CHAPTER 8
M oonlight pierced between the Rolmdew trees’ branches, lighting up the Lemurian landscape. Alora stepped onto the suspended walkway and the wooden planks swayed under her weight. She gripped the handrail and peered over the edge. Fifty feet below, a thick blanket of underbrush dotted Lemuria’s surface.
A distant howl broke the quiet night, joined by another. Rhondo beasts.
Her pulse quickened. Thank goodness they couldn’t climb. That’s why all of Lemuria’s population dwelled within the Rolmdew trees.
“What is it?” Carine’s soft voice was in stark contrast to the evil beasts’.
Alora turned to face her friend. Carine’s blue hair cascaded around her shoulders, the ends snapping to and fro, displaying her unease. Alora smiled to comfort her friend. “Did you enjoy Janalla’s Place?”
A smile tugged at Carine’s mouth, and she nodded. “Thank you for taking me. The food is fabulous. Zedron loves the place…” Her smile faltered.
Zedron… Alora tightened her hand into a fist. How she hated the Kasard. Her opponent in this game for Earth’s water, she’d bargained with him for the Ursus queen Kaelyn and Carine, his slave, in exchange for his recording device, the one that proved he’d cheated in the game. Maybe she should’ve taken Veromé’s advice and turned him in to the council, but she’d wanted to make Zedron squirm.
Alora placed her hand on Carine’s arm and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Let’s not talk about him. We’re almost home. I’d love to have some of that muldoberry pie you made. How about you?”
Carine nodded, and her smile returned. “I’d like that very much.”
As Alora continued along their path, her mind wandered to her rival. Zedron hadn’t put up much of a fight, giving in to her demands all too easily. Veromé, her mate, and the one male she trusted more than anyone, had warned her the council might think she’d used coercion to get what she’d wanted and that Zedron would use that against her. The dinner she’d had churned in her stomach. She needed to strategize her next move.
Carine gasped. “Alora, did you hear that?”
Alora stopped, and the suspension bridge swayed in the breeze. “Hear what?”
A small cry, like the sound of a small child, filtered through the trees.
Carine blinked. “That.”
The cries intensified, louder and louder, coming from the ground below. The hair at Alora’s nape rose.
Before Alora could say a word, Carine sprinted along the bridge’s slats to the platform built onto the nearby Rolmdew tree. She gripped the bark and scaled down the trunk. From the planet Arotin, Arotaar’s were known for their strength, endurance, and climbing ability.
“Carine! Be careful!” Alora scurried to the platform for a closer look and to support her friend in any way possible.
Carine reached the forest floor and disappeared beneath the small bushes and plants that covered the surface. With each footstep, the dry leaves crackled under her feet. They would announce her location to the rhondo beasts, that is, if the babe’s cries hadn’t done so already. Alora tightened her grip around the railing.
A rhondo beast’s howl echoed into the night, the pitch fevered, excited, and much closer. Another answered, then a third.
“Carine, hurry!” Alora searched the platform, searching for anything she could use as a weapon, but she found only the ropes that tied the platform to the tree. Dread’s icy cold fingers traced a path down Alora’s spine.
“I found him!” Carine’s shout carried above the rhondo beasts’ roars.
Not far away, the bushes rustled, the beasts approaching at a rapid pace. Alora shuddered. “Rhondo beasts! Run, Carine, run!”
The babe’s cries echoed between the trees. Another couple on a nearby platform turned to stare.
Carine’s dark figure emerged from the bushes, a small toddler cradled to her chest. Nestling him in the crook of one elbow, she used her free hand and her feet to scale the tree.
Alora gripped the wooden rail, her nerves strung tight.
A rhondo beast appeared between the bushes, the black, oily skin shining in the moonlight. The muscles in his hind legs tightened, and he lunged into the air.
Alora’s pulse spiked.
Carine screamed and almost dropped the babe. The little tyke gripped her sleeve, holding on for dear life.
The rhondo beast’s long pointy teeth snapped dangerously close to Carine’s feet, but he couldn’t reach her. Momentum and gravity drew him to the ground.
His distressed howl rang into the night.
Alora let out a relieved breath. That was too close.
Carine clambered up the Rolmdew tree. When she reached the platform, she handed the small child to Alora. A sudden tingling of surprise raced over Alora’s shoulders. Short tufts of blond hair framed the babe’s face, his cheeks red from his cries. His eyes were a deep blue, matching those of his father.
“Anlon.” Alora choked on his name.
The babe smiled, tears still glistening in his eyes.
Alora’s heart melted on the spot. She brought him to her chest and cradled him in her arms. His sweet cinnamon fragrance seeped into her senses. “You’re safe now, little one.”
Carine climbed onto the platform. Her breaths came out in shallow gasps. “It’s been a while since I’ve climbed like that. Guess I’m out of shape.”
Alora blinked then a relieved laugh emerged from her throat. “You risk your life to rescue a small child and that’s what you say? Come here.” Alora held out her arm, the one that wasn’t cradling Anlon.
Carine met Alora’s gaze. Uncertainty creased her brow.
Alora stepped to Carine and wrapped her in her embrace, the three of them together. “You’re amazing, Carine. Thank you.”
Alora released her, and Carine’s eyes were damp. She glanced at the ground. “It’s what anyone would do.”
Alora placed her finger under Carine’s chin, lifting her gaze. “Not true. Very few would’ve done what you did. Most Lemurians fear the rhondo beasts too much, including me.”
Carine peered at Anlon. “He’s cute. I wonder why he was down there.”
“Do you know who this is?” Alora teased Anlon’s chin, and he giggled.
Carine shook her head, and the blue ends of her hair sparked. “No. Do you?”
“This is Anlon. He’s Noeh and Melissa’s son.” Alora peered at him. “He must’ve come through a portal, but nothing like that has ever happened before. Why are you here, little guy?”
As if he’d understood, he smiled and brought a red stone clutched in his hand to his mouth. With a long, wet swipe of his tongue, he licked the smooth surface.
A sunstone…
The need to return home and look into her visus bacin raced through Alora’s nerves like a Lemurian tratee fly, quick and forceful. “Let’s go. We need to see what’s happened on Earth.”