Universe Hunters: Taken by C.L. Scholey

her basket. Altair fumbled with each piece of wood until Cali herded him along back into the cave.
    Once inside, Cali dumped her burden onto the ground while Altair dropped his directly on the fire, insisting they build it up to keep any weird creatures away. Cali sat for a second ignoring Altair.
    “This planet must just be starting,” she mused. “Thousands or hundreds of thousands of years prehistoric to Earth, no not prehistoric really, in its infant stages of humanoid development. The Neanderthal would be thirty-five thousand years old, if not older in Earth’s time period as of now. If I stay, that would make me the next beginning to the era. This is amazing, it’s impossible. Cro-Magnon. Would that make my children Cro-Magnon? Wait, when did children get involved?”
    “Well, don’t look so surprised,” Altair said. “Earth was young once. A good place to study at one time, before you all turned into lunatics.”
    “Said the man afraid of frogs,” she replied. “And I thought you knew nothing of Earth.”
    “Universe hunters know nothing of Earth. I’m a scientist. You know those humanoids are too curious to stay away from us. They will be back, and there will be more.”
    Cali knew that. She wondered if they would try to communicate with her and Altair or kill them. The male was small, but like Deimos he was solidly built. The male could probably throw her as far as his spear. Thinking of Deimos hurt too much to ponder. He and Blazar had abandoned her. It was best to think about her own needs. They still had to find food. Altair would never let her leave without him; he would follow her regardless. For a second, only a second, she felt a little sorry for him. Altair looked as bewildered and as lost as Cali had been when he had taken her. Then she reminded herself it was Altair’s fault she was in this mess.
    “Come on,” Cali said. She rose to her feet and with determination strode from the cave.
    Their surroundings were that much more impressive to Cali and she took closer note. Foliage was in abundance. She marveled at the massive bulk of high trees, trees that reached the heavens, or seemed to. An earthy scent hovered in the air, primitive and pure. Strange lush plants quivered in a slight breeze while a few giant bugs caught her eye. Terrain beneath her bare feet was cool and damp in places, dry and springy with renewed growth in others. Trails they followed she determined were animal made in some parts. She had no weapons and snapped off a few long sticks thinking she might remember how to make a bow and arrows, spears—thicker branches would make clubs. If she were to make this home, she would need to be prepared. Cali needed skins for clothes, bedding. Her mind raced with ideas.
    Each newly scavenged item was handed over into Altair’s care; Cali needed her hands free. A sharp squawk had her looking skyward. A large bird stared at them from a huge nest.
    “Give me the club,” Cali whispered to Altair.
    “What club?” he whispered back.
    Cali turned to look at him; his arms were empty. “Where the hell is all that stuff I gave you,” she demanded.
    “I was supposed to keep it?”
    “Damn you, Altair. You’re useless.”
    “It was a bunch of sticks.”
    “For a scientist, you have to be the most stupid person I’ve met.”
    “Are all humans as disagreeable as you?”
    Growling, Cali glanced around wondering if the bird would take flight. If it was defending a nest of eggs, it might stay and fight. Thoughts of roasting that plump chicken-like bird made her saliva flow. The bird squawked again and ruffled its feathers. Cali grabbed a large stick off the ground and began to scale the tree.
    “C’mere little drumstick,” she crooned. “Come to mama, dinner. It wouldn’t be lunch without you, tasty morsel.”
    “Must you do that?” Altair grouched. “The noises in my guts seem to be increasing.”
    The bird cocked its head sideways when Cali got close enough. She grinned and