Her World

Chapter Five "No Longer Alone"

   Walking all the way to the center I see that quite a few other kids have prepared for selection as well, they seem excited to go. I just hope they stay safe out there, I've seen in the past how badly hurt some of the hunters get. The selected hunters also get marked with ink to not only show they hunted, but when they did their hunt. From there on when ever they do another hunt they add to their marks. After several years the mark looks really beautiful. I get to the center just as everybody else is coming along too, as usual I climb to my spot on top of the community building and sit down to watch who is chosen.

   It looks like everyone wants to go hunting, so many people today. Let's see who the lucky ones are, and here come the leaders. It quiets down, so much so that anyone would hear a cricket strumming. The leaders gather in middle of the center to address the crowd, "Community members! Hear me aloud for today will be different then the last hunts." Okay but how, and why.

   "Today we reviewed all of the member files to see who is of age this time around, and we talked over what will happened because of what we found in these records."

   "Someone they were expecting?" I say in a whisper.

   "Today a certain infamous person in our community turned thirteen."

   "Oh god, I don't like that statement."

   "Because of this persons coming of age and their status in this community, they shall be the only person selected for today's hunt."

   "Who is it leaders!?" Someone yelled across the center.

   "Her!" One of the leaders quickly pointed his finger in my direction.

   "Her!?" The center burst into murmurs, and then chaotically started yelling at the leaders. "The Commander will kill us all if something happens to that!" pointing more fingers at me.

   I'm in shock from this sudden attention, along with the direction this attention is turning to. I just quietly sit and listen to their arguments.

   "Our decision is solidified, she will go on today's hunt alone. Let her prove to this community that she is as skilled as she is spoiled!"

   "What if she is killed on the hunt?" Another person rang out.

   "Then it is labeled as misfortune from the hunt, they will not find out." He looks at me as is threatening this statement.

   "You girl! come down and get marked for your hunt." I obediently do as he says, and jump down to go to the eldest leader. He looks at me with slight disgust, but he gestures for me to sit down in middle of the center. I sit and he gets a sharp knife ready and begins burning it, I take a quick look around to see everyone talking while looking back at me. I'm scared, no one goes alone because no one knows what animals are at the grounds. The elder leader then dips the knife in the ink and grabs my arm to begin the marking process, the searing touch to my flesh hurt so much but I had to bear it. As he gets done with the final touches, I look up to the sky hoping I am protected. I say a silent prayer in my mind to keep me out of harm, I read about religion so let's see if my thoughts are heard. 

   "There she is ready!" He pulls me up yelling, so I take a look at my mark.

   "You remind me of your father; disgusting worm." He says with nothing but disgust written on his face.

   "My father?" I say but he immediately disappears into the crowd. Why would he say that? Did he know my father? I didn't have time to think about these questions when another one of the leaders grabs me to pull me to suit me with hunting weapons and ropes. I follow along like a robot, by the time I come to my senses they are pushing me to the gates. They open as i'm being forced out by a leader, just as I stop to question why they're doing this he says, "Maybe if you're by yourself, you'll be killed by the animals and them above won't bother us so much anymore." I just stare at him unblinking, but why would you do this? He turns around and walks back to the gate, it closes behind him, and I'm left alone out here. I search myself to see that I have a bow with some arrows, a large and a small knife, a good size bundle of rope, and lastly a water bag. I guess I can't object now, it's do or die from here. It's three miles away so I should get there by high noon, I start walking while taking in the vast surroundings. It goes on for ever as the hills become smaller and fewer, turning into flat lands. 

   I feel so free, like I'm the only one in this world. I throw my arms out wide, running at the same time, is this what freedom feels like? I get lost in this moment, humming made up tunes, walkingunning whatever my heart desires I can make it happen now. I will live through this or die with my dignity, I won't let them ruin this once in a lifetime event for me. Regardless, what that one leader said really put me off for a moment. My father, I once thought about who he might be, but not even mother would bring him up. Yet the leaders expect me to die today so they gave me this little detail about him, I act like him. But in what sense? Do I look like my father, or what? More so, where is he if they know him. I doubt they will ever reveal his identity to me, they barely squeaked that information out today. 

