Aftershocks: Ice Planet Barbarians: A Slice of Life Short Story Read Free

quite place where I am, and I feel like I should be able to. I feel like there’s something I’m missing.
    But I’m most worried about Rukh. He’s my rock. He’s my world—him and Rukhar. If something happened to him…I shudder because I don’t want to think about that.
    Rukh takes the baby from me and holds him gently against his chest. His focus is still on me, but that’s all right. One step at a time. I keep my hand on his leg as I try to get to my feet—and fail. The moment I rise, I get dizzy and have to sit down again. My body breaks out in a cold sweat.
    And my mate starts growling again.
    I sink to the ground again, pressing my forehead against Rukh’s arm. “I’m sorry. Give me just a moment.”
    “Har-loh,” he rasps, and I hurt all over again at the pain in his voice.
    “I’m fine,” I tell him, even though I’m not. The stabbing pain in my side isn’t going away, and I want to cry because everything hurts so much. My brain feels scrambled and it’s hard to focus. But we’re alive. I have vague memories of being inside the ship when everything shook and then—
    I gasp, sitting upright again and looking around. In the dark, it’s hard to make out anything. I feel the floor underneath me, though, and I can feel a few familiar squares that feel like keyboard keys.
    Oh my god. This narrow, dark pit? This is the ship.
    “What happened?” I ask Rukh. “Tell me.”
    He pulls Rukhar close and ignores the baby’s smacking fists. He presses his mouth to the top of Rukhar’s head and I think for a moment he’s not going to answer. But then he speaks, slowly, as if trying to remember the words. “Cave…move.”
    The ship moved? I peer up, to the bright spot that hurts my eyes. I try to force myself to look even though it makes my head throb. It’s the door we use to come in and out of the ship…and it’s about a hundred feet up.
    The ship is sideways .
    I’m suddenly terrified. If the ship is sideways, what is it resting on? We might be in danger even now. “Rukh, we have to get out of here.”
    He growls again, and I’m hoping it’s acknowledgment.
    I stare up at the doorway and wonder how we’re going to get there. We have Rukhar, and I’m having a hard time sitting up, much less climbing out of a wall. Hot tears threaten, but I swipe them away. Now is not the time. I have to save my baby and my mate. “Can you carry Rukhar?” I ask him. “I don’t think I can carry him up the wall.”
    “Carry,” he rasps, and touches my cheek. “Har-loh carry. Rukhar carry.”
    He wants to carry me? It’s sweet, but I want them to get out first. “I can manage,” I tell him, crawling to my hands and knees. If I go slow, maybe I can do this. Heck, I don’t have a choice— I will do this. “Everything is going to be fine, Rukh.”
    My mate pulls my son close to his chest and tucks him into what looks like a leather sling. He gets to his feet and then looks down at me, waiting. It’s clear he’s not leaving without me.
    Okay. I need to move, then. I slowly get to my feet. Once there, everything seems to hurt worse and my rib feels like it’s stabbing a hole in my gut. I need something to lean on, and am grateful when Rukh is there, cradling me close. “ Har-loh. ”
    Rukhar starts to wail.
    “I know,” I say, trying not to breathe in too deep. “I’m coming. Take Rukhar out of here if you can. I’ll be right behind you.”
    He puts an arm around my shoulders, ignoring my request.
    “No,” I tell him, pushing away his touch. It hurts—both physically and mentally—to do so, but my little Rukhar is screaming and I’m worried over him and my mate. I need them safe. Being in the belly of the ship while it’s turned on its side is terrifying me. I need them out so I can concentrate on rescuing myself. “No, Rukh. I need you to take him to safety. Get him out of here. Now .” When he hesitates again, I continue. “If you love me, you’ll do that.”
    Rukh makes a pained groan,