Raw

Chapter Six - The Hunt

Early in the morning, Father left with my brothers to run out stray males from his territory. I watched them leave, hoping Mhor wouldn't be found.

Mother soon returned to the hut, carrying a cooked leg of a gazelle. "The stores are getting low," she said. "You should take your sisters on a hunt. It will help release some of the tension that has built up over the last few days."

I sat cross legged facing her as she set the bowl between us. "How have my sisters fared through this difficult time?"

She shook her head as she broke the meat apart. "Two were lost, taken away before their time."

I drew a deep breath, horrified. "Who?"

"Yunya and Tali."

"No." I slump, guilt sweeping over me. "Tali is barely an adolescent. She has quite a while until she comes of age."

"Your father will find them," Mother said, slipping a chunk of meat into her mouth. "Chances are the male who took them will abandon them when he realizes they are too young."

"Or kill them," I said breathlessly.

She pursed her lips. "Let's hope it didn't come to that."

We ate in silence. I couldn't believe my heat had stirred up so much turmoil. Hopefully I had conceived Mhor's cub and I would not bring such an upheaval to our family again.

We finished eating and Mother led me outside. She called for my sisters to gather, and the somber mood hung over them like a dark storm cloud.

"A large herd of Gemsbok is passing through the south east part of our territory," Mother said. "I think we should take advantage of our good fortune and bring in some meat."

My sisters nodded, their eyes brightening at the prospect of a hunt.

I stepped forward. "I know we have had a hard blow, and I'm to blame—"

"No," my sisters murmured, shaking their heads.

I raised my hand. "But we need to continue on, for the sake of our pride, our mothers, brothers, and the younger cubs. Father will find them, so we must have a feast ready upon their return."

"A fat Gemsbok would make a fine feast!" one sister called out.

"Or a male, weakened from a fight!"

They all chattered away excited by the prospect of a delicious feast. I smiled, even though my heart remained heavy. Giving my sisters hope was what mattered. "Come, sisters. Let's hunt."

We set out, keeping close together as we moved across the plains. With ten of us, all strong and armed to hunt, no male would dare approach. He wouldn't stand a chance.

We reached the south east corner and a wind carried the smell of the Gemsbok to us. We gathered to peek over the crest. The beasts grazed by the stream, numbering a hundred or more. My time to lead my sisters would soon come to an end now, so I needed to pass the lead over.

"Raba."

The oldest of my sisters shuffled forward. "Yes?"

"I want you to lead the hunt."

"Me?" Her eyes grew wide.

"Yes. I will be gone soon, so you must learn how to guide our sisters."

She shook her head. "I'm not ready."

"Yes you are." I grasped her shoulder. "And I will be right here to guide you."

Her chin quivered, but she gave a nod. "What should we do?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you think we should do?"

We stared out at the herd below.

"Circling them and running them into an ambush would be difficult," she said.

"Yes, so...?"

"So we should pick a target."

I nodded. "Perfect."

She issued the order to watch out for the best target. Foals and elderly were located, but since they lay deep within the herd, they'd be difficult to force out.

The Gemsbok's heads flew up. Staring toward the opposite side of the stream, their ears turned forward and their nostrils flared.

"Someone is there," Raba whispered, crouching lower.

"Steady," I said, motioning for everyone to stay low, but to be ready to move.

Another pride burst from the grass. Five females, all young adults.

"What?" I stared, shocked that they'd dare come onto our land.

The Gemsbok darted south, heading away from us. We hurried along parallel, keeping low so we wouldn't be seen. The pride tried to take down several Gemsbok, but failed. When they gave up, backing toward the stream, the Gemsbok paused far enough away to be safe while they regrouped.

Then, two males emerged.

"It's the Barg twins," I said, clawing at the dirt.

My sisters shuffled closer to me. They probably knew the twins desired me and hoped to protect me, although, against two young adult males, even ten of us would struggle to fight back.

The twins growled at their females, scolding them for failing to kill. One twin said, "How are we supposed to remain here if you cannot provide us with food?"

"We're sorry," a female replied, stepping forward. "There's so many of them."

"Your alpha is a fool, brother," the other twin said. "We need the daughter of Krosh. She is far more cunning than any of these."

"Krosh chose another," the first twin said.

The second brother folded his arms. "But he had to cut her heat short. She may not have conceived." He waived his arm at the females. "Try again. I'm hungry, and there are cubs to feed."

"They hunt on our land," Raba hissed. "There is ten of us and only five of them."

"Yes, but they have two males in their prime watching over them," I said. "Those males are each equal to three of us."

"What should we do?"

What to do? I watched as the females moved into position, but the Gemsbok weren't ignorant to their intent. They moved further away.

"I know what to do," I said. "The herd is focused on where they think the threat is, so we can move in front of them and wait for them to come to us."

"But what about the trespassers?" Raba asked, her gaze locked on the other pride.

"We will tell Father about them and he will deal with it." I motioned for everyone to move ahead of the herd.

We darted swiftly and unnoticed across the top of the hill. Like this, we could easily catch a large, healthy Gemsbok to feast upon. But once caught, we'd have to get away fast or risk an attack from the other pride, especially the twins if they noticed me.