   Funny thing about fate, It decides for you before you're even born what life you will live. I was alone all my life, and still am. Is this my fate? I walk, and walk for what seems like such a long time, but as I think this I see some trees. Could that be our grounds, or am I already seeing mirages? Since it is hot today and dryer then usual. I pace myself as I get to the trees, "Wow, it is a huge forest!" I say excitedly coming close to a nearby sign nailed to a tree, "Hunting Grounds Community #727". I guess this is it, I begin making my way into the forest. 

   All kinds of trees, shrubs, vines covering certain areas, reminds me of the way fairy tale books describe their princess's fantasy land. I step as lightly as possible remembering the animals and their sensitive ears. I have to find something to cover my scent, I read in a book that hunters mask all their scents, and dip deep into themselves to think like a wild animal. I dig up some dirt and rub some on my arms and legs, then throw some dirt onto my torso, and back. I then climb a tree to scan the area to see any clearings, or water source. I quickly notice a pond not far from me, so I climb back down and head for the pond. As I walk I hear some noises to my left so I stop to listen, carefully I take off my boots, to make my steps lighter so I can hear anything around me. Tying my boots together and slinging them over my shoulder, I continue making my way to the pond. Every now and then I hear a twig snap, or leaves crunching. These noises are making my hair stand up, and making my mind wonder.

   Soon enough I reach the pond, so I crouch behind a bush to watch out for any animals. "I'll shoot the first one I see." I whisper to myself getting my bow ready. I lay the arrow on my finger and prep its course on the bow, but in a split second at the corner of my eye I notice something move. I quickly look to my left for the movement, I see a mountain lion staring straight at me as it takes that opportunity to pounce on me. Before I can do anything with the bow I drop it in the attack, I quickly roll out of it's path and grab my small knife. Now I am out in the open challenging this mountain lion, it hisses and growls at me while swinging it's large paw at me. I get into my defensive stance in case it surprises me again I quickly try to scan the area again for something to back into, a tree, a boulder, anything! In that second of looking away, the mountain lion makes it's attack, swinging it's paw at my arm. Claws piercing my skin as it gets a hold onto my arm, I pull my hardest away from it, ripping it's claws from me, leaving four deep cuts on my upper arm. I grunt loudly in pain, the lion prepares for another attack, and just as I ready myself to counter attack, I hear foot steps sprinting behind me. 

   I look back keeping my knife pointed at the lion, I then see another mountain lion running at me to pounce on my back. I jump to the side, and roll away from the second one's attack. I quickly get back up to see two mountain lions scanning my movements for their attack methods, "I need to back up to a tree now!" I say walking at a fast pace backwards, the mountain lions see me move, and begin moving opposite directions. Is this their way to keep me from watching the other? I keep my watch on the first lion, it is watching me too, so I dig out my large knife. I have to make the first move, otherwise they'll pull a strategy to keep me posted to tire me out. I wait a moment, it feels like a long moment waiting for that opportunity, I see it! One of the lions turns the other way to turn around in it's pacing, just as it does so I push myself away from the tree and run full sprint, adrenaline taking over as I leap over fallen trees, and boulders. I hear them clearly leaping, and running their fastest behind me trying to catch up. They're slowly closing the distance as I'm running circles around this pond, I keep my eyes on the branches anything I could use against the lions unfair advantage. The moment I hear one of them leave the ground to pounce on me, I grab a branch and use my full force of weight to swing me around to counter attack. I drive my knife into it's rib cage, I pull all of my strength to force the knife deeper. Hearing it growl in pain, in that second I forget about the other lion until it makes it's attack. 

