"I know, Evie girl. The Goddess provides the animals for us to be able to survive. The least we can do is be thankful and utilize her gifts as she intended."
He always knew what I was thinking without me having to say a word. He liked to tease that I was an open book. Just then, I spotted a chipmunk. He was perched upon a large rock, his cheeks stuffed full of acorns and other nuts. "Look, Daddy," I whispered, pointing. "It's so cute!"
“Listen, Evie.”
Listen to what? I didn’t hear anything. I wondered if I could catch it. I just wanted to pet its little face. I was so focused on the chipmunk that I hadn't noticed my father looking in the opposite direction. Tiptoeing, I made my way closer. So far, so good. The chipmunk froze, and so did I, as his little black eyes met mine. What happened next was so fast it was a blur. A snarl, a squeak, the sound of an arrow flying by me, and a yelp.
With wild eyes, I spun around to see my daddy lowering his bow and racing toward me. "Daddy!" I cried, throwing my arms up so he could scoop me up.
"Evie, I said to listen," he admonished, squeezing me tightly.
"I did, I did listen! I didn't hear anything," I replied, my little heart racing against his chest. "What was that?" I raised my face from Daddy’s neck and looked over to where the chipmunk had been moments before. He carried me to the large rock, and that's when I saw it. A big gray wolf, an arrow jutting out from its chest, surrounded by dark red blood.
"Oh," I whispered, as if the beast would hear me if I spoke any louder. "I didn't know wolves ate chipmunks."
"The wolf wasn't after the chipmunk. Maybe at first, just for fun. But then he saw something better. You."
I shivered. I hadn't even realized the wolf was there, so close. Stalking. Waiting.
"The reason I said to listen was that the forest had gone silent. The animals who live here know when predators are near. Every good hunter knows to pay attention not only to the tracks in the dirt but to the sounds in the air. Tracking is just one part of hunting. If we pay attention to all of our surroundings, we will be successful and safe. Safe is the most important, sweet girl. Beasts aren't easily hidden, and there's almost always a warning before an attack. Do you understand?"
I gazed into Daddy’s blue eyes. I nodded. "I'll always listen, Daddy."
He squeezed me and set me back down on my feet. "Then you'll always be safe."
"Whatever that was, it's no longer nearby," I announced, helping Isla to her feet and plucking some leaves from her skirt.
"How do you know?" Belinda asked, her voice as snide as ever.
"Because the birds are singing again," Kael replied for me. He was a royal guard and grew up in the Final Fields. I was positive he was no stranger to the dangers the wilderness posed. Not to mention, he literally saved me from a wolf. That was the second time in my life I nearly died thanks to a wolf.
Everyone started talking, some joking around even. A result of the adrenaline rush we'd all just felt. "Seems it'll be a good Hunt, indeed!" one of the guards shouted.
"Best to keep moving! Let's go," another called, turning and heading deeper into the forest.
We walked in silence for about ten minutes. I was on high alert. Every twig that snapped, every scuffle in the leaves, I heard it, and I watched. So far, the path we walked had been pretty flat. I knew that would change the deeper we got into the trees. I wasn't looking forward to the complaining that would happen as a result. It was cooler under the cover of the canopy, but with the excitement we had already, along with the exercise, I was getting warm. I unclipped my broach and removed my cloak. The damp, cool air felt refreshing on my arms.
"Good idea," Isla said, removing hers as well. "How do you know so much about... all of this?" She waved her arms around, indicating the forest.
"Grew up with a widowed father," I replied. "I learned a lot of things that most girls aren't taught. Weapons, hunting, woodworking... stuff like that," I admitted.
Riv raised a brow. "I think that's the first personal bit of information you've offered up about yourself, Eves."
That was true... and it wasn't that I didn't want to share anything about myself; it was that I knew the reason I was here likely didn't align with any of the others. I didn’t want to put a damper on anyone’s excitement for being here. Why share information about my life when I didn't know how this would all pan out in the end? I might never see these people again. I held a hand to my stomach as it rolled at the thought. I liked my friends, and I didn't want to say goodbye to them at the end of this, but I knew realistically that's what would have to happen.
"Just not a big sharer," I mumbled.
"Aye, that's alright, doll. We'll wear you down eventually," Kael teased. "We're quite a charming lot."
I laughed. "Charming, huh? I think we're more intimidating than charming."
Isla stopped walking. "Hey! There's nothing intimidating about me!"
"Like hell," Riv barked. "You're a bloody chemist with all of your remedies and concoctions. You could probably poison your enemies and get away with it."
Isla looked scandalized. "I would never!"
I pointed at the most petite of my friends. "Ahh, but you could. That's what makes you scary, Isla."
