The Extinction Series | Book 8 | Primordial Earth 8 Page 2

  A rustle in the bushes ahead sent his senses into overdrive. He froze to the spot, both eyes fixed on the rippling leaves. His right hand crept toward the machete in his belt, and his fingers closed around the handle.

  The seconds ticked by slowly while Tony waited. Tick, tock, tick, tock. Still, nothing happened. With the machete raised in the air, he took a step forward. Suddenly, a creature burst out of the bushes and sprang right at him. It snapped at the air with razor-sharp teeth, hissing with fury.

  “Shit!” Tony cried, swiping at the beast. He hit it with a glancing blow, and it crashed to the ground with a pained growl. Before it could recover itself, Tony struck again, decapitating the creature. Its blood leaked into the ground and tainted the air with a coppery tang.

  “What the hell was that?” David asked, stepping closer.

  Tony eyed the lizard-like creature and grimaced. “It’s a Bambiraptor. They’re small but mean.”

  David nudged it with its foot. “Yeah, I know them. Nasty little beasts.” He looked around. “We’d better get out of here.”

  “Agreed. They travel in packs,” Tony said, looking around. “Where there’s one, there’s bound to be more.” Tony had barely finished his sentence when the bushes rustled again. He spotted several more of the raptors circling them through the undergrowth. “Ah, shit. We’re in for it now.”

  “Incoming,” David cried, yanking his ax from his belt. The pack closed in around them, and the forest swarmed with snarling Bambiraptors.

  With his back pressed to David’s, Tony fought them off. He swiped, slashed, hacked, and stabbed at the creatures, grimacing when blood coated his face and hands. One of the beasts snapped at his wrist, and its sharp teeth cut through the skin.

  The wound burned like fire, and Tony growled below his breath. “Damn raptor.”

  With a swift stab, he impaled the beast with his blade. He shook off the corpse and swiped at the next attacker, but it jumped aside with a snarl before lunging at his legs.

  Scrambling backward, Tony bumped into David. Surprised, David stumbled and went down with a yell. Tony tripped over him, and they ended up rolling on the forest floor in a tangle of limbs.

  The raptors took full advantage and attacked the struggling duo. Teeth sank into Tony’s shoulder, and he lashed out with his fist. It connected with a thud, and the beast disappeared. Teeth snapped at his face, and he grabbed the Bambiraptor by the throat.

  As small as it was, it was both strong and slippery. With a twist of its head, the creature got free and lunged again. Its jaws closed on Tony’s cheek and white-hot pain radiated through his nervous system. Desperate to get away, he gripped the beast’s head and slashed at its neck with the machete. The blade hacked through the skin and muscle, and hot blood sprayed from the wound.

  The stuff coated Tony’s face, blinding him. Terror shot through his veins, and he rolled to his knees. With the sleeve of his coat, he wiped the stinging fluid from his eyes and blinked at his surroundings.

  The raptors had backed away, eyeing the humans with bared teeth. Their losses rendered them wary, and Tony knew they had to move. “David, get up. We have to get up.”

  David looked dazed, and blood leaked from a dozen rips and tears in his flesh. His ax lay on the ground, and Tony scooped it up. “Snap out of it, David.”

  David stared at him, his mouth hanging open. “What?”

  “Fight, damn it, or we’re both dead!” Tony said. He shoved the ax into David’s hand and hauled them both upright. Once they were on their feet again, they stood a better chance at survival. Even so, Tony knew they had to end it fast.

  With a roar, he launched himself at the remaining pack and scattered them with wild swings of his blade. It hacked into one, and he kicked another on the leg. The bone snapped, and it hobbled away with a hiss of agony.

  Snapping out of his funk, David joined in. Between them, they drove off the last of the Bambiraptors, and the creatures fled into the gathering dusk. Heaving for breath, Tony looked at David. “That was close.”

  David nodded and pointed at him with one trembling finger. “You’ve got something on your face.”

  Tony stared at him, confused. Then he remembered his mask of blood. Grinning, he wiped his face but winced when he touched the deep cut on his cheek. “You don’t look so hot either.”

