The First Hunt

The morning after Kira called me out, the air felt different, I felt lighter. The secret of my pregnancy had been a heavy wall between us, but now that it was down, I felt like I could finally breathe.

I woke up to the smell of woodsmoke and the bitter, comforting scent of yesterday’s tea. Usually, my first move of the day was to run towards the bushes to throw up, but today, it only did a small discomfort and then it settled. Maybe the baby was finally deciding to give me a break.

Kira was already busy at the fire, poking at the embers to keep the warmth going. Renn sat nearby, he was sharpening the point of his spear. Mia and Theo were still asleep under a shared piece of hide. While old Gage snored like a chainsaw a few feet away.

I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "So, what’s the plan for today?"

Kira didn’t look up from the flames. "We’re hunting. We need more meat, that rabbit from yesterday didn't even fill the kids up, let alone the rest of us."

"I’m going with you," I said.

She paused, her eyes looking up to mine. She looked me over, probably checking to see if I was about to turn green again. "Are you sure? You looked like a ghost yesterday, Liora."

"I’m sure," I said, standing up to prove I could. My legs felt a little shaky, but the fresh air was calling to me. "I need to move. Sitting around here just makes me think too much, and thinking makes me sick."

Renn stopped sharpening his spear and nodded. "She’s right. Fresh air is good for the soul and the stomach. I’ll keep an eye on her."

Kira stared at me for a long beat, her dark eyes unblinking. "If you slow us down, you’re coming straight back. No arguments. Understand?"

"Deal," I said.

We headed out just as the sky was slowly getting bright, it was almost dawn. The forest was soaking wet from the midnight rain. Every leaf we brushed against sent a cold shower down our necks, and the ground was a muddy mess that tried to suck the boots right off my feet.

Marcus, Lena and Mia stayed back to watch over our camp and for safety as Mia and Lena were still inexperienced in combat while Marcus served more like a protector.

Renn led the way, moving with the quiet grace of a man who had lived in the woods for a long time. Kira was right beside me, her footsteps were so silent she was like a shadow. I kept my hand on the hilt of the small knife Ronan had given me years ago. The handle was worn smooth from where my thumb always rested. I tried to push the memory of his face away, but in the quiet of the woods, it was hard to ignore the thoughts of him or the memories we had.

We found tracks near a cluster of damp pine trees. Renn knelt in the mud, pointing to a deep, heavy print.

"That's a print from a deer," he whispered. "A big one. She’s moving slowly. See how deep the back hooves are sinking? She’s likely pregnant."

Kira’s jaw tightened. "Good. That means she’s heavy. She won't be able to outrun us for long."

I looked at the track and felt a strange pang in my chest. A mother, just like me. But in the wild, there was no room for pity. We were hungry, and the kids were getting skinny.

We tracked her for over an hour. My breathing was getting heavy, and I could feel a steady, stubborn weight in my lower stomach. It wasn't a visible bump yet, but it was there, a secret passenger I wasn't allowed to forget.

Suddenly, Theo, who had insisted on trailing behind us, bolted forward.

"I see her!" he hissed, his voice way too loud for a hunt. He pointed a shaking finger toward a dense thicket of trees.

"Theo, get back here!" Kira whispered sharply, but it was too late.

The boy was too excited to listen. He crashed through the brush like a runaway horse, heading straight for a sharp drop-off where the ridge ended. My heart leaped into my throat. I didn't think; I just moved. I sprinted past Kira, my boots sliding in the mud, and lunged forward just as Theo reached the edge.

I grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him backward with every bit of strength I had. We both went down in the dirt, Theo yelping as he hit my chest. We skidded to a stop just inches away from a thirty-foot fall onto jagged rocks and tangled roots.

The deer, spooked by the noise, vanished into the trees across the ravine.

I sat there in the mud, gasping for air, my hand still white-knuckled on the back of Theo’s tunic. My heart was beating so hard it hurt. "You... you little idiot," I wheezed. "You almost went over."

Theo spun around, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment. "I almost had her! You ruined it! She was right there!"

"You almost died, Theo!" I snapped, my voice shaking. I pulled him closer so he could see the drop-off. "Look down there. You would have broken your neck. Do you think a deer is worth that?"

He looked over the edge, his eyes finally going wide as he saw the sharp stones below. His bravado immediately disappeared, replaced by a pale, trembling fear.

Kira and Renn caught up to us, both of them looking furious.

"What in the hell were you thinking?" Kira shouted at the boy. "You broke formation, you made enough noise to spook the deer away, and you almost killed yourself!"

