Leah's Hero - Miranda Martin Page 0,13

Similar to, but not Zmaj. Aliens.

Aliens warring against one of the most dangerous creatures in the jungle. Even full-grown Zmaj males try to avoid taking on a harimauz alone. The smaller of the two has fallen and is scrambling backwards, slipping in the mud. That one has blondish hair but is pale and screaming. I note her, but it’s the other that holds my attention.

The moment I lay eyes on her, my dragon roars. My hearts pound as if trying to break free. The air becomes too thick to breathe, and my prime cock stiffens. She’s the larger of the two females with vivacious curves accenting the femaleness of her form. She is fierce, shouting her defiance while wildly swinging the large limb.

The harimauz crouches, watching her motions, judging as it waits for its opening. Any moment it will pounce, and that stick will be of no use. Fear holds me frozen for an instant. The harimauz’s muscles tense, preparing to leap, and there is no time for thought or consideration. This is a time of action. A time for a male.

I yank the two knives from my waist and rush ahead, shouting. My foot slips in the mud and I lurch forward, almost falling, but I’m able to keep myself upright. The harimauz turns at my shout, unprepared for another to interfere with its meal.

It growls, showing rows and rows of teeth behind the two long incisors that grow down from the top of its mouth. Its mouth opens impossibly far, and it roars, then leaps.

I raise the two knives as the creature slams into my chest. It’s claws rip into flesh as we fall entangled. My breath whooshes out when I hit the ground. The harimauz’s weight crushes my chest.

It claws, bites, and struggles wildly and it’s all I can do to keep its teeth and claws away. I try to roll, hoping to get on top. I grab the fur next to its head, holding the mouth at bay. My hand slips, and the head drives forward. Pain blinds me as sharp teeth close on my shoulder. I roar in rage and agony.

I slam my fist against its head, over and over until it lets go. Its massive head rears back, mouth open, saliva dripping off its fanglike, overgrown incisors. It hisses and snaps forward, trying to get my neck.

I bring my arm around to protect my neck. Its mouth snaps shut and bone crunches in my arm. Our eyes meet and for an instant time is frozen. I stare into the eyes of doom. Cold, heartless, interested only in feeding its belly.

This could be my end. The suffering and the empty, pointless life I’ve lived since my wounding could be over. Seeing an end to the long road is inviting, for a moment.

“No!” one of the females screams jerking me away from that dark edge.

That is my purpose. I am not worthy of a mate myself but that doesn’t lessen my duty to protect them. Fire burns in my guts, boiling my blood, warmth rushing through my limbs. Pain can’t stop me. No matter its agony, I must win.

I try to find my knife with my free hand while holding the creature off of me with my other arm trapped in its mouth. Mud, leaves, sticks, no knife. Desperation drives me as the harimauz shakes its head, attempting to tear my arm off for its meal.

My hand touches the cold bone hilt of one of my knives. As my fingers close around it, a thrill rises. At first I fumble my grip, but I pull it closer and close my hand on it.

The harimauz claws at my chest with fore and rear paws. Long cuts form. I’m bleeding everywhere. My hearts pound. My vision is red, but gray is covering the edges. My awareness is slipping. I have to end this. Now.

Tightening my grip, I grit my teeth and swing. The knife drives into the side of the harimauz’s head. Its jaw goes slack, and my arm falls free, limp and useless. It collapses, dropping on top of me.

Gasping for air, I struggle to get free. The slick ground is impossible to get purchase on. The weight of the massive harimauz pins me. My vision swims and I black out for an instant, but I can’t. Not yet.

Females. Must. Care. Females.

Can’t think. Fight. Get free.

I struggle, pushing the monster off at last, my leg sliding free. I rise up to my haunches, but another wave of