Coil of Worlds

“Finally,” she exclaimed when they reached a small, naturally formed cave with a hot spring featured in the middle of the small room. After a quick glance around, she noticed the cave narrowed behind the hot spring. In the far corner of the room, in a tiny crawl space, a bundle of cloth was stored away from the water’s edge.

Curious, she moved a little closer, and the lump became a set of neatly folded blankets. Crawling, Lara climbed around a large rock before she was close enough to tug the blankets to her. A leather bag fell out of the disturbed pile with a light thunk. Hefting it up, she untied the drawstring, and the bag opened to display a fresh cache of food and water. Lara grinned.

As she crawled backward dragging the blankets and bag, Chion explained the room. This place is a waystation for all Kurite scouts. Often one or two of us converge to this spot and exchange information. It is early yet, so another scout may still pass through here. Remember the supplies you eat and use, I will need to have someone attend to the supplies once we reach Malkese.

“If someone comes here, they won’t try to hurt me, will they? I mean, I’m definitely not a scout, and I don’t think I could pass as one, either.”

No, My Lady. You are safe. If the other cannot be reasoned with, the scout will be the first to leave. You are in dire need of rest and your feet need healing. You can walk no farther until the bandages have been changed.

It was embarrassing the amount of relief she felt knowing they were spending the night. Her feet throbbed from both the wounds and the lack of footwear. The closer they got to the waystation, the more stops she’d needed. He was right; she was exhausted. She ducked her head and dug through the bag of food.

Lara knew she needed to face the facts. Denial wasn’t an option. The impossible of her world was entirely possible on this one, and she needed to accept it, now. With the previous events quickly streaming through her mind, Lara realized the only way to stay sane was to keep an open mind. She couldn’t continue to rely on Chion to keep her alive. No, in order to survive on this strange planet, it was essential she learn survival skills efficiently and quickly. That, in itself, was a daunting and gargantuan task. She took a deep, steadying breath. What she had to learn to survive was like quicksand. The more she learned of this world, the more she discovered there was to learn. It would have been disheartening if not for meeting Chion. She lifted her chin. She refused to falter now.

Exasperated with her lack of knowledge about the food she held, she asked, “Chion, what is this stuff?”

He prowled his way over, sweeping aside rocks as he went. You are holding Rok meat. Rok meat was the jerky-like substance she held in her hands for his inspection. The red plant in front of you is called Juntia and the small bag carries Painu.

When she opened the bag to see what painu was, she found a blue, glowing fruit. The painu had been dried and reminded her of a cross between a grape and a cherry, except for the prickly stems poking out of its skin like a cactus. The fruit stuck like burrs to the inside of the bag.

“What am I supposed to do with it?”

Most human scouts boil water and put the ingredients together to blend the flavors together.

She nudged his shoulder. “You’re saying all this is ingredients for a soup or stew? Stew is something I can definitely make.” Looking back and forth from Chion to the food, she asked Chion doubtfully, “Do you eat stew? I didn’t see anything else.”

Lara felt his shudder at the thought of eating cooked food. As you wait for your food to cook, I will hunt.

When he left, she felt a moment’s panic, but relaxed when she remembered she could call out if she needed him. Lara pulled back her shoulders, drawing on her determination to survive without his constant assistance. She sighed in resignation and brushed the hair out of her face. Lara opened the sack holding the food to check inside. Unbelievable. Except for a couple of black rocks, there was nothing to start a fire. She couldn’t eat if she couldn’t cook the food.

She pulled out a yarroh root from her pocket, tore a strip of the flesh off, and stuffed it into her mouth with a growl. Lara chewed as she wandered the short distance to the hot spring. The warm water had heated the rocks, which soothed the soles of her feet as she stood staring down into the water.

By rote, she memorized each of the ingredients Chion had named as she took alternating bites of the jerky and the root. Beginning to feel sleepy after eating her fill, she trudged back over to the blankets. Find anything?

I am on a rok’s trail. I will have it shortly.

Okay, I’m getting ready to crash any minute now. Will you wake me when you get back?

Although your choice of words is amusing, as always, I do understand the meaning. Enjoy your crash. I will wake you when I return.

Chuckling at his teasing, she replied, Good night. Lara curled her aching body into a ball, tucking the blankets around her feet to prevent any jarring and closed her eyes.

Her sleep was at first peaceful, but distress soon replaced the contented feeling. A dark dream rose up, engulfing her in its midst. She could sense hostility pouring from something. Something hid behind a wall, slowly creeping forward. The emotion overwhelmed her. The entity slunk closer, like the boogieman of children’s nightmares. She couldn’t see anything but the fog as it crept into every corner and crevice.

