Taming a Planet (Trapped in Time Book 2) by Saxon Andrew Read Free Book Online Page A

he blew it the Raptors would flinch. Four more charged from behind but were cut apart before they could get in striking range. One jumped and Andy stepped slightly to the left and cut it in half as it passed overhead.
    The Leader had seen enough. She roared as she turned and ran. The surviving members of the flock ran away with her. Andy watched them run and blew three short bursts on the whistle.
    Harmony was hanging on to Dinah for dear life and was amazed at how fast she could run. Her speed was unbelievable. She felt anger and sorrow at having been thrown on Dinah and forced to leave. Andy had given his life to save her. Suddenly, Dinah veered into a half circle and ran back toward the Raptors. Harmony yelled stop, pulled on the rope, and kneed Dinah but she ignored everything she tried. She shook her head but saw something ahead of them. As they came closer she saw a huge pile of dead Raptors with Andy standing in the center of them. There were two bright blue lights over his head that went out as they arrived. Harmony jumped off Dinah and ran up to Andy and hit him on the arm, “That’s for forcing me to leave. You could have died!”
    Andy grabbed her arm before she could hit him again and smiled, “I couldn’t defend myself and you. I had to get you and Dinah away.”
    Harmony looked at the dead Raptors and slowly shook her head, “You did all this?”
    Andy pointed around them and said, “Those were killed by your rifle and my bow. I’m going to need your help recovering my arrows and we need to get moving before the opportunists arrive.”
    Andy took a knife out of a pouch and pointed, “Most of them are to the south.”
    • • •
    An hour later, the Pterodactyls were moving in but all of the arrows had been extracted from the dead Raptors. Andy showed Harmony how to saddle Dinah and attach all of his gear. “What’s in this pack?”
    Andy smiled, “A tool. I’ll show it to you later.” Harmony nodded and climbed up on Dinah. Dinah was ready to go. There were too many carnivores around for her taste, even if most of them were dead. Andy saw several Raptors stick their heads out of the trees and he blew the whistle. They immediately disappeared.
    Harmony laughed, “They’re not as dumb as I thought.” Dinah picked up speed as they moved ever further south.
    • • •
    That night the moon was full and high overhead. The roars of the giant carnivores echoed across the plain as they bounced back from the cliffs on the other side of the river. “Andy.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Do you have someone back at your home?”
    “Do you mean a mate?”
    “Yes.”
    “I have someone waiting on me but we have not been bonded yet.”
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t know. I guess I had things going on and didn’t do it. It just didn’t seem to be the right time.”
    “Are you going to…bond with her when you go back?”
    “I guess. Why are you asking this?”
    “In my community most young men your age have been mated. I just assumed you had a mate.” She paused and said, “What were you doing out here. Aren’t you a long way from home?”
    Andy sighed, “I was banished from the Community for a year.” Harmony remained silent. Andy waited for the obvious question and finally said, “The punishment was fair and I deserved it.”
    “What did you do that would warrant such harsh treatment?”
    “I failed a test for becoming the leader of our community.”
    “Failed?”
    “I put my own ambitions ahead of the Community’s welfare.”
    “Oh.”
    “It’s not that simple. My test was being told that my best friend had been chose to lead the Community ahead of me. They requested I open the Holy Door and I refused. I told them to have Maxius do it if they wanted him instead of me.”
    “You were disappointed.”
    “You have no idea. I learned that Maxius’ test was being told that he had been chosen ahead of me even though I was better skilled than him. He refused to accept the job. He did put the Community