Darkness.
Then… warmth.
Soft. Gentle. Alive.
Isaac's mind drifted somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. His body felt like stone sunk in water, but there was heat, unexpected and unfamiliar, pressing from every side. A rhythm. A breath. Slow. Calm. Real.
He shifted slightly, and something brushed against his chest.
Skin. Bare, soft skin.
A memory stirred, laughter under the stars, Mikaela's arms around his neck, her lips brushing his cheek, her whisper warm in his ear.
"Don't fall for anyone else."
His eyes opened halfway. The cave ceiling blurred into view. The air was cold.
But not around him.
Around him… was warmth. A body. A heartbeat.
He blinked again.
Aiah.
His eyes focused.
She was lying on top of him.
And she wasn't wearing her top.
Her bare skin pressed against his chest. One of her legs had slipped between his, tangled with his own. Her face rested near his neck, lips just inches away. Her breath was warm, soft, steady.
Isaac's heart thudded.
Her body fit perfectly against his. His arms lay useless at his sides, too weak to move, but every inch of him could feel her.
He swallowed hard.
"What…?" he whispered, voice hoarse and dry.
He shifted slightly. Aiah moved with him, a quiet sigh slipping from her lips as she snuggled closer in her sleep. Her leg pressed tighter between his.
He felt it… his getting hard despite his condition.
'Damn it. Not now.'
He shut his eyes, tried to breathe slowly, tried to calm down. But each breath only made it worse. He could smell her, smoke, sweat, and something sweet beneath it all. Her hair brushed his chin.
She was soft in all the right ways.
He barely had the strength to move, but he tried. He lifted a hand and placed it gently on her back.
But Aiah shifted.
Her eyes opened slowly, meeting his.
They stared at each other.
Neither spoke at first. The only sound was the rain and their breathing. Her face was inches from his.
Then, Isaac broke the silence.
"You stayed with me," he whispered, voice rough. "Even like this."
Aiah blinked. Her cheeks turned bright red. She sat up quickly, pulling back just enough to cover herself with one arm.
"I-I didn't mean…!" she stammered.
"You were freezing. I didn't know what else to do. I was trying to keep you alive!"
Isaac gave a faint smile. "I know."
Her eyes darted away, avoiding his gaze.
"I thought you were going to die," she whispered.
"You weren't breathing right. Your skin was cold. I couldn't make a fire. The storm…"
Her voice cracked. She looked down, clutching her shirt with shaking hands.
Isaac wanted to say something more, but his throat was dry. His body still hadn't recovered. The poison lingered, just weaker now.
"Thanks," he rasped.
Aiah glanced back at him, her expression softer now.
"You're welcome," she said quietly.
She hesitated, then leaned down again, gently pressing her forehead to his.
They stayed like that for a moment.
Quiet.
Safe.
Until…
Crack.
A sharp noise echoed from outside the cave.
Aiah shot up, eyes wide.
Isaac tried to lift himself, groaning in pain.
She moved to the entrance and peered out into the storm.
Her eyes narrowed.
She turned back to Isaac, her face pale.
"Something's out there," she whispered.
Lightning flashed.
Then it stepped into view.
Not a wolf. Not a bear.
A lizard. A Komoda.
Massive. Six feet tall at the shoulder, like a horse made of armor and hate. Scales black as coal. Eyes burning gold. Its tongue flicked. Its mouth opened wide, dripping with thick, green venom.
Its tail dragged behind it, long, thick, and spiked like a whip made of bone.
Aiah's blood ran cold.
The creature moved fast.
It lunged.
She jumped aside, but its tail lashed, slamming into her side and hurling her into the wet dirt.
Pain exploded in her ribs.
She rolled, barely dodging the second strike. Fire flared from her palm.
She launched a fireball, it struck, but the scales were too thick. Smoke rose, but the Komoda didn't slow down.
It hissed, charging again.
Aiah stood her ground.
"Come and get me," she growled through gritted teeth.
The Komoda opened its mouth. A glob of green spit shot toward her.
She ducked, but a splash hit her arm.
Her skin burned instantly.
"Agh…!" she screamed, dropping to one knee.
In the cave, Isaac leaned against the wall, straining to move.
"Aiah…!"
She turned her head. Blood mixed with rain on her face.
She had to protect him.
Her hand pulsed with heat.
She stood, eyes blazing.
"I won't lose."
She raised her hand.
Flames danced in the air, small at first, then growing. One… two… ten… twenty orbs of fire hovered, floating in a deadly line.
The Komoda's golden eyes locked onto hers. It roared and charged.
Aiah's hands trembled, but her heart didn't.
She pointed.
[FIRE BULLET.]
All twenty orbs, sharp as bullets, blasted forward, fast, focused, deadly.
They struck the Komoda's eyes, throat, underbelly, anywhere its scales were thinner.
It shrieked in pain. Smoke rose from its body.
It staggered, tail flailing wildly.
One last fire bullet hit its open mouth.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the trees.
The Komoda collapsed. Smoke and fire poured from its jaws and belly.
It didn't move again.
Aiah lowered her hand, chest rising and falling.
She turned.
Isaac was watching her, weak but proud.
"You unlocked a new skill…" he murmured. His voice was rough, his eyelids heavy.
He let his head fall back against the cave wall.
"Shame," he muttered. "If I died now, I could've gone out feeling your skin on mine."
Aiah froze. Her face flushed crimson.
"You…! That's not…! I didn't…!"
Isaac gave her a lazy grin, eyes half-lidded. "Relax. I'm kidding. Mostly."
She groaned, hiding her face in both hands. "You're the worst."
"I just got tail-whipped by a six-ton lizard. Let me have this."
She peeked between her fingers, cheeks still burning. "You're lucky you're half-dead. Otherwise I'd burn you."
He smirked. "Wouldn't be the worst way to go."
Aiah rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. She grabbed a cloth and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.
" Go inside and sleep, farmboy," she whispered. "You've got a venom problem."
"Try not to cuddle me again while I'm out," he mumbled.
She stared at him, heart pounding.
"…No promises."