Bronto shook his head and smiled. The big, bad Barbarian leader primping his woman. That tidbit of information was worth noting.
Bronto would have to remember the shaving tactic for future use. Somehow he couldn’t visualize taking on the responsibility. Half the time he couldn’t shave his face without a nick or two. He couldn’t imagine running a sharp blade along Ivy’s legs. Hell, maybe he could. For his efforts it had potential to end in an appreciative grand finale. When or if the time came he’d make sure Jade promised to keep the list of his borrowed supplies their secret.
Although Jade was the youngest American female in their unit at twenty-four years old, she’d stepped into the nurturing role and made sure the tribe had everything they needed, from clothing to proper medical treatment. If Bronto read her actions correctly she also had an eye for Rocko, the pure-blooded Barbarian in charge of the night-watch team.
“What are those sounds?” Ivy asked, lifting her head from Bronto’s chest.
It could’ve been his heart because it beat like a drum but he knew she’d referenced the noise echoing from the foothills. “I’m not sure.”
“I believe it’s the Sauropods,” Tyran said behind them.
Ivy jumped. Bronto tightened her beneath his arm and slightly turned around. Tyran sauntered forward, fully dressed in fur hides, holding both hands at his back.
“What are they doing?” Bronto asked.
“What’s a sourpod?” Ivy intervened.
Tyran stopped beside them, gazing toward the mountains. “They are the largest breed of dinosaurs, four-legged herbivores, and they are communicating amongst themselves,” he replied.
Ivy returned her head to Bronto’s chest. “I’m not going to ask,” she mumbled under her breath.
Tyran gazed at her and smiled. “Herbivores survive off of vegetation. They are the plant eaters. The tyrannosaur we encountered earlier this evening was a theropod, primarily carnivorous.”
“A meat eater,” Ivy said. She shivered and snuggled closer to Bronto. “Like a cave lion.”
“Exactly,” Tyran confirmed.
“Why haven’t we ever seen them before?”
“I can theorize it’s because of the alien species stealing their offspring. While some dinosaurs abandon their eggs, others are very protective. I presume they’re searching for their young.”
She gulped loud enough for Bronto to hear. “What happens when they reach us?” she asked, her voice quavering.
Tyran refocused on the mountains. “I’m not sure how the sauropods will react to people. They may be curious, or frightened, or anxious. We have no documentation proving human contact within their evolution, so anything I say is pure speculation.”
“Guesses, right?”
“Yes,” Bronto confirmed, giving her an endearing squeeze. “Guesses. Tyran’s guesses.”
Tyran cleared his throat. “The theropods, on the other hand, won’t hesitate to feast on us.”
Ivy stepped even closer, her entire body shivering.
“Tyran, knock it off,” Bronto said, his voice a pitch below a shout. “You’re scaring her.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to be up front and honest.”
“It’s okay, Tyran,” she assured him. “I’m not afraid. It’s not like I haven’t already seen the tyrannosaur kill a man.”
Unfortunately she’d watched the monster in action. That thing wanted blood and it’d gotten a taste when it’d plucked a guard from the trees and nearly chomped him in half. Hopefully the tyrannosaur relatives wouldn’t come searching for it anytime soon. It was chopped, burnt and turned to soot.
Chapter Two
“Come on, baby doll, wake up.”
Ivy pulled the fur over her head to make Jade disappear. “Not yet,” she grumbled.
“I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.”
“Bronto and Vulcan found us.”
“Ah, now it makes sense. I should’ve realized Vulcan wouldn’t let his woman stay away too long. Come on.” She yanked the hide off Ivy and tossed it aside. “Up you go.”
Shivering, Ivy pulled her knees to her chest. “I just went to bed.”
“You only have yourself to blame.” She grabbed Ivy’s wrists and tugged her onto her butt. “I don’t know what it is about you and your sister but you’re like infants. Up all night and sleep all day. We need to readjust your hours.”
“It’s Bronto’s fault.”
Jade giggled. “Of course it is. He’s totally incapable of guarding our hut by himself.”
“He talks a lot,” Ivy declared, rubbing her eyes with her palms.
“That he does but I sense he’s not the only one.”
“I need my own hut,” Ivy grouched while tilting sideways to lie back down but Jade caught her by the arm and righted her.
“Until your sister and Vulcan approve, you’re stuck with me. Uppity-up.”
“Grrr,” Ivy growled, flipping onto her knees before she climbed to her feet. “There. Are you happy?”