And just in case it is, I commit every little detail to memory. The steady rise and fall of Krakenos’s broad chest beneath my cheek. The comforting weight of his arm draped over me. The subtle, clean scent of his skin. I etch it all into my mind, determined to never forget this moment.
Not long after, I drift off to sleep beside him, my dreams filled with visions of majestic underwater palaces hidden away on a distant planet.
Chapter 13
Krakenos
I awaken as the first light of dawn filters through the cave’s entrance. Mia’s warmth radiates against my side, and I smile at this small comfort.
This human woman, who has unexpectedly become the center of my world, has shown me a depth of feeling I never expected. I rise carefully, mindful not to disturb her rest, and take a moment to observe her sleeping form. Her dark curls spread across the rocky surface, and her chest rises and falls with each deep breath. The sight of her, potentially my future mate and queen, stirs a primal sense of pride within me.
As Mia’s eyelids flutter open, our gazes lock. In that fleeting moment, I sense a shared understanding of the solace we’ve found in this rocky refuge. Yet, the respite is short-lived as reality closes in upon us. We must get moving.
I then hear the familiar hum of drones hovering nearby. “It seems our audience has found us once more,” I mutter, gesturing to the egg-shaped machines recording us from the cave entrance.
Mia simply lets out a loud groan, then brandishes her middle finger at them. I’m unsure what the gesture means in her culture, but I’m certain at the very least that it isn’t a friendly greeting.
I laugh and say, “Well then, let’s see what biome awaits us next.”
We make our way to the water’s edge. Once it reaches our waists, Mia climbs onto my back, her arms latching around my shoulders. I push off, propelling us into the last leg of our swim. The ocean’s surface is uncharacteristically still, but I know the Storm Brewer will be dormant for a while after the tempest it made.
Time seems to blur, marked only by the passage of the sun overhead and the gradual ache building in my muscles. But just as I begin to wonder how much farther we must travel, something on the horizon catches my eye. Squinting against the glare of the sun, I realize with a start that it is land—blessed, solid ground rising up to meet the sea.
Excitement surges through me, and I redouble my efforts, eager to reach our destination. “Mia, look,” I call over my shoulder, my voice rough with exertion. “We’re almost there.”
I feel her shift against me, craning her neck to catch a glimpse of the shoreline. A breathless laugh escapes her lips, the sound pure and joyful. “I see it!”
Her elation is contagious, and I grin as I propel us forward. The water grows shallower, and soon I am able to stand, Mia sliding from my back to splash into the surf beside me. Hand in hand, we wade ashore, but what greets us isn’t the expected warm sand, but rather, a frozen tundra.
The frozen shore stretches before us, a glittering expanse under the pale sun. I slide gracefully onto the snow-covered ground, feeling the chill immediately bite at my scales. Mia’s teeth start chattering as she huddles close to me. I wrap my tail around her protectively, a shield against the cold, and we stand together, surveying this desolate landscape.
The beach is devoid of tracks, and I sense no sign of Vornas or any other threat. With a subtle flick of my tail, I obscure our own tracks, ensuring our passage remains unknown. The final biomes of the Loop are renowned for their treachery, and I know that surviving this tundra will require all my skills and vigilance.
As we trek through the deep snow, a peculiar sight catches my eye. In the distance, a plume of steam rises, twisting and curling as it ascends toward the pale sky.
We draw closer, and soon I realize it’s a geyser. The area surrounding it is lush with vegetation, vibrant greens and earthy browns that stand in stark contrast to the icy expanse that stretches out in every direction.
“Look,” I say, pointing to the oasis. “We can warm up there before we continue on.”
She nods, her teeth chattering too much for her to speak. We hurry toward the geyser, our pace quickening with the promise of respite. As we step into the verdant haven, the temperature change is immediate, the air warm and humid against our skin.
Mia sighs in relief, rubbing her hands together as the color slowly returns to her cheeks. She looks around, awestruck by the green grass and the steam rising from the bubbling pools. “I sure hope this isn’t the only oasis in this biome.”
I observe the geyser as it shoots out a plume of steam. “This can’t be the only one. If there is underground pressure, it’s likely that there are multiple release points, not just a single vent. I’d wager there are other hidden oases scattered throughout.”
Mia nods, her brow furrowed in thought. “So, then our plan is to find these oases as we go, warm up, then get back out in the cold?”
“Exactly,” I confirm. “But we’ll need to be strategic about it. The distance between each one could be significant, and we don’t want to be in these elements for too long.”
As we bask in the warmth of the oasis, I forage for sustenance, plucking ripe fruit from a nearby tree. The sweet flesh melts on my tongue, a welcome respite from our grueling journey.
While Mia savors her share, I gather large leaves and sturdy grass, weaving them into makeshift coverings for her feet. My fingers work deftly, creating a barrier between her delicate skin and the frozen ground that awaits us.
“Here,” I say, offering her the crude but functional footwear. “These should provide some protection against the cold.”
Mia slips them on, wiggling her toes experimentally. A small smile of gratitude plays on her lips, warming me more than the geothermal heat ever could.
But as much as I’d like to linger, I know we must press on. The longer we stay in one place, the greater the risk of Vornas catching up to us. We had every advantage in the ocean biome, but here, we are equally matched, and he could easily be upon us before we know it.
The day wears on as we travel, and we manage to find oases every hour or so, each one a welcome respite from the biting cold.
But as the sun dims, the temperature drops even lower, with no sign of another geyser. Mia shivers beside me, her teeth chattering audibly.
“K-Krakenos,” she stammers, her voice tight with cold. “We n-need to find somewhere to s-stop for the night.”
I nod, scanning the horizon for any sign of steam or greenery, but there’s nothing. Just an endless expanse of white, broken only by the occasional jagged rock formation.
“We’ll find something,” I assure her, trying to keep the growing concern from my voice. “Just a little further.”
But as the last of the light fades from the sky, I realize we may be in trouble. The cold is bone deep now, and even I am beginning to feel its effects. Mia stumbles beside me, her movements sluggish and uncoordinated.
“Mia, stay with me,” I urge, wrapping an arm around her waist to support her. “We have to keep moving.”
She nods, but her fatigue is clear. We push on, battling the whipping snow that threatens to bury us, and our progress slows to an arduous crawl.
