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Except for Dana’s breathing. She’s not breathing loudly, but loud enough to remind me that someone is sleeping next to me. My heart aches slightly; I haven’t had someone sleep next to me since Flora.
I shake the thought and try to focus on the forest. A slight breeze passes by the trees I can see from my window, and I watch a few green leaves fall to the ground. This is why I love the forest; even when something falls, you can barely hear it. This is nature doing as nature does, and everything is as it should be. Nothing is out of place here.
I turn over slightly to look at Dana, fast asleep. I try to hold back a grin. Her mouth is wide open, and her fingers are somewhat twitching. I wonder what she dreams about as I examine her figure.
I can’t believe how dainty she is. I’ve seen human women before, and most didn’t have the extensive training that orcs go through, but I’ve never seen one so petite. Her size and lack of awareness regarding survival only make me more nervous about getting her back to the compound.
Her courage does outweigh her body. I’ve never seen such determination; hell, some orcs I know don’t even have the bravery she holds. It’s impressive and concerning, for it could simultaneously save her life and be the reason for her demise.
Her spirit is very different from Flora's. Flora was brave, sure, but she wasn’t defying the odds daily just because she thought she could. I roll my eyes and shake my head again. I amnotabout to compare this human woman to Flora.
I refocus my thoughts on what we’ll do for food. I need to find something to hunt with or fashion something and get going. Dawn is the best time to capture wild dae. They travel in groups, and their antlers poke through the forest's fog, making them easier to spot than other animals.
I climb out of bed slowly, trying to keep my weight even on the bed not to wake her. Luckily, when I’m standing, I realize she’s an incredibly heavy sleeper. That, or she’s exhausted from the situation she’s endured.
Walking toward the living room, I stretch my arms and exhale quietly as I look around for possible weapons. Whoever lived here had to use something to get food for their family; they were miles from civilization.If I were a human, where would I keep my weapon….
By the door.My thought completes, and I turn to see a bow by the front door covered in cobwebs. My hopes lift as it looks like my luck is changing. I walk to the bow and inspect it, looking for cracks in the wood or rips on the twine making up the nocking point.
Surprisingly, it’s intact, although it could use re-threading. Once I capture the dae, I can use their parts to fashion a new bowstring. I look around for arrows and find one nearby. Unfortunately, that’s all that I seem to get.Great, I get one shot at this.
I quietly open and close the door and look around at the mist covering the forest ground. I chill slightly from the cold morning air and take off toward the river, hoping a group is going for a morning drink.
No dae to be found, but the Gods must have heard my prayers because I’ve been blessed with the presence of a wild dripir. Luckily, it’s alone in the woods, without other members of its group around to hunt me down if I miss my shot.
The tusks on its chin make it a formidable creature, along with the coarse fur that lines its gray skin. It can’t stand higher than my knees, but its hooves do give it more height than it should have. I listen to it oink and grumble as it drinks its morning water.
I pull my arrow back on my bowstring and aim for it, holding my breath as I steady my hands. It leans its snout to the water and begins to drink again, giving me the perfect opportunity. I release my bow and listen to it whizz through the air.
It hits the dripir in the haunches, and the animal takes off. Damn, I was trying to aim for the heart, and now I have to chase it down. I roll my eyes and bolt from the bush before remembering I’m still injured. I clutch onto my leg and slow down as I approach where I shot the animal, hoping it left a trail of blood for me to follow.
Luckily, there are droplets on the grass, and I can still hear it oinking even from afar. I track it slowly, minding my limp and keeping my steps quiet. I think about what I can use to kill it now that I’ve wasted my only arrow. I might have to get over my wound and tackle it to the ground in the name of nourishment for Dana and me.
I follow the blood trail and listen intently for sounds of it in pain. I find it in a small clearing, licking at its wound, the arrow still stuck in its backside.Shit,I think as I look around. It’s going to see me no matter which direction I come from, but from the looks of it, it’s walking with a limp. At least we’re evenly matched now.
While this might be a stupid idea, I decide to charge it. My stomach is growling, and I can only imagine how hungry Dana must be. I rush out from the bushes toward it with a plan in mind. Albeit not a great one, it’s still a plan.
The animal begins running on its stubby legs, its hooves pounding into the dirt as it tries to scamper away from me. I dart after it and eventually catch up, leaping through the air and landing on its back.
While it’s trying to get away from my grip, I take out the arrow from its haunches, putting it into a headlock and trying to choke it. The thing squeals as I pull the arrow out, and I realize it’s not going down easy. I decide not to torture it more than I have to and take the arrow to its eye, stabbing it deeply and hoping it hits the beast’s brain.
I feel it twitch slightly beneath my grasp, and then its body goes limp on the ground. I get off it and look at it to ensure it’s dead. Once I’m sure it’s no longer feeling anything, I take the arrow out and set it on the ground as I sit beside the animal.
I place my hands together, put them on my forehead, and speak to the animal. It’s always been my way of honoring what it gives to me. I also try to use every piece of it when I can, believing no part of an animal should go to waste.
“I honor you for giving me your life, thank you for the blessings you have given me, and please bless me with your strength as I survive in your natural habitat. May you find peace or rejoin us again. Thank you.”
After reciting my thanks, I begin cleaning the carcass and stripping it. I can only carry so much back to camp, so I take the meat, bones, and tendons to help fashion more hunting weapons.
I know I need to leave quickly. Other animals will smell the dead prey and come running for it. I grab what I can, look at the carcass and nod to it, and head back to the abandoned house.
Upon arriving, I see Dana pacing in the living room through the windows. I wonder what’s got her worked up as I sigh and try to level myself. I need patience and empathy because I understand what it’s like to have your mind run faster than you can, but I’m also starving and exhausted.
I open the door, and before I can say anything, she looks at me angrily and walks toward me.
“Where did you go?” she exclaims. “I thought you left me!”
Surprisingly, I’m not irritated that she’s upset. Her comment warms my heart, knowing she wants me here. I smile and look into her eyes.
