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Description
Chapter 2
The sun’s rays just peaked over the ruined landscape as the duo climbed out of the giant claw mark gouged into the earth. The early morning air felt sticky in Mikayla’s throat as she scanned the horizon for any movement. She drew her bow, raising it to eye level as she spotted a dark spot in the coming light. Taking aim, she let loose the arrow and watched as it flew through the air. She gritted her teeth and let out a growl as the arrow buzzed just past the outstretched wing of the crow she had aimed at. The black bird took flight, cawing in alarm at the disturbance in the mostly empty land.
“Tch. Damn it” the girl muttered as she took another fraying arrow from her quiver and pulled it tight on her bowstring, taking aim into the sky. She could tell the bird was having trouble keeping air born. ‘I must have taken a bit of its wing out with my shot,” she thought as the bird wobbled in the air. She watched the bird as it slowly sunk back to the ground in circles. Releasing her pent up breath, she released the arrow as the bird started a downward spiral in another direction. The arrow struck the black feathered creature in the neck, the arrowhead tearing through to the other side of the tender flesh.
“Nice Mikayla!” Zane cried enthusiastically. As he waited for her signal to move, Mikayla took a step toward the downed creature, looking from side to side as she walked. When she found the bloodied animal, she picked it up by its legs and tore the arrow from its throat, more blood gushing from the open wound. “Eww… I wouldn’t have thought that such an animal would have so much blood.”
Mikayla ignored the disgusted boy as she hung the limp bird from her pack and continued walking, cleaning the blood from the arrowhead and replacing it on her bowstring, the next unlucky creature to cross her path would stupidly end its life. Soon, however, the sun was well above the horizon and the sticky quality in the air had burned off, leaving it as clear as it could have been with the circumstances. As the pair continued walking for several hours, Mikayla shot two more crows and a medium sized rabbit while Zane gathering as many herbs as he could find in the trampled mud. He turned to the ground after several minutes, eying a spot of green and yellow when Mikayla whispered. “Zane.” Not a question, obvious by the stern tone in her voice, yet something sounded off. “Yeah?” Zane replied as he picked the small green plant, disappointed that it was only a tuft of grass. “Look there, in the sky.” Zane turned his eyes to where Mikayla pointed, a dark spot soaring though the sky just above the horizon.
Zane’s mouth dropped open slightly as the thought set into his mind. “The Bird?” he asked, his eyesight already brightening to just a few months ago. Bright blue skies, his little sister happily licking at a Cherry Popsicle as her small 5 year old hand gripped Zane’s index finger. A shadow passed over the siblings as screams sounded through the streets. The parents took their children in their arms and started to run into nearby buildings, men took their other half’s hands and followed after the parents, clutching to each other. Zane did the same thing as he reached down and gripped under little Katy’s armpits and lifted her into his arms, shielding her face against his neck. He ran as fast as he could, his car keys already in his hand when-“
“Zane!” Mikayla hissed as she gripped the boy’s arms, pulling him toward yet another cavern caused by the Bird. He snapped out of his flashback, sucking in a deep breath as he took the lead toward the dark hole. “Whoa! Hey!” Mikayla cried, shock clear in her voice as she was pulled to the blackness of the ground. Zane stopped on the lip of the cavern and turned his eyes to his companion. Tears glistened in his eyes as he released her hand and turned his back to the hole, getting on his hands and knees. He quickly crawled backwards into the darkness, digging his hand into the damp mud. Mikayla waited until she heard him call to her to jump, all the time keeping her eyes on the fast-approaching Bird. “Now!” she heard, not hesitating to jump into the inky blackness, the shadow against the blood red sky growing larger and larger.
The distinct sound of metal on stone echoed throughout the cave as sparks briefly illuminated Mikayla’s face. “Damn.” she muttered as she struck the stone again, the white sparks failing to light the little pile of dried leaves into flames. “Let me try Mikayla” Zane offered as he put out his hand. He could hear the girl huff and sigh as she attempted yet again to make their fire. “Please Mikayla, let me try.” He pushed, unable to keep the shiver from his voice. “I know Zane. It is freezing in here. I know. Im trying” she replied absentmindedly as she struck the flint on the stone once again. Finally, Zane took both items from the girl’s freezing hands and knelt by the pile.
