lives: they had hurt Kyle. Sophie looked towards the forest as she heard what she now knew was the call of the Serrex, that barking croak. Sophie batted the broken body aside with her tail, leaving it a crumpled heap of broken bones and fur among the grass. Sophie hissed as she cracked her neck, the sun setting and the sky beginning to darken. The sun was down, but she was just getting started. She grinned in feral delight as she slowly walked towards the forest. Nice Sophie was taking a nap. Now, they were going to meet a Sophie who wasn't so nice.
XXX
The forests of Eramore echoed with screeches of anger and shrieks of pain. Sophie was on the warpath, and the Serrex were quickly discovering just how deadly her kind could really be.
Sophie screeched as she grabbed two Serrex by the neck and squeezed until the bones snapped and their eyes popped. She threw the bodies at the large group of Serrex and killed several more that came within range of her tail. Every time she killed one, they would immediately begin to tear at the body and eat it. As Sophie killed her enemies, she understood they were starving. They had eaten almost everything in sight, and were becoming desperate for food. They would even eat their wounded, the smell of blood driving them into a feeding frenzy. It also seemed to drive any sense of reason or self-preservation from them.
She had killed scores of them, but they still kept coming, mindlessly throwing themselves at her in the vain hope that their numbers would overwhelm her. Sophie was drooling in anger, her whole body shiny and slick as her instincts told her glands to secrete more mucus, making her slippery and almost impossible for them to get a firm grip on. A couple of times, a Serrek almost managed to get a hold of her, but her slippery skin gave her the advantage. Sophie's claws lashed out, tearing into flesh as the Serrex seemed to pour out of the woods, brought by the smell of blood.
Sophie knew she couldn't kill them all. Even in her state of rage, she was able to think. It wasn't about wiping them all out, although that would be delightful. It was about killing those that were tracking Kyle's blood, and making the others afraid to come near. Sophie's plan was working, though, as they were more concerned with eating the piles of their dead brethren, rather than following the scent of Kyle's blood.
Come on! Come and fight, you monsters! Come on and fight something that can fight back! Sophie mentally roared as she screeched, tearing the head off one of the Serrex in the fore of battle. Sophie used every weapon at her disposal to kill the foul creatures. Her claws shredded them in close quarters, and her tongue darted out like lightning to pierce skulls and ribs. Her tail was the most deadly at medium to long range, and scores of the Serrex had died by it. Sophie had even used the bodies of her enemies as weapons, throwing them with great force.
Sophie growled as more Serrex came out of the forest, screeching and snarling. She bared her teeth in threat and challenge as they crowded after her. She hated the nasty smell of those beasts. That horrible, oily, musky smell was the scent of these beasts. That same foul-smelling oil was in their flesh, and they tasted nasty. Sophie would only eat one if she was starving, and even then, she wouldn't like it. There seemed to be no end to them. For every one that she killed, it seemed that three took its place. After eating it, of course.
As much as Sophie would have loved to keep killing them until there were none left, she knew that wasn't realistic. Even she would get tired, eventually. She used her tail to cleave open the two that leaped at her as she began to back up. The Serrex growled and snarled as they pursued Sophie up the hill of the forest. Sophie kept her teeth bared, not afraid at all. If she was to make any headway, she had to find a weapon to use, and she knew just the one. She grinned as she led them further and further up the hill. As the trees began to widen, the Serrex began to close their ranks and mass. It was perfect, better than Sophie could hope for. She grinned as she ran back up the hill, to where a huge tree was fallen, held by only a rotten stump.
She leaped over the tree, her tail lashing out and smashing the stump, freeing the tree. It began to roll down the hill, picking up speed as it went. The massed Serrex didn't have any time, much less room to avoid it, and many were crushed as it rolled over them like a gigantic steam roller. Sophie gave a stuttering screech, taunting them. The downed tree was stopped by the standing trees, and the Serrex swarmed over it, coming after her like an army of great, furred ants. They charged uphill, snarling and screeching. Sophie grinned as she darted over the crest of the hill. The Serrex charged after her, leaping up and over the crest of the hill.
They were shocked when the ground disappeared from under them. They shrieked and screamed as they fell down the cliff towards the angry eastern sea. Sophie watched from where she was on the side of the cliff as the Serrex streamed over the cliff en mass. Some were killed by the impact with the rocks far below, others were a little more lucky, and splashed into the water. How lucky that was, though, was open to debate.
