Camp Buddy Hunter Novels & Stories

“Each team of three has received a holopad, correct?” the camp counselor asked. The students nodded. “It has been preloaded with a map of the grounds and your first clue. You all have received a different lead to begin with, so there’s no reason to try and follow another group – you’ll end up in the wrong spot. When you find an item, please do not bring it with you; instead, take a picture of it—no need to disturb anything out here. The first group that cycles back here is the winner, given that they’ve completed the rest of the scavenger hunt correctly. We’ll send a message to the pads when it’s time to come back. On the count of three, you’re off. One…two…three!”

Commander Hunter walked between the lines, calling out names to pair us up for the next drill. "Listen carefully," Hunter announced. "You only need to try to draw blood from your partner. The very first wolf to draw blood wins the bout. The rules are strict: no permanent injuries, and no life-threatening attacks. Any offender who deals a fatal blow will be permanently cast out of this camp and left to fend for themselves in the rogue-infested wilderness."

Fear and shock were visible on the recruits’ faces, especially at the last rule. “....LASTLY, NO TRACE MUST BE LEFT BEHIND IN ANY ENCOUNTER THAT COULD BECOME POTENTIAL EVIDENCE AGAINST THE GUERREROS. YOU MUST RETRIEVE YOUR COMRADE’S BODY, EVEN IF YOU RISK YOUR LIFE. BURN IT. BLOW UP THE PLACE WHERE THEY DIED. THE CHOICE IS YOURS. FAILURE MEANS DEATH” Silence fell. Its cruel but its essential for the security of the Guerreros. Once you enter, you cannot leave and if you do....t will be as a corpse.

Albeit it’s only been a week, it's been a big improvement from home so far. My mission is to gather as much information as possible about their packs and their families. Anything that could help our IT people find them. It’s even more ironic than calling those two men twins—that we as hunters have an IT team. All Hunter kids are homeschooled, and access to the internet is limited. The only reason I have a mobile phone is because they need to be able to reach me. But before this, I wasn’t allowed to read certain books, watch TV, or do anything most normal teenagers would.

I hurried over to Hunter and asked him what was going on and noticed he had a map out. “The one bus taking the hybrids to Red Moon pack was ambushed and all the hybrids are missing. Some of the parents are hurt and I am sending a team of my warriors there now since my pack is the closest. I would have sent my cousin Alpha Chance, but his hands are tied with the other buses arriving and needing to make sure they are kept safe.” Hunter tells me and even though I already knew I had to ask. “Do we know for sure who did the ambush?” I asked Hunter and moving to the map to see where they had it circled.

The teacher finally manages to catch their attention. “Listen up!” He says. “There are gonna be activities at the camp. All of you are requested to find your own partners and start planning. You’ll be spending time collecting resources, cooking, doing the dishes, and any other chore in the camp. We’ll be wandering deep into the woods so keep your compass and maps at hand.” The students begin to murmur and disperse to find a partner. Troy scans the crowd, looking for Kat. He hasn’t seen her earlier during the attendance call and he’s a bit worried. She promised she’ll be here…

She froze, her body tensing as she took in the scene. A hunter’s camp. There were at least a dozen of them, gathered near a cluster of tents that glowed faintly from the light of portable lanterns. Weapons were stacked haphazardly near one tent—rifles, crossbows, and blades, all glinting ominously in the firelight. The air around the camp stank of blood and sweat, the scent making Lexa’s stomach churn. But that wasn’t the worst of it.

Our eyes met, and the heat of the moment was palpable. I gazed deeply into Hunter's eyes, waiting for a touch that could change everything. But before our snouts could touch, a distant shout broke the spell. A group of fellow lupines, led by Caleb, Hunter's best friend, appeared. Caleb was a brown-furred wolf and one of Hunter's closest friends. He called to us, laughing and teasing Hunter. “Leave your little sister to play, and come with us, Hunter! It's time for you to become a man!” Caleb shouted with a mischievous smile.

Leiah began, but I wrapped my arms around her from behind and squeezed. “What are you doing?” she hissed. “Nothing, thanks for letting me stay.” She wiggled out of my embrace. We went from enemies to cousins. Leiah looked at me quizzically. I couldn’t tell her who I was without telling her my identity as a Hunter, though nothing could sour my mood. I had a cousin! I had a family. “You sure are weird, Gabbie. Come on.” Atlas caught us in the hall. “Hey, there’s a bonfire in the park later to welcome Kade. The Luna’s idea. I mean the previous Luna.”

My stomach dropped. "What?" He nodded. "I hired investigators to find you after you dared to run from me that morning. It took them a week to find you." Something was slamming hard against my rib cage in a really violent way. I knew what it was. My heart. "I found out who you were—Matteo Leone, a twenty three year old bisexual man, living in your father's house like a prisoner." He leaned forward slightly. "I learned everything about you—your urm... useless family, and your situation within hours of funding you."