He struck the stone several times before one of the small sparks finally landed on the crumbly leaves, causing it to smolder and smoke. Mikayla immediately took control as she bent low and lightly blew on the pile, a small fire quickly building. Tossing her backpack to Zane, she continued adding air to the flames, the temperature around them rising slightly. Zane placed a stack of sticks around the burning pile, creating their necessary fire. Mikayla lifted her body from the ground and put her hands toward the flames. She could feel her gloves warm as the flames devoured the fuel around them.
While she started to do her routine of cleaning and organizing, Zane went to work on lunch. An hour and a half later, roasted crow warmed the inside of their stomachs. “We need real meat..” the girl thought as she slowly chewed the steaming bird and twirled one of the ebony feathers between her fingers. After a short while, Zane lifted his head to Mikayla as she quietly called him, indecision apparent in her tone. “Why’d you freeze out there?” she asked after a pause, her green eyes soft but probing. Zane looked to the dirt ground with a sharp intake of breath as the flashback threatened to overcome his vision again. Carefully, he lifted his head and opened his mouth slightly. “Seeing IT reminded me of the attack” he said, his tone hard yet sad. “I saw exactly what happened, until you pulled on my arm.” He heard the sound of air passing through teeth as the girl hung her head between her knees, her brown hair dangling and shifting as she shook her head. “I’m sorry…” she said, as her own memories flooded her memory. She pushed them away, however, determination filling her darkened eyes as she stood up and strode to where her pack lay against the wall. She lifted her bowl and brought it to the fire, sitting cross legged and stirring the water and feathers. One by one, she picked out the feathers and slowly twirled them near the flames, drying the silky blackness. She pulled one particularly beautiful plume from the water, a shade of blue glistening among the dark threads. She glanced at the blonde boy as he lay on the ground, his eyes closed and arm over his eyes. “Zane.” She called as she admired the feather, in the firelight. He moaned in response, his leg shifting positions. She tried calling his name again, a smirk pulling at her lips. He responded with moving his arm from his face and cracking one of his light colored eyes open. She spun the feather between her fingers, the blue shimmering and glittering. “Okay?” he questioned, sitting up and turning toward the brunette, his eyebrow lifted. “Do you want it?” she asked, looking right into his eyes. Zane lifted his other eyebrow in shock, his mouth falling open a bit. The girl’s smirk grew larger as she stood and walked back to her backpack and pulled a small jar from the innermost pocket as well as a needle and some twine. “Well?” she questioned, the feather and the jar in each of her hands as she sat next to him.
“I… I don’t know. Don’t you need that for your arrows?” he asked, his tone slightly hopeful yet slightly discouraged. “Nah, I have enough.” She replied as she thread the twine through the needle. He stuttered as he agreed to take the feather. She nodded and pierced the shaft of the plume with the needle, going over it several times to strengthen the hold on the feather. She then opened the jar, a thin string of a thick gooey liquid dangling from the underside of the lid. Zane watched intently as Mikayla hung the feather on a makeshift stand, keeping it off the ground. She drizzled the liquid over the feather, smoothing it with her fingers into every fiber of the soft material. When the plume was thoroughly covered and the liquid no longer dripped, she turned back to the twine, twisting and braiding the string until it withstood many strong tugs. She carefully thread the braid through the loop on the feather, already hardening with an unbreakable shine. “Okay.” She finally murmured as she sat back on her heels, admiring her work. “I haven’t done that in a long long time.” She said with a small smile, more memories pressing against her inner mind.
Mikayla stood then and replaced the small jar into the pocket of her backpack. “We’ll stay here for the night.” She said sternly, the hardened girl back in her survival mindset. “I’ll go out and hunt a bit more.” With that, she took up her bow and quiver of arrows and set off to climb the wall. Leaving Zane to watch the ebony and blue of the feather meld and shimmer, the other feathers laying against the bowl of dirty water.
*****
“Mikayla dear, please bring me the resin.” “Yes Mommy!” Mikayla answered as she walked over to the older woman with a small silver jar clutched against her chest. The woman smiled at the five year old girl as she held the jar, holding it carefully so it wouldn’t fall and shatter. “Thank you dear.” She replied as she turned back to the small flowers sitting on the wax paper on the desk. Mikayla struggled to look over the edge of the table to watch her mother cast the flowers in resin, hardening them forever. “What are those for Mommy?” the small girl asked, curiosity getting the better of her as she dragged a chair over to the table. “They’re for a very special girl,” the 25 year old replied as she set the flowers into a small oven like box and shut the door, “and she is much too curious for her own good.” The woman again smiled as she stood and took the young girl into her arms, leaving the room and entering the garden.
