Citun’s Storm Page 4

  “Now it looks like the treaty will be over with the Gorgano back. I don’t know how they found me. Or maybe they were after you, and now I’ve shown them I exist. Female aliens on the planet will have to keep hidden again. The Cono won’t appreciate the Zargonnii either.”

  “I’m sorry you saving me might be the cause you are in danger, but I doubt it. The whereabouts of human females is information being shared throughout space. The Zargonnii will leave as soon as we have made certain every human female is safe.”

  “What about the other alien females here? Or are humans the only things the Zargonnii want?”

  Citun seemed thoughtful. “Accepting humans was difficult for my kind. We are normally mercenaries hired out to eradicate invading aliens who have become a nuisance.”

  Storm swallowed hard with a thought. “Were you sent to eradicate me?”

  “If I were, you would be gone already. Zargonnii were sent to remove and relocate humans on a different planet some time ago, but now they live amongst us. They have found homes and safety.”

  “If you terminate the Gorgano, this planet will be safe for me.”

  “Termination of an entire race when they are scattered across galaxies may take some time and until then you will be alone.”

  “I’m not really alone; I wouldn’t be if the threat was gone. The other female aliens and I could finally live together without fear.”

  “There will still be the Tonan, the assassins and the snake-men, and are you positive the Cono won’t change their minds on a moment’s notice? Will you not even give my planet some consideration?”

  She wouldn’t, but wasn’t about to tell Citun that. “Do you have any animals on your planet like Earth?”

  “Not really.” She narrowed her gaze on him. Citun shrugged. “No, none.”

  “The ocean here has whales; they’re the only beings that remind me of home. I miss Earth. I creep up on the rocks and watch the whales play. They don’t seem to mind and watch me, too. I love whales.”

  “I like whales.”

  Storm was surprised. “Do other planets besides Earth and here have them?”

  “Yes, many. Gentle creatures.”

  “I did a lot of research on whales once, when I was a kid. A school project. The blue whale is the largest. Killer whales live in a pod. I settled on the right whale.”

  “Is there a wrong whale?”

  She knew from his tone he was teasing. “Yes, as a matter of fact there is. No eleven-year-old girl is going to discuss anything with the word sperm being used in a sentence. Even if the word whale was to follow after it.”

  Citun roared with laughter. “A sperm whale, how perfect.”

  “Sperm whales’ families are made up of females and young males.”

  “In my culture, females keep male children only a month before giving them to their father. Perhaps some species are more alike than I thought.”

  “Are there whales on your planet?”

  “No. Our water is mostly small lakes and ponds. I wish we had larger bodies of water.”

  Storm smiled and then saddened. “I guess the whales are all extinct now on Earth; there was no way to save them.”

  Citun smiled at her and cupped her face. “I’m told a water warrior named Arax saved many. In fact he saved many of your water creatures and looks after them. He took them into his dimension. They will be safe with him.”

  “A water dimension?”

  “They, the water warriors, breathe air, and can also breathe under water, both the water warriors and shark people. Last I heard they geared up for war. Even worlds within worlds have their problems. A Zargonnii, Finn, a healer, who traveled to the water dimension remains tight lipped about his and his mate Bethany’s visit, or so I heard before we left our galaxy and communication stopped. There have been hints a human female, Bertha, lives in the water dimension. Doubtful since entry would more than likely kill an unwelcome intruder, and I’m told Arax is an ass. He’s also the leader of the water warriors. Nothing will get by him and he’s too busy to fuss with humans.

  “Personally I think any lone human female would be killed on site in that dimension, it’s unforgiving. Finn saved Bethany. She wasn’t treated well. I’m surprised Finn let Arax live with the story he tells. Besides, how much compassion could some fish have? So much war. So many other aliens caught in the crossfire. Some aliens can’t fight back and are annihilated on their planet when the Gorgano and Tonan rampage through searching for lost human females. My warriors have tried hard to save humans.”

  “Why do so many aliens hate humans?”

  “Why do so many humans hate other humans?”

  “Don’t you ever fight with the southern Zargonnii?”

  Citun looked appalled. “Why would we war with our own kind? It makes no sense.”

  “Castians and Tonans war.”

  “A number of evil vile Tonan filth separated the two cultures long ago. Now because of the evil Tonans, the Castians and their true cousins are finding each other again. Soon there will be no evil Tonans left, if the universe is lucky. Unless Tonans find a way to regroup. I’m not certain that’s possible. They would need willing partners to mate with or at least give them offspring they are willing to shield. Their must cycle is coming to an end if it hasn’t already. It will be four hundred years before another takes place, and if not mated, a human female won’t last long enough. That means an evil Tonan would not only need to mate but keep his mate safe for hundreds of years. Not appealing to a heartless being. Too much work and risk. If a Tonan warrior or Castian warrior die they are so connected to their mate, their mate dies, too.”

  “That would suck. For the mate. Why every four hundred years?”

  “It’s their way. A male only comes into must every four hundred years.”

  “Is it the same for their females? Because human females can get pregnant anytime. How do they know a human won’t get pregnant before the four hundred years has passed?”