   digging it's large claws into my sides, while it's jaws try to close around my neck. Using it's force of weight onto me, knocking me over with it. I scream in pain as it digs it's claws deeper, I quickly think to grab for my larger knife while using my other hand to keep it's jaws closing around my neck. I position the knife to get ready to stab it from behind me, just as I do it bites my skin on the back of my neck. I use my strength again to drive the knife into the second lion's lower abdomen, I jumps off me leaving me in pain on the ground, but I don't have the time to feel all of the pain so I get up as quickly as I can to see the two lions injured but ready for another attack. I take another defense position, waiting for which ever one is going first. "Come on!" I scream at them, as I no longer focus on my surroundings, just on these two lions. Unfortunately they both run at me to attack, I have less then a second to decide which one I take on first. In that second, I swing my knife wildly, forgetting my knowledge of hunting. Constantly stabbing at one of them until blood is spraying me, I feel them biting at my body and puncturing me with their claws many times. My adrenaline is keeping me from feeling everything, I just continue swinging and moving my knife that the lions back away, but not to attack again, but to die. I stagger up to my feet again after being pushed down by them, I see them laying their taking their last breathes. I walk up to them, and kneel beside them to drive my knife into them, ending their suffering. It was either me or them, and they thought the same thing about me i'm sure. 

   As I put my knives away, and get my rope ready to tie the mountain lions up so I can haul them up the hill to leave, I hear another noise near the pond somewhere. I stop what I'm doing to listen, not moving an inch, my hair standing on ends again. I carefully stand up to turn around towards the pond, I look on at first seeing nothing. Then it appears from the thick trees, a grizzly bear, walking on all fours towards me, sniffing the air around. I am terrified now, I am shaking with fear at the sight of this huge bear. As it gets closer, it starts growling. I can't bring myself to move, I can only stand there looking at it. Knowing I'm near my limit of fight left in me, the bear is now only ten feet away from me as it stand on it's hind legs. Towering over me, leaving me in it's shadow. I don't know what to do, I read about grizzly bears and their survival tactics, along with their strengths and weak points. But I am no where near ready to fight this giant guy.

   I snap myself out of this fear, reaching for both my knives carefully I move away from the lion carcasses to the open area near the pond. The bear following me, getting angrier and more agitated, the bear begins charging for me. It's fast, I know this though so I have to prep. I jump out of the way and run for a tree, it follows reaching for me every step of the way. I get to a tree, keeping the tree between the bear and myself. I hit it's paws on the tree knocking leaves off so it looks like green glitter falling in the sunlight, I use my small knife to stab one of it's paws when it was hitting the tree. It pulls away making a loud roar at me, all I can do is keep on the defense now. The bear then charges at me again, I can't read it's movements but in that moment the bear quickly runs around the tree that was keeping me safe from it. I run away putting my all into each step, but the bear catches up and grabs my pants' leg, tripping me. I fall hitting the ground hard, I quickly roll over but the bear already grabbed my leg with it's huge teeth, feeling it's jaw tightly close around my leg, I scream in agony. The bear then lifts me up like I am nothing but air, then throws me several feet away, I hit the ground hard again. It's so painful to move but I force myself to, as the bear comes up and sinks its teeth into my shoulder, digging it's massive claws into my abdomen. My mind doesn't know which area of damage to focus on, my adrenaline is fading. I get my knife again to swing around to stab it from behind, I get it somewhere in the chest as it lets me go. 

   I stand up again, the bear turns to me and roars again. "This is it huh!?" I scream at it, our last war cries. My last fight, if I don't get his vital spots then I am giving those leaders what they want, and I just can't let them win this time. I get in my stance, ready to give my everything into this last attack. The bear brushes at the ground, snarling, growling, showing it's teeth, then it charges. Using it's full force into the charge, meaning it's going to knock me down so it'll be on top, which means I need to run and slide under and use both knives and drive them as hard I can into it's rib cage. I began running, pulling out both of my knives as we get closer to each other, it leaps into the air. As it does I duck under it, then forcing my large knife into it's lung, pulling out the knife, then piercing the other lung. I was too slow in getting away when it swats me away, it's strength tosses me into a tree, I slam into it and hear ribs snap, instant nauseating pain. I can no longer move, it hurts too much. I begin to black out, but I force myself to get a hold onto the last of my strength. Laying there watching the bear coming closer to me, I reach for my knife preparing for another opportunity. It grabs my injured leg, I scream in pain as it drags me. Swinging it's head, in turn tossing me around like a ragdoll, I quickly grab a hold of it's fur around it's neck, I reach up and stab it, pulling the knife out then forcing it back in, hoping one of my constant stabbings hits it's artery. Then out of no where it drops me, I fall hard because I'm hurt too bad to break my fall. The bear staggers around swinging it's head, groaning in pain, it then falls over sideways not moving an inch. I lay there looking at it, not daring to move too. 