*****
Tears ran down the girl’s face as she gripped the bunch of hardened flowers around her throat. She repressed a sob as she let the memories swarm her inner mind’s eye, one by one. She let herself slide down the tilted tree to sit at its base; muffled sobs wracked her body as she attempted to compose herself. She knew she needed to hunt. She knew she had to stop and be strong for the frail boy down in the cavern. She knew yet she couldn’t stop the tears that she had blocked off since the beginning. After a while, the sobs slowed to hiccups and the tears stopped flowing, leaving Mikayla feeling lighter than she had been in a long time. She stood and wiped her nose, gripped her bow and walked off, finally beginning her hunt.
Several hours passed before she returned to the cavern, the sun just below the horizon. The fire had mostly gone out and Zane lay sprawled near the ash, fast asleep. The girl shook her head as she picked up her haul. Several more birds and two rabbits dangled from her hands and she hung them from the low roof so the bugs couldn’t get them so easily. Zane groaned in his sleep and flipped over, his back toward the remains of the fire as he shivered slightly. The girl sighed as she removed her own blanket and walked to the sleeping boy, draping the thin wool up to his shoulders. She then turned to work on the dying flame, adding more fuel to the smoldering heap. After several minutes, the flames leapt and warmed the girl’s palms. She again pulled the charm from within her shirt, the pink and gold petals bright in the darkness of the cave.
Zane mumbled as he rolled over, his front now facing the fire. He clutched the blanket to himself, still shivering. The girl frowned, reaching to put some more wood on the hungry flames as he continued to talk in his sleep, the name Katy slipping out several times as well as several mumbled nos. Even with the fire growing, the boy still shivered beneath the blanket, lines of concern appearing on Mikayla’s forehead. She stood and walked to the boy, placing the back of her hand to his forehead and underneath his chin. “You’re hot as hell…” she thought as she felt the boy again. “Damn it.” She ground out as she hurried to her pack and brought it closer to the light. She tore through her belongings and after several growls of frustration, pulled a pill bottle from the very bottom of the bag. She popped the cap off, counting the amount of pills remaining in the plastic container. Only eight pills fell into her palm and she replaced seven, intent on making Zane take the medication to help reduce his fever. She removed the water bottle from his own pack and bent over the boy. “Zane.” She said, unable to keep the concern out of her voice. The boy didn’t move as he continued to shiver. “Zane.” She said louder and with more force. “Wake up.” The boy slowly rolled onto his back and lifted his lids, the fire casting an eerie color to his hazel eyes. “What is it?” he mumbled; sleep sticking to his voice as he moved to roll over. “You’re hotter than the fire, Zane. Take this.” She held her hands toward the boy, the pill lying in the middle of her palm.
Zane glanced to her outstretched hand, eyeing the red pill. “What’s that?” he asked, sitting up to have a better look. The girl huffed in reply, pushing the pill and water toward him again. He shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes when he stopped and stared at the girl in front of him. “No. That’s your only medication and we need to conserve it.” He said, his eyes becoming unfocused for a second.
Mikayla sighed as she again pushed both items to the shivering boy. “Just take it. I need you able to move.” The boy looked from the pill to the girl then back again, reluctantly taking the red pill and downing it with the water. Mikayla nodded as he lay back down and wrapped the blanket over his shoulders. She placed even more fuel into the flames, the wood crackling in the heat before sitting near the fire. Her thoughts scattered as her memories and her instincts bounced continuously against her skull. She watched the boy as he curled into a ball, worry creasing her brow as unanswerable questions floated and crashed in her mind.
“How did you suddenly get so sick…” She thought as Zane shivered and turned over again. She reached for the abandoned feathers and pulled her quiver to her. The twine was where she had left it near the preserved feather, on its side from her swift departure. She took it and sat to repair her arrows, the dirty and torn feathers replaced with the shiny black ones. The repetitive motions lulled her, causing her muscles to relax. She shook herself awake, forcing herself to stand and walk around the dark space. Zane’s moan brought her back to the fire. As she watched, she could make out the words Zane was mouthing and shock caused her jaw to drop. She shook her head and returned to her original spot, laying with her back to the fire and her weapons gripped in her hands.