  Citun blinked. “I just assumed it’s the Castian and Tonan way. The problem would be the shield. When in must, a warrior gives a piece of his shield to his offspring. It would be a shame for them to have children they can’t shield; it would destroy their honor, or they would feel it would destroy their honor.”

  “Then it will be interesting to see if a human female and Castian or Tonan male are more than compatible to reproduce according to a human’s reproductive system.”

  “That’s an interesting theory.”

  “Would that benefit a Tonan?”

  “No. Evil Tonans have no morals. They are self-centered, arrogant and have no compassion. No regrets for any actions. Even if one steals a female and force her to mate, she will never bond with him. They live for themselves, power and corruption. They hurt others to see suffering and pain. They scorn the must cycle, and anything involved in giving of themselves.”

  “They sound like sociopaths.”

  “I suppose that’s a word a human can use. It runs much deeper with Tonans. I shudder to think of any child around them that was without protection.”

  Citun appeared to have drifted off into thought. Storm yawned and shivered. Talk of aliens, must and strange shields was interesting but would never involve her. She wished she had a fern blanket. Nights on the planet were cool but the cubbies were cold and damp. The clothing she wore did little to aid in protection against the elements. Long gone were the t-shirt, shorts and sandals she landed on the planet with. The skin of an old beast she came across and worked into a soft leather made serviceable moccasins, a small shirt with one shoulder strap and a piece of hide drawn up between her legs, belted to form a flap at her front and ass. With the amount of exercise she got, Storm had to replace her garments numerous times over the years. A peek at her moccasins showed them to be worn. Her reflection in the clear ponds made her laugh some days. She looked like a cave woman. Wild dark hair and all. Normally, her face sported dirt smudges and her fingernails were often a mess. The five thousand do
llars’ worth of braces and teeth whitening were the only thing separating her from distant ancestors.

  “Storm?”

  “Hm?”

  “It’s cold in here.”

  She was surprised. He had long white ass-covering hair spilling over his bare shoulders and back. His chest was fur except for the large oval bald spot that resembled a ten pack. He was wearing pants that tucked into his ankle-high black boots. Four horizontal white patches of fur covered his mostly bare arms. She supposed he might be cold. He did almost drown, then there was the mad dash and fall followed by their hike. Then his bout with the flatulence would have worn him out. Battling with your insides was tiresome. He could be experiencing some shock and dehydration.

  Storm was back to feeling ashamed. Instinctively, she moved closer. Her hand touched his bare flesh; he was warm. Her hip rested against his. The soft gaze on his face made him appear vulnerable.

  “Can’t your eyes warm you?” she asked.

  “They could but it’s not constant heat. I need to rest.”

  He sounded tired. Poor thing. Storm curled next to him. Keeping him warm would accomplish two things—he would keep her warm, and her helping him was another notch in her belt of things he needed a helpless female for.

  * * * *

  Citun watched the gentle rise and fall of Storm’s chest as she quieted. He was tired from the events of the day. His noxious bout was embarrassing, and when Storm went to aid him, he wasn’t surprised. She possessed a great deal of compassion, but he was too noble to burden her with his weight.

  Throughout the night, Citun kept the little female warm. His gaze heated her flesh until she relaxed from her tight ball position to sprawl against him. Small fingers wove their way into his chest hairs. Her cheek, smooth and tanned was a perfect contrast to his snow white hair. Her scent was that of sweet flowers. The floor was cooler and most of her legs were bare, she shivered. He slipped her into his lap to cocoon her with his hair, and trailing his palm down her ebony locks, he succumbed to sleep.

  An uncomfortable wetness roused Citun lapping at his ass and thighs, and he glanced around the small rounded cubby. There was an inch of water underneath him and soon more holes in the sides opened. The glowworms were gone. Citun jumped up realizing the enclosure would soon fill; the female might drown. Storm woke when he set her down and raced to part the moss vines. Citun panicked, there was solid rock behind the vines seeping with water from cracks.

  Storm will drown.

  Citun smashed his fists against the rock that wasn’t there the night before. He grew into battle mode and heard Storm’s intake of breath. She was scared. Citun was massive to begin with, but in battle mode his oval bald spot smoothed out as he gained in height. His black fingernails were razor sharp talons as he clawed at the rock. His hair was wild in his fury to save Storm. The red of his eyes turned to lasers in an attempt to split the rock.

  “It’s okay,” Storm said. Her tone was soothing.

  “We need to get out,” Citun bellowed. I need to get you out. Under normal circumstances, Citun could hold his breath for hours. He could wait until the water receded, and he would be fine. Storm would not. For a moment, he was worried another Gorgano was mind-battling. What if everything around them was an illusion? What if he hadn’t been saved, what if he was still at the bottom of the pond? His irrational thoughts began to engulf him. Storm was real; she was in his scent. He needed to save her.

  “Citun, the cubby shifts. Don’t be scared. I’ll get you out. Don’t be afraid.”