"I just wanted to help," Theo mumbled, looking at his muddy boots.

"You help by listening!" Kira’s voice was like a whip. "We are rogues, Theo. We don't have a pack to protect us. If you die because you’re being stupid, you drag all of us down with you."

Renn sighed, lowering his spear. "She’s gone. We won't find her now. She’ll be miles away by noon."

Gage arrived last, limping slightly and shaking his head. "Told you those kids were nothing but trouble. We should have left them at the border of that pack."

Kira glared at Gage words.

I felt Theo flinch at the old man's words. I let go of his shirt and knelt down so I was at his eye level. He was shaking, his bottom lip quivering.

"Listen to me," I said, my voice softer now. "You wanted to help, and that’s a good thing. It means you care about the group. But a hunter who doesn't listen is just prey. Next time, you wait for the signal. We hunt together, or we don't eat. Do you understand?"

Theo nodded, a single tear trailing down his cheek and he whispered "I’m sorry, Liora."

I gave his shoulder a firm squeeze. "You learned something today. That’s enough. Now, let’s get back before Kira decides to cook you for dinner."

That earned a small, watery chuckle from him.

We didn't get the deer, but Renn managed to snare a couple of fat rabbits on the way back. It wasn't the feast we wanted, but it was enough to keep the hunger away for another night.

Back at camp, we sat around the fire as the sun dipped below the trees. The smell of roasting rabbit filled the air, making my mouth water. Theo sat close to Gage, watching with wide eyes as the old man expertly skinned the catch. Mia came over to me and handed me a steaming mug of tea.

"It’s the willow-ginger blend," she whispered.” Lena said it’s for your stomach."

I took it, the warmth of the cup seeping into my cold fingers. "Thank you, Mia. You’re a lifesaver."

Kira sat down on the log next to me, her shoulder brushing mine. She stayed quiet for a long time, just watching the fire. "You did good today," she said finally. "The way you grabbed him... you didn't even hesitate."

I took a sip of the spicy tea. "He’s just a kid, Kira. He doesn't know any better."

"Most people would have let him fall and blamed the kid," she said, her voice low.

"But you look at them like they’re actually worth something. They listen to you, Liora. Even when I’m screaming my head off at them, they look to you to see if it’s okay."

I looked across the fire at Theo, who was now helping Gage stir the pot. "They just need to feel safe. They’ve lost everything already. They don't need a drill sergeant; they need a reason to keep going."

Kira smiled, it was a real, soft smile that took the hardness out of her face. "Maybe you’re right. Maybe we all do."

Renn flipped the rabbit over the flames, the grease popping. "Tomorrow, we will try the valley. We’ll have a better plan. No more solo runs, right Theo?"

"Right," Theo chirped, his face glowing in the firelight.

As the night got darker and the children drifted off to sleep, a sense of peace settled over me. For the first time since I left the Voss village, I didn't feel like I was running. I felt like I was building something.

But then, I felt like I was in another dimension. It happened so fast. One second I was looking at the fire, and the next, a cold, dizzy spell hit me so hard I had to grab the log to keep from falling off. My vision seemed to fluctuate and suddenly, I wasn't looking at the camp anymore.

I saw a high, jagged ridge. The moon was behind it, casting everything in sharp silver and deep black. And there, standing on the edge of the rocks, were three wolves.

They were large, larger than any I’d seen in the wild. Their fur was black as ink, and their eyes were a chilling, frozen yellow. They weren't hunting for food. They were watching. They were looking down at our hidden camp with a cold, patient hunger.

One of them tilted its head, and for a second, I felt those yellow eyes lock onto mine.

I blinked, and my vision returned to normal. I was back by the fire, my heart racing and sweat breaking out on my forehead. My hands were shaking so badly I had to tuck them between my knees.

"Liora?" Kira’s voice was sharp. She was staring at me, her hand reaching for her knife. "What is it? You look like you just saw a ghost."

I forced my breathing to slow down. I couldn't tell her, at least not yet. They were already stressed enough. "I’m... I’m just tired," I lied, the words feeling like lead in my mouth. "The hunt took more out of me than I thought."

Kira didn't look convinced. Her gaze lingered on me, searching my face for the truth. "Go to sleep. Renn and I have the first watch."

I nodded and retired to bed or shall I say the little blanket I used as a bed. But I couldn't sleep, every time I closed my eyes, I saw those yellow eyes in the dark.

I didn't know why I've been seeing that lately or why exactly they were looking for me but I knew it was trouble coming.

I lay there in the dark, my hand resting over my stomach, wondering if I had brought these people into a fight they couldn't win.