Read Online Guardian [New World Book 6] by C. L. Scholey - Free Book Online Page A

things sitting on the tops of green stalks. She called them bulrush or cattails. She kept up a consistent chatter of their uses. She could use the stalks in salad, the fluffy insides of the brown piece for pillows. Apparently she thought they were very useful. Roam kept a close eye out.
    “It’s kinda nice to have some company out here.”
    “Doesn’t Skylar or Haven help?” Roam asked.
    “Not unless Taz makes it a root hunting party, we kinda scavenge anything useful, when we all go out together. Those are the times we collect a lot of edible plants and roots. Sometimes there’s fruit or nuts depending on the season. This area may seem unscathed, but that would be a misconception. A lot of dangerous animals migrated here. Strange animals you wouldn’t expect to see.
    “Taz takes care of all of us, but he’s known Haven and Skylar longer. He’s more of a father figure to them, and they do what he says. He doesn’t threaten or intimidate, he honestly cares for them and they love him enough not to cause him worry. I need some time alone occasionally. Taz tries to respect that—sometimes. But he’s right about strange animals wandering the area. The white fur rug on the cave floor is from a polar bear Taz killed. He wouldn’t say how he killed it, but the meat was sure welcome. He killed a kangaroo which is so odd. They taste okay, but really, to be eating kangaroo one day and polar bear the next is beyond weird.”
    “So you store food away?” Roam asked.
    “Oh yes, we have to. When the rainy season comes which will be soon, we could be trapped in the cave for days, or weeks.”
    “Must be hard to be trapped. Where I come from you can wander free.”
    Jinx stopped. “So just where is it you come from?”
    “Far. But it would be worth the travel to get there.”
    “Have you mentioned this to Taz?”
    “He’s going to think about it.”
    “That’s strange. He knows the rainy season will be here soon. We can’t travel until it’s over. With you here, we need to gather more supplies. No doubt Taz will take you hunting. He always gets something.”
    “You trust Taz, don’t you?” It was more a rhetorical question but Roam was anxious about her answer.
    “Of course.”
    “If he decides to come with me, will you come?”
    “It would be more of a group decision, but yes, if we agreed your place would be safer, I would go. Now come on. I have work to do before breakfast.”
    Jinx headed back toward the cave. Roam followed; he stayed a few paces behind, not wanting to answer any questions. Being trapped inside a cave for weeks wasn’t very appealing. Besides, he was unsure as to when Cobra was coming. There was no exact timing to the must cycle. Roam needed to make every moment count with Jinx and the others. Cobra wouldn’t leave them behind. A disturbing thought of his and Taz’s conversation entered his mind. Would Cobra kidnap these humans if he felt he had no choice?
    Roam already knew the answer before he thought the question. Cobra would do anything for his warriors.

Chapter 4
    During the next week, the cave dwellers were kept occupied, bustling for helpful items before the rainy season hit. Roam would leave the cave for a night only to return with items he deemed necessary. He relieved a great burden from Taz who was hesitant to travel too far. Jinx was delighted when Roam returned, bringing gems to aid in their survival. She marveled at a wood stove the two men set up in a corner, crude piping was stuffed through an opening Taz made with a pickaxe. Even with the fire going it was still cold during the rainy season and the smoke from the fire pit burnt their eyes. The stove was perfect. How Roam had struggled with it through the jungle was phenomenal.
    A deep cauldron was brought back from Roam’s next outing, filled with canned foods. Jinx had tried to move the pot once but couldn’t budge it. Roam lifted it up onto four sturdy blocks with ease, settling it over a fire pit, and grinned at