To the Stars Beyond - Part 5

Arrova

The creature caught on quick, understanding my cues to talk so that my translator could learn its language.

I study the strange being as it speaks, the melodic sound of its voice as soft as its body seems to be.

I expected this being to be smaller than my species, judging from its craft, but I was stunned by just how much smaller it was.

The form fitting clothing it was wearing outlined its body and my eyes travel over its lithe frame. The being had no natural defenses that I could see. Not even scales! I note what looks like enlarged mammary glands on its chest, suggesting it might be female. The color of her smooth skin was a shade or two darker than the ground I was standing on, and her hair was as black as the night sky.

I've met several bizarre species who were part of the Consortium, but this one was truly alien in how helpless she appears to be. Never make assumptions as that is the folly of the stupid. My vogal's words remind me.

She shifts her weight and adjusts the pack she's carrying as she continues to speak. I check my language device, the readings showing it needs several more minutes to complete.

Looking back at the being, I see her wipe the moisture from her brow. She appears to be sweating, which means she probably needs to cool down. Perhaps she would follow me back to my ship, which is only a short distance away. Although my people are used to hot temperatures such as this, we don’t sweat, and I'll need some shade soon to remain cool as well.

I’m about to attempt my translator and relay this to her when a sudden noise catches my attention. It seems to have caught the aliens as well, as she stops speaking and turns her head in the same direction.

I issue a hiss when several small animals crest a low dune only a few tail lengths away. They slink our way, their small black eyes flittering back and forth between the two of us.

They would hardly come up to my knee, but when the lead animal snaps at one of its brethren, long deadly fangs fill its jaw.

The alien has quietly taken several steps my way, not taking her eyes off the creatures. The lead beast tracks her movements.

I tense when I see the muscles bunch under the obvious predator as it prepares to strike.

My vocal sacs fill with air as I prepare to bugle. I have my blaster, but I’m not sure I’m fast enough to hit more than two before the rest would attack. Maybe the threat of a larger predator, me, will deter them.

I’m quite proud of the volume I produce, the sound loud enough to cause the female beside me to wince and cover her strange ears with her hands.

Thankfully, it has the desired impact on the animals as well and when the lead one spooks, the rest follow.

I grin, my tail thrashing back and forth. Still got it. I think, as I watch them disappear.

The alien’s eyes are wide as she turns to me. She opens her mouth, but before she can say anything, another roar erupts. But it’s not me this time.

We both whip our head around, staring toward the tree line, the direction the answering roar came from.

“Please tell me those are your buddies coming to rescue us,” she says, her voice low.

Guess the translator is working. “None of my people live on this planet, so no. It’s no rescue party,” I answer. Her eyes flash to mine when she realizes she can understand me.

“I think you might have alerted the locals to our presence then,” she gulps, turning her gaze back to the trees, even as she edges closer to me.

The trees in the distance shiver, and a lower, longer howl issues from their depths before a massive creature emerges.

It's at least five times my height and its eyes easily find us, even though we are several yards away. Barbs along its head and back rise, making it appear even bigger.

“Out of the frying pan, straight into the fire,” the female beside me groans.

The saying is strange, but apt. “I think we should run.”

“Right behind you, Rex,” she says, apparently naming me.

Hopefully, we will stay alive long enough to make proper introductions, I think, as we both turn and run.

Author's Notes: So, this is where I originally ended this story when it was first published for a challenge a couple years ago. Let me know what you think and if I should continue it, lol.