Puma Pride, page 36
“Of course not,” Mia said.
“We should get settled in,” Portia said.
As the shifters settled around the room, Portia stood to address the council. “We’re doing really well at these meetings. I’m glad every time I see someone new at them. I’d like to propose a slight change.”
“We’ve been getting along well as is,” Daryl stated. “What change do you want?”
“I wondered if we could rotate the meetings. If we put them in different regions more of the smaller groups could join. Also, the burden wouldn’t be on one group to host all the time,” Portia said.
“Are you saying you’re willing to host,” Daryl asked knowing many shifters weren’t comfortable sharing their territory with others.
“I am,” Portia said. “If you’re willing to share, raise your hand.”
A lot of hands went up around the room. “It looks like a majority,” Daryl said. “I’m willing to host as well. Let’s start a roster and we should all share in the expense of the gatherings.”
“It will be a good way to intermix the tribes,” Bryan said. “Maybe we could come with a small contingent of our people in order to see if they can find mates.”
“An excellent idea,” Daryl said. “Portia, will you handle the organization of this?”
“Absolutely,” she said as she took her seat. Her daughter sat next to her taking notes.
“I’ve had a conversation early this morning with the governor,” Bryan said. “We should all be aware of some changes he’s proposing on the state level and then he’s hoping to push them to the federal level.”
“Will they ban experimentation on shifters and humans,” Daryl asked.
“Yes, he wants some people to consult with on this,” Bryan addressed the full room as he stood up. “We should send a contingent of not just shifters. We all have humans in our tribes or we know of good ones in the community. I think we should offer a committee for the governor to talk to on these and other issues.”
“We might consider reaching out to local mayors to include them occasionally in our meetings,” Daryl suggested. “We need to find a way for all of us to work together. Oh, I’m realistic. I know we won’t always be on the same page but if we keep the lines of communication open, we can hopefully avoid people like Romley rising to power and Ladika from harming so many on both sides of the issues.”
“This is another reason we should allow Jolyn to publish the stories her mother wrote,” Mia suggested. “It gives our people a history and it helps the humans begin to understand our rich culture.”
“Sounds like a long morning of decisions,” Daryl said. “Let’s start with the governor’s proposal.”
“You got a lot done in a short amount of time,” Brooks paced around the room.
“We did,” Bryan rubbed the back of his neck as he sprawled next to Mia on a sofa in the lounge. “Damn why am I so tired after a morning of talking?”
“Lots of brain work,” Molly said. “Who will represent Puma on the committee?”
“You,” Bryan sprang it on his mother. “At least I hope you will. Dad can act as your protector.”
“Always," Brooks said. “Brady, will you help me with getting bodyguards?”
“Sure will,” Brady surprised by the request.
“You’ve done well shifting our enforcer role to a head of security role,” Brooks said. “It’s a good evolution for the traditional role.”
“Thank you,” Brady said. “Willie taught me a lot and I don’t think I’ve learned a quarter of what he knows.”
“Willie’s always been good at protection,” Jolyn said.
“When will you see them again,” Molly asked.
“Selene’s not up to visitors,” Jolyn said. “We’ll give them a couple of weeks.”
“Willie won’t want anyone near her,” Brady said. “He’ll be overprotective.”
“Speaking from experience,” Brooks asked.
Brady said, “Jolyn can take care of herself. I’ll be there when she can’t or if she ends up hurt.”
“Evolution in the way a male reacts to his mate,” Molly said. “Another good development.”
“What are your plans from here on,” Brooks asked.
“When things calm down,” Brady said. “Jolyn and I are taking a couple weeks to have a honeymoon.”
“Should make it a month,” Brooks said. “She deserves your attention for at least a month.”
“What will you do,” Molly said. “Travel?”
“He wants to lock me in the penthouse and not leave,” Jolyn said. “But there are a few things I’d like to see.”
“Paris,” Molly said. “London?”
