Rescued by the Alien Warrior by Hope Hart (motivational books for students .txt) 📕

teasing note in his voice. “Well, thank you,” I say. “I better go. I need to collect a few herbs for Moni.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “In the forest?”

I barely refrain from muttering about overprotective males. I was hoping to be able to feed the little furry animal alone, but obviously all the warriors in this camp have been given the same orders we’ve been given.

I sigh. “Would you like to come with me?”

He nods, a slow smile spreading across his face.

Not for the first time, I wish it were a warrior like Kroniz who made my heart thump harder. I sigh. Life would be so much more convenient if we could choose who we loved.

Kroniz leans on the wooden fence that encircles the training arena. Across the wide space, near the opposite fence, Tagiz has arrived for his morning training session, and he’s currently chatting with a few of the younger warriors. They look up to him, constantly asking him to correct their form or spend a few hours sparring with them. He seems to have endless patience, only declining if he has a meeting.

He glances over his shoulder, his eyes unerringly finding mine. His face lights up in a way that makes me warm inside, but it quickly goes blank when his gaze shifts to the warrior next to me.

“Zoey?”

Kroniz is saying something, and I turn my attention back to him. His eyes are curious as he glances between me and Tagiz. “Is there something I should know about you and Tagiz?”

I shrug. “It’s complicated.”

He glances back at Tagiz, who is staring steadily at us. Cax—one of the younger warriors who hero-worships Tagiz—says something to get Tagiz’s attention, and his gaze finally leaves us.

Kroniz shifts next to me. “I thought he was going to mate with Malis?”

I wince, and Kroniz grimaces at whatever he sees on my face. “I’ve hurt you. I’m sorry.”

“No,” I say. “You’re right. He is going to mate with her. At least, he’s meant to. I better get those herbs before Moni wonders where I am.”

Kroniz turns away, finding his shirt from where he slung it over the side of the fence earlier. Tagiz’s eyes find mine again, and I feel my chin jut out.

“Let’s go.”

Kroniz chats as we walk to the edge of the forest. He asks me about my life on Earth and seems impressed when I explain my duties in the hospital. He tells me about his family, and before I know it, I’m in the small clearing where I last saw the furry animal.

“If you want to wait here, I’ll just be moseying around this area.”

His eyes harden slightly at that, and I raise my hands threateningly, fisting them like he taught me.

He laughs. “Fine. Let me know if you need any help.”

I nod and reach out, grabbing a few leaves off a bari plant. They’re not good for anything except freshening your breath, and I chew on one as I make my way to the tree where I last saw the tiny, hissing creature.

My heart sinks as I stare at the empty spot.

This is a good thing, Zoey. It ate your food and went on its way.

I turn with a sigh, unsure why I’m so upset. Then I freeze as a deep growl sounds behind me.

I whirl, my heart racing, and I let out a strangled laugh as I survey the tiny animal. It’s about the size of a Jack Russell, although I’d never get it confused with a dog. I’ve seen pictures of baby wolves, and its fluffy coat has some resemblance, but its claws glint in the sunlight as it bares its teeth at me.

“Did you make that scary sound?”

I keep my voice low and calm, slowly reaching into my pocket for the meat I brought with me.

It shuffles forward as I place the meat on the ground, and my chest tightens as I realize it’s only walking on three legs.

I crane my neck, attempting to get a look at the animal’s hind leg. It ignores me, digging into the meat as if it hasn’t eaten for a while. And from the look of it, it probably hasn’t.

“Poor little baby,” I murmur.

I freeze as it finishes its meat and steps closer, nuzzling against my legs. I place my basket on the ground and crouch, careful not to let it get too close to my face. This is a wild animal on an alien planet. I may be softhearted, but I’m not an idiot.

The animal licks at my fingers, and my heart melts. “Okay,” I murmur. “Turns out I am an idiot. You have two choices,” I tell it, wishing it could actually understand me. “I can bring you back some food tomorrow, or you can hop in my basket today and I’ll take you back to my kradi. I’ll give you a bath, take a look at that leg, and give you as much food as you can eat.”

The creature ignores me, and I laugh. “Wishful thinking, huh? I’ll bring you back some more food tomorrow. Maybe if I describe you to Moni, she’ll be able to tell me what you are.”

I get to my feet. The little alien wolf doesn’t seem to like that. It hisses at me, and I simply raise one eyebrow, hands on my hips.

It limps over to me, takes the hem of my dress in its mouth, and tugs.

“Zoey?”

“Just picking some berries. I’ll be right there.”

Something tells me if the warriors see the size of the teeth on this little dude or dudette, they’re not going to be happy with me hanging around it.

The little beast turns its head, snarling in Kroniz’s direction. I barely suppress a laugh, reaching down for my basket.

My mouth drops open as the creature jumps into the basket before curling up and gazing at me as if waiting to see what I’ll do next.

“Okay, then. I’ll take you back to camp and look at your leg, and then you’re coming straight back to the wild, little