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"Sarah?"
I turned at the sound of Gunnox's deep baritone. He stood next to me inside the bubble craft, his silvery scales shifting in the dimming light. The markings on his chest and arms glowed softly, as if in sympathy with my inner turmoil.
“Sorry,” I shook myself from my musings. “What did you say?”
“Would you like to go for a ride in the spherical craft?”
“A ride?” I chuckled thinking he was joking. “Where would we go? We’re stuck under this dome.”
“That’s the surprise,” he said, a hint of excitement creeping into his tone. My pulse quickened in response. In the days since our rescue from the mines, I couldn’t help but grow closer to Gunnox. He had become my constant companion, always making sure I wanted for nothing. It was impossible not to be drawn to his strength and kindness. My palm found its way to the center of my chest where I drew a tight circle. The memory of Earth was a barrier between us, one I didn't know if I could cross.
Gunnox stepped forward, misreading my hesitation. "I have learned to pilot this craft. Aggar says I’m a natural. I thought we might take a journey into the jungle this suns-set, so you can see some of the nocturnal creatures native to Valose.”
A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. "A nocturnal safari?"
He nodded, his silver eyes gleaming. "We could leave the dome and still be safe inside the spherical craft. An adventure into the wilds without the risk of a deadly attack.”
The prospect both thrilled and terrified me. To fly through the darkening sky, to explore the hidden mysteries of the lush alien jungle— what an adventure it would be!
“I stocked the craft with a soft pelt where we can sit, a loodskin for each of us, and those berries you like to snack on in case you get hungry.”
“Sounds like you thought of everything.” I gazed up into the swirling depths of his eyes and knew every moment I spent with him tightened the bond I could feel forming between us.
He had mentioned we were spirit mates on the flight here after our rescue from Gorka but had made no mention of it since. I could feel an underlying tinge of his unease as if it were my own, so I had never broached the subject. Everything about what it meant to take a Valosian mate I’d learned from the mated women—and it was for life. I wasn’t ready to give up my dream of returning to Earth and the life I had left behind.
This surprise safari would make it that much harder when it came time for me to leave, but I couldn’t extinguish the spark of hope reflected in his eyes. “I would like nothing more than to explore the jungle of Huren with you.” And I meant it, even if it hurt me to my soul knowing our time together was fleeting.
Joy lit his expression as he led me to sit on the soft pelt already laid out on the transparent flooring. There were no seats aboard the craft, only a central console with dozens of flashing and blinking buttons and switches.
Gunnox stood behind the console, his hands moving swiftly over the controls as the door slid shut. The craft lifted silently off the ground. My heart leaped at the sudden sensation of weightlessness, a nervous thrill rushing through me for the adventure to come.
Gunnox glanced over with a reassuring smile. "Don’t be afraid. I’ll keep you safe."
“I know.” Gunnox was my steadfast protector since the day he rescued me. His presence instilled a sense of security that had been absent in my life. My constant companion ensured I lacked for nothing, from sustenance to clothing. The faint essence of him was always brimming with concern for my welfare as if trying to atone for the torments I endured within the Gorken mine.
“Fennix, open the dome,” Gunnox hailed the command center located inside the palace. “We’re ready to leave.”
The male replied and the top of the dome split open, revealing the star-strewn sky minus the wavy barrier. The two suns had set, their azure light fading into the horizon. As we rose higher, breaking through the dome, a sea of bioluminescent treetops came into view, stretching endlessly into the distance.
“We’re clear, Fennix. You can close the dome.”
Fennix replied and away we went, truly free of the suffocating barrier.
Inside the spherical craft with its transparent hull, it felt like we were floating inside a soap bubble. No wavy distortion, just clear glass all around. Now I understood why the girls called it a bubble craft.
The jungle below hummed with life as Gunnox skillfully flew just above the towering trees. The sounds of chirping insects and rustling leaves surrounded us, creating a symphony of nature's melodies.
As we glided over this luminescent paradise of blues, silvers, and whites, the flora and fauna of the jungle emitted a soft glow, casting an ethereal light on everything around us. Strange creatures peered out from the dense foliage, their features illuminated by bioluminescence. Some were the size of dinosaurs or had too many eyes that shimmered in bright hues, while others displayed elaborate crests and razor-sharp teeth that gleamed in the gentle light.
Despite their exotic appearances, there was a mesmerizing beauty to these creatures, their otherworldly forms captivating my senses. Each plant and animal seemed to be painted with a touch of magic, their radiant glow enchanting me as we passed by them in our silent journey through the vibrant jungle.
"The jungle comes alive at night," Gunnox said, glancing at me. "As do its most dangerous predators. There’s a clearing with a small pond near here where we can land. Many creatures go there to drink.”
“Sounds perfect,” I said.
We flew a bit farther until the jungle’s canopy began to thin, and then Gunnox began an easy descent, setting us down on the pond’s edge.
“Those are dearth,” Gunnox pointed out the small herd of animals similar in size and build as a deer. “They’re game we typically hunt as well as the elksen grazing in the field.”
