Apparition (6 page)

Damn.

Caveat was racing through the forest. Doss was angry.
How the hell had that stallion found them? Faster, the ground rushed by as Doss
sped to keep up. The animal was rejuvenated, he was moving quicker this time.
Doss was livid; if Zoe fell off, she would be killed. Doss would be alone
again. She needed to give him more of a chance to prove he could take care of
her. The thought was irksome—since the damned horse had just made off with her.

After a while the stallion slowed his frantic pace. The
mares and their young had been left in another hollow. They greeted the
stallion. This time the animal didn’t lead them away at a roaring pace. He
commanded through squeals and neighs they were to follow. The head mare
gathered them together. They went at a slow trot until they came to another
river. When they stopped, Doss watched as the stallion stood staring at him
quietly, head high, ears forward. If Doss didn’t know better he would swear he
was being mocked. Caveat snorted once then again, but that was all.

Doss cocked his head. He noticed something he hadn’t
really noticed before. He was vaguely aware of what the stallion was feeling.
Interesting
.
The stallion saw him as a threat
but not a danger.
Which was undeniably why he hadn’t tried to
stomp him to death while he slept.
The stallion was more than likely
picking up on Zoe’s emotions. She was quietly sitting upright on Caveat’s back
watching Doss. There was no fear, just curiosity.

He remembered she said she hadn’t had human
companionship for a year. Was she missing it? She had no shield to regulate her
body core. She must be as lonely as he was. Doss wondered what she ate out
here. The trees had fruit, presumably palatable, but because of the replicators
Doss hadn’t been tempted into trying any. He bet she had. He wondered what else
she had been tempted to partake of. She wouldn’t have dared light a fire to
cook anything. It would have been noticed immediately. He admired her spirit.
Doss would be very proud to be her mate. The way she worried for the horses he
knew she was
loving
and caring. She would make a
wonderful mother to their children. Doss had never wondered about being a
father—he did now. The idea was appealing. He wondered what a child of his
would look like.

A sudden scent caught his attention and snapped him
from his daydreaming of a family life. Doss’ concentration was fixed on the
odor of another. He felt his blood boil until his shield controlled his anger.
Already there was a
Tonan
after
his
female,
his
family.
Far to the left, the filthy thing slithered closer, unaware he had been
detected. Doss was already in motion. Moving like an apparition, he was at
Caveat’s side before the horse knew what happened. Zoe was in his arms. She
yelped, Caveat screamed in rage. The
Tonan
was in
between Doss and the stallion.

“A hybrid,” the
Tonan
snapped. “I should have known.”

“Know this,” Doss said snarling, his arm enclosed Zoe.
“This female is mine. Anyone who touches her will die.”

Caveat was prancing and pawing the ground getting
ready to strike. It looked to Doss the stallion was uncertain as to whom to go
after first. Zoe was curled to his side. Doss could scent her terror. He needed
to mate with her soon. It was for
her own
safety.

The
Tonan
snapped his tail
in frustration. It cracked in the air. Zoe cringed, her hand covered her face.
That was all Caveat needed. He crashed his hooves into the
Tonan’s
back. The
Tonan
howled and spun. Doss moved faster
than he had in his life. Zoe was tossed onto Caveat’s back, the stallion’s rear
smacked hard, and Doss attacked the
Tonan
. He slit at
him in a fiery fervor. His armor controlled his rage but fueled his dominance.
Doss knew how to battle now, he was no longer inexperienced. Before long, the
Tonan
was gasping, his body was blood covered. Doss stood over
him.

Doss smelt the
Tonan’s
confusion. Obviously, he wasn’t used to being the loser. Doss also smelt his
fear. Doss stomped down on the
Tonan’s
tail that had
been broken in battle. It was the only part of him that showed he was
Tonan
. The tail was crushed under his huge claws. The
warrior’s dark hair was saturated in sweat. His eyes glistened in pain. His
flesh was a hideous mess.

“This is the only time I will let you heal,” Doss
warned. “Take a message back with you. Anyone who comes for my female will
die.”

“She is not marked.” The
Tonan
gasped.

“By nightfall she will be,” Doss said.

When Doss turned, the horses were gone, and so was
Zoe.

*
* * *

Zoe was off Caveat’s back in a heartbeat. The sound of
the little foal screaming in terror had her and the horses in an uproar. Little
Winsome must have fallen down the cliff side in her fear to get away.
Aether
was whinnying to her filly. The filly was lucky the
terrain was sponge-like or she would have been killed or broken a leg.

It was all her fault. This never would have happened
if it wasn’t for her. Doss was right; the
Tonans
would come for her. They would never stop. They had her scent and could trail
her on the wind. There was no escaping the planet. She would spend her life
hiding in fear. Her horses would die trying to protect her. It looked like one
was about to.

Poor Caveat raced up and down the narrow cliff, but
there was no way to get to the filly. Zoe could, but she couldn’t lift her.
Even though the foal was young she was way too heavy for Zoe. What was she to
do? She would be stuck there forever.
Aether
would go
crazy. Caveat would have to drag her away eventually. Winsome would die alone
and afraid. Oh God. What had she done? The pain was unbearable.

“Are you hurt?” a voice asked.

Zoe spun to see Doss standing a few feet away. Caveat
was torn in two different directions. He charged Doss, but Doss held his talon
hands up. The stallion stopped. He reared and raced back to
Aether
who was huffing out frantically. She looked like she would go over the cliff.
Caveat kept sending her back.

“I can scent your pain,” Doss said.

“The filly, Winsome, is over the cliff. She must have
been frightened off when you fought the
Tonan
. She’ll
die.” Zoe broke into sobs.

