The Monster’s Caress

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

Asahi sat on an outcropping of rocks that loomed above the river and watched the first moon rise above the trees, followed shortly by the second. A sense of peace swept through him, and he focused on the emotion, the way his grandfather had taught him. The simple meditation helped keep the residual waves of dizziness under control.

He pulled his jacket out of the duffle bag, put it on, and zipped it up. His thoughts returned to Ruth Hallbrook. He genuinely hoped that she had survived her trip through the portal, if indeed she had gone through the portal at all. Throughout the day, he had searched for signs of her with no luck.

He studied the surrounding area. He had followed the flow of water that meandered southward, hoping that it would eventually lead to the coastline.

As afternoon became early evening, Asahi had started searching for a suitable place to make camp. He had finally settled on the rock platform where he now relaxed. He had needed to cross the river, but that hadn’t been an issue thanks to the natural bridge formed by the accumulation of rock and debris that had been washed downstream.

He looked across the river when he saw movement. A dozen small shaggy animals emerged out of the forest.

This spot turned out to be a good place to make camp for the night, he thought.

The yellow and brown striped animals were about the size and build of a wombat, but they had markings like a zebra. Several juveniles grunted with delight and broke for the water ahead of the adults. He chuckled when they began splashing each other.

He slid back and leaned against the rock. A poke in his side reminded him of the dagger at his waist. He adjusted the sheath to a more comfortable position and relaxed. The sound of snapping wood and the warning sounds coming from the family of yellow-striped animals drew his attention back across the river.

A bear-like creature, the size of an elephant, emerged from the forest a hundred yards from the wombat-like mammals. The bear’s low growl sent the juveniles dashing out of the water and back into the shelter of the forest, squealing in alarm. The adults took up a defensive stance, but the bear merely shook its head and ambled over to the river. The immense beast waded in and submerged itself in the gently flowing water, propping its head on a convenient rock with a contented sigh.

Asahi laughed softly. It took the striped adults a few minutes to relax. Once they did, the juveniles returned to the river with more caution tempering their enthusiasm.

“This world is amazing, Grandfather,” Asahi murmured.

As unusual as the forest appeared during the day, it was even more spectacular at night. Bioluminescent plants and insects began appearing as the evening progressed. He didn’t make a fire for several reasons. The last thing he wanted to do was attract attention to his location. He also didn’t want anything to affect his night vision.

There was now a chill in the air as the sun settled over the horizon. With a tired sigh, he reached into the duffle bag again, this time pulling out a thin thermal blanket. He zipped the bag and adjusted it for use as a pillow before lying down and covering himself. He was a light sleeper, a habit that worked in his favor because for the foreseeable future, he would have to be on alert.

Lying on his back, he looked up at the moons, and wondered if fulfilling his grandfather’s last wish was a wise thing to do. After all, there was no guarantee that he would make it back to Earth, and if he did, he didn’t know what year it would be. He had taken precautions, making sure certain items would be passed down as an inheritance. Still, would he be ready to handle a world that would have changed over a forty-year—or more—period? He knew all too well the struggles that his grandfather had faced.

He touched the hilt of his dagger, drawing comfort from it. Intense fatigue dragged at his consciousness. His eyelids drooped. The splashing river below and the chirping insects soon lulled him into a light but restful sleep.