Chapter 8

Rojtar

Seven turns of the sun have passed since I have spoken to Abby. I have seen her many times, but only briefly. She and Carter sit with the rest of the tribespeople at the evening meal, but I have chosen to eat alone by the river or in my own tent. Each turn, I wake with the hope she seeks me out, but she has yet to do so.

On the other hand, Carter has found me often. At least Abby took my words to heart and has allowed him to spar with the other kits.While not as skilled as Talek—or even Cecily—yet, he shows promise. One day, I suspect he will become a great warrior. In the meantime, his skills continue to slowly improve.

I stride through the forest, my steps light and silent as I search for signs of my prey. I have been tracking a pair of dreri for the last half a turn, and I am getting close. Signs of their nearness have been scattered along the forest ground. It is only a matter of patience.

The crack of a branch halts my progress. I remain still, barely breathing while I scan the area. A flash of color up ahead draws my eye. Carefully, I make my way forward and heft my spear to launch it. I peer around a tree and come up short. A short distance away is Abby. She also carries a spear, although it is far too large for her and she appears to be having some difficulty holding it. She trips, nearly dropping her weapon, and releases a curse.

Despite the fact I told her she would not have to see or speak to me again, I cannot help but call out.

“Is all well?”

She whirls with a screech and jabs her spear in my direction. At the sight of me she straightens. “Jesus. You scared the shit out of me. Don’t you know you’re not supposed to sneak up on a person like that? You about gave me a heart attack.”

“My apologies, Abby.”

“What are you doing out here anyway?” she asks.

“The same thing you are, I believe. Hunting.” Although from the looks of it, neither of us are faring well. “Perhaps if we worked together, we might be able to bring back more than enough.”

For a moment, it appears as though she will refuse my request, but at last she jerks her head. “You’re better at this than me anyway.”

“I would be happy to help you hone your skills if you would like.” I brace myself for the rejection, but Abby surprises me once again.

“If you’re sure it’s not a bother.”

My heart thumps louder at her response, or perhaps I only imagine it does. “It is no bother at all. I am not the best hunter in the tribe, but I have managed to contribute my fair share to our stores. Come, let us walk and search.”

Together we stride through the forest while I point out different markings to watch for that indicate possible prey nearby. Abby nods and makes a few noises that I take for understanding.

“On the turn I came across you and Carter, you were hunting.”

“Yes,” she answers although it was not a question.

“Your snare technique would have worked if the burrow hadn’t been abandoned, but perhaps I can offer an easier way to set one?”

“How did you know it was abandoned?” she asks. “I mean besides the fact we sat there for hours without seeing anything.”

I scan the area and spot a small opening in the ground within a small grouping of trees. Based on the size and markings around it, the hole houses a family of leburin. While I had hoped to bring down at least a dreri today, bringing back something is better than nothing. There is still enough light that perhaps the turn won’t be a total waste.

“What do you see over there?” I point in the direction I want Abby to look.

She narrows her gaze and studies the general area where I’ve guided her. “Nothing. I don’t see anything except trees and more trees.”

“Look closer. Take your time and focus.”

Patiently, I wait while she continues scanning until at last, she sucks in a breath and does a small hopping move. “Oh, oh, there, on the ground. There’s a narrow hole that’s partially covered by leaves.”

“Very good. What else do you see?”

“Animal droppings and bits of fur,” Abby’s voice rises in excitement.

“Excellent. Do you recall seeing any of those things around the burrow where you and Carter had set your trap?”

She pauses for only a beat and shakes her head. “No. It was barren. The dirt around it was dried out and the area was completely bare of any foliage or protection.”

“Yes. So although you set a fine trap, it would never have yielded you anything.”

“How we managed to survive the winter is beyond me.”

Not once in all the times I escorted Sage to and from the human settlement did she ever mention going without. There were also no signs of famine when I was last there only a few short turns ago. “Do the human tribe leaders not make sure that all their people have food to eat?”

Abby’s face colors. “The colony is built on a barter system, and not everyone has something to barter, despite trying. And I wasn’t going to ask for any handouts, so if I wanted to eat, I had to make sure I found my own food.”

I have never understood the way the humans run their village. Nor has Zander, which is why he offered to allow the humans to come to ours. I am still surprised that so few accepted.

“Tavikhi do not operate the same way. All the food is available for everyone. It is not necessary to barter for it. The hunters bring back enough meat to provide for the entire tribe. There is no need for you to ever worry about going hungry.”

