Page 10 of Rock Hard Alien

Branches tore at my wings and skin. Taking off in a forest was my least favourite way to fly. To my left, the crowned tower reached through the trees. A few humans stood at the top, looking out into the distance. Only a matter of time until they spotted me. Beyond this small hill lay larger mountains. I had seen them from my perch, green in the hot season, covered in snow in the cold. They had been rounded by the passing of time, very unlike the tall peaks of my home world that seemed to pierce the sky itself. Yet I was drawn to these mountains. Maybe I could find a cave to hide from the humans and recover my strength. And to think.

Yes, I had a whole lot of thinking to do.

And only once I was sure I was not a threat to my mate, I would find her again.

Even now, as I was flying away from her, I could feel the small, weak link inside my chest. I would be able to follow it once I was ready.

My right wing stiffened.

I tried to stretch it, expecting another cramp. Cold had settled inside the joint, spreading along the struts towards the thin membrane. The edges darkened as I watched. They were hardening.

Cloch.

I knew that numbness. I had felt it creep through my body after the crash, stealing one limb at a time until I could no longer move. I had spent hundreds of rotations waiting for it to release me.

My tail became heavy. The tip no longer moved with the air currents. I twisted to look at it and lost height.

No. No, no, no.

I beat my wings, but the right one barely moved. Air rushed past me as I dropped towards the forest. Branches struck my legs. I folded my left wing to protect it and crashed through the top of a tree, grabbing at anything within reach. My hand closed around a branch. It bent beneath my weight, then snapped.

I hit the ground on my side.

The earth was soft from rain, but the impact still drove the air from my lungs. For a while, I could do nothing but lie there. An avian chirped above me. I breathed in deep, then focused on my muscles, trying to get control of my body again.

My fingers wouldn't bend. Grey stone had spread over them, forming a hard shell all the way to my wrist.

Georgie was leaving.

The link inside my chest had become thin enough to hurt. I felt its direction, pulling me back towards the road. Back towards her.

Of course. Her touch had woken me. Her presence had restored my strength. Now that she was moving away, the petrification had returned.

I pushed myself up with my left hand. My right arm was useless, but my legs still worked. Mostly. I stumbled through the trees, following the bond.

Her voice drifted through my memory.

Take your hands off me, Cairn.

I had frightened her. Grabbed her. Carried her through the sky without permission and almost killed her in the process. Then, when she'd been angry with me for very good reasons, I had made it all about my feelings.

Bad gharrgoil.

The bond tightened. Warmth returned to my fingertips, followed by an unpleasant prickling as the stone retreated. Georgie had stopped moving away.

I squeezed through the trees and reached the edge of the road. The bright green vehicle was still there. Georgie stood beside it, talking to the dark-haired female through the open door.

Relief weakened my legs. She hadn't left yet.

I could walk over to her. Explain what had happened. Tell her that I needed to stay close.

She had asked me to let go of her, and I had done that. Turning up at her side a few moments later might make her think I hadn't listened at all.

The vehicle began to move.

Cloch.

I spread my wings and took off after it.