  “I don’t feel so hot,” David admitted. “And we reek of blood. Every predator within miles will be after us within the hour.”

  Tony grimaced, his smile fading away. They were in deep trouble and had to get out of there right away. “Are you hurt bad anywhere?”

  “Not really. It’s nothing serious,” David said after a quick examination of his injuries. “You?”

  “Nothing that can’t wait until we’re holed up somewhere safe,” Tony said. “Follow me and keep your eyes open.”

  “I’m right behind you,” David said.

  Together, they set off into the trees, heading downhill. Tony reckoned it would be the likeliest place to find water. If they ever did. Either way, they were due for some good luck. Overdue, actually. Come on, Karma. Give us something, will you?

  Chapter 3 - David

  David stumbled through the underbrush, barely able to place one foot in front of the other. The numerous bites and tears in his flesh burned, and a couple of them continued to bleed. His eyes swiveled in their sockets, looking for danger. They felt gritty, just like his tongue, and he longed for a sip of water. Soon, he consoled himself. It won’t be long now.

  But he was wrong. The time passed slowly as they pushed onward, aware of the looming dusk. A sense of urgency took hold of his senses, and his heart thumped in his chest. Fear was an ever-present companion. One that never quite went away. “Tony, what are we going to do? We’re leaving a trail of blood, and night is falling.”

  “I know,” Tony said, grunting as he navigated a pile of deadfall. He weaved around a stump and slid down a couple of feet. “But we need water.”

  “We need shelter and a fire more,” David said, eyeing the sun. It hung low on the horizon, its light filtering through the thick canopy.

  “There’s water at the bottom of this hill. I know it,” Tony said. “We just need to keep going a little longer.”

  “Are you sure?” David asked.

  “I’m sure,” Tony said. “It’ll give us a chance to clean up, and we can use the stream to cover our tracks.”

  “If you say so,” David said. Privately, he disagreed, but Tony had seniority. I hope to God, he’s right.

  With a shake of his head, he kept going. The ground sloped down at a steep angle that worsened with every step. Eventually, he had to sit on his ass and slide down, holding on to the slender trunks of trees.

  They’d covered a few hundred yards when Tony help up a hand. “Whoa, stop!”

  David ground to a halt. “What’s wrong?”

  “It ends in a cliff.”

  “A what?” David asked, hoping he’d heard incorrectly.

  “We’re on the edge of a cliff,” Tony said.

  “Ah, shit. That’s terrific,” David said, his heart sinking into his boots. “What now?”

  Tony shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  David sighed. “I knew this was a bad idea.”

  “I’m sorry,” Tony said. “I really thought we’d find water down here.”

  David closed his eyes for a few seconds before he nodded. “We’d better go back.”

  “I guess so,” Tony agreed, and they started the slow ascent back up the hill.

  David grabbed the nearest tree and hauled himself a few feet up the slope before he paused. A faint sound reached his ears, and he cocked his head to hear better. “Tony? Do you hear that?”

  “Hear what?”

  “I don’t know. It sounds like….” David’s eyes widened as realization sank in. “It sounds like water!”

  Before Tony could utter a word, David slid down to the cliff’s edge. He clung to a rock and peered down. “I think there’s
a river down there.”

  “You think? How far down?” Tony asked.

  “I don’t know. It’s hard to see,” David said, leaning further down to get a better look. Suddenly, the rock shifted beneath his hands. “Oh, crap.”

  “David?” Tony cried.

  David grabbed for a tree but missed by mere inches. A cascade of loose sand, gravel, and rocks broke free and slid over the side, taking him with it. Emptiness opened up beneath him, and his body gave way to the pull of gravity. He fell for a couple of seconds, his mouth wide open in a shocked yell. Then, he hit the water.

  The river enfolded him in its icy embrace and drove the air from his lungs. The current tugged at his limbs and he drifted downstream in a green haze. A stream of bubbles left his mouth and drifted upward while he watched in frozen wonder. For a moment, everything was calm and peaceful. All of the aches and pains in his body had vanished. Maybe I can just stay like this forever.

