C.L. Scholey - Zuri's Zargonnii Warrior (Unearthly World # 2) Read online

  Zuri had no idea what the warrior would do to her if he caught her. A being of close to seven feet high or taller, built like a tank. It was certain death for sure, and Zuri was positive it would be a brutal demise.

  Chapter 3

  Kobe watched as the little human took off into the night, long white legs pumping furiously. What a tiny creature, and female. The images on Citun’s console hadn’t prepared him for just how minuscule an Earth female actually was. It boggled his mind; he had been warned a human female was small, but this was minute compared to Zargonnii females. Kobe didn’t know much about humans; this was the first he had ever seen in person. When the female clipped her shoulder on the side of a tree, Kobe winced when she yelped in pain. There was something strange in the way she moved. The female ran straight at objects, clearly too big for her to move, with arms outstretched. She tripped, stumbled, recovered then tripped again. It was as though she only noticed obstacles at the last moment. He didn’t think she was blind; he knew she had seen him.

  Hmmm. Obviously, humans couldn’t see in the dark. How odd.

  To Kobe’s knowledge, there was only one human female on his own planet. The female was located in another sector, apparently living with her Zargonnii mate. It was hard to wrap his head around the idea. Harder still was the fact they had produced a female child. Kobe had seen male Zargonnii children but never a female Zargonnii child; that would be a novelty, even if she was half human.

  The meeting Citun had called had been somewhat informative as to why he wanted the female Earth creatures. Kobe was happy for any information, and what he had learned filled him with excitement, if leaving him with surmounting curiosity.

  When his commander, Citun, had intercepted a galaxy space call to their planet informing another commander, Titus, of the females, Kobe’s own commander had headed immediately to the planet he was invading. Ever since hearing of Titus’s men’s gained advantage with a new female child, the commander was anxious to find out if the rumor was true—all male Zargonnii who came into contact with the child gained in height and strength.

  Or perhaps Titus and the good healer, Finn, were keeping some kind of secret from the other mercenary warriors. Kobe wasn’t certain as he had met neither male. They were a planet of Zargonnii, but you could expect some discontent from different continents, as well as some physical differences. Titus’s Zargonnii warriors didn’t have the gene of their mother’s to cocoon a babe in their longer flowing hair. Though neither side battled, there was nothing against a harmless competition. Titus declared his warriors larger, while Citun declared his warriors smarter; in the end, smarter was better.

  Zargonnii females were situated in the middle of the planet, a place of honor where the weather remained stable, for the most part. There was a cold season, but it only lasted nights, not during the day as well. Right now, it was the cold season on Kobe’s continent. On Titus’s part of the world, they didn’t get the blistering cold—hence, no need for the adaptable cocooning of hair, which wrapped around the backs of Citun’s men in the cold season. The Holiday occurred after each rain season. It was the only time the females endured any discontent, as they had to wander through the rain season to get to the males. Perhaps being wet and miserable was what added to the Zargonnii female’s somewhat dangerous mood. The females’ scent of their time drove Kobe and other Zargonnii males, who had reached an age to Holiday, wild with excitement. A Zargonnii female’s intrigue was irresistible, fascinating. They were formidable.

  It was hard to imagine a warrior wanting one of these tiny human females. Where was the challenge? Yet Titus swore one of his men had joined with a human. The babe they were said to have produced seemed to have interesting abilities. It was also said the child’s warrior father was capable of battling a cyron.

  There were those under Citun’s command who claimed the occurrence of warrior growth was real. The child had some sort of power or exuded some scent to cause a greater battle form, but as yet, no infant had been seen. The babe was heavily guarded. There were also claims of adult human females or at least the mated female, who would Holiday anytime with her mate. The idea boggled his mind. After the Holiday, the Zargonnii sex drive was stymied, almost nonexistent. There was no need to feel the urge to mate when there was no one around to mate with. There were times when Zargonnii males became aroused, such as after a good battle, but each male took care of his own needs. They weren’t dependent on a female for release.

