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up. “The horns sliced your hands open.”
    As soon as he said it, the pain registered in Drum’s mind. That stings like the fiery thorns of Chalow . “Minor scratches. Ignore them.”
    Now Jake shook his head. He lifted the pad off his stomach and dabbed it on one palm, then the other. “You saved my life.”
    “I nearly got you killed! I meant to shut the door…”
    “Forget it.” With a feather touch, Jake smoothed the cooling pad over Drum’s palms. “Whatever this med is, it’s working great.” He flipped the bloody cloth over and held it against the deepest cut. Drum watched the scratches in his hands slowly close as the medicine worked its magic. “Crushed papisodi .” At Jake’s curious glance, he smiled.
    “A type of beetle.” Jake’s slow grin lit Drum’s insides all the way to his toes. “If you don’t have a papisodi sample in your pack, I’ll find you one.”
    “Thanks.” He gazed into Drum’s eyes.
    The warmth in that look nearly rocked Drum back on his heels. Thanks . Such a simple word and yet so profound.
    Things were looking up.
    “I have to get this carcass out of here before its mother comes looking for it, or worse, the rest of the pack. Hand me your laser pistol.” Balanced on his knees, Drum shouldered the heavy beast and held out one hand for the gun, hoping Jake trusted him enough to give it to him. “Scavengers aren’t particular about their meals. While I’m gone, keep that pad on your ankle.”
    “Where are you going?” Concern laced the edges of Jake’s eyes. He handed him the gun without a qualm, which truly surprised Drum.
    “I’ll be right outside the pit.” He held up Jake’s pistol. “I’m going to flash cook us a meal.”
    “Are you crazy? You won’t have time to do that.”
    “Yes, I will. I am a superior provider. You will see, Jake.”
    “I’m coming with you.” To Jake’s credit, he didn’t wince when he shuffled onto his knees, ready to crawl out. The healing pad fell off his ankle into the dirt.
    “No.” Drum put down the pistol so he could pick up the pad. “This,” he said, shaking the dirt from the moist cloth and turning it over to the clean side, “is more important for you.”
    Jake grumbled and snatched it from his hand. Without the pad, his wound must ache horribly.
    Taking a chance, Drum smoothed his hand past Jake’s temple into his hair. “Wait for me here. I won’t be gone long.”
    Jake tilted his head away from Drum’s hand, slowly, never taking his eyes off Drum’s face.
    Oh, yes. Progress.

Chapter Three

    The sound of shuffling outside of the hatch made the hair on Jake’s arms stand up. He crouched inside the shelter, his fist tightening around a thick stick he’d taken from the pit and sharpened. If another alien creature attacked him or Drum, he’d shove the lance down its throat. A series of thumps vibrated the hatch door. “Open up,” Drum said in a muffled voice.
    Jake rushed to let his new friend in, his heart pounding hard in his chest.
    “Are you all right?” He raised his weapon at the dark green fur under Drum’s arm.
    Drum grinned and handed him a long spear skewered with several brown slabs of steaming meat. “Dinner.”
    Jake slammed the hatch closed behind them. “Hey, you didn’t even ask how I like my meat cooked,” he teased, amazed at how fast Drum had skinned, cut, and cooked the wild beast.
    Drum looked up at him with a look of chagrin.
    “I’m kidding. It looks great.” It even smelled appetizing. “It is edible, right?”
    “Best natural protein on the planet.” Drum slid a chunk of meat off his spear and stuck it on the point of Jake’s stick. “How is your ankle?”
    “Fine.” The wound looked raw and disgusting but the med pad kept the pain at a minimum. He drew the end of his stick up to his mouth and bit off a small piece of meat. “Mm. You’re hired.”
    Drum looked at him quizzically.
    “That’s an expression that means you’ve done something well and