“Maybe,” Jolyn stepped into Brady’s arms. “Maybe we’ll keep it a secret so we can have some privacy.”
“I like this idea,” Brady agreed as he lowered his mouth to hers. “I particularly enjoy our privacy.”
Did you enjoy?
Please try Heart of Fire
Engine failure in five minutes
“I heard you the five other fucking times,” I mutter as I try to fix the engine in my deep space explorer scout. Lifting the panel off, I test the conduits. A wormhole sucked my ship in violently shook it and spit it out. The longer it dragged me along, the more I feared for the safety and stability of my ship.
Engine failure in four minutes
Sliding on my back through a duct, I make it to the main panel and open it. “Shit,” I mutter. “Fucking shit.” Inside I see the damage to the engine. In order to fix it, I need to land on a planet and completely tear out the engine to rebuild it. “Well fuck.”
Sliding out of the large duct under the engine, The violent shaking throws me against the wall. The broken conduits prevent the proper flow of energy causing a buildup in the engine. It’s gonna blow.
“Escape pod.” The wormhole blew me out in a system, but I have no idea what’s around me. Moving to the sleep area, I grab the picture of my family and a bag. Thrusting clothes into the bag, I move to the kitchen area to gather water bottles and food.
I pause for ten seconds to look around my home for the last seven years. No time for regret, only time to assess what I need to survive. I grab my tablet from the pilot’s console.
Engine failure in two minutes
“Yeah, yeah, I know big boom,” I say. I need time to get away from the ship.
The ship shudders. I stumble and trip over debris on the floor, I keep to my feet – barely. Four steps. The ship needs to remain stable until I take four steps to the damn escape pod hatch. A loud pop, groan, and the ship tips, steam rolls out of the engine area indicating a crack in the engine. Artificial gravity fails. As I start to float, I grab for but miss the hatch release.
“Fuckity fuck,” I mutter. Reaching for the handle again, I connect, brace my feet, and turn.
A series of loud pops indicates the engine brackets blow off. More steam rolls into the cabin, I need off this ship. Yanking with all my strength, I hear the hiss of the hatch release. Swallowing hard, I toss the bag inside and push through the hatch. At that moment, the violently shaking ship shifts and the edge of the hatch connects with my forehead. I feel the sting of the collision and the heat of blood. “Dammit,” I growl as I scrabble not to float away from the hatch. The ship twists and I’m pushed into the escape pod. The door hisses closed. Thank the fucking stars.
Engine failure in one minute
I scramble to the controls and eject the escape pod from the ship. With only thrusters, I maneuver with little thrusts away from the ship and hope the ship drifts away from me rather than towards me.
Blood drips in my eyes. Using my sleeve, I wipe it away. Looking out the porthole, I watch as the ship tumbles away from me.
I grumble as I move the pod away, “Farther. Come on you piece of shit. Move.”
Isn’t that minute done?
Getting close to the porthole, I watch the ship drift farther away as I’m trying to calculate safe distance. The farther the better, right? My breath steams up the porthole.
A flash of red, orange, yellow momentarily blinds me. The energy wave from the explosion hits the pod seconds later. My whole body slams into the wall behind me. Each little protrusion jams into my body. I try to curl into a ball, but the force of the energy wave makes me splat against the wall and stay there as I try to catch my breath. I hear crunches before the pod tumbles around and around. I curl my arms around my head to protect at least one part of me.
“Fuck,” I mumble as I hit the wall forcing the air out of my lungs. Blackness clouds my vision and I hear a rushing sound as unconsciousness closes in on me. I take a shallow breath and another until my vision clears.
Before I tumble again, I seize the controls and attempt to stop the pod by alternating the thrusters. It’s a small ball with enough room for two people. But I still manage to bang up most of my body from being tossed around.
“Stabilize,” I mutter attempting to counter the tumbling motion. Slowly with small bursts from the thrusters, I get the roly poly beast to stop.
“Computer, assess damage,” I order. When my request only elicits silence, goosebumps pop up on my arms – not a good sign.
