by C. R. Pugh
“They don’t think that.”
“Then why haven’t my weapons been returned?”
“They don’t trust as easily as I do. But you saved my life today. All they saw was you beating up some men twice your size.” She dropped her voice to a whisper and added, “And you did kill one of them.”
I couldn’t feel bad about what I’d done. If I hadn’t killed him, the Valley surely would have. I had only spared some other innocent from his thieving and whatever else he’d planned for Laelynn.
Instead of making excuses, I simply said, “I can’t stay here for long. Will I be able to get my things when I leave in the morning?”
She smiled again, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes.
Why do you want me here? What do you want from me?
“I’ll make sure that you do,” she assured me. “I meant what I said earlier. We could use another fighter like you for our village. My brothers would come around, especially Kaelem. I think he likes you.”
I snorted. “I think you may be imagining things. And … I’m very thankful for your offer, but it’s better for everyone if I go.”
“Alright then, but just know that you will be welcomed back. I think we’d be good friends, Ravyn.”
“Maybe,” I mumbled, giving her a half-hearted smile.
Laelynn thinks I would be a good friend? Except for Kieron, I’d had no companions at the compound. But that was before everything had changed – before he had changed. There had been no camaraderie or loyalty within our group. We were just a bunch of kids pretending to be adults, learning how to fight and shoot guns. The memories of the General’s training made me shudder.
Friendship demanded a certain amount of trust between two people. That was too risky for me. Maybe she could be my friend, with time. I could get over the constant cheerfulness, but it would mean living here for a while. Staying here in Linwood could be fatal for them.
I could never stay in one spot so long, I thought. The General would find me and punish them.
Laelynn grinned again, oblivious to the horrifying thoughts running through my head.
If I were a good friend, I’d leave and get as far away from them as I could. That was the only way to make sure they’d be safe from General Wolfe and his soldiers.
“Well, let’s go get some tea and call it a night, huh?” she said.
I nodded in agreement. “Sure.”
8
Thorne
I rose early as I always did, at least three hours before sunrise. This time was usually spent drinking coffee or going for a long run, but my coffee was getting cold and I still couldn’t shake the memory of her.
Ravyn was her name. It was pure luck that I had even found out that piece of information. That brown-haired female had interrupted … whatever that was last night.
Ravyn’s hair was the darkest I had ever seen, hanging in soft waves down her back. She was tall and strong, like Tallon, and nearly as young. When the sun had lit up her every feature to me, I was struck by how flawless she was. There was not a scratch or bruise on her face or hands, which I found odd for someone who had been roughing it in the Valley. Then, as if she had known I was there, she opened her eyes and found me standing out in the open like an idiot. No alarm was raised. In fact, she’d barely moved. Her gaze never wavered and she didn’t even flinch at my unsightly scars, which I typically tried to hide.
I had never given this much thought to any female before. Gunter was going to give me serious grief when he found out. It had to be a passing thing. Just yesterday, I was adamant that I did not want or need a female companion, but I could not get Ravyn’s image out of my mind.
The other thought that nagged me was the conversation I had overheard. Were those two brothers talking about Ravyn? She didn’t seem very welcome in their village. They guarded her every second. What was I missing? I stared into the flames, searching for answers that I knew would not come.
After about ten more minutes of debating against myself, I decided to return to the village and find some answers. Dumping the cold coffee in the dirt and leaving the cup by the campfire, I marched over to Gunter’s tent. He would need to take charge of the hunt at sunrise.
Crouching down, I peeked inside his tent. “Gunter.” My voice did not wake him so I reached for his shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. He muttered something indecipherable, but still did not wake so I tried again, saying his name a little louder. “Gunter, wake up.”
He groaned and squinted up at me in confusion. “Did I oversleep?”
“No. I’m going back to the village I told you about last night.”
“Do you need me to come with you?” Gunter started to rise up out of his blankets.
I shook my head. “Lead the hunt at sunrise. Make sure to leave someone at the camp.”
“What time should I expect you back before I send out a search party?”
I scoffed at the insult but didn’t take the bait. Something in my gut was telling me not to waste any more time. “Midday.”
“It’s that girl, isn’t it? That’s why you’re going back.”
“Humph.”
Gunter grinned mischievously. “It is. You don’t have to admit it, but I could hear it in your voice when you spoke of her last night. You’re interested in her.” Gunter chuckled a little. “So, is Max right? Is she a demon?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Listen, just be careful. You don’t know anything about her.”
“We never know anything about any of our captives from the Valley,” I pointed out.
“You’re going to take her captive then?”
“It’s possible.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re a terrible liar.” He lightly punched my shoulder and then said, “Still, be careful.”
I nodded and left the campsite immediately. If I hurried, I could be there just before dawn.
9
Ravyn
I had woken up to total darkness, barely able to see my hand in front of my face. The trees hid whatever light the moon was giving off out here in the Valley. Panic was choking me.
It had only been a week since I’d run away from Terran and, honestly, I couldn’t believe I’d survived this long. The food that I’d packed for the trip was almost gone. At sunrise, I had to hunt for more.