  Citun calmed his breathing when she took his hand into hers and urged him away from the solid rock. Moss at the back of the cave which he thought covered more rock eased back as she pushed on it. Light streamed in, the sun was out. Citun crashed through the opening taking her with him. His breathing was ragged as they burst into the sunlight. The second he first set eyes on Storm, he knew she would be his, and for a few terrifying moments, he’d thought he would lose her. He breathed in deeply, calming his heart when he heard her speak.

  “It’s all right. I’m sorry; I should have told you these cubbies turn during the night. You weren’t in any danger. It was cruel of me not to tell you especially since you almost drowned. You’re okay. You’ll be fine, sweetheart.”

  Her tone was that of a female speaking to a small, frightened child. She thought his fear was for him, not her. The idea made him blink. Citun was a warrior. A powerful leader. Before he could set her straight, she turned and began walking, taking him with her. Yesterday, she wouldn’t let him near her until she slept, thinking him cold. Now, she was holding his hand. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for her to think he was a little scared. Human females were so adorable when fussing, and he enjoyed the feel of her skin.

  “I’ll find you something to eat. Something safe your belly should be able to tolerate. You must be starved,” Storm said.

  Citun hadn’t even thought of food. He wondered if she were hungry. “Yes. Food would be good.”

  The poor little female must be famished; she only had three of the nuts, lucky her. It would be a good idea to let her find something to eat and to drink; he was parched. The warriors could wait. He demanded the males stick together, only Citun had wandered. Six virtually indestructible massive Zargonnii warriors would kick the planet’s ass if they needed to. Citun cast a glance to the sky. Only the Zargonnii vessel was visible. That meant the Gorgano was gone, for now. Silently, he applauded. Jari, his second in command, was hard to best. When the Gorgano returned, Storm would be gone.

  Citun was dismayed his locater was destroyed. All Zargonnii warriors were to wear a locator on their boot at all times. He’d noticed half of it missing the day before. The Gorgano must have broken it. He needed another warrior to contact the ship. No doubt his warriors would be looking for him. Jari could scan the surface, but with so many aliens around every corner he needed his eyes on the issue at hand—the Gorgano and perhaps a few Tonan. Citun and his warriors could take care of themselves. He cast a glance at Storm. Well, most of the time.

  Citun noted the cubbies as they wandered through the small valley. They were rounded. As tall as him and looked attached to the bottom of the rock face. Deceptive. On further inspection Citun could see the cubby turn ever so slightly from the motion of the vines and the rock base.

  “I think the force of the water keeps the cubbies in motion,” Storm said. “Within the huge hills there is water that feeds springs and the small ponds. The planet is beautiful. All it needs are a few unicorns.”

  She was still holding his hand and was watching him. On the ground, Citun saw glowworms nibbling the ebony grass. Their backs’ little solar panels absorbed the sun’s rays during the day, the darkness of the grass drawing the rays to the ground. Storm was careful to avoid the little creatures, not wanting to crush them. Citun did the same. The reasoning was sound; if too many were killed there would be no light in the cubbies when needed. She didn’t need to know he planned on her never needing a cubby again, but the creatures were cute and harmless. Citun didn’t like to destroy anything helpless.

  It took little effort to climb from the valley. Their ascent was a little less than vertical. The multicolored rocks gave them strong handholds. Storm was right; she was physically fit. Too small in his eyes, but healthy with amazing curves. He hung slightly back to watch her leather skirt sway at her hips, giving him a stunning view of her ass even if it was covered. She was tanned, her legs long and firm. The grip on his hand was steady and not sweaty, guiding him up as she showed him where to place his feet. She was confidant. The idea was a little disturbing; if she were comfortable in her surroundings, she might not want to leave with him. The planet was stunning when it wasn’t trying to kill her with poison nuts, water cubbies and Cono. Which brought his mind back to wondering what the creatures were like.

  Storm’s description of a man-horse with many eyes and a shaggy body was a story he would love to be able to tell his other warriors on cold winter nights. Nor
th Zargonnii would have snow eight feet high. Because of the weather, his people created catacombs long before his birth, perhaps thousands upon thousands of years prior. Intricate hallways led to homes and the main gathering areas. The get-togethers gave his men a way to ease the burden of loneliness.

  Many nights in the main hall, warriors with sons would gather. The laughter of children was lovely. Citun hoped his own child’s laughter would resound within the walls one day. His grip tightened onto Storm before he realized what he was doing, and he loosened the pressure. He didn’t want to scare her off.

  “Stop,” she whispered.

  They reached the top. Citun looked beyond her, startled from his thoughts. An insect of about six inches was watching them. The two-headed creature was red with three separate parts to its body. When upright it resembled in miniature a snowman humans loved to make, except one head too many. Each rounded body part had multiple legs. Four antennae twitched. Citun was certain he detected noise, the antennae were clicking. Storm backed up into him, turned and pushed on his chest toward an open field.

  “What’s wrong? It’s a bug,” Citun said.

  “The bug resembles a red ant on my planet, but it’s ten times more vicious. And it has friends, lots and lots of friends. Oh—crap.”