  Normally the Holiday, or Zargonnii mating, occurred once every two years when Zargonnii females came into heat. For two weeks, male Zargonnii children were kept inside for the Holiday while some males went in search of the females. Both sexes battled for dominance. It was rare for a male Zargonnii to win the battle. The mating was brutal, exciting, and looking at the little human female intent on escaping, Kobe couldn’t understand how it would be possible to mate with one without killing her.

  Kobe and the other mercenary warriors had been warned by the beings of the planet the humans were harmless but seemed to attract too much danger. Kobe and the other warrior mercenaries were well aware of Tonans and the deadly Gorgano who were making it their mission to eradicate all humans. Kobe and the Zargonnii warriors had no intention of killing the humans; they were here to extract them.

  The little female ran as though she were being chased by death. The idea was amusing. On Kobe’s planet, females were huge and somewhat deadly. Most females were eight feet in height or larger. Wincing, he reminded himself he was considered dainty by many Zargonnii females, standing at only six foot seven when not in battle mode. The paltry thing trying to escape from him tripped, fell face first onto the ground, groaned and rolled over. Her face to the sky, Kobe went and stood over her filled with curiosity. Instantly, he knew she could see him. Humans appeared to have limited sighting in the dark.

  Interesting.

  She looked even smaller up close. It’s almost bald. The images were true, except this female sported no war paint. Her tiny ear lobes had not been wounded—a good sign. There was a long patch of hair covering her head; it haloed her face and neck. The shade a few colors darker than his. Zargonnii females were covered in fine white hair with thick skin and long flowing white hair almost to their knees. The human female had no claws, no spaces between her teeth for expansion. She bore no wrinkles, so it was obvious she couldn’t grow while battling. The 2BKs , occupants of the planet the humans were on, were right, this little bit of fluff had to be harmless. There would be no need to fight the little female to determine who the dominant was. One swipe of his clawed hand and she would be history.

  Kobe took a good look at the female, wondering why other creatures were trying to kill her and the other remaining humans. It was his understanding a Tonan had come and slaughtered some of the humans until the planet’s beings put a stop to it. Citun had gone into more detail explaining to his crew why he didn’t want the females to fall into Tonan hands. The Tonans had their own agenda with human females, so Kobe could only hazard a guess the Tonan had wiped out the males. They wanted female humans solely for the purpose of annoying the Castian warriors—Tonan enemies. Castian warriors coveted human females—theirs had been murdered with poisoned water over four hundred years ago by the Tonans.

  The Gorgano had followed close on the Tonan’s heels to this planet which resulted in the death of two of the planet’s beings. Normally, Kobe and the other Zargonnii didn’t deal with 2BKs. Their language made no sense to the Zargonnii. All communication was done through computer translation. As mercenaries, the Zargonnii normally traded for their services. It was decided the humans would be enough payment, especially if they were female. The 2BKs had no idea of the humans’ sex. They had been astounded the Tonan could tell the sexes apart on sight. None of the males the Tonan killed were even close to his size. Most Tonans and Castians were six-foot-four, puny compared to a Zargonnii, but when shielded, they were formidable warriors.

  The planet’s beings had limited knowledge there
was more than one species besides the Zargonnii that had different sexes except the Castians and Tonans. They were surprised any creature would wage war on one specific sex. First the Tonans had killed only females, now only males. The idea was confusing to the normally gentle beings. The creatures of this world did not stray far from home.

  The female on the ground rolled over and began crawling away, sliding along on her belly, close to the ground in an effort to escape. Kobe stepped on part of her clothing, trapping her. He squatted down beside her and rolled her back to look into her face. The female was crying again; it was an odd sight. Kobe knew what tears were, male infants cried, but Zargonnii females didn’t—or did they? He really had no clue. He guessed tears would look odder on a female Zargonnii; on the human, it made her look that much more vulnerable.