But first, I had to live through the night.
While living in Terran, I had heard stories about the Sabers and Howlers and their affinity for human flesh, but I never believed them. What would the Terran people know about it, having never been outside the electric fence around the city? I had figured they were just stories to keep the kids away from the fence. My second night in the Valley I was proved wrong. I spent the night up in a tree, but still the Yellow-Eyed Sabers had come calling. They circled my tree all night. I didn’t get a wink of sleep for worrying that I might fall off the branch and into their waiting jaws. Their eyes watched me hungrily, saliva dripping from their dagger-like fangs.
Tonight, I wasn’t as lucky. I’d found a tiny hollow carved out of a tree. The opening was just wide enough for me to slide inside. I’d covered the mouth of the little cave with a large stone and covered my body with dirt and leaves, trying to disguise my scent. The boulder didn’t shield the opening completely, but I was hoping it was good enough to keep out the Sabers. They’d been stalking me every night since they’d found me.
The sound of a branch snapping had jarred me awake. Quivering in fear, I covered my mouth with my hand to muffle the sound of my whimpering. They had found me. Nothing would save me this time. That boulder wouldn’t hold back those hungry beasts.
They paced just outside. I wasn’t sure how many there were, but I was sure it was more than one. They hunted in packs, though one would have been enough.
I closed my eyes and prayed … for a miracle … for anything. I didn’t want to die.
Opening my eyes again, I tried to peak around the stone and, there at the entra
nce, staring at me, were bright, hungry, yellow eyes.
I didn’t scream or cry, but my heart plummeted in my chest, knowing that I wouldn’t survive this. I shook uncontrollably as the beast dug at the ground around the stone, trying to get to me. He growled, anxious to have me within his grasp.
In just a little while, I wouldn’t exist anymore. So much for being brave and independent. So much for freedom. I was trapped and alone. There was nothing and no one to save me from this.
BANG!
***
Gasping as I woke, I sat up so quickly that I almost bumped heads with someone.
“Ravyn?” Laelynn whispered urgently, revealing her identity.
Feeling disoriented, I scanned the room. I recalled that I was in Linwood, staying the night with Laelynn and her brothers. They’d allowed me a pallet on the floor of the main living area, close to the stove so I would stay warm. I was grateful to them for it, especially since the nights were getting colder with the winter months drawing near.
The room was dark. No light was peeking through the windows yet.
“What time is it? Did I wake you up?” I asked quietly, trying to shake my nightmare and the sound of the rifle firing. The dreams always felt so real. It was possible I’d called out in my sleep. My stomach clenched at the thought. Crying out in the middle of my nightmares when I slept out in the forest could lead the soldiers right to me.
Laelynn knelt beside me on the floor and placed my rucksack beside me. Surprised, but also relieved, I rifled through the bag. I felt for my two trusty daggers and the pistol I’d carried since I’d been running from the General. Everything was still there, including all the spare magazines and some food Laelynn must have added.
“Ravyn,” she whispered. She put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “You need to go. Quickly. They’re coming.”
My heart clenched tight in my chest and my tattoo began to tingle again as I heard the sound of gunshots in the distance. It wasn’t just the crack of the rifle in my dream that had woken me. The village was under attack.
10
Thorne
The sky was just beginning to lighten when I found the village again. A thick fog had settled between the trees, a common occurrence in the damp forest. The shadows of the early morning and the fog kept me well-concealed as I continued my approach. I wasn’t sure what I would find this morning or why I felt such urgency to get there, so I moved cautiously.
Just on the outskirts of the community I heard the unmistakable sound of rifles firing through the trees. The shots came from the far side of the village and they seemed to be getting louder – drawing closer. People in the village were shouting and scrambling to pull up the ladders. There were some women and children who cried in fear at the coming danger, but the village had been designed for this very reason. It kept its people hidden away in the safety of the tree tops.
I found cover under some brush that grew at the base of one of the smaller trees and surveyed the area for enemies. Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. Someone was shimmying down the side of one of the huge sequoias not twenty feet from me. It was an act of sheer madness. There were no branches to grab hold of so close to the ground. This person must be hanging on to the bark and moss by their fingernails. When the climber edged down a bit more, my stomach dropped as I glimpsed that long, black hair again. It was Ravyn. The woman had a death wish.
My first instinct was to help her, but the instant I moved, I was fired upon. I ducked and rolled toward the next tree as bullets whizzed by, shattering the trunks of the sequoias around me and spraying wood fragments everywhere.
Having heard the shots rip through the trees around her, Ravyn must have panicked and lost her grip. When I saw her fingers slip from their hold, time seemed to slow down. I watched in horror as she plummeted to the ground. It was at least a fifteen-foot drop, but she did not utter a sound as she hit the dirt; no scream of pain or crying as I had expected. She was on her feet almost immediately and leaning against the tree without any sign of an injury.
Feeling some relief, I released the breath I had been holding. We were not out of danger yet, though. I peeked over my shoulder through the brush to see three men headed straight for us. In a matter of minutes, they would march directly between the trees that hid me and Ravyn. All three appeared to be strong fighters by the looks of them. They wore uniforms with caps that matched and carried rifles similar to ones we sometimes used in Peton. The largest of the three seemed to be the most worrisome. He was built much like Pierce, except this man’s skin was dark like a storm cloud.