Description
Chapter 2
The sun’s rays just peaked over the ruined landscape as the duo climbed out of the giant claw mark gouged into the earth. The early morning air felt sticky in Mikayla’s throat as she scanned the horizon for any movement. She drew her bow, raising it to eye level as she spotted a dark spot in the coming light. Taking aim, she let loose the arrow and watched as it flew through the air. She gritted her teeth and let out a growl as the arrow buzzed just past the outstretched wing of the crow she had aimed at. The black bird took flight, cawing in alarm at the disturbance in the mostly empty land.
“Tch. Damn it” the girl muttered as she took another fraying arrow from her quiver and pulled it tight on her bowstring, taking aim into the sky. She could tell the bird was having trouble keeping air born. ‘I must have taken a bit of its wing out with my shot,” she thought as the bird wobbled in the air. She watched the bird as it slowly sunk back to the ground in circles. Releasing her pent up breath, she released the arrow as the bird started a downward spiral in another direction. The arrow struck the black feathered creature in the neck, the arrowhead tearing through to the other side of the tender flesh.
“Nice Mikayla!” Zane cried enthusiastically. As he waited for her signal to move, Mikayla took a step toward the downed creature, looking from side to side as she walked. When she found the bloodied animal, she picked it up by its legs and tore the arrow from its throat, more blood gushing from the open wound. “Eww… I wouldn’t have thought that such an animal would have so much blood.”
Mikayla ignored the disgusted boy as she hung the limp bird from her pack and continued walking, cleaning the blood from the arrowhead and replacing it on her bowstring, the next unlucky creature to cross her path would stupidly end its life. Soon, however, the sun was well above the horizon and the sticky quality in the air had burned off, leaving it as clear as it could have been with the circumstances. As the pair continued walking for several hours, Mikayla shot two more crows and a medium sized rabbit while Zane gathering as many herbs as he could find in the trampled mud. He turned to the ground after several minutes, eying a spot of green and yellow when Mikayla whispered. “Zane.” Not a question, obvious by the stern tone in her voice, yet something sounded off. “Yeah?” Zane replied as he picked the small green plant, disappointed that it was only a tuft of grass. “Look there, in the sky.” Zane turned his eyes to where Mikayla pointed, a dark spot soaring though the sky just above the horizon.
Zane’s mouth dropped open slightly as the thought set into his mind. “The Bird?” he asked, his eyesight already brightening to just a few months ago. Bright blue skies, his little sister happily licking at a Cherry Popsicle as her small 5 year old hand gripped Zane’s index finger. A shadow passed over the siblings as screams sounded through the streets. The parents took their children in their arms and started to run into nearby buildings, men took their other half’s hands and followed after the parents, clutching to each other. Zane did the same thing as he reached down and gripped under little Katy’s armpits and lifted her into his arms, shielding her face against his neck. He ran as fast as he could, his car keys already in his hand when-“
“Zane!” Mikayla hissed as she gripped the boy’s arms, pulling him toward yet another cavern caused by the Bird. He snapped out of his flashback, sucking in a deep breath as he took the lead toward the dark hole. “Whoa! Hey!” Mikayla cried, shock clear in her voice as she was pulled to the blackness of the ground. Zane stopped on the lip of the cavern and turned his eyes to his companion. Tears glistened in his eyes as he released her hand and turned his back to the hole, getting on his hands and knees. He quickly crawled backwards into the darkness, digging his hand into the damp mud. Mikayla waited until she heard him call to her to jump, all the time keeping her eyes on the fast-approaching Bird. “Now!” she heard, not hesitating to jump into the inky blackness, the shadow against the blood red sky growing larger and larger.
The distinct sound of metal on stone echoed throughout the cave as sparks briefly illuminated Mikayla’s face. “Damn.” she muttered as she struck the stone again, the white sparks failing to light the little pile of dried leaves into flames. “Let me try Mikayla” Zane offered as he put out his hand. He could hear the girl huff and sigh as she attempted yet again to make their fire. “Please Mikayla, let me try.” He pushed, unable to keep the shiver from his voice. “I know Zane. It is freezing in here. I know. Im trying” she replied absentmindedly as she struck the flint on the stone once again. Finally, Zane took both items from the girl’s freezing hands and knelt by the pile.