  Small sounds emerged from her throat, her tiny chest heaved. Curiously Kobe stroked one of the bumps on her chest, over the strange material she wore. The Zargonnii warriors on his ship had engaged in discussion during the meeting and few others had some insights. The warriors had been told human females had breasts that remained even when not nursing, as Kobe had seen in the images. Perhaps that meant they were maternal after all, or perhaps even more maternal, always ready just in case. Kobe vaguely recalled his mother’s breasts; he was only a month old when she left him alone in the forest for his father to find. The human female he now touched had such soft bumps he couldn’t help squeezing. These aren’t rock hard at all. It would have been pleasant to cuddle up to these; they felt so warm and welcoming.

  He chuckled when she slapped his hand away. His best friend’s son, Mrac, was only four and could hit harder. Kobe pried her mouth open and no doubt the words she tried to scream at him were, he was guessing, a bit derogatory. She clamped her mouth down and bit him. Patiently Kobe pried his fingers lose, she hadn’t hurt him, her teeth were too dull.

  “Be still female human, I won’t hurt you. Harming a female is beneath a Zargonnii warrior. No matter their size.” It was true. Though the female Zargonnii battled during the Holiday, it was never a male’s intention to harm one; it was ritual. It was their way. Battling this human female would be a loathsome, un-warrior-like thing to do.

  She stilled. “I understand you. Why do I understand you?”

  The words she spoke made no sense to Kobe. But from her curious stare he realized she knew what he had said. He thought about it for a moment. Not much was known about the Gorgano except they mind fought and humans, especially the females, seemed to be able to get into the beings’ heads. The human female on Kobe’s planet mind fought these creatures and won, it was why the Gorgano selected them for extinction.

  “I don’t understand you,” Kobe said. “Do you know what I’m saying?”

  She nodded and once more rattled off strange words until he shushed her with a finger to her lips.

  “I am a Zargonnii warrior mercenary. The beings on this planet, 2BKs, asked us to relocate you. They are a peaceful creature and too many aliens seek your destruction. What name are you called?”

  She pointed at her chest. “Zuri.”

  Now that he understood. He liked the soft name and the way she said it. Obviously, his interpretation would be more male—powerful, he was incapable of her dainty tone. Her softly spoken pitch was submissive. Female Zargonnii’s language was gruff, forceful. Zuri’s quiet words suited her, her size.

  “Zuri, you and the other humans will be safer on my planet.” She looked beyond skeptical. “You were told the same thing by the Tonan.” She nodded. “Tonan warriors are liars, Zargonnii warriors are not. When a Tonan lies, his tail grows longer.” Kobe shifted a bit. “See, I have no tail. My people have constructed an area where you won’t be concerned by the bothersome creatures on my world.”

  That was also true, except Kobe had never seen the designated area. “The Tonan who attacked before we came will keep hunting you. He will kill you eventually; rogue Tonans have no mercy. The Gorgano altered thinking in some way in your mind that enables you to understand me. Those beings want all humans dead, but I’m guessing you already know this. My species made a promise to a human female who mated one of us, we will protect you. She also had an experience with the Gorgano. Your understanding of my words really is not too much of a surprise to me, it will help.”

  Even though the promise was made to the continent of Titus with the human-mated female, Citun was an honorable warrior; the commander was just as curious about human females. Kobe was still a little surprised she understood him; he was grateful for Citun’s briefing or he would have been uncomfortable with Zuri’s knowledge of their language. Once more she tried to communicate with him, but Kobe just shook his head. She was a long-winded little thing.

  “I don’t understand you. You need to come with me. The beings on this planet do not want you here. They are a peaceful species, but if forced to they will find someone who will eradicate you. I know you find me scary, but the male of my species will not harm a female, it’s not our nature. That’s why the 2BKs contacted us first. Though Castian warriors will also not harm a female they are warring with Tonan outlaws, and have been for some time. The Zargonnii war with no one. We may be warrior mercenaries; it only means we move in do our job and get out.”

  Zuri’s eyes widened when they heard a human scream. The scream was cut short, an ominous sound in the dead of night. She gave Kobe a look he also understood. She thought he was a liar. With a sharp tug to her shirt, snatching the fabric from his hand, tearing it, Zuri was on her feet and running away from him.

