I wake up on the ground outside a few feet away from the cave. I can barely make out the tree where Amancia and I lay asleep. I swear I see myself sitting up, so I take a step closer. A loud cracking sound fills the air and I quickly back up. Stupid branch! I hope I didn't wake anyone. I watch as my other self's head snaps my direction, and déjà vu floods my mind. So that's what the noise was. Not one of those monstrous bird things. I watch as my other self-calms down and then heads for the cave. I give her a few minutes to make her way through the sleeping Talfarians, and a chance to shake loose from the leg grabber; before I follow. Don't want to shock myself into hurting the baby.

          At the entrance of the cave, I take a quick look to make sure everyone is still asleep, before proceeding. I take almost the same route as last time, except when I get to the grabber, I give him a wide berth, instead taking the path that passes a female Blydin. I round the corner and creep past myself, edging against the wall, so she doesn't see me. I hear the same exchange between Malum and mother, as last time. I need to stop that kiss. Maybe if I stop it, I can prevent her from falling in love with him. But how do I stop the kiss, without killing myself or mother?

           "Why did you place the algae here of all places?" I hear her ask.

           "Because this cave system is so large, you can easily get lost and never find your way out. The algae will lead you out of here. It will take you to the grasslands, from there it's another day's journey until you reach the abandoned scientific outpost. The algae lights the path out, remember that."

           It's about to happen, again. What do I do?

           "Okay, thanks." Mother says, turning to leave.

             "Nova." Malum says, catching her by the arm, spinning her back around, and pulling her to his chest. She looks up into his eyes, as he lowers his lips to hers.

            I let out a growl that ends in a loud scream, mocking the sound a Slaphner makes. That surprises Malum enough that he pulls away just before kissing her. I collapse to the ground, and everything goes black just as I hear another Slaphner call, this time it's a real one.

            "Oof." I whisper as I bend over. You'd think I'd be used to the effects of time travel by now. I wonder if all this time travel will affect the baby. The thought attacking my mind seems to come from nowhere. But there's no time for that, now. I push the thought from my mind and focus on mother and Malum.

            "What's that?" Mother asks, fear filling her voice. "Is that another Slaphner?"

            "Sounds like it. My guess is that the Copaie followed you here to this planet and are using the Slaphner to track you." Malum says. "Let's get you back to the group, you'll be safer there."

             I watch as he leads her safely back to the group of Talfarians and then heads off in the opposite direction. Ha! No kiss for you! I spoiled your plans! Curious as to where he is going, I follow him from a distance. At first it appears that he is following the algae out of the cave, but halfway through, he veers away from it. We walk through the mostly dark cave, me following the light of his lantern for what feels like a few hours, before we stop.

            Malum holds the lantern up high and does a small circle. And then he speaks up, "I know you are in here, somewhere. I felt you watching us. Come on out."

             I temporarily freak out, and back up as close to the wall as I can get. I am on the verge of stepping forward when I hear a deep raspy voice answer.

             "This our cave. Why you here?"

             "Someone very important to me is going to be coming through this cave."

             "Sound like Alpha lunch."

              "I want you to let her pass by, unharmed, Alpha."

               "No. This cave mine. Alpha eat what come." Alpha says in a raspy voice.

             "'Alpha eat what come.'" Malum says in a mocking tone. "No, you better listen to me. You will allow her safe passage through this cave system, because I still have your son."

            I hear a growling noise and then Alpha says, "Alpha allow her passage but Alpha no control others."

            "You are the Alpha, the pack leader. Tell the others to leave her be."

             More growling. "And why others let pass? Others no listen unless others get something."

              "She isn't traveling alone. There is a large group of Talfarians with her. Feel free to eat them. Eat them all if you want to. Just make sure she stays alive."

             "How Alpha know who Alpha no eat?" he rasps.

            "She has a young Vanduo Tuk with her. He seems to like riding on her shoulders." Malum says.

          Alpha growls again, this time ending in a barking sound. The bark bounces off the cave walls, echoing all around me. "Stupid Vandy! They reason Alpha, and pack, caged. Alpha eat little Vandy and Malum's female."

           "No, you will not eat, 'Vandy', or the girl. Because if you do, I will slit the throat of your son and watch his blood soak into the ground." Malum retorts.

             Alpha lets out another growl before responding. "Fine. Vandy lives. Girl lives. No more. Pack have to eat. Pack no eat in two days. Alpha hungry. Pack hungry."

            "Oh, and one more thing. There is a pair of Slaphners nearby, kill them."

             "Yes, Alpha kill." Alpha says. Then he starts sniffing the air. "Alpha smell food. Female. With child. MMM. Alpha hungry. Alpha drooling."

              I don't even have time to wonder if he means me before I feel claws dig into my arm. I feel something strong pulling me towards Alpha and Malum.

              "It's just a Copaie. Kill her." Malum says. He waves his arm and then disappears back into the tunnels, leaving the lantern behind.

               "Food. Alpha love food." Alpha says, as he circles me. I can hear others snarling and growling, just outside of the lantern's reach.

               "Wait! Don't eat me!" I shout, panicking.

                "Why pack wait? Pack eat now."

               I think quickly. "Because I will find your son and let him go."

              That causes him to pause a moment before asking, "Why female save Alpha son?"

            "Because I hate Malum just as much as you. He killed my mother, and I'm here to stop him."

            "Hmm. Female stop Malum and release Alpha son?"

             "Yes."

          "Are you lying to Alpha? Alpha can smell lies." He then precedes to sniff the air.

          I'm pretty sure he can't actually smell lies, but he sounds so convincing. "No, I'm not lying."

            He sniffs the air a few more seconds and then replies, "Alpha no smell lie. Alpha agrees. Alpha no kill Female, Female agree kill Malum, and Female release Alpha son."

           "Wait. I didn't say anything about killing."

            "Female kill Malum or no deal. No deal mean Alpha and pack eat female."

           I pale at the idea of having to kill Malum, but it's either him or me, and I choose him. "Fine. Female, I mean I, agree to kill Malum and release your son."

              "If female no honor agreement, Alpha hunt female down, eat female, and female whole family."

            "I said I agree. I won't go back on my word. But one more thing, Alpha."

            He growls in response.

              "There is another female, just like me but with no baby, I will need her help. Don't eat her either."

              "Deal." Alpha says, grabbing my hand in his clawed hand.

              Amancia will just have to forgive me for leaving her alone at the tree. But I don't want to put her in danger my bringing her with me. Malum can be very unpredictable. I pick up the lantern and head back through the tunnels.