Chapter Three — The thing that hunts the Thirst

The Spikehoof was closing in fast. Its massive body tore across the sand, hooves cracking the ground as it gained on Phipher’s Dustreaver. Just before it could ram her— Phipher swerved sharply to the side. The Spikehoof charged straight past, missing her by mere inches.
Phipher let out a breathless chuckle.「Good thing you idiots only charge in straight lines.」Her eyes narrowed.「Now… how do I end this?」She spotted two jagged rock formations ahead. And remembered the high-tension rope secured beneath her seat.【…Worth a shot.】
She veered hard, speeding between the formations. In one smooth motion, Phipher fired the grappling hooks—The rope snapped tight between the rocks. She yanked the throttle and pulled back.
「Yeah… that’s it. Come closer.」
The Spikehoof thundered forward. The moment it entered range—Phipher released the line. The rope snapped back like a coiled serpent. It struck the Spikehoof head-on, launching the beast several meters through the air. Dust exploded outward.
Phipher squinted.「That should at least—」
The Spikehoof rolled… then stood back up.Barely injured.
「…Argh. Seriously?」She clicked her tongue in irritation.「I knew that wouldn’t kill it, but still—」
The ground shook again. Her eyes widened.
「Oh shit.」
The Spikehoof charged with renewed fury. Phipher slammed the accelerator.
「Fuck—how do I end this?!」She glanced down at her Dustreaver. A slow grin spread across her face.「…If this doesn’t work, nothing will.」
She sped up— Then sharply turned the Dustreaver to face the oncoming beast. At the last second, Phipher leapt free. The unmanned Dustreaver screamed forward—And slammed directly into the Spikehoof. A violent explosion tore through the sand. Flames and debris filled the air. Phipher shielded her eyes.
「Hope you like bombs, you freak.」【I might be the first lou’cal to kill a Tier-2 Terravore solo.】
The smoke cleared. Her breath caught. The Spikehoof… stood up. Burned. Bleeding. But alive.
「…What the fuck.」Anger flared across her face.「Am I a joke to you?!」She bolted toward a nearby rock formation—one with a narrow opening.【That’ll have to do.】
Phipher dove inside just as the Spikehoof crashed into the rocks after her. The formation shook violently. Stone cracked.
【This won’t hold long.】
The Spikehoof rammed again. And again. Then—A deafening crash echoed outside. The ramming stopped. Silence followed.
【…It stopped? Did it leave? And what was that sound?】Phipher stepped out slowly.「Huh… it’s gone—」Her scream tore through the desert.「FFFFFFAAAAAAHHHH—!!」
That was the last sound she made—Before collapsing from sheer shock at what she saw attacking the Spikehoof.
◽A Week Later◽◽3240.11.14◽
Phipher woke with a sharp inhale. An unfamiliar ceiling greeted her. Her body tensed instantly.
「…Where am I?」She scanned the room.【Enemy camp? No… the temperature’s too stable. Suitable for a lou’cal… but—】She frowned.【Too small for a Mid’cal camp.】
Slowly, she slipped out of bed. Moving silently, Phipher followed the faint sound of cooking. She peered into a small kitchen—And froze. Someone was there. A man.
【…What the hell is that?】
She didn’t recognize the species. Carlton—now twenty-two—stood at the stove, calmly cooking. He paused. Then turned his head. He noticed her immediately.
「Hmm…」Carlton gestured toward the table.Phipher blinked.「You… want me to sit?」「Hmm.」He nodded.Her surprise turned into intrigue.【It’s not deaf. Then how does it understand me?】
Carlton turned back to cooking as if nothing was wrong. Phipher’s warrior instincts kicked in.
【It looks defenseless… No—if it didn't restrain me, it doesn’t see me as a threat.】She sat down slowly.【That makes this dangerous.】Carlton thought silently.【Alice, is she still staring at me like that?】【Yup. And intensely too.】【…Minus the antenna, green hair, and slit eyes—She could pass for human.】Alice chimed in, amused.【Then talk to her.】【Language barrier, remember?】【Trust me. Your body adapted to everything here. Including language.】Carlton hesitated.【…Alright.】
He finished cooking, placed the food on the table, and sat across from her.
Carlton cleared his throat.「So… can you understand me?」
Phipher jumped up instantly, hand snapping to her knife.
Carlton remained calm.「I’ll take that as a yes.」He tilted his head slightly.「Your antenna changed color too. Blue—does that mean tactical combat?」「…What?」He continued evenly.「Your breathing stayed controlled. Your hand went to your blade without wasted movement. And you’re scanning me for weaknesses.」【…This isn’t a random being. Did it come from a Military colony? Or something worse?】Carlton waved dismissively.「You going to eat or not? Wasting food’s bad where I’m from.」He began eating.Phipher watched closely.【If it’s eating, it’s not poisoned.】
She slowly released her knife. Then—She felt it. And saw it. An aura surrounded Carlton. Warm. Bright but not blinding.
【…This feeling—like the sun. No way… Is this the Heart Sun?】
Her body reacted before her mind could. Strength surged through her.
【It’s… empowering me.】Her breath caught.【It really is.】Phipher straightened.「I apologize for my earlier behavior. It was unbecoming.」Carlton chuckled softly.「If an alien spoke my language on my planet, I’d be jumpy too.」「Alien?」He noticed her look.「That’s what we call beings from other planets.」「…Hmm.」She began eating. Her eyes widened.【…This is good.】She devoured the food eagerly.
Carlton laughed lightly.「Relax. No one’s stealing your food here.」He smirked.「But if you want answers to what you want too ask me— You’ll have to share some too. Deal.」She swallowed quickly.「As long as I get more food.」Carlton’s smirk turned genuine.「Then it's a deal.」