  “Damn,” Kobe muttered. The timing couldn’t have been more unfortunate.

  Knowing she wouldn’t get far, Kobe walked in the direction she had taken. It was dark out, either she would hide, or run into something and knock herself out. Again he wondered at her strange sight—or lack thereof. For her sake, he hoped she would hide. Cocking his head to the left, Kobe heard a small sound. Stifled labored breaths, tiny whimpered sounds a babe would make. A feeling stirred within him to settle her, a crooning sound began within his throat. The instinct was as old as time; Zargonnii warriors had a soft spot for the weak and vulnerable. He stood still and stared at the small bush where the female was crouching.

  “Personally, I never get tired of hide and seek. I’m a warrior after all; it’s my job to seek out prey, but I do seem to have an unfair advantage over you—I can see in the dark. If you shove your fist much farther into your mouth, you may not be able to retrieve it.” He chuckled when he heard her groan. “I promise you, I’m not lying. I understand you find me scary and large. We are two different species after all. What did you expect—little green men? Do earthlings think creatures of other planets should look like them?

  “Just look at certain parts of me, not all of me at once. I know my glowing red eyes are creeping you out. Yes I’m a shade taller than seven feet, but I’m in battle mode. My white hair isn’t really alive; it moves the way it does as a tactical maneuver to frighten my opponent. Zuri, if I wanted you dead, don’t you think you would be already?”

  Zuri stood up, but remained somewhat crouched, as though curled within for protection. Her look was skeptical, resigned; he had a point. She moved to stand before him, her movements stilted, mechanical, jerky, and made an attempt to straighten. The little thing had courage; he was monstrous compared to her. He saw her swallow hard and tried to refrain from smiling as he knew his large pointed teeth would scare her further. She looked at his five-fingered hands; they were large, his fingernails were two inches long, pointed, black, and sharp as daggers.

  “My guess is your friends screamed because some of the warriors aren’t as patient as I am. The others were more than likely tossed over a shoulder and taken to the ship.” She looked at his broad shoulders, the oval bare spot on his belly, then lower until she snapped her gaze back to his. A red hue crept over her face, and once more she swallowed hard. Feeling cheeky, he refrained from mentioning he had no control over the erection she no doubt saw the outline
of. When in battle form, he always maintained a hard on, every inch of him had to appear large, another tactical maneuver. He pointed to his furry chest. “Kobe.”

  “Kobe?”

  Kobe said his name again. The way she said it made him sound dainty; his name was guttural, male, firm. She practiced the pronunciation a few times until she managed to get it right. Kobe had been informed humans were capable of learning the Zargonnii language, which was good, he’d never figure out hers. At one time, he had known his mother’s language, but as the years passed he had forgotten it.

  “How would you like to drink some real water? Not this bat piss.” She shuddered then grimaced as he waved at a nearby pond. “I can smell in the air you’re the last human around here. Your friends must be on the ship enjoying a clear, clean glass of water. I can find you a warm blanket and decent food. As I said before, if I meant you any harm, you would be dead already. Even a human must be smart enough to realize that.”

  She bristled, outraged at his slight, but then her face seemed to deflate; she looked lost and alone. Her tiny nose wiggled, her funny-looking blue eyes blinked. Kobe frowned; the woman in the image had blue eyes and was smiling. This female wasn’t happy. Perhaps the assumption of human eyes changing color to match their mood was wrong. Her small hand lifted to tuck a wisp of light hair back behind an ear. Kobe couldn’t picture a Zargonnii female doing any of those things or looking the way this little human female did.

  Titus’s warriors were right, human females were cute. On Kobe’s planet, the term cute would be the last word to describe their females. Majestic or regal most definitely, but cute? Never. Kobe turned and began walking away; there was no way he was going to leave her here, but he hoped she would follow him on her own. It was an odd first for him, even though the females came to the warriors’ continent, it was male instinct to follow after a female. She chose whether or not a male was worth the battle; she chose if she would Holiday with a warrior.