“Let me help.”

“Your vision isn’t as good as mine. I’m going to leave you here and pack these in but I won’t be long.” He reached up, removed his helmet, and took a deep breath of fresh air as he set it on the seat. “I don’t scent anyone nearby and I would with the wind blowing. I know the patrols hit just weeks ago clearing this entire area out so no one will return for a long time. Very few of the wild ones venture this way and when they do I will easily run them off.”

“I’d rather go with you. I don’t want to be alone.” Two large hands gripped her hips as he turned to face her. “I will move faster without you and I won’t be long. I wouldn’t leave you if I thought you were in danger.

The supplies are heavy and I have to make a few trips. We have wild animals in the Outlander areas so I want to make sure none of them have taken up the cave before I take you there.”

Brenda swallowed. “What kind of animals? Will they attack me while you’re gone?”

Rever chuckled. “No. They don’t like lights while they hunt at night so I left them on. You will be safe if you stay by the light. If you hear anything approaching move in front in the vehicle and they won’t come near you.” The warning frightened her more than just a little. What did Zorn wildlife look like? If one of those scary looking killis had been harmless she really didn’t want to see something that wasn’t. How dangerous were the local animal residents? She nodded though, knowing she’d be brave if it killed her. Rever had gone on the run with her, leaving his life, his home and his job behind to keep her. The least she could do was woman up and not be a wimp. She straightened her shoulders and forced a smile since he said he had good night vision.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Rever chuckled again. “You are quite a human.”

If he only knew, she thought silently, keeping her smile in place. He released her, turned back to the bike and untied two of the large supply bags. He gave her one last look and then walked away into the darkness. Brenda waited until she couldn’t hear his soft tread before she almost ran into the headlights to stand in the beams, eyeing the darkness around her with fear.

She sat down after a while in red dirt. Brenda startled, her heart pounding, when a while later a growl sounded from somewhere not too far off. She hoped that was Rever but she inched to the center of the lights though just in case it wasn’t. Minutes later she heard him approach, his boots crunching on the hard packed dirt, and saw his large figure looming, getting closer.

“I told you it wouldn’t take long.”

She climbed to her feet, brushing off her ass. “Do I get to go with you this time?”

“Yes. I can carry the last two bags if you can follow with your backpack. Can you walk in the darkness? If you can’t see I’ll make a third trip to carry you on my shoulder.”

“I’ll make it. I heard a growl.”

“It was an obrion.”

“A what?”

Rever chuckled. “They look similar to a killis that is not small, not round, and it does eat meat. They are dangerous but I am with you.”

“So it won’t attack?” She was hopeful.

He hesitated. “It won’t attack twice if it dares a first attempt. I will protect you.” She nodded, knowing Rever was one large warrior and was pretty sure he could take care of whatever lurked out there. She watched him untie the remaining two bags and then kill the light from the vehicle, making darkness surround them. She blinked a few times feeling relief as her eyes adjusted to it. She couldn’t see really well but the three moons were bright enough in the clear sky that she could see outlines.

“Let’s go.”

She nodded, following the large moving shape in front of her, and made sure she stayed close. Rever could quickly cover some serious ground with his longer legs but instead he moved slowly just so she could keep up easier. They traveled about half a mile uphill before she saw a large, darker shape ahead that resembled a black hole to her. When Rever kept moving for it she assumed that was the cave entrance.

Rever stopped outside of it. “Don’t move until I return after I light a fire. I was in too much of a hurry to bring you here to take the time before.” She was surprised that he came back so quickly within a few minutes. He didn’t say a word but just walked up to her, bent and then lifted her into his strong arms. She gasped out a second before she wrapped her arms around his neck. She had to be pretty heavy with her added backpack but he didn’t seem to notice or care. He walked into the dark opening and then turned. Light flickered ahead.

The cave he walked into was larger than she expected and she couldn’t help but stare at the twenty-by-thirty-foot room. As she studied the back wall she realized that water was running down it to disappear along the lower portion of the floor she couldn’t see in the shadows. Her gaze turned on the circular rock structure in the center of the cave that was burning, softly lighting up the room.

“You had time to build a fire pit?”

“I told you it was rare that some of the Outlander males came out this far but some have. They have built in many conveniences inside this cave when they were living here. They left plenty of wood for burning when the patrols cleared them out weeks ago so we are better off than I thought we would be.” He gently put her down on her feet.

She stared openly at the cave as she removed her backpack, dropping it to the ground, and her eyes returned to the back wall where water flowed down it to disappear into the floor. She moved forward and realized there was a large gap between the back of the cave and the hard-packed dirt. She moved even closer to stare down at a four-foot-wide pool.

“The water is not too deep and is safe to bathe in.” She turned around to find Rever watching her with tense, rugged features. She tilted her head, staring at him, wondering what he was thinking.

He hesitated. “I must hide the rover vehicle so they won’t spot it if they patrol this area again. I don’t expect them to but I would rather do it in case they do circle back. I don’t want us found.” He walked forward, staring down at her. “I want you to bathe while I am gone.”

“Okay.” She gave him a nod. “I probably do have a coat of dirt on me.” She looked down at the leather, seeing how dusty it was from the rough ride on the motorcycle-like vehicle. Her gaze lifted to his. “Should I wait for you?” A smile teased her lips. “I could wash your back.”