A watchful foe
"Move in towards the cave; it's your only chance."
The hint of concern I didn't miss in his voice. He gave me hope; his voice did. My heart pounded, and I could feel my abdomen quiver. I hope he couldn't read my thoughts. I missed him even when I was new to the feeling part of me wanted him if there was a meaning to that.
We were taught copulation, watched videos of humans, and saw creatures and insects copulate. It felt interesting even when we could feel a little aroused. We weren't robots; we found some of our soldiers attractive, but we were forbidden to attempt any act of insubordination.
"What are you doing in my head?" Shyva yelled, "You show up. ahhh"
She could feel the back of her boots scratched lightly by the claws of one of the creatures.
"Stop talking and go right in. By my calculation, your strength with your every breath will wear you down."
"Very well."
"Stop talking." His voice intensified, almost deafening her.
"I don't think I can make it." Her voice came with her breaths.
"Yes, you will." His harshness softened as he believed in her, and that was all she needed.
The creatures were gaining on her, and she was a yard away from making it to the cave. Shyva garnered as much speed and strength as she could; she didn't want to die a dishonourable death or be dragged by teeth and degutted.
She leapt Close to the cave's mouth, and her ankle twisted, not causing a sprain but a tumble. Her body was sprawled on the ground, with dust and dirt soiling a larger part of her clothing.
With her lights, she could see them almost like they were eye-to-eye. They didn't pass the entrance of the cave but surrounded it instead, staring at her. Their red eyes glared at her with what she couldn't comprehend. It wasn't predatory like she had assumed earlier; it was a mixed emotion of submission, pity, and another.
They howled and whined and began to desert, one after another.
I wonder what the problem is this time. One time, they were ready to eat me, and now they surrendered when I hadn't even reciprocated my feelings to them.
Whewww, mission one is complete; now the second one.
Her chest raised high and low, and her eyes were closed tightly as she had evaded death and been a victim of monstrosity. The creatures had all disappeared like they hadn't been there; hadn't it been the numerous paw prints on the ground.
Getting to her feet, she took out a metal cylindrical torch about a few Monilyres high, twisting and extending the rod until it became longer. Her hands were wrapped tightly around it, pressing both of her palms by the sides. The torch sprung in its width, a diameter the length of eight middle fingers.
Clicking the switch, the light beamed and showed her further into the tunnel. She took careful steps to avoid walking into more trouble. The cave was wide, and the walls glistened blivia, one of her best colours. It was high as well, way atop Shyva's head.
Inside the cave wasn't as chilly outside, the air was moist and warm. It smelt like age and dampness. Shyva's trimmed fingers traced the trenches and the grooves of the cave; the light of her torch reflected the colour and revealed further glitters fixed on the surface. She had never seen anything like it in the dome. Beneath her fingers was the cold touch of the walls, slippery and smooth to her feel. Admiration sparked in her eyes, and she smiled at the beauty of nature. There was a lot she would write about and tell Nyla about, but definitely not about the cloaked man.
"This is beautiful."
Her voice travelled far into the cave's hollowness. Shyva's heart tugged as she looked all around her, hoping to see the face of the cloaked 'Red Lord,' but her hopes were brought down when she couldn't see or feel him anywhere around her.
He had saved her life, she wondered and questioned it. When she had entered the cave moments ago, she had expected to see him and probably show her gratitude or try something silly to pay back during their last fight, but she was the only one standing all by herself.
Taking one last deep breath, she moved further into the cave, her boot crushing stones beneath her soles. She was faced with two caves to decide between, both leading to the left and right parts of the cave. Shyva took another deep breath and made an immediate decision.
Walking through the right cave, she maintained the same slow steps, and her ears were trained to pick up altering sounds in addition to her composed walks to avoid being noticed, but the loose, scattered stones were giving her away one way or the other.
The right cave led through a bend and straight through a narrow cave, but enough to fit her form. Passing through its narrowness, she found herself at the centre of a much wider cave. Height and width of the vast extension. Numerous large holes filled the walls. The whiff of decay played with her nasal sensors, causing her to throw up, but it was soon gone, and she was breathing with ease, the same damp smell.
Shyva drew her brows, and it crossed her mind that they were all entrances making up the hive. The entrances were connected with broad lines marking the walls. Those lines appeared to be slimy and coloured like plants. She stared around and noticed she was surrounded by many holes.
What exactly would be here? I hope they are not as terrible as those creatures outside.
Right at the centre was a glowing globe standing on a fork-shaped brace. It was the colour of their muna. It was radiant. Its reflection was mild but travelled across the wall, moving like a revire.
She hadn't been fed anything about the purpose of what she was about to pilfer. The Messerayf fuelled the entire hive, including their reproductive ability, ecdysis, auto synthesis, and muna. It was worshipped and protected with lives.
"This place never ceases to surprise me; now, this is another beautiful item," she whispered to herself, grinning at how she was going to leave soon and be a hero back home.
"This is it." She was proud of herself, knowing it was all worth it. Hesitant to move closer to the globe, she stretched a leg lightly into the oval platform and bent backwards as she waited a moment for any hostility, but there wasn't.
Standing upright, she crossed onto the platform and couldn't get her mind away from the attractiveness of the fluorescent object. She had seen many colours and viewed them off objects, but that one trapped her gaze. Shya lowered her hands some distance from the globe, letting the colours glide off her hands. Staring at both hands, smiling, and pretending to be a child again, she basically couldn't remember anything.
"Why is she doing that?" Nyla yelled at the screens, but her technicians filling the room couldn't reply.
"Ma'am a minute." A female general sought the overseer's attention outside the technician's workstation.
"What!" Nyla screamed.
"Ma'am, I think we've pushed Shyva the hardest for her first time."
"She's not feeble. She's our best, and I'm doing my best to bring the worst in her. When did you begin questioning my decisions, Shyna"?
"Never, ma'am, but…"
Nyla walked away, hitting her heeled boots on the tile so that her worker could hear perfectly that she was done speaking.
Stupid to think she can come up to me and divide my attention from the true goal of the day. Getting Shyva to be the worst and the best she can be. If all goes different from the plan, I have an emergency troop to save Shyva. I would never let any state of harm come even close to her.
"Turn it up, let me see." Nyla instructed the technicians, "She's still doing that. Can someone make her tick?" Nyla yelled