Rather than run away like she had the rakir, there was a compulsion to move toward it. The feeling grew heavier as she half-ran, half-floated to the corner of the wooden wall. The hostility morphed into aggression. With a cry of fear, her eyes flew open to catch sight of a stranger slipping across the room brandishing a knife. Lara froze for a moment before she cried out for Chion.

Even awake, hostility and aggression bombarded her, making it almost impossible to concentrate. Although her attention was focused entirely on the man crouched less than a yard away from her, she felt his sudden surge of adrenaline like a distant battle cry. He was preparing to attack her.

Far more calmly than she thought possible, she yelled, “Don’t come closer. Stop!”

Surprise invaded the overflow of aggression coursing through her body. She felt on edge, wary, but intrigued all the same. And she felt like killing someone. Her eyes narrowed in thought at the man in front of her. Was it possible? Could it be possible? The man made a harsh sound in his throat.

Seeing his hand tighten around the knife, she tried to sidetrack him again. “I didn’t use all the food stored here. If you want to eat, you’re welcome to it.” A shockwave hit her. She’d have fallen over if she hadn’t already been half on her back. She partially recovered from the wave before another, smaller wave crashed into her.

She stared up at the man. The emotions weren’t hers. All the emotions came from him. He was the one bowled over in shock, his emotions projecting onto her.

“Name yourself,” the man demanded with a rusty voice. She no longer felt waves of hostility coming from him; rather, she felt tendrils of rolling shock, surprise, and the unfamiliar strains of uncertainty. It was an emotional cocktail that could still lead him to attack her. Even so, her confidence rose. She could handle this man.

Visually relaxing her muscles, she sighed. “You know, you could have asked nicely. Not this whole kill first, ask questions later thing you have going. I would’ve gladly told you. Besides, I’m no threat. You were going to attack me when I was sound asleep.”

A whisper of sheepishness, then wary amusement flowed from the stranger.

Knowing Chion was only a short distance away, she said, I’m no longer in danger.

She warned the man, “Chion’s coming.”

One instant the cave entrance was empty, and then suddenly Chion was crouched in the doorway, taking in the situation. Even when fighting the rakir Chion didn’t look as he did now. Her friend was in full attack mode; his eyes trained on the man. Every muscle was defined as they bunched for an attack. The ruff around his neck bristled, and his lips pulled back into a snarl that showed the paka’s sharp teeth. His demeanor screamed death.

Fear crawled through her body, making her breath hitch and stomach flip. She began shaking from the fear drowning her. Lara gulped down a shaky breath of air. A distant part of her knew Chion was her friend. He was protecting her. Why did she fear him?

Shaking her head, befuddled, she took a moment to catalog her emotions. If she took a step back from the emotions roiling through her, she realized the emotions weren’t hers. Again, they belonged solely to the Kurite. He stared at the paka like prey watching its death near. Not making any fast movements, he lowered his right arm and released the knife from his trembling grip. The weapon clattered on the stones in the tense silence.

Chion, can’t you tell he is terrified of you? I don’t think he is a threat to us anymore.

At first Chion did not answer her, and she feared he couldn’t hear her through the battle haze. Then she saw him rise from his crouch.

He has every right to fear me, Chion said with contempt. As if nothing happened, Chion said with a formality that bypassed his usual formal speech, Welcome, scout. Join us so we may share the food and water with others who obey the God and Goddess.

The man’s relief was so profound he didn’t bother to hide it. As his breath whooshed out of his body, Lara mirrored his relief with the sudden drooping of her own shoulders. Muscles she had not known were tight loosened with the surge of emotion from the scout. Unlike the roiling fear or the bombardment of hostility, the relief pervaded her body like a waterfall plummeting to the pool below.

In a tone as formal as Chion, he intoned, “I accept your welcome, for the God and Goddess love all their people.” He bowed to Chion and ignored her.

This man is a new scout. He is unknown to me. He may have news of which I have not yet heard.

Ignorant of their silent conversation, the scout asked, “You are called Chion?”

She saw the paka look sharply at the stranger, his eyes glinting with growing suspicion and aggression. Knowing it was her fault, Lara hurried to explain, I told him your name by accident.

Chion subtly relaxed before he answered with a brief nod. He then strolled around the man to lie down closer to her, inserting his powerful feline body between the intruder and her. His action was protective—an obvious message for the scout. The man scrambled back a few more paces and sat down cross-legged. The tension of the room rose exponentially with every second that passed, leading Lara to break the ice. “What’s your name?”