Universe Hunters: Taken by C.L. Scholey Read Free Book Online Page B

hunters.”
    Grumbling, Cali marched out of the cave. Altair followed closely, so closely when she stopped to gaze around, he barreled into her, upsetting them both to the ground.
    “Get off, fat ass,” Cali shouted. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
    “How would you like to suddenly be stuck in a different form?”
    Cali took a good shove at him and jumped to her feet. She stopped when he howled in terror. Horrified he stared at his hand.
    “I’m leaking,” Altair yelled.
    “For the love of God. You’re bleeding, and it’s only a tiny bit.”
    “Make it stop.”
    Rolling her eyes, Cali grabbed his other hand and dragged him to the river; thankfully there was no sight of the bird-creature. She dunked his hand into the cold water and washed the cut thoroughly. By the time he cradled his hand to his chest, the bleeding had stopped. Altair screeched and yanked her in front of him. She landed on her ass while Altair crouched, peeking over her shoulder.
    “What now?” she demanded.
    “Look,” he whispered.
    “I don’t see anything.”
    “What is that hideous thing? Is it deadly?”
    Cali gazed to where his dumbstruck look was settled. She sighed. “It’s a frog.”
    When she looked behind her, nose inches from his, and gazed into his face all she could do was shake her head. Altair was six-two and at least two hundred and twenty pounds. Somehow she had become his babysitter.
    This creep is supposed to take care of me for the next millennium? I don’t think so. “You do realize if you try and drag me back to your planet, everyone is going to get an earful of the great and powerful scientist as a scared child.”
    Altair looked appalled. “You wouldn’t.”
    “Try me,” she drawled.
    “I will be happy to see the last of you.”
    “That makes two of us.”
    Cali disengaged from Altair and stood up; she went further upstream and helped herself to the freshest water she had ever tasted. It appeared Altair wasn’t ready to see the last of her just yet; he trailed close, ever watchful. Cali took stock of what they had and what they needed as she made her way back to the cave. They had shelter and knew where to find water—two major problems solved. Although, they did need food. Cali could easily start another fire. She wondered if she should start a fire and leave Altair the mouse to tend it while she, the lioness, went hunting. The idea made her chuckle.
    “I’ll start a fire, and we can gather some kindling so you can keep it going while I hunt,” Cali said.
    “You’re leaving me alone? Out here? By myself?”
    “That was the general idea,” she said. If he starts crying I’ll whack him. “I can’t hunt with you trying to crawl all over me.”
    “I’ll stay out of your way, I promise.”
    Altair continued to plead his case as Cali restarted the fire and left the cave to gather wood. She piled Altair’s arms full, then gathered more until she was loaded down. Altair dropped everything and screamed. Cali heard a startled scream in reply. It would have been comical, she supposed. Altair was cowering behind her while a female Neanderthal cowered behind her male.
    The two short stocky humanoids were beautiful in a way. Each had dark black hair and deep dark eyes. The male was holding a spear; the female had dropped a basket. The male’s hips were covered in a fur pelt, as was the female’s; her breasts were bare. They looked so young and yet so wise. Cali was certain she gazed into her past.
    “Altair,” she whispered. “Is this Earth?”
    “No,” he whispered back.
    It sounded like a woodpecker was making a racket behind them, searching for food, pounding into a tree. Until Cali determined the noise was actually Altair’s knees knocking. The male holding the spear shook it at Cali. Determined to show no fear, Cali did not humble herself. She nodded at the male and demanded Altair pick up the wood he had dropped. With Altair busy, the young male Neanderthal ordered his female to retrieve