Truehearts & The Escape From Pirate Moon by Jake Macklem (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

felt relief, grateful he had not known how many of those leviathans there were. They probably swim upstream and spawn in the lake like salmon. If I ever have to come back to this moon, it’ll be too soon.

Cresting the path, he saw clumps of tall wheat-like grass ending in purple-colored buds. They were scattered across the plateau, spread out as far as the eye could see. The open sky was completely unobstructed. What drew Cam’s attention were the dead Not-buffalos.

He swallowed as he watched very large, purple- and blue-scaled reptiles drag fresh kills away. Several others were doing the same a bit further off. With a motion to Ace, he lay on his belly, scanning the plateau.

She moved up next to him and settled in. “Tree-knockers,” she whispered

Five Tree-knockers each dragged one of the Not-buffalos. Occasionally one would look around and hiss at the closest rival. They’re not a pack, that’s a good thing. Cam glanced at the scales on the clothes he made for her, then at her metal spike. How did she kill one of those things with that? Shaking his head, he looked back over the plateau

The Not-buffalo herd was miles ahead of them, heading east, a plume of dust kicking up from their feet. “Let’s give those lizards a little space. We’ll loop around them that way.” He motioned. “It’ll take us downwind.”

Ace nodded. Together they moved across the plateau, dashing between the sparse vegetation. Even at this distance, his nose wrinkled at the overpowering scent of the strange plants. The pungent odor reminded Cam of flowers and hot metal. He did not like the smell but was grateful it was strong enough to cover their scent. Taking a few minutes, Cam rubbed the buds over parts of his armor and Ace followed suit, rubbing it on her Tree-knocker hide. Once they had smeared themselves with the sticky plants, they readied to move again.

“Let's stay low and move quickly. Hopefully, we can find a place to shelter before the sky turns white,” he whispered.

Pulling the surveyor, he checked their location and calculated their route before they hurried to the next patch of purple buds thirty meters away. Dropping to the ground, Cam quickly accounted for the five Tree-knockers, each occupied with a Not-buffalo. He looked at Ace to ask if she was ready. Of course she’s ready. Am I ready? Waiting a couple of moments, he motioned to her and they dashed to the next patch of purple buds.

Halfway across, a barking sound cut through the air. Glancing over, Cam saw one of the Tree-knockers barking. It’s signaling. The other nearby lizards looking at the duo. Cam slowed to a trot. The Tree-knockers ignored them and continued dragging the Not-buffalo. The one barking swayed in place for a few moments then gave another series of barks. The staccato sounds carried over the field, the echoes continuing to ring after the creature paused.

Cam locked eyes with the beast as he and Ace walked toward the patch.

“You two gonna start dancing? Why are we not running?” she asked.

“They saw us. Most predators chase things that run. If we just mind ourselves, they’ll leave us alone. They already have their dinners.” Cam felt confident.

“So why’s the one barking?” Ace asked absently.

“It’s a signal bark. Letting any other… Tree-knockers… know prey is nearby. But the others already have kills so…” Cam felt a tightening in his chest.

“So, who is it signaling then?” Ace finished.

Cam looked ahead at the purple bud patch; about sixty meters beyond it, two Tree-knockers loped toward them. “I’ll wager it was telling them.” He pointed.

Ace leaned around Cam. Her eyes widened for a moment then they hardened and her jaw set. She lifted her trusty spike. “They have soft underbellies. I’ll take the one on the right!” Before Cam could stop her, she charged. “Aaahhhh!” Fast as she was, Cam knew he would never keep up and that if he tried, she would have to deal with the beasts alone.

Absolutely insane. Dropping to a knee, he wrapped the strap of his rifle around his forearm and rested his cheek on the stock of the gun. Through the scope, he watched Ace bound—without fear—toward the monsters. Adjusting his barrel, he quickly estimated the distance. He felt sweat beads run down his face and neck. No breeze. With his trigger hand, he reached to the scope and turned the dial down. Replacing the pad of his fingertip on the point of the trigger, he inhaled and lined up his shot. Exhaling, he squeezed the trigger.

The crack rang out across the plateau and the bullet passed within inches of Ace, her hair dragged by the breeze as it flew by. Slicing through the air, the bullet crossed the distance to the beast in less than a moment, striking the orbital socket and entering the Tree-knocker’s brain through its eye. The creature slammed into the ground and skidded to a stop, blood and breath draining into the grass. The other Tree-knocker stopped and turned back toward its fallen companion. Ace stared at Cam in wide-eyed amazement.

The Tree-knocker nudged the dead beast with its giant clawed hand. Using its muzzle, it nudged the dead beast again then snapped its jaws on the creature's skull and started dragging its dead companion away.

Cam stood and started walking. As he passed by Ace he said, “I told you there was no reason to hurry.”

Ace smiled and moved to catch up with him.

Cam watched the unrelenting waves of heat roll off the plateau, turning the horizon into a purplish-white blur. The white sky seemed to come much earlier today. The patches of purple vegetation had become fewer and fewer; they had not seen any for hours now. We just need to get out of the sun. Glancing at Ace, he saw her skin had turned red. She’s being burned up. Taking