Once ahead of the herd, we made our way down, lining up in the long grass and staying low and silent. The herd shuffled closer, and closer, unnerved by the females trying to get into a position behind them.

A female gemsbok, large and strong, inched toward me. I licked my lips. She'd make a fine meal; those large muscles in her neck and shoulder sweet and tender.

"They won't attack," another female Gemsbok whispered not far away. "We know they are here, and they need the element of surprise."

"But they are desperate, can't you see it in their eyes?" another responded.

"Their males are impatient," said yet another.

The female close to me stood barely a body's length away. Any moment...

A Gemsbok let out a cry, launching away as my sister leaped onto her back. "I stepped on it! They've surrounded us!"

My sisters and I charged to aid our sister clawing at the bucking Gemsbok. We leaped on the beast, and I grabbed her by the face. Our eyes met. She knew she was done for. I raised my blade and sliced her throat.

She struggled to breath and run, but her legs gave out. My sisters pinned her down, binding her legs to carry her. I swung around, acutely aware we had enemies not far away. The herd still scrambled in confusion, keeping a wall between us and the other pride.

"Quick!" I helped my sisters lift the Gemsbok.

A spear plunged into the dirt beside us. Swinging around, I saw the twins rushing toward us from the stream. "That's her!" one cried.

Me. Of course. "Get it away from here, I'll distract them."

My sisters hurried toward the crest as I stood my ground. For now, anyway. They approached, slowing to a halt a few paces away. I clutched at my bloodied knife.

"She's brave," said the first.

"She's cunning," said the second. "See how she used our females as a distraction? That kill should be ours."

"You don't belong here," I said. "You're trespassing on my father's land."

"We belong here," said the second. "Until you belong to me."

He lunged forward. I darted away, heading east toward my brothers' land. From the long grass, another male burst out in front of me. He grasped my arms, pulling me behind him. Father? No!

"Mhor," one of the twins said.

"Mine," Mhor said in a deep growl.

The twin chuckled. "Not for long."

The twins rushed at him. He shoved me back, raising a dagger to defend himself. The twins came at him at once, and in a blink, he disarmed them. I gaped, shocked by his swift skill. But their brute force overpowered Mhor. He hit the ground, roaring as he swung.

"Mhor!" I rushed forward, slicing a twin's arm.

The twin's gaze turned to me, a red rage burning in his eyes. He rushed at me. I swung, slicing his arm again, but he caught my wrist. "You are strong, but I am stronger."

I slammed the heel of my hand against his nose. His grip on my arm loosened as he grasped his face, blinded by my blow. I swung free, darting toward Mhor wrestling in the dirt.

An arm flew around my waist and knocked me to the ground. The second twin grabbed my hair, forcing my face into the dirt. "You dare fight me?"

His knees dug into my back as he worked my skirt open.

"Mhor!" I cried.

"You may not be on heat," the twin said. "But I can still do damage and claim you as mine."

Despite bucking with all my strength, I couldn't move. He held me down with such force, he'd rendered me immobile. "Mhor!"

Mhor swung his arm hard, hitting the other twin squarely across the jaw. The twin fell to the side. Mhor launched to his feet, charging at me. The twin holding me released my head to defend himself. Mhor knocked him back, rolling with him down the slight slope.

I scrambled to my feet and snatched up the knives and spear nearby while the other twin lay dazed. Slipping the knives into my belt, I raised the spear, running toward the pair wrestling on the ground.

The females appeared, the twins' pride. They ran at me, weapons raised.

The second twin grabbed my ankle and pulled my leg out from under me. I stood no chance now.

But the females stopped abruptly. The twin was torn off me. Swinging around, I found my sisters had come to my aid. Three dragged the twin backward through the dirt, while the others chased the females back.

I scrambled to my feet, rushing to Mhor. But Mhor had the twin on his back, his struggle over. As I approached, Mhor said, "Don't ever go near her again. She is mine."

The twin nodded, fear in his eyes. "Please, spare me."

Mhor glanced up, and seeing me, he pushed to his feet. He pointed his dagger at the twin. "Leave. But if I ever see you again, I will kill you."

The twin nodded and scurried away after his females. A moment later, the other twin darted after him.

Mhor ran his hand through his dark hair as I approached. "Are you harmed?"

I shook my head, eying him over. "But you are."

Gashes from the daggers had ripped his shirt open, and blood poured from his chest and right shoulder. Swelling marked the early signs of bruises on his face, arms, and legs.

"Mhor." I softly touched his cheek.

He smiled, looking into my eyes. "I'll be fine."

I stretched up and softly kissed his lips.

His arm slid around my waist as he deepened our kiss.

"Um, Zora?"

I swung around at Raba's voice. "Oh, uh..."

"We should go." She raised her eyebrow as she looked Mhor over. "So should he."

I looked up at Mhor, saddened that he had to return to hiding after he'd just saved me.

He kissed my head. "Go with your sisters and feast. I'll be fine as long as you're safe." He placed his hand on my abdomen with a hopeful gleam in his eyes.

My heart fluttered as I stepped back. "Thank you."

He smiled and stood, watching us leave.

Once back with my sisters, we lifted the Gemsbok onto our shoulders.

"Your mate, I presume?" Raba said.

I smiled, wishing I could bring Mhor back with me. "Yes."

"We won't mention it to Father."

My smile widened.