Sophie grinned as she saw a huge form under the water, swimming towards the masses of Serrex. She watched as the huge creature breached the surface of the water, its huge mouth open as it swallowed at least ten Serrex whole. The mighty Tiburon, a deadly predator of the Zerichs II oceans. Sophie also noticed that the Serrex seemed afraid of water, and weren't very good at swimming. They could dog-paddle, but that seemed to be it. She made a mental note of the fact as she climbed back up the cliff.
She heard the cries of the Balwar and looked back down in time to see the mother and father Balwar swoop in, grab a Serrek and carry it up into the air before dropping it on the rocks. She grinned as they repeated this, catching Serrex and dropping them on the hard rocks. They took some meat from the dead Serrex back to their nest and she grinned, glad of the aid from above.
Not all the Serrex were dead. Sophie knew they wouldn't all go over, but it had dramatically reduced their numbers, which is what she had been hoping for. What remained was a group of the largest males. Sophie had noticed that all the ones she had met thus far, were males. As Sophie walked back down the hill, she noticed these Serrex were more cautious. As a social creature herself, she could tell these were probably the oldest and strongest of the males, the Alphas.
They ruffled their fur, trying to look bigger than they were. An empty threat. Sophie growled as she stood up to her full eight feet of height, towering over the pitiful three-foot tall Serrex. Some of them backed away, but one of them seemed less afraid. The leader. This one, a mottled and brindled color with a red head, seemed to have much more fight in it. The Serrex circled her, sizing her up, preparing for an attack.
The attack was sudden, all of them leaping at her. Sophie ducked and speared one through the chest with her tail, and punched one in the face with enough force to kill it instantly. Her powerful leg lashed out, knocking one back a good fifty feet into a tree where it dropped and twitched. One lunged at her face, jaws open. She grabbed it around the neck and snapped it while her tail killed two more in a single stroke, her tail blade acting like a short sword in a great, swooping arc. Two lunged at her from the left.
As Sophie tore them to shreds with her claws, the leader lunged with surprising speed. She was surprised by the speed. It managed to get its claws into her arm. She swung her tail as she felt pain. The Serrek leaped back, landing safely away from her. She looked down at her arm and the blood. The Serrek Alpha male chittered at her, as if taunting her. She snarled as she flicked her hand at it, flinging her blood onto its face. It screeched in pain as it fell over and thrashed. The other Serrex lunged at the stricken Alpha, only to get a mouthful of Sophie's blood. They snarled and shook there heads as they foamed and choked.
Sophie gave a snort as she watched the Serrex slowly die from their own stupidity. She thought about leaving them to suffer, but decided to end their misery with a quick thrust from her tail. Not that she did so out of mercy, mind you, but if one survived, they would learn, and possibly teach others, which could be dangerous later on. No sense in taking chances.
She looked up and extended her tongue to smell the air. The very few Serrex left had retreated with the bodies of their fallen brethren, most likely to wherever they had their den. Sophie surveyed the bloody battlefield. There were bodies strewn everywhere, and not all of them where whole. That wasn't Sophie's doing, for the most part. The Serrex had been gorging on the bodies of the fallen. She looked up as she could smell their stench, trailing off into the woods. They had invaded her territory, it was about time she returned the favor. Sophie followed their scent, deep into the forest.
After some time, she found where they had their den. It was a hole under a large tree, towards the north of the island, a little west of the lake. Sophie took note of the carcasses they had left, leading up to their den. Sloppy, very sloppy. Not just in the sense that it was messy, but they may as well have had a giant neon sign pointing to their den. She guessed, since they had largely been unopposed on the island, they had no fear since there were almost no predators, and thus were not afraid of their den being found.
As she got closer, she could hear the squeaks and snarls of young, echoing out from their den. Sophie sat for a moment, extending her senses. She could sense the Serrex through the ground, feel their presence. She noticed how some were larger. Females tending young. Sophie growled as her lips twitched upwards, baring her teeth. She carefully weighed her options, chose one. She slowly stalked forward, until she was sitting right at the entrance of the den. With a soft growl, she disappeared into the hole.
The forest echoed with angry shrieks and growls. Screams of pain and fear, punctuated by an angry screech, all of it lightly muffled by the wall of the den.
Author's note: I hope this chapter lives up to expectations, as it's both the longest, and most involved I've ever done. I also wanted to have the map of Eramore Island ready before I posted it, which will be in my DeviantArt account.
Special thanks goes to my mother, who once again was very helpful in making Eramore Island come to life.
Read, review and enjoy!