Doss was there. She was in his arms. He remained in
his armor. Zoe knew they hadn’t gone far from the
Tonan
.
Doss would still be wary and watchful. The other horses were in a tight circle
around little
Tenebrae
. Doss set Zoe from him and
walked to the stallion. For a moment they just looked at each other.
Creature to beast.
Doss moved back. Zoe watched as Caveat
went to
Aether
. When Doss went over the cliff
Aether
was screaming. Winsome was also screaming,
terrified. After all Doss was the creature that brought the frightening scent
of blood.

Caveat physically restrained the mare from jumping
down the side of the cliff. Back and forth he slammed her forcing her away from
the cliff edge. She bit at him and tried to kick but the gentle stallion was
way too strong for her. Soon enough
Aether
stood,
sides heaving, crying a whicker softly, pressed heavily against Caveat. It was
heartbreaking. A long moment passed. Zoe was afraid the little filly would jump
to her death in her fear. She knew how fast and how strong Doss was. Hopefully
he could save her.

“
Aether
,” Zoe yelled.
“Look.”

The horse’s ears pricked. Winsome who had been across
Doss’ shoulders was set carefully onto her feet.
Aether
whinnied in relief and raced to her baby. Caveat wasn’t far behind. Doss came
to stand with Zoe.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You need to come with me.”

“I know.”

“I won’t hurt you, Zoe. I can protect you.”

“I know.” She turned as her tears poured down her face
blurring her vision. “Will I ever see them again?”

Doss captured a tear. “After tonight you will be safe.
But it will be hard for Caveat. Yes, you will see them again as soon as
tomorrow if you like.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Mate you,” Doss said. “Don’t be afraid. After tonight
my shield will protect you.”

Zoe was incredulous.
“How?”

“Trust me?”

“That’s all you ask for my safety?”

“There is everything in trust in my world. Zoe, a
Tonian
mates for life. If you die, I will die, and if I die,
so will you. Your trust is more than important—it’s our survival. We will be
together thousands of years as the result. I swear as your mate, you will have
my undying loyalty and love. I know this may seem odd as I don’t understand
your culture, but I will love you when we mate—I will have no other choice. You
will be a part of me—you have to be for the shield to sense you. Our blood will
flow as one. We will be as one.”

Zoe could see his sincerity. She felt incredulous,
they didn’t even know one another and he professed he would love her? She
didn’t doubt him. With his proficiency for sensing emotion it had to be true.
She would live thousands of years? Would she love him? Could she?

“How does a
Tonian
mate a
woman for life?” she asked curiously.

“When we mate and have sex, I will mark your shoulder
and everyone will know you are mine. Your shoulder will bear my tattoo. It
won’t hurt.”

She understood his meaning; he was asking her to be
his emotionally and physically. The idea of having sex with him wasn’t
frightening. What was frightening was thinking of a life running forever with
the
Tonans
after her. She was part of a herd—
a herd
. How long would she crave human
companionship? From the moment she met him, Zoe knew her life had changed. She
would trust him. There really was no other choice. She nodded.

“I’ll mate with you.”

“Then you need to let Caveat know it’s your choice to
leave. He thinks you belong to him.”

“I do in a way. I saved his life when he was born. Now
he saves mine.”

“The
Tonans
have no use for
the horses. When you are gone they won’t be bothered with them.”

“Are you sure?”

“We can encourage Caveat to move the herd closer to
the cave.”

Zoe was filled with hope. “Will you help watch them?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“Yes!” Zoe squealed. It was exactly what she wanted.
Doss could protect them.

Zoe was smiling when she went to Caveat. He tossed his
head in greeting though he had been watching. She had seen him. Zoe buried her
fingers into his fur and hugged him. His head fell across her shoulder. Soon
the others were gathered around.

“I need to go, my friend. But I will be back soon,”
Zoe whispered.

She knew this was the right thing to do. Caveat
protected his herd. Doss would protect them all. They were in a strange new
world with strange creatures. Zoe wasn’t afraid of Doss but she was afraid for
Caveat’s life. When she stepped back, Caveat lowered his knee. Zoe shook her
head no.

“I love you,” she whispered. “I can do this for all of
us.”

Caveat moved forward and bumped her shoulder. Zoe
stepped back and called
Aether
to her. She pushed
Aether
at Caveat. The stallion pranced and pawed the
ground. Zoe moved away. Caveat shoved
Aether
aside
and raced in front of Zoe. Zoe patted his muzzle and kissed him. Again she
called
Aether
.
Aether
rubbed against Caveat. It was apparent to Zoe the mare knew what was happening.
So did Caveat, but he wasn’t about to allow it.

Caveat again bent a knee and whickered at her. He
tossed his head in a yes motion. Zoe was sobbing at his persistence. She pushed
him back and stepped around him. Panicking now, Caveat reared up in front of
her and stomped down. Zoe stood quietly as his hooves came within inches of her
head.
Aether
went to the large beast when he landed
and pawed the ground. Zoe walked to Doss. Caveat screamed in agony. It took
everything Zoe had not to turn around or respond to his cry.

Doss picked her up in his arm, cradling her to his
chest. The stallion charged them, but Doss was soon high in the tree. He was
moving at a swift rate from tree to ground to tree. For a while Caveat
followed. He called to her, but she didn’t answer. She was sobbing too loud.
Her arms were wrapped around Doss’ neck and her face was buried into his
armored throat. Doss was hard as steel, it was how Zoe’s heavy heart was
feeling listening to her baby cry. Caveat continued to scream for her. Like a
bewildered child.

“Stop, stop,” Zoe pleaded.

Doss stopped and set her on her feet. Caveat came at
her like lightning. He stopped right in front of her. His chest hit her across
the shoulders but his head and neck was pressed across her back so tight in a
hug she didn’t fall. Zoe again hugged him and then shoved him away. Caveat
pranced back. The other horses were calling from a distance.