He struck the stone several times before one of the small sparks finally landed on the crumbly leaves, causing it to smolder and smoke. Mikayla immediately took control as she bent low and lightly blew on the pile, a small fire quickly building. Tossing her backpack to Zane, she continued adding air to the flames, the temperature around them rising slightly. Zane placed a stack of sticks around the burning pile, creating their necessary fire. Mikayla lifted her body from the ground and put her hands toward the flames. She could feel her gloves warm as the flames devoured the fuel around them.
While she started to do her routine of cleaning and organizing, Zane went to work on lunch. An hour and a half later, roasted crow warmed the inside of their stomachs. “We need real meat..” the girl thought as she slowly chewed the steaming bird and twirled one of the ebony feathers between her fingers. After a short while, Zane lifted his head to Mikayla as she quietly called him, indecision apparent in her tone. “Why’d you freeze out there?” she asked after a pause, her green eyes soft but probing. Zane looked to the dirt ground with a sharp intake of breath as the flashback threatened to overcome his vision again. Carefully, he lifted his head and opened his mouth slightly. “Seeing IT reminded me of the attack” he said, his tone hard yet sad. “I saw exactly what happened, until you pulled on my arm.” He heard the sound of air passing through teeth as the girl hung her head between her knees, her brown hair dangling and shifting as she shook her head. “I’m sorry…” she said, as her own memories flooded her memory. She pushed them away, however, determination filling her darkened eyes as she stood up and strode to where her pack lay against the wall. She lifted her bowl and brought it to the fire, sitting cross legged and stirring the water and feathers. One by one, she picked out the feathers and slowly twirled them near the flames, drying the silky blackness. She pulled one particularly beautiful plume from the water, a shade of blue glistening among the dark threads. She glanced at the blonde boy as he lay on the ground, his eyes closed and arm over his eyes. “Zane.” She called as she admired the feather, in the firelight. He moaned in response, his leg shifting positions. She tried calling his name again, a smirk pulling at her lips. He responded with moving his arm from his face and cracking one of his light colored eyes open. She spun the feather between her fingers, the blue shimmering and glittering. “Okay?” he questioned, sitting up and turning toward the brunette, his eyebrow lifted. “Do you want it?” she asked, looking right into his eyes. Zane lifted his other eyebrow in shock, his mouth falling open a bit. The girl’s smirk grew larger as she stood and walked back to her backpack and pulled a small jar from the innermost pocket as well as a needle and some twine. “Well?” she questioned, the feather and the jar in each of her hands as she sat next to him.
“I… I don’t know. Don’t you need that for your arrows?” he asked, his tone slightly hopeful yet slightly discouraged. “Nah, I have enough.” She replied as she thread the twine through the needle. He stuttered as he agreed to take the feather. She nodded and pierced the shaft of the plume with the needle, going over it several times to strengthen the hold on the feather. She then opened the jar, a thin string of a thick gooey liquid dangling from the underside of the lid. Zane watched intently as Mikayla hung the feather on a makeshift stand, keeping it off the ground. She drizzled the liquid over the feather, smoothing it with her fingers into every fiber of the soft material. When the plume was thoroughly covered and the liquid no longer dripped, she turned back to the twine, twisting and braiding the string until it withstood many strong tugs. She carefully thread the braid through the loop on the feather, already hardening with an unbreakable shine. “Okay.” She finally murmured as she sat back on her heels, admiring her work. “I haven’t done that in a long long time.” She said with a small smile, more memories pressing against her inner mind.
Mikayla stood then and replaced the small jar into the pocket of her backpack. “We’ll stay here for the night.” She said sternly, the hardened girl back in her survival mindset. “I’ll go out and hunt a bit more.” With that, she took up her bow and quiver of arrows and set off to climb the wall. Leaving Zane to watch the ebony and blue of the feather meld and shimmer, the other feathers laying against the bowl of dirty water.
*****
“Mikayla dear, please bring me the resin.” “Yes Mommy!” Mikayla answered as she walked over to the older woman with a small silver jar clutched against her chest. The woman smiled at the five year old girl as she held the jar, holding it carefully so it wouldn’t fall and shatter. “Thank you dear.” She replied as she turned back to the small flowers sitting on the wax paper on the desk. Mikayla struggled to look over the edge of the table to watch her mother cast the flowers in resin, hardening them forever. “What are those for Mommy?” the small girl asked, curiosity getting the better of her as she dragged a chair over to the table. “They’re for a very special girl,” the 25 year old replied as she set the flowers into a small oven like box and shut the door, “and she is much too curious for her own good.” The woman again smiled as she stood and took the young girl into her arms, leaving the room and entering the garden.