“First things first,” I say again. After so long on my own, hearing my voice makes me feel less alone. Or maybe it’s a sign I’ve lost my mind.
Freeing the first aid kit from the clamps on the wall, I open it to find a decked out kit starting with a small scanner. Holding it in my palm, I push the start button on the scanner.
Bruised ribs, back, shoulders, laceration on forehead….
“Audio off,” I skim down the list. “That’s gonna hurt tomorrow… if I have a tomorrow.”
The blood drips into my eye. Squeezing a little bottle, the adhesive forms a solid cover for the cut. With my sleeve, I wipe off the blood – again. The rest of my injuries I’ll pay attention to if I manage to survive longer than an hour.
If I fix the computer, it can analyze the worst of the damage to give me a starting point. Of course, the panel’s on the floor behind one of the seats. I wiggle behind the seat and drag the panel cover off managing to scrape my knuckles. “What’s one more,” I sigh.
These escape pods aren’t held together well. The government modified the escape pods from a short-range transport and slapped it on the deep space explorer ship. Lowest bid – definitely not the way to go when it comes to safety. The problem? I check the connections and sure enough most of them fall out. Plugging them back in nets positive results.
Oxygen deprivation in two hours and twenty minutes.
“Can this day get worse,” I sigh. “List cause of oxygen loss.”
Crack in aft porthole, leak around starboard porthole, minute crack in panel A21
“Is that all,” I spew sarcasm. “Fuck. I can’t fix any of those. At least not in space.”
My mind clicks off, numb from too many emergencies rippling from the damn wormhole. My brain feels like it’s stuttering.
“Can’t stay in here,” I say. “Scan local system for habitable planets.”
Four planets will sustain life
That’s a plus. Are any of them close enough to land on before oxygen deprivation? Snorting, I order, “Display location.”
The holographic image wavers but eventually displays in the center of the pod.
“Time to reach nearest planet,” I ask.
Three hours and ten minutes
“Of course. How can I gain more than an hour of time,” I consider the little pod. “Plot and display course to planet.”
Course plotted
The planet shrinks to show the pod and course to the planet. “Reduce safety distance from the asteroid and recalculate,” I instruct the computer.
There’s a long pause. The computer doesn’t like to let go of the safety precautions.
Two hours and fifty minutes to nearest planet
“Still need thirty,” I mumble. I sit down and get comfortable. “Divert power from all non-essential functions. Engage autopilot on course to planet.”
Working
I slow my breathing and prepare to meditate which will slow the use of oxygen. The lights flicker and go off leaving me in the dark. “Set alarm for two hours,” I order.
Two hours and thirty minutes until oxygen deprivation
“Hold notification for two hours,” I order. I need to reach a state of calm which won’t happen with the computer telling me every few minutes I’ll suffocate in this tiny ball.
I need to find peace. It won’t be hard, right? Except my ship just blew up after being tossed through a wormhole. There’s no possibility of rescue. None.
I feel my muscles tighten and my breath catch. A lump in my throat prevents me from swallowing. Fucking give up and die. Except I won’t. I refuse. I must fight.
When was the last time I felt at peace? Dinner with the family. Laughter, joy, arguments, and teasing. Sarcasm is our language. My parents concerned for me but proud my sister landed a rich guy who planned to take her away from the trudge of regular people.
My sister and I wandering through stores looking for the perfect wedding dress. A dress she worked a year to pay for. Good times. Clueless times.
Making my body relax, I breathe in slowly and exhale even slower. My heart slows. I think of my training in this when I signed up for deep space exploration. I see old Sarge walking around all of us lying on the mat in the gym. His normal bark replaced with a voice deep enough to reverberated through my body. Eighteen months I trained.
Thirty minutes to oxygen deprivation
“Time to planet,” I ask not opening my eyes.
Thirty-four minutes
“Hold notification until within ten minutes of the planet,” I mumble as I feel myself slip back into the meditative state.