  The burn in his lungs drove him to action, however. His oxygen-starved brain screamed for air, and he kicked and swam until he broke the surface. A deep gasp cleared the fog from his mind, and he looked around.

  “David, are you there? David!” Tony screamed from a distance.

  “I’m down here. I’m okay,” David said, swimming toward Tony’s voice. The current was strong but not insurmountable, and he soon reached the spot where he’d fallen in.

  “Can you come back up?” Tony called.

  “No, it’s not possible,” David replied, eyeing the sheer walls of the ravine.

  “How deep is it? Are there rapids?”

  “It’s deep enough, and there aren’t any rapids,” David said, looking around. “There’s a beach not far from me.”

  “Alright, I’m coming in,” Tony said. Seconds later, he plummeted from the sky and hit the river with a splash. He surfaced and shook the water from his face, paddling to stay in place. “David?”

  “Over here,” David said, swimming toward Tony.

  “Where’s that beach?”

  “Follow me,” David said, leading the way.

  He swam toward the sandy cove and soon reached dry land. The strip of beach was small but sheltered. The cliff formed an overhang and heaps of driftwood littered the area. A steep path up the side of the wall was the only access point, and he reckoned it was as safe a place to spend the night as any. “What do you think, Tony? Do we stay here or move on?”

  “We’re too tired to move on, and it’s almost dark,” Tony said, heading toward the overhang. “Let’s make camp.”

  “On it,” David replied, relieved beyond measure. He didn’t think he could’ve gone one more step if he tried. He was cold, wet, tired, and hungry. Summoning the last of his energy, he got ready for the night.

  Together, they cleared a space under the overhang, removing any rubble until it was just smooth sand. Tony made a fire while David collected enough wood to last them the night. A stiff breeze cut through the space, and they built a screen using washed-up branches and rocks. Next, they made their beds by digging a hollow and lining it with a blanket roll.

  “Let’s get out of these wet clothes,” Tony said, huddling next to the fire.

  “Good idea,” David said.

  Thus far, the activity had kept him going, but the cold was leaching into his bones, and his hands shook with every move. He was grateful for the warmth of the flames as he draped his wet things over a rock and donned fresh, dry clothing.

  By the time they were finished, night had fallen. The stars winked at them from the narrow strip of sky far above their heads. Tony put a kettle of water on to boil and turned to him. “How are your wounds? Anything serious?”

  “No, just a bunch of cuts and scratches,” David said with a shake of his head. “But it hurts like a… never mind.”

  “I hear you,” Tony said, dragging his first aid kit closer. “Those raptors’ teeth are like razors.” He raised his wrist, revealing a nasty bite mark. “They got me good too.”

  “Your face looks worse,” David said, pointing at a long gash on Tony’s chin. “You might need stitches.”

  Tony sighed and removed the needle and sutures from his pack. He handed it to David. “Well, have at it.”

  It took a solid thirty minutes to treat their various wounds. Tony’s face and wrist required stitches, and he sported several puncture marks on his shoulder and shin. David had similar injuries on his arms and legs. The worst was a bite that tore loose a flap of flesh from the back of his neck.

  Finally, they were bandaged, band-aided, and disinfected up to their eyeballs, and David sat back with a groan. “Can we sleep now?”

  “Eat first. You’ll need your strength,” Tony said, handing him a cup of herbal tea, a bag of mixed dried fruit, nuts, and seeds, and a strip of salted meat.

  “Fine,” David said, chewing on the meat while sipping his tea. He had to admit, the food tasted good, and the cramp in his stomach eased.

  Tony ate his meal with methodical bites before putting another pot of water on to boil. In the morning, they’d use the purified liquid to refill their canteens. He banked the fire and shot David a look. “Get some sleep. I’ll take the first watch.”

  “Thanks,” David mumbled, hardly able to keep his eyes open.

  As he curled up in his sleeping bag, David’s last thought was of his family. He couldn’t wait to get home and see his parents again. It didn’t matter if they were mad at him for leaving, or even if his father tried to push him into the council. He’d had enough adventure to last him a lifetime.

