Lightning flashed, cutting through the darkness that enveloped the cave. Each thunderous rumble might be the beast, or it might be the storm. Kai was little more than a shadow sitting next to Neena, visible in those intermittent moments when the cave brightened. They kept mostly still, shifting only when they needed to avoid cramps. Neena kept a cautious eye between Kai and the desert.
With too much time to think and fear, she replayed the events from earlier. She'd never forget the enormous, jagged teeth of the creature, tearing the Rydeer in half, or the gaping hole in the sand, left in its wake. She thought of what Kai had told her. She couldn't imagine surviving a beast as large or as deadly for so long—and especially without water, or a weapon.
Those thoughts led to another that she'd temporarily put aside. She'd lost her main weapon.
My spear.
That last thought hit her so hard and so fast that a pang of grief accompanied her fear. The spear had been her father's. He had left it for her before he departed for the desert for the final time. Now, the weapon was probably buried so far underground that neither person nor beast would come across it again.
She might not miss it for long, before she died.
Looking out at the whipping wind, Neena couldn't assure herself that she'd survive another day. She no longer had any sense of day or night. With no sun or moons to gauge the time, she could only guess by the temperature.
The heat was fading, which meant night was coming.
The desert nights were as cold as the days were sweltering. Most nights, she slept close to her fires when she was lucky enough to find enough wood to burn, staving off the bitter cold. The few blankets Neena carried in her bag were barely enough to keep her warm.
They remained in place for a long while, listening and watching, until Neena changed positions again. She sat back, clutching her knees and keeping a tight grasp on her knife.
A forgotten feeling struck her.
Hunger.
With all the running and hiding, she'd ignored it. Neena hadn't eaten since morning. She recalled hunkering under the shade of a rock outcropping, consuming a few pieces of sand rat while escaping the bright rays of the sun. She couldn't imagine eating anything now, with the dread of the monster outside, but Kai's warning came back to her: they might need their strength.
Slowly, she removed the pack from her back, feeling around inside. Kai looked over anxiously, thinking she'd heard something. In a flash of light, she signaled she was okay. Feeling around in the dark, her hands came across a few thin blankets and shawls and some empty game bags. Eventually, she found the small pouch containing the last of the meat she'd saved. Digging out some sand rat, she handed it over to Kai. He was surprised, until he realized what she gave him. He took it gratefully, stuffing it into his mouth and chewing wordlessly.
Neena ate some, saving a little.
Together, they consumed the meat in silence, watching the flashes of light through the storm. Another, strange feeling came over Neena.
For too many years, Neena had hunted alone, sharpening her spear in similar caves, collecting her water and her game. It felt good to have someone with whom to share her worries. But she had to remind herself that Kai was a stranger, about whom she knew less than the monster.
Finally, when the chill of the setting sun prickled her arms with goose bumps, Kai leaned over, breaking their silence.
"It is almost night, judging by the cold," Kai whispered, solidifying her guess.
Neena nodded. "That's what I thought, too."
"Abomination or not, I don't think we would have much luck traveling in the storm. The winds will blow out a torch."
"And we will lose direction," Neena finished. Even if she wanted to leave, she couldn't imagine stepping out into the darkness and the wind. Looking in Kai's direction, she asked, "Do you think it will hunt us at night?"
"I don't think it cares about days or nights," Kai said. "I think it rests when it wants, underground. But either way, I usually stay off the sand when it gets dark. We are at enough of a disadvantage during the day."
Neena nodded gravely. With the decision made, she dug into her bag again, fishing for her blankets. Despite her reservations about Kai—about everything—they needed to stay warm.
"If we are staying, you'll need this," she said, handing him one of the blankets.
"Thanks," Kai said appreciatively. She heard him drape it over himself in the dark.
"Where have you slept?" she whispered.
"Sometimes in caves like the one in which we are in," Kai said. "A few times, I found a small patch of rocks between which to tuck myself. I don't sleep much. Each time I close my eyes, I fear I will not awaken."
"Have you built fires?"
Kai shook his head. "I'm afraid the crackling will draw it. It might be an irrational fear, but it has kept me alive. And it is hard to find wood, of course. I keep praying it will lose interest in me. So far, that hasn't happened."
And now, it had an interest in Neena, too. She shuddered as she thought of that.
She couldn't imagine sleeping, knowing the creature was out there. On a normal night, Neena slept fitfully. Most nights, she woke at every noise, ready to defend herself. The fires she lit warded off some of the animals, but more than once, she'd fended off some desperate, hungry predator.
"The sandstorm will help us," Kai repeated, as he shifted in the dark, sounding as if he was trying to convince himself.
A rumble preceded another flash. In the bright light, she saw Kai holding a finger to his lips, making it clear that they should return to silence. She studied his face, wondering if she would have to fend him off, too.
Kai had saved her from the beast.
He'd pushed her to the ground before she was devoured.
Neena couldn't forget that.
And yet, she was still uneasy. For now, she had no choice but to trust the strange man with whom she was trapped. Holding her knife tight in her hands, she traded her focus between the cave's entrance and the strange man next to her, knowing they were both in for a sleepless night.