The Constant Star (34)

THE STORY SO FAR

He grabs a piece of oak branch from the forest floor and puts it in her mouth to bite down on. He looks in her eyes and it is then that she recognizes him. It’s him. Oh god, it’s him. It’s uuuuuuuunnnnnnnngh!

Lucas finishes tying the bandage, then lifts her onto his shoulders, he smells of leather, wood smoke, earth, and sweat, “We have to move. Right now. I know a place close by where we might be safe. I’m sorry, Goddess: this is going to hurt.”

He runs with her over his shoulders as she grunts and cries in pain, the branch in her mouth helps her keep quiet. A couple of hundred yards and he sets her down. He lifts a set of branches from the ground that are tied together to form the roof of a shallow ditch. Pulling her into it, Lucas lays Siff down and covers her with the forest hide, “Stay here and stay quiet. No matter what.” And with that he disappears into the dark.

She lays still, branch between her teeth and tears running down her face. Who saw me? Who was on the Needle? God it hurts so much! What’s out here? Has Lucas left me here to die? Am I going to die? I don’t want to die.

Her thoughts are interrupted by a rustling in the grass nearby. Something is out there. And it’s getting closer. Almost imperceptible footsteps interspersed with sniffing. Whatever it is now hovers just out of sight as Siff strains her eyes to look through the moss and branches covering her. A silhouette slowly moves into her vision. Powerful and feline in shape, muscles reflecting starlight on its frame. Siff guesses it must be at least eight feet high on all fours, and that’s not counting the antlers. The sniffing comes closer to her and two massive hand-like pads start pulling at the covering with strong clawed fingers, dark eyes inquisitively staring through the branches, snout constantly sniffing. The branches are pulled aside and the beast looms over her, open mouth showing large fangs and inquisitive eyes. It pauses for a moment as Siff lays unmoving, staring at the beast she is waiting to consume her. She can only hope it will kill her first. Instead the animal sits next to the ditch and continues to watch her as if unsure what to do. It seems like an eternity before more footsteps are heard. Lucas has returned.

Brandishing a spear he cautiously approaches. The beast lets out a guttural growl and bares its teeth as it stands to face him. Then it backs away slowly, allowing Lucas to come close to Siff, “Goddess, are you alright?”

“Where did you go?” Her voice is weak, “You left me.”

“I tried to lure the creature away with my own scent. But it found you. Torrens never let anyone live. Why are you alive?” He continues to step closer as the beast backs away. Now right next to her he slips his arm under her body and helps her stand. The pain is still too much to bear, “Okay, I’m going to lift you like last time. If the torren wants to kill us it will have an easy time of it. But if it was going to do so, we would already be dead.” He leans his spear against a tree and lifts her across his shoulders. She watches him retrieve his spear and glance to the beast sitting, growling behind them. Lucas starts his journey, Siff feeling every bump and jerk in her side, the torren still growling with its hackles raised following them through the trees. It is a few hundred yards before it sits and watches as they head to the edge of the forest. The glimmer of morning begins to show through the trees, “I was camping nearby when I saw you fall. My horse is just past the tree cover. We’ll ride to camp, then I’ll check your wounds. I have a few medicines there.”

Passing intermittently in and out of consciousness, Siff manages to sit wearily on the horse, Lucas behind her keeping her from falling. Now out of immediate danger, Siff feels herself drifting off. Lucas tries to keep her awake, but the wound and fatigue are now overcoming the fear and adrenaline. Her eyes close and open again. She finds herself laying at a small campsite, Lucas hastily packing his medical supplies back up, “Stay with me, Goddess. I know someone who can help.”

“Siff.” The word comes weakly from her lips.

“Huh?”

“Siff. My name…Siff.”

Her eyes close again, and a heaviness holds her in sleep.

26

<<Citizen#0023-48325193

Entry#14241

I long sought the truth of our race, and when I discovered it those years ago I set about to prove it. To bring self-realization to our people. I tested humanity to show we are incapable of change. I have proven it without doubt.

And so I hold these four things to be holy and true. We can never be free of our destructive nature. We do not deserve to exist. The universe would be better without us. Humanity must be destroyed.>>

Jupiter’s gut clenches as he makes his way to the front lines, Mars’ furious countenance beside him as they pass soldiers running to positions and yelling instructions. There is fierce fighting ahead: gunshots and screams, explosions from grenades, and smoke hiding the battlefield. He has never entered the Tube before, but Jupiter knows he must. And somewhere in that fog of war is the door he must reach. To reach his daughter. He can’t help but grunt in anger at her foolishness and the trigger he was forced to pull in order to save her life. Could there be no other way? He picks up an assault weapon and clenches his teeth, “Let’s break through these fututorum.”

“Seriously?”

“She’s my daughter. I’m going to get her.”

“She’s a war criminal and we need to collect her.” Jupiter ignores Mars’ remark

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