   I still lay there after what feels like hours gone by, I finally muster the strength to get up slowly. I see that it's late afternoon, I rip up my jeans and tank top to bandage up my wounds, the pain is unbearable. I slowly get up, and get the rope ready to tie up the kills. After getting the kills ready to haul I use every resource in the forest to help me get them up the hill to continue home. It was a major struggle, the animals were not light in the least. After pulling them up and taking a breather, I got the strength to move forward. I have to make it back before the sunset otherwise they assume i'm dead and close the gate. Blood is slowly running down from my wounds, but I pull the ropes over my uninjured shoulder and try my hardest to pull the weight. Pulling, and pulling, staggering my footing, feeling my body wanting to give up. I can't give up, otherwise what was the point in the fight for my life. I kept on pulling, I didn't understand myself but I am able to pull this weight with my severe injuries. I left the forest, pulling through the flat lands was a breeze, but as I got closer to the hills near home I heard howls not far behind me. I recognize those howls, from what I read, those howls belong to coyotes. I stop and turn around to see three coyotes running towards me, I bet they smelled a fresh kill and got curious. "Mine!" I shouted at them, like they'll understand. I got out my bow and arrows to fire when ready, the coyotes ran in circles around me, but I waited for them to attack first. Before I knew it one of them near me lunged for me, in that instant I arranged my bow, and struck down the coyote, I then proceeded to finish off the other coyotes with arrows. Honestly they were nothing compared to the lions, or the bear, goodness I am exhausted. I threw the coyotes onto the pile, and carried on home. 

   The sky was starting to turn red-orange colors when I got back to the gate, I stood there regaining my balance as the gates opened up, then I grabbed the ropes and pulled them into the village. As I was walking down the path I heard the people saying things, "What if she does come back?" I bet they were talking about me hoping I met some sort of demise. I came around the hill, and saw everyone standing around waiting. One of the leaders noticed me approaching, "She returned, and with kills!" The leaders ran towards me, for a second I expected them to congratulate me. But they're just too good for that, when they got to me, they pushed me out of the way. Along with all of the other villagers pushing, and forcing me out of sight. I tried to catch myself, but failed and fell hard against a fence. They were all amazed at all of the meat, for day one. I slowly got back up, watched them for a few seconds then limped my way back home. I feel that my injuries are more severe then I first thought, I was coming down from adrenaline, adrenaline that lasted too long so now it took a great toll on me. I looked at my wounds while limping home, and noticed blood flowing out more now then before. I ignored my wounds for now, just trying to make it home so if i die then it will be at home. Only a couple huts away, I stopped because I noticed candles are lit inside, I patiently watch to see one of the leaders came to the hut. Mother came to the door with Tally, oh my she looks so adorable! I thought to myself, I haven't seen her since she was a newborn. I don't even know her age anymore, I'm such a bad big sister. I leaned against a hut to watch them discussing something, mother then grabbed Tally's hand, closed the door and left with a bag of stuff. I stood back up again, limping to the hut, open the door and went inside. I couldn't wash the wounds, they were still badly bleeding. I even left a trail of blood coming home, "heh, pathetic of me." I chuckled criticizing myself. I grabbed my blanket, and wrapped it around myself then climbed up to the roof to sit and watch the stars in my last moments. I laid down in the fetal position, holding my wounds closed as much as I can muster. After a little while I felt myself fading, growing dizzy, and weak. "This is it then?" Well it was an experience that's for sure. I closed my eyes breathing in this fresh, crisp, cool air. 

   Something touches my hair and brushes my cheek lightly. "who's there?" I say weakly. I slowly open my eyes wondering who is disturbing my impending doom, I very slowly turn my body to see who it is. "You."