Dragon's Isolation - Miranda Martin Page 0,36

with him. “Our son. Malcolm. He needs us.”

He rubs his head with both hands, mussing his hair, pulling at his horns then nods.

“Malcolm,” he says, holding his hand out.

I take his hand and we run in the right direction. I focus on one foot in front of the other keeping my thoughts carefully under control. Despair flitters on the edges and one stray thought could bring it all crashing down.

The suns move across the sky, and we make progress towards home. As we climb a rise, I see movement to our left. Squinting I make out a pack of guster, one of the most dangerous predators on the planet. Shidan sees them too.

He drops my hand, grabs the lochaber off his back, and slides it out from under the crate he’s carrying. He holds it in one hand then grabs my hand back, and we keep moving. With any luck, they’re on the trail of some other prey.

I know he can fight them off, but it’s dangerous for him and for me. I can’t fight one of them. Each guster stands about five feet at the top of its elongated head. They walk on four legs with large webbed feet that let them move across the sand easily. They have hulking mounds on their backs with bony sharp spines protruding that ward off predators.

As if they have any predators. Maybe once they did, but now outside of the ginormous sand worms, we call zemlja and the Zmaj, they have none. Even the Zmaj avoid them if possible. They hunt in packs, making them more dangerous, and they will eat anything.

The pack disappears as we slide down the dune, and all I can do now is hope. The hair on the back of my neck stays on end for a long time, but we keep moving and nothing happens. I’ll take my small miracles where I can get them.

No matter how long I’ve been here on Tajss the one thing I must never forget is how dangerous it is. It’s human nature for ‘normal’ to become equivalent with safe. Our awareness lowers and we become complacent. Complacency is the same as a death wish here. Literally everything on this planet is willing, if not actively trying, to kill you.

One rule I learned early on. The prettier it is, the more deadly it probably is too. I’m relieved when we climb another dune and the glimmer on the horizon says the City is not far. The protective forcefield dome that covers it is a beacon, calling us home. Home to safety and, hopefully, a cure in the box Shidan carries.

“We’re almost there,” I say.

Shidan tilts his head looking at me as we walk. He doesn’t respond and my stomach sinks. I’m helpless. Trapped in a battle against this invisible enemy that I can’t do anything about. I hate being helpless.

“Shidan, damn it, stay with me,” I curse. “You hear me? You fight this shit!”

He frowns, opens and shuts his mouth a few times, then nods.

“Amara,” he says. “Malcolm.”

The way he says our names makes me think of a chant, and it must be for him. As we keep walking, he mutters them over and over. Committing them to memory or holding on to them, I don’t know, but I’m not going to interrupt him. Whatever it takes, my love. You stay with me.

At last we reach the City. The dome is cool to the touch as we wait for the airlock door to open. Shidan stares at the panel, the door, the dome itself. When the door swishes open, he jumps, lochaber coming to a ready position.

“It’s fine,” I say, walking through the opening. “Come, come in.”

He stares at the door for a long moment then back to me before he walks in. He doesn’t put his lochaber away but does keep it at his side. The door cycles shut and the air around us wooshes. My ears pop as the pressure equalizes. Shidan growls, looking all around wide-eyed. I put a hand on his arm.

“It’s okay,” I say. “Stay calm.”

The door on the opposite side opens, letting us into the City itself. A young guy is on duty today. I don’t remember his name right off, but I do recognize him.

“He okay?” the guy asks.

“He’ll be fine,” I say.

“He sick?” the guy asks, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“He’s fine,” I snap. “Now get back to work.”

The guy’s eyes widen as his cheeks flush. “Fine, damn, who died and made you Boss?”

Ignoring him,