Kiozhi by Tamsin Ley

Author:Tamsin Ley
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781950027590
Publisher: Twin Leaf Press

13

KIOZHI

Something startles me awake. A noise? I’m aching and disoriented. The air smells sweet and fruity, almost like regeneration fluid, but I’m not in my resting state. And I’m definitely not in my resting pod. A small wet tongue flicks against my face, and I open my eyes to a small quadruped hardly bigger than my head licking me. Beanie.

Everything comes back in a rush. I push myself to sitting, and the dog wriggles onto my lap, whining softly. His poor skin looks mottled and bruised where he lost fur during the attack, but he seems to be recovering. I scratch behind his ears. “Good boy.”

I look around the small cave for Suzanne, but there’s no sign of her. Where did she go? I frown at Beanie, who whines again. My stomach tightens with worry. Perhaps she just stepped outside to relieve herself.

“Suzanne!” I shout, voice loud in the cave.

No response.

I stand and test my weight on my injured limb. The water and rest have rejuvenated me considerably, though the fabric tied around my leg is stiff with blood. I haven’t been wounded like this since I was a small child, before I learned to harden my form. My friends and I were trying our hand at carving, and I still remember my parents’ distress when I stumbled home dripping blood.

Limping over to the opening, I peer outside. I can’t see much beyond the veil of vines. “Suzanne? Are you out there?”

Still only silence.

My worry turns to dread. She should’ve woken me so I could at least be on standby. I might be weak, but I’d give my life to protect her, even if all I can be is a distraction so she can escape.

I grasp the lattice when a yip reminds me that Beanie can’t get out by himself.

“All right, little man. Come on.” I pick him up and put him outside.

Just then, Suzanne stumbles into view clutching one hand against her chest. I step back so she can get into the cave. She drops to the floor with a thud, not even bothering with the lattice. She’s breathing hard, and my Iki’i thrums under her fear.

“What happened?” I ask. “Are you all right?”

She extends her right hand to show me raised red welts covering her delicate skin. “I found another carnivorous plant.”

I grasp her undamaged arm, guiding her toward the pool. “You shouldn’t have gone out alone.”

“I just wanted to find food, and I didn’t plan to go far.”

“I can’t lose you, Suzanne. Don’t do that again. Please.”

Sluicing water over her hand, I gently rub away some sort of slippery substance coating her skin. She flinches at first, then relaxes as I wash the back of her hand, her palm, between each finger to be certain I don’t miss a spot. It’s totally the wrong time and place, but touching her makes my balls ache.

“Kiozhi.” Suzanne’s voice is a little husky. “I think you got it.”

I snap my gaze to hers, realizing I’m now washing up to the crook of her elbow, well beyond the welts covering her hand.

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