Abby shrugs. “I’d still rather do my own hunting.”

Carter is right that his sister is stubborn. I understand her need though, so I will do what I can to assist. The leburin can wait. “I have been tracking two dreri. Let us see if we can find them.”

I take off in the direction I had been headed and she falls in behind me. She is smart because when I glance back, she makes sure to step exactly in the same places I have. Quietly, we make our way through the trees until at last, I hold up my hand. Abby stops when I do, and I wave her forward. She comes up beside me and I gesture to where the two animals graze. They blend neatly into the trees, but she nods in understanding.

We both ready our spears, and when I give the sign, we launch them through the air. Mine hits its mark, but hers falls short and the second dreri takes off in a sprinting lope away from where the first’s body collapses.

“Son of a bitch.” Abby stomps and kicks at the dirt and leaves that litter the ground.

“Hitting game from this distance is not easy. Especially with a weapon not quite made for you. You did well getting your spear as far as you did. I believe you would have hit it if you would have had a lighter weapon.”

“Yeah, well, your spears aren’t really made for women,” she grumbles.

“Then I will make you ones to fit your hands.”

Abby stares at me. “You would do that?”

“If you wish.” I walk away and squat next to the dreri that still breathes raggedly. Quickly, I pull out my blade and end its suffering.

Footsteps approach and then she is kneeling next to me. “You’re nothing like I imagined.”

I glance at her and our eyes meet. “How did you imagine me to be?”

“I’m not really sure to be honest.” Abby raises a shoulder.

“Hopefully what I have shown you is better than you expected.” I cannot help but grin, because I know she has not thought highly of me. Whether it is me in general that has given her a bad impression or she does not let anyone in easily I am unsure.

She laughs softly. “Maybe a little bit better than I expected.”

“I will take it.”

Once I have the dreri slung over my shoulders, I glance at Abby. “Grab your spear, and let us see if we can track the other.”

She hurries to her weapon, and after she has secured it, I fist mine and take off after our missing prey. The quiet surrounding us is a comfortable one. Perhaps a first. I do not sense the usual anger or wariness from her that I have in all our past interactions. She has lowered her guard, it would appear. At least for now anyway. A victory I will relish for as long as I can.

Every so often, I stop and kneel to search the ground. In quiet tones, I point out tracks and broken twigs that indicate we are heading the right way. We continue walking as the sun moves across the sky. Abby keeps up well, not once lagging behind. There is a break in the trees up ahead, and there, in the bari field are several dreri. I am unable to tell if any are the one we seek, but it does not matter.

I gently place the animal I carry on the forest floor and pause for a moment to check the wind direction. It will do us no good to warn of our arrival too soon. I caution Abby to remain quiet and to tread silently, and she follows in my footsteps, not making a sound, as we make our way to the other side of the small herd. I will need to praise her skills when we have collected our kills.

We move slowly forward until we are within range, and I signal for Abby to strike. For the second time, we release our spears. Again, mine hits its target and hers does not, however she is much closer than before. The remaining dreri scatter.

“This is such bullshit,” she growls.

“It is not your fault. Your throw was a good one. If your spear had been lighter I am certain you would have hit your target.”

She fists her hips. “You’re just trying to make me feel better, aren’t you?”

I lay my hand over my heart. “I would never lie to you, Abby.”

“You’d be the first,” she says, but quickly snaps her mouth closed and glances away as though regretting her words.

As much as I want to know what she means, I also do not want to destroy the tentative truce that seems to be building between us by pushing, so I do not ask. Instead, I offer another question.

“Have you ever used a bow? It is far lighter than the spear and you do not need to be as close to your prey. Several of the warriors use one with success. I could teach you. You may find you prefer it.”

Abby turns to me and her body relaxes as though she had been bracing herself for me to ask more questions. “Thank you. I’d like to try that.”

“You are most welcome. Now, we should return to the village with our kills before it gets too late.”

“I didn’t kill anything, so I can’t take credit.”

“We hunted together, therefore they are ours. It does not matter who brought them down.” I sling this dreri over my shoulder and head back to gather our second.

It lies where I left it, but before I can scoop it up, Abby leans down and grabs its legs. With significant effort and some time, she finally manages to heft it up and drape it over both her shoulders. She breathes heavily but grins with obvious pride at her effort.

“Let us return to the village, then.” Together, we head home.