Apparition by C.L. Scholey Page B

some of what you feel is from me,” he said
and shrugged. “I know you have no fear of Loy. But Cobra is right. The healing
process will take time. The women are terrified of both the Tonans and Castians like you are. But at least you have one Castian that you trust. It’s more than the other women can
say.”
    “I have you, too.”
    “You will always have me.”
    Zoe giggled. “I’ll always have Caveat.”
    Doss groaned. “Quit sniffing my ass, you damned hairy
beast.”
    Caveat whinnied. “I think he wants an apple. Is there
fodder for them out there?”
    Doss got up and dressed. He went to the replicator and
before long there were enough apples of every kind and color as well as carrots
to keep the horses happy for a little while. After Zoe dressed and they had
both eaten, Doss took her hand and they went outside. The suns were rising.
    Doss gripped her hand and pointed out intricate
markings on the trees and places on the soft stone structures resembling rocks
said to have belonged to another race over millions of years old. The forest
smelled primitive. It gave Zoe an odd feeling. Almost déjà
vu. If she didn’t know better she would have sworn at one time she had
walked the region. It became apparent to Zoe that Doss was more than well aware
of the area.
    “Do you come here often?” Zoe asked.
    “Often enough. I’m eight hundred years old. I get bored so I wander.
I know every inch of this planet.”
    Zoe stopped him. “Do you know where the Tonan slave camps are?”
    “Yes.”
    “You should tell Cobra.”
    Doss hesitated. “Zoe,” he began.
    Zoe frowned. “You’re afraid. Why? You were as eager as
I was to save that woman and those children.”
    “Then we met Cobra and I started thinking. If the Castians and Tonans stop warring,
who do you think they’ll wage war on next?” Doss answered. “Warriors need a battle.”
    “Are there more hybrids?”
    “I’ve never seen one, but I have heard rumors. Zoe, a
hybrid is more dangerous than a Castian and Tonan combined. I’m a good person, but what if some hybrids
aren’t? What if some lean more on the side of Tonans ? Cruel evil males that can kill both sides. Introducing
human females has proven dangerous. There are Tonans who are breeding with human females and some who might have considered giving a
piece of their shields to their sons when our second must hits.”
    “How do you know?”
    “I can control my scent emotions; I blend in and move
quickly. I hear a lot of shit. Not a lot of good shit either. With the loss of
our females, the Tonans realized their mistake and
instead of killing these human females, they’re keeping many to build their
race. Human females aren’t capable of repelling a male. They’re vulnerable
unless mated. By the time a Tonan and Castian reach the age of twelve they are deadly warriors.
New armies on both sides will build.”
    “Sounds to me like they could use a
mediator.”
    “The Tonans and Castians can never live together in harmony. Because I have
the blood of both, I have the scent memories of both. I understand each race.
There is no emotional empathy in a Tonan warrior,
it’s been bred out.”
    “I think it would be in Cobra’s best interest to
welcome you into their midst.”
    “They fear me.”
    “They don’t know you.”
    Zoe looked at the massive trees they were surrounded
by. The tree tops overlapped to close out the sun and Zoe was concerned. Doss
needed the sun. It shone sporadically in places and she guided him to one of
those areas. Doss was chuckling as she dragged him along.
    “Relax, Zoe. It takes a long time for my armor to
suffer from the loss of sunlight.”
    “Those trees are so high. What on earth would a Castian do if they were afraid of heights?” Zoe mused.
    “It would be a very embarrassing situation for sure,”
Doss said and laughed.
    “Look!” Zoe squealed and pointed. “ Moonway .”
    The little creatures were studying them just as
curiously. They stood upright on