Chapter Four

A long, thick tail covered in sharp spines snapped back and forth above a three-foot-tall, brown-cloaked creature. Suddenly, whipping its ominous tail forward, the creature hurled needle-like spines toward Teelak at high velocity.

The pilot dove behind a huge boulder. A stinging pain below the knee told him he'd been a fraction too slow. He rose quickly onto his knees, firing his laser pistol. Bits of rock flew into the air, but there was no creature in sight. He prepared to fire again and saw the creature hurry behind another rock in a blur of motion.

Man! That sucker moves fast.

Using boulders for cover, the creature moved farther away, but not far enough to suit Teelak. He also used the rocks for cover and worked his way nearer to Adria. He hoped there were no more of those things out there.

"Adria?" he hissed, trying not to give away his position. "Adria, answer me!"

She lay where she had fallen. Even though she insisted she was all right after the crash, he should have known better. Watching for movement, he saw none from Adria or the creature.

His leg burned reminding him of his own injury. The pilot glanced down to check the damage done by the alien's unusual form of weaponry.

A long, thin spine stuck through the layer of his upper boot and into his leg. Hoping it wasn't poisonous, Teelak withdrew the needle-like barb. The bleeding wasn't too bad and he decided he could live with the damage until after he checked on Adria.

Crawling forward, Teelak cursed the gray ash coating the planet's surface dusting up forcing cough after cough from his lungs. Of all the planets to crash on, it had to be this pile of rubble. At least he could breathe the air before all this dust got shoved into his nose and mouth.

As he reached out to Adria, Teelak glimpsed the brown blob with the long tail scuttling across to another boulder. The dratted thing moved so quick he couldn't get a good look at much of it except the long tail. He caught another glimpse of the brown, child-sized blur zipping from one rock to another.

Taking a risk, the pilot holstered his pistol then lurched forward to grab Adria by the arms. He dragged her backwards, staying as low as possible, until he bumped into a large rock to duck behind. Hearing a thin, whining sound, Teelak hastily pulled Adria to the back side of the rock and hunkered down.

Tiny pings indicated he'd taken cover just in time as several sharp missiles hit against the boulder. Others flew over his head. Teelak pulled his pistol and sought a target. Give me one good shot, Brownie. I'll teach you to needle me.