Three weeks flew by pretty quickly. I learned that Kane was a pretty good hunter using the crude spear he had made by attaching the knife we'd been given onto a long, straight sapling. We feasted daily on pheasants that seemed to be abundant in the woods as well as berries and other fruits we forraged for. Kane even threatened to shift and take down one of the deer which we know are living in the woods. Kane and I had explored the area around our camp, hoping to find another team to raid in order to ease some of the monotony of our daily lives, but we found out that we were very much alone in our little corner of the Dark Moon land. Our relationship had turned to easy comradery, able to read each other as if we have known each other for years instead of the brief three weeks."You'd better be keeping your eyes closed! " I call out to Kane as I quickly wash myself in the stream. He chuckles from where he rests in the shade but doesn't respond further so I quickly finish and throw on

I take the bag from Kane's hand and inspect it, sniffing it lightly. My nose picks up the musky scent belonging to Beta Harris, the citrus scent of Jaydon and the woody scent of Liam. I swallow hard, knowing Liam had probably been around and had probably even seen me sleeping close to Kane. They had taken everything except for the tarpaulin, rope, and the machete. The change of clothes where I had left them to dry were gone but I did spy the pot of water that was still next to the fire. Everything else is gone."Dammit! It was Jaydon and a few of the Dark Moon leadership." I say, throwing the bag onto the floor. "I guess they thought to up the difficulty level now that we've made it more than halfway through the challenge."Kane laughs, his eyes crinkling in amusement. "What's so funny?" I ask, stomping my foot in frustration like an overgrown toddler. "You realise what the next part of the challenge is?" He grins like a vill

"Good evening, Liam." I say softly, not entirely sure about where I should start. "How did you get in here?" He asks, looking toward the door which he had just come through. "I climbed up the trellis." I reply, shrugging my shoulders. "I wasn't sure if you or your family would want to see me after the way I left things the last time I was here." I sigh and stand up, slowly walking toward him and feeling slightly as if I'm walking toward a wounded animal, ready to strike at any moment. He holds out a hand to stop me in my tracks, his voice harsh and cold. "You may want to leave before your new boyfriend discovers you're here." Jaydon was right. Liam had obviously assumed that Kane and I were together. His obvious rejection of me hurts more than I expect it to and I have to admit that perhaps Liam means more to me than I would like. "I don't have a boyfriend." I reply, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. "Kan

I throw myself down onto the ground, leaning against a tree and looking out onto the lake. What I would give for everything just to be simple again! Ricky doesn't seem to understand that revenge won't change anything - it won't bring mom and dad back, it won't remove the memories of that horrific night, it won't repair our broken childhood. The more I think about it, the more ludicrous the whole thing becomes. I love my brother. He's been the one constant all through my life and I trust him more than anyone, but he's wrong to push for me to choose revenge over Liam. "There you are. " a husky voice breaks me from my thoughts and I look up to find Liam staring down at me, concern etched in his face. "I just needed a moment alone. "I sigh and get up, leaning against him and letting him wrap his arms protectively around me, resting his chin on my head."Your brother is one stubborn arse, babe." "It's just that all we've ever kno

Beccy has become a frequent fixture at our training sessions, seating herself daintily under the large oak tree and fanning herself with a Chinese styled fan. I'm not too sure what her intentions are but I have a feeling it has something to do with the council. Today she's even more annoying than usual, dressed in a pale yellow summer dress and wedges which add an extra two inches at least into her already impressive height. I hold back a gag as she spots Liam on the opposite side of the arena and flutters her eyelashes behind her fan at him. The slut. "Oi! Earth to Nats, you're meant to be helping me." Ash whinges, throwing a bag of knotted ropes at me to help her untie. I apologise, getting stuck into the task before Liam's tantalising scent becomes overpowering and I look up to find him staring down at me. "Why on earth are you untying ropes when you're meant to be training?" Ash shrugs her shoulders and points to Jaydon, merely responding with "ask him". I've barely spoken