Hearing my heartbeat slow, I slow my breathing and hope to stretch the oxygen enough. I think about the women in training who got pregnant on purpose once they learned our mission. Small explorer crafts meant to carry two people in different directions to look for habitable planets. Over the last seven years, I found lots of habitable planets. I was supposed to have a partner but when Ashley got pregnant – the only excuse to not go – she dropped out and no one replaced her. My mother begged me to get pregnant. I couldn’t. The whole reason for our mission - overcrowding on the stations, ships, and planets humans already occupied.
I followed my path, followed it right to …
Ten minutes until oxygen deprivation
“Time to planet,” I ask noticing a slight slur to my words.
Ten minutes to the planet
Keeping my movements slow and easy, I sit up. Theoretically, the autopilot for the pod should perform a smooth landing but with a blasted and broken pod I do not trust. “Scan planet,” I ask.
Three continents all in the northern regions and covered in snow. Atmosphere suitable for breathing. Variety of animals and vegetation. Saltwater and potable water plentiful.
The air feels stale. My head screams. I struggle to think of the next step, to keep my breathing steady and slow. The longer I keep my breathing controlled, the more likely I am to make it planetside.
The pod shakes as it falls to the planet. I fire the thrusters, but they aren’t full strength. I tear the panel off to try to figure out why they aren’t working properly. Staring numbly, I see the red bottle of air. Grabbing it, I fumble it as I attempt to strap it to my body and put the mask over my face. With a slow inhale, my headache dulls from screaming to throbbing.
“Thrusters, Gerilynn,” I remind myself. “Fix the fucking thrusters before we crash on the new planet.”
I tighten all the connections and try again. They fire at full power but by now, my velocity’s too fast for them to effectively slow me. The landscape blurs as I fall.
Two minutes to landing
I’m done. This is how I end. “Well fuck,” I say. A flash of gold streaks across the sky. Leaning forward I watch its progress. What is it? It’s too big for a bird. It’s like a… DRAGON?
“Oxygen deprivation causes hallucinations,” I say as I watch this graceful gold dragon speed towards me. It’s my imagination. It’s my fascination with fantasy novels. But I look again.
The pod shakes hard. I barely keep in my seat, but I can’t take my eyes off the dragon. It’s coming closer and getting bigger. I laugh until I’m a little worried I’m getting hysterical.
This gold beast – I can’t believe my eyes – approaches. She’s got the loveliest blue eyes. The pod bumps and shakes I’m surprised it hasn’t fallen apart. I hear scraping and tearing. I fully expect to see the bottom of the pod open for me to fall the rest of the way to the ground.
Then I bump and bounce off the back of the … is it really a dragon? Reading the instruments, I realize the bump by the dragon – that lovely amazing miraculous dragon – slowed my descent. I’m still fast but I may be able to slow myself enough to not die. At least I hope so as I work the controls. There’s no finesse. The pod drops like a stone from space.
If things work right, the thrusters slow while the hull protects against entry into the atmosphere. However, it’s government built and they cheap out on a lot of shit.
With a final bang, I land. Crunching and breaking. I see one panel detach from the pod and another slips nearly off. White powder flies up around the pod. The chair I sit in bounces and holds me in place, but I feel the crash in every fiber of my body.
Going from everything moving to such a sudden stop shocks my mind. I sit in the chair and hear creaks and groans. As I start to tip, I release the harness holding me in place. Falling forward, I twist to land on my shoulder. Pain slices through me as I turn to see the seat tip over.
“Fuck,” I say as I watch the pod crumble around me.
https://books2read.com/Heart-of-Fire
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Hello Readers!
What animal would you want to be? A snake, a cheetah, a hyena? There are so many good ones to choose from. I really enjoyed creating these characters and listening to their stories. Initially I thought it would be a story about Mia and Jolyn not liking each other and having to work through those issues. The characters had a completely different idea. I liked their idea better so this is why you have this story.