  Chapter 4

  Rogue stood on the front steps of the boarding house, accompanied by Seth, Jessica, Bear, and Mrs. Potts. She shifted from one foot to the other, growing more restless with each passing moment. A new day had dawned, and she was ready to set out on their mission, whatever it might be.

  The others shared her viewpoint. After sleeping for most of the previous day, they’d awoken only for a quick supper and another planning session before crawling back into bed. Well rested, they were eager to get going.

  Mrs. Potts, however, seemed reluctant to part with her young charges. The old lady was close to tears as she handed each of them a parcel wrapped in wool. “Just a little something for you to remember me by,” she said. “But don’t open it now. Leave it until you have a free moment.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Potts. I’ll never forget you, and I’m sure we’ll see each other again someday,” Rogue said, swallowing hard on the knot in her throat. She tucked the gift into her backpack, and the others did the same.

  “I hope so, my dear,” Mrs. Potts replied with a sniff. “It’s been a pleasure having you.”

  “What about your other boarders?” Seth asked.

  “Oh, they come and go, but you were special,” Mrs. Potts said with a wave of her hand. “Such a breath of fresh air. It almost made me feel young again.”

  “That’s a kind thing to say,” Seth said, smiling at the old lady.

  “Oh, not at all,” Mrs. Potts said, waving him off with one hand. “Now, I need to get back to work. Good luck to you all, young ones.”

  She bustled up the steps and into the boarding house with a final wave of goodbye. The door closed behind her with a firm click, and they were left alone outside. The sudden quiet was unsettling, and an awkward silence descended over the group.

  Seth cleared his throat. “Does everyone have everything they need?”

  “All packed and ready to go,” Rogue said, shifting the backpack on her shoulders to a more comfortable spot. She meant it too. Well rested, fed, and with a hot shower behind her, she was prepared for anything.

  “So are we,” Jessica confirmed. “Besides, I made certain last night that we’d be well-equipped for the journey.”

  “Oh, how so?” Seth asked. “Isn’t the Mayor providing us with supplies?”

  “I’ve learned not to trust the government. They might pay well, but they always cut corners,” Jessica said.

  “What did you do?” Seth as
ked with a quizzical look.

  “I sent a message to an old friend of mine. His name is Ronan, and he owes me a favor,” Jessica said.

  “Old friend?” Bear rumbled with a deep frown. “Is that where you disappeared to?”

  “Relax. It’s nothing like that, and I was gone for thirty minutes tops,” Jessica said.

  “If it’s not like that then what is it like?” Bear asked.

  “We’ve gone on a few missions together in the past,” Jessica said.

  “Missions?” Rogue asked, suddenly curious.

  “Yes, it’s what I do,” Jessica explained. “I offer my services to both the government and private parties as a hunter, tracker, retriever, that sort of thing. Sometimes I go along for protection, like when you found me. At that time, I was hired to protect the crew from danger.”

  “I see,” Rogue said, intrigued. “It sounds like fun.”

  “Sometimes, but it’s a pretty dangerous job too,” Jessica said. “That’s where Ronan comes in. I saved his life once, and now he owes me one.”

  “What’s that exactly?” Seth asked, his gaze probing.

  “You’ll see,” Jessica said with a wink. “It’s a surprise.”

  “I don’t like surprises,” Seth said.

  “Me neither,” Bear said. “And I don’t think I’ll like this Ronan much either.”

  Jessica sighed. “It’s not like that, I swear. He’s just a friend and a colleague.”

  “We’ll see,” Bear said, turning his back on her.

  “Hey, what’s your problem?” Jessica said, placing one hand on his forearm. “I told you there’s nothing to worry about.”

  “Isn’t there?” Bear asked. “You seem very chuffed about contacting this guy again.”

  “I just called in a favor,” Jessica said, throwing her hands in the air. “Who knows what we’ll face on this mission? Maeve was very cryptic when she explained it to us, and I’d rather be prepared.”

  “Maybe,” Bear said, unrelenting.

  “Oh, honestly!” Jessica said, her face turning the color of beetroot. She stormed off to the other side of the steps, and a thick silence fell over the group once more.