Chapter 4
"Xaragon" emerged from the makeshift cage, a repurposed transport container, clutching the essentials for his night's mission. His gaze, sharp and wary, swept the jungle. Though his size made him an unlikely target, vigilance was paramount, especially this far from the outpost.
He slung a satchel across his neck, the weight of his plasma blade resting comfortably in its sheath against his thigh. He swung the sheathed blade from side to side, clearing a path through the dense, bioluminescent foliage.
As a seasoned hunter, Xaragon knew the Rana's habits intimately. He was aware that they would still be out gathering food for their young ones at this hour. With calculated precision, he set out to lay down measures before the Rana's departure.
His massive strides came to an abrupt halt. A baby Rana, no bigger than his hand, was foraging nearby. Xaragon slowly knelt, minimizing his profile. It was unusual for a youngling to be out alone. Rana younglings rarely strayed far from their parents unless a large kill required extra mouths. Which meant… the adult Rana was close.
His eyes scanned the surroundings and spotted the male Rana. It was staring intently at something. Xaragon followed its gaze. Lying before a towering Beacon tree was an earthly creature. He couldn't discern the species, but the two arms and two legs were unmistakable as a body.
As the Rana tensed, preparing to pounce, Xaragon surged forward. His massive body slammed into the creature mid-air, sending it sprawling. He positioned himself between the Rana and the unmoving body. With a swift motion, he drew his plasma blade, a humming, crystalline weapon that glowed blue, and he growled, a low rumble that echoed through the jungle.
The baby Rana growled back from behind its father, but kept its distance. The adult Rana snarled, undeterred. And took a step towards Xaragon, his eyes blazing with fierce determination as he wiggled his sharp tail.
"You have a youngling," Xaragon murmured. The Rana wasn't interested in negotiations. His body coiled and was ready to strike. Xaragon hadn't expected this. He was built for combat, but he preferred to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, especially with the baby Rana's pleading eyes fixed on him.
He shifted to the side of the body, his gaze locked on the Rana. He didn't dare look down, lest the Rana attack. He clicked his tongue, the tip of his plasma blade pointing directly at the Rana's face. The Rana remained motionless, then lunged.
Xaragon sidestepped the attack, the tip of his blade grazing the side of the Rana's face. He spun, bringing the blade around again, but the Rana's powerful tail lashed out, striking his weapon, leaving a searing gash across Xaragon's bicep.
The Rana was on him in an instant, its sharp claws digging into Xaragon's arm before its jaws snapped shut, aiming for his neck. Xaragon grabbed the Rana's throat, yanking it away. He hissed, his grip tightening, but then he saw the baby Rana. He loosened his hold, throwing the adult Rana across the clearing. "Take your youngling and leave," he commanded and walked away. Towards the body lying lifeless.
As he reached down to lift it, the Rana charged again. Xaragon's plasma blade flashed, slicing through the Rana's Neck with deadly precision. The Rana's head was severed, scarlet energy oozed out, dropping down the blade and splattering the ground.
The baby Rana growled, as if to avenge its father, then Xaragon pointed his humming blade in warning. "I wouldn't advise that," he growled. The young Rana whimpered, then turned and fled into the jungle.
Ignoring the red liquid traveling down his arms, Xaragon moved towards the body, examining its state. As suspected, he knew it had ingested the Beicon poison from the tree. It was a common hazard; most sentient beings knew to avoid the Beicon tree, given the elaborate preparation required to safely consume its beans.
Xaragon knew he had to remove as much of the toxin as possible before it reached the creature's brain. Judging by the body, the poison hadn't done extensive damage yet, meaning the ingestion was recent.
He rolled the body onto its side, revealing… a woman. Xaragon recoiled, his face contorted in shock. It was a woman. He immediately removed himself from her, his mind reeling. "How did she...?"
Her soft, smooth complexion was a stark contrast to the harsh environment around them. Her facial structure was well-proportioned, with high cheekbones and a delicate nose. Her lips, glossed with what Xaragon assumed were the juices of the Beicon beans, seemed to glow in the fading light.
Her hair, though messy, with clumps of dirt clinging to it in varying sizes, still retained its natural wave. A few strands framed her face, partially obscuring it.
He couldn't help but wonder what color her irises were. Despite her current state, she was undeniably beautiful.
"She needs help, he reminded himself."
He knelt beside her, silently pleading, "Forgive me." With gentle hands, he sat her up and dug his fingers into her mouth, removing the unswallowed Beicon and reaching into her throat. He quickly extracted the poison, just before her stomach contents escaped her mouth.
Xaragon kept a watchful eye on her, ensuring she didn't choke. When her body had released all it could, he sat her upright against the tree.
She was tiny in his arms, delicate, and he feared he might crush her if he applied even the slightest bit more pressure.
Xaragon thought to himself that she was different, not in the sense that he had never seen a woman before - he knew what they were - but he had never seen one outside the outpost.
"What was she doing here?" he wondered. "Did she try to escape? If so, how did she manage it?" Her attire seemed unfamiliar.
Xaragon scanned her body for injuries. He sighed in relief; aside from a fractured bone in her waist and some pink patches of bruising, there was nothing immediately life-threatening. But what about underneath her clothing? He asked himself, "She could also be injured beneath her skin," something he had never known unless she told him.
He hated this position. The last thing he wanted was to violate her privacy.
With a gentle grunt, Xaragon lifted the woman into his arms, cradling her as he made his way back to his makeshift- cave. He prayed she would awaken soon, allowing him to administer the necessary treatment. He could visually assess some of her injuries, but there were likely others, hidden beneath her clothing, that required a closer look. If she remained unconscious, he would have to… he swallowed the heavy lump forming in his throat. The odds were not in his favor.
He would most likely have to remove her clothes to treat her, and the thought made him uncomfortable. "Goodness, forgive me," he whispered.
Upon reaching the cave, Xaragon gently placed her on a woven mat that served as his bed. He removed his satchel, his plasma blade, and the small Mealworms he had managed to snare for a meal. " Mealworms were high in protein and nutrients, so he assumed it would be nice for the female. Setting them aside. Next, he pulled out a transparent, breaker-like bowl and carefully measured the luminescent blue elixir into it. He added the pre-measured amount of lunar dust, stirring it gently with a light-emitting rod until it dissolved completely.
Xaragon added the flavorless bioluminescent protein, noting the subtle shimmer it imparted to the liquid. From a locked compartment, he retrieved a vial of "Whispers of Europa" extract, diluting a small amount in purified water before adding it to the potion. Finally, he added microscopic capsules containing cryo-stabilized nanites.
Kneeling beside the woman, Xaragon gently lifted her with his right hand, while holding the antidote in his left. He opened her mouth and tilted the substance into her throat, waiting for it to trickle down before adding more of the fluid. Once the breaker was empty, he carefully laid her back down on her back.
Xaragon returned to the fire he had built earlier and began roasting the small creatures he had caught. He wasn't sure if the woman would wake up, but he prepared food just in case.
d
He prayed she would awaken soon. He didn't want to leave her unprotected while he went to hunt for more food. He couldn't leave her. He still had his mission to complete before returning to the outpost. He knew traveling with her would only bring more problems, especially with the native tribes who were constantly searching for women. He knew if he was caught with her, he would be punished. But the thought of leaving her alone made him cringe. Regardless of the risks, he wanted to help.
He glanced at her, a myriad of questions surfacing in his mind. Where had she come from? Why was she on Xylos? How had she survived alone for so long?
Despite everything, he felt a surge of gratitude that he had found her.