*****
Tears ran down the girl’s face as she gripped the bunch of hardened flowers around her throat. She repressed a sob as she let the memories swarm her inner mind’s eye, one by one. She let herself slide down the tilted tree to sit at its base; muffled sobs wracked her body as she attempted to compose herself. She knew she needed to hunt. She knew she had to stop and be strong for the frail boy down in the cavern. She knew yet she couldn’t stop the tears that she had blocked off since the beginning. After a while, the sobs slowed to hiccups and the tears stopped flowing, leaving Mikayla feeling lighter than she had been in a long time. She stood and wiped her nose, gripped her bow and walked off, finally beginning her hunt.
Several hours passed before she returned to the cavern, the sun just below the horizon. The fire had mostly gone out and Zane lay sprawled near the ash, fast asleep. The girl shook her head as she picked up her haul. Several more birds and two rabbits dangled from her hands and she hung them from the low roof so the bugs couldn’t get them so easily. Zane groaned in his sleep and flipped over, his back toward the remains of the fire as he shivered slightly. The girl sighed as she removed her own blanket and walked to the sleeping boy, draping the thin wool up to his shoulders. She then turned to work on the dying flame, adding more fuel to the smoldering heap. After several minutes, the flames leapt and warmed the girl’s palms. She again pulled the charm from within her shirt, the pink and gold petals bright in the darkness of the cave.
Zane mumbled as he rolled over, his front now facing the fire. He clutched the blanket to himself, still shivering. The girl frowned, reaching to put some more wood on the hungry flames as he continued to talk in his sleep, the name Katy slipping out several times as well as several mumbled nos. Even with the fire growing, the boy still shivered beneath the blanket, lines of concern appearing on Mikayla’s forehead. She stood and walked to the boy, placing the back of her hand to his forehead and underneath his chin. “You’re hot as hell…” she thought as she felt the boy again. “Damn it.” She ground out as she hurried to her pack and brought it closer to the light. She tore through her belongings and after several growls of frustration, pulled a pill bottle from the very bottom of the bag. She popped the cap off, counting the amount of pills remaining in the plastic container. Only eight pills fell into her palm and she replaced seven, intent on making Zane take the medication to help reduce his fever. She removed the water bottle from his own pack and bent over the boy. “Zane.” She said, unable to keep the concern out of her voice. The boy didn’t move as he continued to shiver. “Zane.” She said louder and with more force. “Wake up.” The boy slowly rolled onto his back and lifted his lids, the fire casting an eerie color to his hazel eyes. “What is it?” he mumbled; sleep sticking to his voice as he moved to roll over. “You’re hotter than the fire, Zane. Take this.” She held her hands toward the boy, the pill lying in the middle of her palm.
Zane glanced to her outstretched hand, eyeing the red pill. “What’s that?” he asked, sitting up to have a better look. The girl huffed in reply, pushing the pill and water toward him again. He shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes when he stopped and stared at the girl in front of him. “No. That’s your only medication and we need to conserve it.” He said, his eyes becoming unfocused for a second.
Mikayla sighed as she again pushed both items to the shivering boy. “Just take it. I need you able to move.” The boy looked from the pill to the girl then back again, reluctantly taking the red pill and downing it with the water. Mikayla nodded as he lay back down and wrapped the blanket over his shoulders. She placed even more fuel into the flames, the wood crackling in the heat before sitting near the fire. Her thoughts scattered as her memories and her instincts bounced continuously against her skull. She watched the boy as he curled into a ball, worry creasing her brow as unanswerable questions floated and crashed in her mind.
“How did you suddenly get so sick…” She thought as Zane shivered and turned over again. She reached for the abandoned feathers and pulled her quiver to her. The twine was where she had left it near the preserved feather, on its side from her swift departure. She took it and sat to repair her arrows, the dirty and torn feathers replaced with the shiny black ones. The repetitive motions lulled her, causing her muscles to relax. She shook herself awake, forcing herself to stand and walk around the dark space. Zane’s moan brought her back to the fire. As she watched, she could make out the words Zane was mouthing and shock caused her jaw to drop. She shook her head and returned to her original spot, laying with her back to the fire and her weapons gripped in her hands.