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

I was rescued, Hewex has been a staple in my life. Sure, he’s grumpy and impatient, but he’s also kind. When I was recovering in the healers’ kradi, he would bring me snacks and tell me all about Agron, encouraging me to get better so I could see it myself.

I choke out a sob when I reach Hewex. He’s lying on one of the beds, and Tagiz steps up next to him. Moni is attempting to push his intestines back into his body.

They gutted him.

I step closer to Moni. “Can I help?” I murmur.

She nods. “I can’t see any perforated organs, but I must stop the bleeding. Hand me those clean rags.”

I wash my hands quickly and then grab them, using them to pack the wound myself.

The pain must be intolerable, but Hewex pushes away the tonic one of the other healers offers him.

“Need…to…tell…you.”

Tagiz’s expression is terrible. The two men have been partners for years, working together. Tagiz once told me Hewex taught him everything he knows. That he thinks of him as an older brother.

Tagiz leans over. “Quickly, then. Get it out and take the tonic. You shouldn’t be awake for this.”

“Some of their light-sticks still work perfectly,” Hewex gasps out. “They took our group by surprise. We were overconfident after fighting the Dokhalls that attacked when Nevada and Zoey were taken. Their light-sticks paralyzed us.” His jaw tightens, and he looks away. “They killed all the warriors but me. I am to be a warning. Cooperate or die.”

Bile rises, and it feels like I can’t take a full breath. It’s never going to be over. They’re going to keep planning, keep attacking until we give them what they want.

Hewex finally takes the pain tonic, and Moni finishes stitching him up. We’re all quiet as we watch.

I hang around for a while, making sure Moni doesn’t need anything else. But she and the other healers seem to have it under control. Even though the Braxians recover from injuries quickly, I wouldn’t wish the kind of recovery Hewex will have on anyone. Not without drugs.

Drugs.

I glance at Moni. “I’m going to go collect a few things.”

Moni nods, her eyes on Hewex. “Bring back more ortar leaves, please.”

Tagiz’s eyes meet mine. “Do you want me to come with you?”

I shake my head. “Stay with Hewex.”

His gaze searches my face, his jaw tightening at whatever he sees, but he finally nods.

I collect Jozet on the way, and a few minutes later, I’m inhaling the sweet smell of greenery. I’m instantly calmer.

Jozet is watching me closely. He seems to realize I need space though, and he’s staying at least ten feet away so I have the illusion of privacy.

I’m tired.

Every time I close my eyes, all I can see are the bars of that cage. All I can hear are the taunts of the Voildi as they discussed whether or not I’d live long enough to be able to be sold.

Occasionally in my dreams, I’m standing on that stage on that strange planet, the Dokhalls bidding on me. And then, not long after, I trip and fall, and all I can hear is the crack of my ribs as one of them kicks me while I’m down.

But now I have a new dream. Nevada, her face pale, jaw tight as she glares at the Dokhalls. I can’t stop thinking about the blind determination on her face as she tried to bargain with me to take her baby and run. And the way the Dokhalls took us right from under the Braxians’ noses.

I’m pretty sure I know what I’ll see in my dreams tonight.

Hewex, lying helpless on the ground as the Dokhalls taunt him, cutting him up. His friends dead.

Because of us.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t blame myself or the other human women. We were taken from our homes, and we’ve been doing whatever it takes to survive. Thanks to the Braxians, we’re all doing much better than we could’ve expected.

But the Braxians were just living their lives before we came along. Since then, they’ve been focused on protecting us, keeping us safe. Fighting in battles and wars and constantly pivoting to face new threats.

The other women are right. Something has to be done.

I know I don’t look well. Jozet frowned at me a few minutes ago, and Moni constantly remarks on my dark circles. She offered me a sleeping tonic again, but I’m terrified of being stuck in the dreams, unable to wake up. The best sleep I’ve had on Agron was the one I had in Tagiz’s arms.

But there’s only one thing that will truly make me feel safe again.

The death of all the remaining Dokhalls.

I search the forest floor until I find the tiny yellow mushrooms I’ve been looking for. I stare at them, hesitating.

The words I intoned at my graduation spring to mind.

I solemnly pledge…

I lean forward and pluck three of the mushrooms, my breath coming in short pants.

…to practice my profession faithfully.

On to the moss. I find the specific kind I need crawling up one of the white tree trunks scattered here and there within the forest. It needs to be old, and I gesture for Jozet to lean up high and help me scrape some of the darker moss near one of the thicker branches.

That also goes into my basket.

I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous…

My hands tremble slightly, but I firm them. The next ingredient takes longer to find. Long enough that I wonder if Jozet is getting impatient, but when I glance over my shoulder, he’s leaning against a tree, sharpening one of his knives.

The flower is a bright orange. But it’s the roots that I need, and I carefully dig around the plant until I can cut out a small section.

…and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug…

I stride to the clearing where I spotted the white flowers I hadn’t seen before, last time I was in this part of the forest with Sarissa and Nevada. Now I know what