Down Below Beyond by T. A. Bruno

Author:T. A. Bruno [Bruno, T. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feathersong, LLC
Published: 2023-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-EIGHT

Levort’s boot sank into the sand. It was hot and dry in this new world, and the sun beat down through a blanketing gray sky. All around the portal were vast wastes, except in one direction, where a grouping of green spheres nested off in the distance.

Floem skipped out from the portal behind Levort and bent over herself. “Woah, this place is a scorcher!”

“Are you going to be all right?” Levort asked with concern. “I can handle this alone if you’d rather go through another one.” Even though he was worried about Floem’s health, Levort was unwilling to give up a world that could hold a tablet reader. His prospector’s gut wouldn’t allow him to pass up even the potential of a win.

“I’m good. Check it.” Floem smirked and pulled a cord on the side of her flight suit. It rapidly inflated, making her look like she’d been stuffed in a balloon suit. Cool water raced through the suit, keeping her leaves from drying up and burning. A small amount of mist perforated her in spurts. “Got this baby on Aquain.”

“I didn’t realize you’d been to Aquain.” Levort also realized he was losing track of which worlds he and his friends were hopping to on their jaunts.

“Yep. The Fluctans sell the best stuff for us Alberryans. Almost bought one of those flitskippers too. Seems like a fun way to get around.”

They began their trudge through the desert. The gleaming coral-colored sand made their progress slow and labored. Although they were scarce, every plant in the desert was orb-shaped and green.

As the travelers surmounted the lip of a dune, they witnessed an expanse of creatures meandering about. They were quadrupedal, with tufts of fur that cast out hot steam. The animals were tall, with stalk-shaped legs and long snouts they used to suck in the sand. Near the base of their snouts, sand spewed sideways as they filtered the needed nutrients and discarded whatever their body couldn’t use. One of the beasts noticed Levort and Floem and grunted.

“H-hey beastie!” Floem smiled and gave it a little wave.

The creature wailed, alerting the rest. The herd retreated into one pile of animals as something quickly approached their position. It was a shadow that zipped between the tall legs of the beasts until it emerged from their grouping and raced toward Floem and Levort.

The approaching creature was covered in quills and had four legs that terminated in paws with singular spiked talons. A long tail trailed behind it with a needle-sharp stinger protruding from its end. It roared as it bounded their way.

“RUN!” Levort shouted, but he only had enough time to push Floem to the side as the beast tackled him, pinning him to the ground. It bared its red fangs at Levort and roared in his face. Floem stood up and was about to launch herself at the beast when a loud, sharp crack of thunder cut through the desert air.

The beast snarled, but it didn’t bite. It backed off of Levort and allowed him to stand.

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