Chapter 1

Blast shot up in bed, a scream caught in his throat. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat trying to escape his chest. The metallic glint of the android’s face, the cold pressure of its hand on his helmet—it was all so real. He was back on the lunar surface, reliving the moment he should have died.

Then a warm, gentle hand was on his cheek, and the scent of wildflowers filled his senses.

“It’s all right, my love,” a soft voice whispered. “It was just a bad dream.”

He looked into Juliet’s eyes, their vibrant green shining with concern in the dim morning light. He took a long, shaky breath, the memory of the nightmare fading like a wisp of smoke.

“I know,” he said, his voice raspy. “It’s just… the same nightmare.”

She nodded understandingly. It had been a year since their victory over the Manti, a year since he had chosen this new life and this new world. He had left the Ark Colony One behind, its technology sleeping, but the memories of Earth and the war that had nearly destroyed it still haunted his dreams.

A lot had changed since then. A peace treaty had been established with the Felidae, and for the first time in generations, their two peoples coexisted. More importantly, the Manti had not been heard from since their defeat at the mountain. Their silence was both a comfort and an eerie reminder of the powerful enemy they had overcome.

He sat up, taking in the small, circular hut that had become their home. The walls were woven from thick, fibrous reeds, adorned with intricate, hand-woven tapestries depicting scenes of the village’s history—great hunts, community festivals, and quiet moments of reflection. A hearth in the center of the room held a dying fire, its embers glowing warmly, and their simple bed of soft furs was pushed against the far wall. The space, though small, felt safe and lived-in, a stark contrast to the sterile, metal corridors of his life before Arkolny.

Juliet rose from the bed, stretching with a lithe, feminine grace that never ceased to amaze him and slipped into her animal-skin bikini. “My father has a new task for us,” she said. “He wants us to make contact with the Caballun settlement. He believes with the Manti threat gone, it’s time to build more alliances. Orion will be waiting for us just outside the village.”

Blast nodded; the mission was a welcome distraction from his inner turmoil. He pulled on his uniform and holstered his survival knife in his boot, following his wife out of their hut and into the crisp Arkolny morning air.

The village was a portrait of tranquility. Villagers moved about with quiet purpose while children chased each other between huts, their laughter a melody of pure joy. The scent of cooking breakfast, a mixture of roasted grains and wild berries, filled the air. It was a perfect, peaceful world, and it was his to protect.

They reached the outskirts of the village, where the cultivated fields gave way to the wild plains. He spotted Orion instantly; his golden fur covered an imposing physique that was a startling mix of human and feline. The massive creature sat cross-legged, a statue of pure stillness. His eyes were closed, his expression serene, his broad shoulders relaxed. He was meditating, his presence a calming force on the beautiful vista.

Without opening his eyes, Orion spoke, his deep voice like the rumble of distant thunder. “I thought you two would never get here. Let us begin.”

Blast and Juliet shared a smile, and then, with their companion leading the way, they began their journey toward the distant lands of the Caballuns.

Thank you for reading this sample. We invite you to finish reading this story by purchasing this book.