We would have little protection against bullets if these men were decent shooters. I signaled to Ravyn but she was rummaging through her bag, of all things. I noticed then that she was pulling out weapons of her own. She swiftly tucked a dagger into each of her boots, then pulled out a pistol and checked the magazine. Slipping the gun into her belt, she slung her bag over her shoulders in preparation for either an attack or retreat. Even in such a dire situation, I could not help but admire how swiftly she prepared her weapons. She handled them with ease, a skill many of Peton’s youngest Warriors were still learning.
Turning to peer around the tree, Ravyn finally made eye contact with me. There was a spark of recognition in her eyes and relief on her face.
My hand signals to her were quick and to the point. I gestured over my shoulder in the direction of the shooters, and then held up three fingers. Nodding in understanding, Ravyn began her own motions. After a few jabs of her finger I frowned. Was she actually telling me to make a run for it? That was an absurd plan. There was no way she would be able to make it on her own; not with those three men closing in.
They had to be getting close. Their footsteps were noisy, stepping on leaves and branches, not caring if we could hear them or not. Because they were armed, they thought they had the upper hand. They were in for a surprise.
Ravyn drew her pistol again, and then it dawned on me what her plan might be. That foolish woman was going to make herself a target to draw those men away from me. So much for being chivalrous. She was going to sacrifice herself.
I was not going to let that happen. I tried to get her attention again, but her forehead rested on the barrel of her pistol, focusing on the task ahead. Then, almost quicker than I could blink, she wheeled around to take position between the trees, firing three shots in succession at the men coming up behind me. She turned on her heel and raced away into the forest. They fired at her repeatedly through the sequoias, but she veered too quickly between the trees for them to get a clear shot. Her agility was remarkable.
When she was finally out of range, the shooting stopped, but the men were yelling at each other.
One of the shooters uttered a foul curse and said, “She took out Eight. Almost between the eyes!”
My jaw nearly dropped in astonishment. Gunter was right. Ravyn was a mystery, but what I was learning intrigued me more and more.
I held my position behind the tree and listened for signs of movement.
“Come on, leave him! We can’t let her get away,” the other shouted in a deeper voice. They ran through the brush, following Ravyn’s trail, the dark one leading the way. My dagger was out of its sheath in an instant. When they ran by I gripped the blade gently, as I had done a thousand times before, and sent it hurtling toward the man that lagged behind. His body jerked as the knife pierced him in the spine and his rifle slipped from his grasp. He was dead before he hit the ground.
Ducking down into the thick ferns again, I waited to see what the dark fighter would do. He turned to study his companion for a moment. Snatching up the fallen rifle, he dismissed the man as if he meant nothing and continued on after Ravyn.
Cautiously, I stepped out from under the brush that had been concealing my presence. No shots were fired. There must have been only the three shooters raiding the village. If there were any others, they had followed Ravyn, just as she had intended.
I prowled over to the fall
en man. Crouching down beside him, I yanked the dagger from his body and wiped the blade on the man’s uniform to remove most of the blood.
I frowned and stared off into the forest. Should I follow her? It was not about taking a new captive this time. If it were my sister, Tallon, or any other Warrior, I would never leave them out here alone. Those shooters had been targeting her specifically. I wanted to find out why.
The fog was thicker than ever. I could no longer see the dark fighter through the trees, but his trail was easy to track. Moving slower now, I listened for snapping branches and footsteps: anything that signaled an enemy might be near. I inwardly cursed this foolhardy impulse, but I could not bring myself to leave Ravyn alone with this villain.
The silence of the forest was ominous. I felt presences all around but I could not see them through the murky fog. Adrenaline rushed through my body and my grip on my blade tightened in anticipation. Just as I was beginning to think I had lost them, the barrel of a gun was jammed into my back.
11
Ravyn
I lost the soldiers in the heavy fog. There were three of them, just as the blonde warrior had indicated, and I was certain that Two was among them. I had seen his dark, menacing form for a split second when I had fired off the three rounds. It was a shame he wasn’t the one I killed, but that had been a lucky shot anyway.
Sitting here on the ground, covered in the thick, green undergrowth, I continued to think about the warrior. It was completely crazy to be so relieved to see him and know that he was somewhere out here with me. I probably shouldn’t have left him back there, but there was no way of knowing if he would be a help or a hindrance to me.
Okay, that wasn’t entirely fair. I’d never seen him fight, but he didn’t know these soldiers like I did. He didn’t know what they could do, and he definitely didn’t know what I could do.
“Well, well, well…what do we have here?”
My body froze over. The voice I could hear belonged to Twelve and, for a second, I thought she had found me. She was one of the few women that General Wolfe had recruited into his program. She wasn’t a great fighter in hand-to-hand, but she was sneaky and very light of foot which is why I hadn’t heard her coming. She wouldn’t be stupid enough to stand around and chit-chat with me. She’d be dead before she said anything else.