Free Barbarian's Touch: A SciFi Alien Romance (Ice Planet Barbarians Book 8) by Ruby Dixon Page A

it because I didn’t scream? I’m still too afraid to make a noise.
    The new one looks back at me and then touches the other’s arm. They’ve realized I’m awake and looking back at them, I think. I freeze in place, terrified, as both look back at me. What do I do now?
    One squats next to me and I can tell by its spread legs it’s clearly male. Eesh. Its face is matted with dirty fur and there’s a puckered scar where the other eye should be. It looks at the other, makes a small gesture with its hands, and then reaches out to touch my hair.
    I remain still and the other makes a noise with its mouth, then a gesture with its hands.
    Are they…talking? Do these things sign to each other? I raise my hand and make a greeting gesture in ASL. Hello, nice to meet you . They won’t understand it, but I feel like I need to say…something?
    Their weird, fish-like glowing eyes focus on my hands. One makes a gesture similar to mine, then tilts its head back and makes another noise that I can’t hear. The other moves a hand to its face, almost like a scratch, but even that looks like a sign of some kind to me. I try to repeat the motion.
    They both cock their heads, and for a moment, remind me of dogs.
    Then, they look at each other and purse their small, round mouths, their hands moving in what look like crude signals - or scratching at fleas. Then the one grabs my boot again and continues dragging me.
    I’m not sure if this is worse or better than being Hassen’s cave candy. All I know is that I’ve traded one captor for another.
ROKAN
    We leave with a protesting, angry human, who wants to stay to find her sister. Even Kira has no sympathy for Mah-dee’s frustration, because she wants to return home to her kit. The journey back is long and takes many days. Mah-dee fights the entire way, until even Kira’s sympathetic demeanor cracks and she snaps at her.
    We all hurry, making good time, and when we return, the tribe streams out to meet us, overjoyed. Mah-dee is angry and makes a great fuss, and I feign an easiness I do not feel. If I am to get away from the others, they must not suspect that every step away from Li-lah is torture. So I smile and joke with the rest, my gaze on the distant hills we have just left behind.
    The moment the others turn to go back to the caves, I shoulder my bag and quietly head away. Now is my chance.
    Now Mah-dee is safe, and I can go find her sister without endangering the safety of the others.
    “Wait! Where are you going?” Taushen calls, racing up to my side.
    I do not stop. Already too much time has passed. “To find Li-lah.”
    “You are? But we will set out in the morning with a group.”
    “No. Everyone should stay. I will find her. It is my task.”
    He frowns, jogging after me. “What about Mah-dee? She will want to come with you.”
    “She will slow me down. She needs to stay.” I look at him. “Tell the others there is no need for a hunting party. My knowing is telling me that I will find Li-lah. It tells me I must do this alone. You are needed here to hunt.”
    Taushen frowns. “I want to come with you, then.”
    I mull this idea, but my knowing does not respond. No, Taushen will not find her. I will. My knowing sense grows stronger every time I think of her.
    My ‘knowing’ about Li-lah’s rescue does not include others…just Li-lah and myself. Every time I mentally add Taushen, or Mah-dee to the idea, it feels wrong. “It will be just me, Taushen. Tell the others where I have gone so no one worries, but she is mine to find. Everything I am tells me this.”
    He protests for a bit longer, but when I do not give in, he returns home, dejected. He will try to console Mah-dee, a thankless task if there ever was one.
    I take to the trails to try and find where Hassen is hiding with his human prize. Without the humans to slow my steps, I can race as fast as possible through the snowy valleys of my home lands. I know these trails, and I am fast. By myself, it only takes a