A World Found--Book 1

Chapter 7

The moons shone brightly overhead as they dashed toward the east. Zoe was gasping for air five minutes later, while Freya legs felt only warmed up, it helped that she had to run from the cops every now and then.

 "We have to keep going Zoe, we have to warn earth, and get home before we're killed, we have to, if those Yeths laid eggs in someone heading back to earth they could destroy earth." Freya pulled a drooping Zoe to her feet. 

"Okay, but what about Keith and Kat?" Freya grabbed Zoe by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "they're dead, gone, there is nothing we can do for them. The best thing we can do is save ourselves, okay?" Zoe's lip trembled but she nodded.

It was almost 2:21 A.M back home before they realized where they were. "We're almost there!" Freya grabbed Zoes hand and hurried toward their destination. 

Zoe laughed through her tears. "I'm glad were leaving, I really was scared. I thought I might not ever get to see my new baby brother." Freya gripped Zoes' hand tighter. "I'm going to make sure you get to see your brother. Okay?"

 Freya had grown to like this small girl the past few days. Zoe wiped at her eyes. "Yeah. Hey I see it!" She pointed at the bright white shuttle; it reflected the moon into their eyes, and they hurried down the small hill. 

Freya grabbed her stomach, "Augh, go slower!" Zoe laughed and jumped up and down waiting for Freya to reach the bottom of the hill. "I'm going to go radio earth!" Freya followed her slowly, "wait, we should check the are surroundings before---"

Zoe ran up the open door and into the shuttle. "Ahhh!" Zoes shrill scream split the silence. Freya gasped and ran toward the shuttle. Zoe flew backward and landed on the grass. She rolled over and stumbled to her feet. 

A large black body burst from the shuttle with a terrifying scream. Zoe stumbled as she tried to escape the creature. The Yeth screamed and dug its front legs into the earth propelling it forward. 

Freya dashed forward and rammed into the creature. They collided and rolled away from Zoe. The Yeth snarling rolled back onto its feet. "Zoe! Get into the shuttle!" Freya rolled around leapt back to her feet, she ran toward the shuttle. The Yeth's long arm reached out and grabbed her ankle. She hit the ground with a loud 'crack.'

 The Yeth jumped toward her and opened it large mouth. It had two rows of teeth like a shark, and drool dripped from its mouth. Freya brought her foot up and 'crack' the Yeth flew backward. The Yeth shook its head and stood to its feet, it growled and took another running start.

 'Bang,' 'bang!' The Yeth dropped to the ground, dark black blood gushing from the two holes in its chest. Freya head spun toward the shuttle. Zoe shaking dropped the gun and fell to her knees. 

"You almost died!" she wailed. Freya moaned and fell back onto the grass, Zoe, always thinking about others. "It probably followed are scent out here." Zoe stopped crying and sat sniffing.

 Freya finally stood and sat down on the ramp leading into the shuttle. "We should radio for help, send out the warning." This only made Zoe start to cry again. "It's broken! That monster broke everything." Freya groaned and stood to walk into the shuttle. 

"Why me?" She walked over their torn-up cots. "Remember there coming for us in a week or two we just have to wait." Zoe sniffed and nodded. "We should listen to their last broadcast, maybe they'll be coming early." she walked past Freya and hit a few buttons on the crack panel. "it---should still work." 

Feedback shrilled through the shuttle then "Cadets of the 1st planet 201.8 mission, we are sorry to inform you that we've had a major fuel leak. The Pick-up date will have to be postponed. Until then record new plant species, animals, and stay safe. Until then, good luck." More feedback. There was silence in the shuttle. 

Then Freya, picking up one of the broken cots, started beating it on the floor of the shuttle. "Damn it! We're stuck on this god forsaken planet! Augh" she threw the cot out of the opening in the shuttle. 

She slammed her fist against the metal shuttle and slid down to the floor, burying her head in her hands. Forget home, those Yeth could smell them a mile away and who knows what the Algras people would do with them, eat them to? 

Freya looked up, as Zoe started choking on her sobs. Zoe fell to her knees and sobbed. "I want my mom! I want to go home!" Freya closed her eyes and leaned against the wall of the shuttle. "We---we can't cry about it, we can't stay here, our scent is all over this place. 

We have to get what we can and find somewhere safe." Freya stood to her feet and patted Zoes back awkwardly. "Come on, I know I'm upset too. I'm sorry if I scared you." Zoe looked up at her and ran her sleeve over her nose. "How long can we survive? Even if the Yeth don't find us? How much food and water do we have?" 

Freya looked at their Equpment scattered over the floor. "I don't know, I wasn't originally part of this mission, remember, so I wouldn't know. But we'll gather all we can, besides this was meant to be for four people, not two." 

Zoe started to cry again. Freya cursed herself. don't bring them up. She thought. 

"Zoe, we have to live, and how we live is to get away from here." Zoe pulled herself to her feet. "Okay." she sniffed and started looking for a pack. They shoved their bags with food, water, and other things such as fire starters, first aid, and a knife. Freya strapped a pistol holster to her leg and slid the gun in. 

She strapped a knife sheath to her other leg making sure the knife was secure. Freya kicked a cot over and grabbed a rifle. They sure made sure they had fire power, Freya gritted her teeth, why would they give the cadets so much fire power if they had thought they would be safe? 

She checked the chamber, then added a box of bullets to her bag. "Ready?" Zoe was struggling to strap her backpack to her back. She had no weapons on her.

 Freya sighed and searched for another pistol and knife. "You have to have some way to protect yourself." she helped Zoe strapped them to her legs. Zoe held the rifle in her arms awkwardly. "How did you become so fearless? I mean you threw yourself at that Yeth without even thinking."

 Freya stiffened and tightened the strapped holding the gun to Zoes leg. "I learn how to survive from an early age, I grew up on the streets. I fight, I think, and I survive. Lots of people don't like that about me." 

Freya stood up and swung her own backpack over her back. "Is that how you got that scar?" Freya stared at Zoe. She had wondered when she'd bring it up, "No, it was before I lived on the streets." 

Freya said stiffly. Zoe looked away. "Sorry, I think it looks cool." Freya smiled making her scar stretch. "Thanks." Freya grabbed the rifle leaning up against the wall. "Ready?" Zoe gripped her own rifle tightly. "Yes." 

Before they left Zoe opened a small compartment. She handed Freya a watch. "I saw yours was cracked, and this one can tell temp and direction like mine, yours looks old." Freya took the watch and clipped it around her wrist next to the other one.

 Zoe knitted her eyebrows. "Well, you can throw the other one away, you don't have to keep it, it's cracked." Freya ran a finger over the old watch. "No, it was my mothers, I know it sounds cheesy, but I'd like to keep it." Zoe blushed a little. "No, I understand."