I let air out my nose in a quiet huff and readjusted my position on the rock. I'd been sitting there for a little over two hours, waiting for Ryker. He was supposed to be there at dawn. But now the sun's echo had touched the trees and I've about lost all hope of him coming to meet me. I know how hard getting away from the caves can be. After all, I did runaway ten years ago. The memory was still fresh in my mind. Sometimes, it was all I could think about—the death and decay of where I grew up.
The rock I sat on was nestled next to a small lake in the middle of the trees. This lake streamed off to the right and traveled for miles until it turned into the waterfall, where I spend most of my free time. Lincoln introduced me to the waterfall, and just water in general. But Lincoln wasn't here.
Lincoln was away, hunting. He had no idea I was still seeing Ryker, and I planned on keeping it that way. "Well, well, well," Boots hit the rock next to me and I smirked, looking up. Ryker smiled down at me and sat. "Look what the cat dragged in." Ryker wasn't the most savory of characters. For starters, he had multiple piercings and a lot of tattoos. He was incredibly skinny with baggy, tattered clothes.
Lincoln would not like him at all. Of course, I used to have a nose ring. It was a little metal ball on the right side of my nose. "What? No rebuttal? I think living like a Grounder has fried your brain," Ryker said, ruffling my hair. I sighed in annoyance and swatted his hands away. "I think living like a Reaper has fried yours," I said.
"Are you kidding? This handsome face-"
"Is asking for it," I said, cutting him off. He gave me a look and I couldn't help but laugh. Then I remembered something, and I reached down beside the rock. I pulled up my pack and rummaged through it. I unpacked the lunch I'd brought with me—bread, Wild Onions, and cooked dear meat. "Score," Ryker said, as I handed him a small sum of everything. He started stuffing his face whereas I took my time. I couldn't believe how different we'd become. I used to be just like him.
In every way. But now we were polar opposites. And it killed me inside, knowing he was still trapped in the caves with the Reapers. The worst part of all was that he didn't want to leave. I wanted to leave, and so I did. But he's stayed with them his entire life, not once even thinking of 'abandoning' the demonic practices of the Reapers. After eating, I packed up what little that was left, and hoped off the rock. "Where you goin'?" Ryker asked, hoping off next to me.
I pulled my fingers to my mouth and blew, sending out a semi-high-pitched whistle. My beautiful black stallion bounded through the trees and slid to a stop a few feet from me. "Hey, boy," I said, running a hand up his fish-like face. His eyes were soft, and he snickered lightly. "No way,"
"No way, what? He's a horse," I said.
"I've never seen one this close," Ryker said, walking up beside me. He looked to me in awe of the large beast in front of him, and it made me proud. Dakota was the best horse ever. No doubt about it. And he was mine. All mine. "Come on," I said. "You can meet Gazelle!" I swung myself up onto Dakota's saddle and held out my hand for Ryker to take. He slid his hand in mine and I pulled him up behind me. I urged Dakota on and we went galloping through the trees.
Gazelle was one of my friends. She was a Grounder, but her father was casted out of their village when she was a baby. So he built a cache of tree houses and lived there with her ever since. Until, he passed last year. Now she lives alone, with a brother from her father's mistress—Enzo. I pulled Dakota to a stop at the bottom of a tall, thick tree that marked the start of the tree houses. Most of the tree houses were built by Gazelle's father, but also there are some that Enzo built.
I slid off and so did Ryker. Just as we did so, Gazelle slid down the tree. "Jade!" she exclaimed.
"Hey," I said, as she slammed me with a tight hug. She pulled back and I tried to smile, but physical contact with other people was always hard for me to swallow. "This is Ryker, my brother." Gazelle's face lit up. "Oh, I've heard so much about you!" she said. "I'm Gazelle." Just then, Enzo slid down the tree and walked over. "How is my tender, blooming blossom today?" Enzo asked, giving me an odd look in which he flattened his features and squinted his eyes a bit, making himself seem sarcastic.
But I think he meant it to be flirtatious. I think. "Fine. And how is my silly, annoying acquaintance today?" I asked. Gazelle put her hand over her mouth to suppress a giggle, and failed. Enzo's expression faltered for less than a second before he rebounded with something else flirtatious. "You look nice, did you do something with your hair?" he asked.
"No," I said, tugging once on my loose pony tail.
"It looks wonderful, that's a good hair style for you," he said. Then he turned to Ryker. "And who is this lovely young narcissist?" Ryker frowned at his comment, but I spoke up so Ryker wouldn't insult Enzo and embarrass me. "This is my brother, Ryker," I said.
"Ah, you two look nothing alike," Enzo said. "Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Enzo. Of the Wokanti tribe." Ryker rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that's nice. I'm of the Reaper tribe," he said, to which Enzo's face changed to one of sudden fear. "And Reaper's aren't known for their compassion and understanding." An awkward silence fell over us and I sighed. "Okay, time to go home," I pushed Ryker towards Dakota. "I'll see you guys later!"
"Come back when you can stay longer!" Gazelle said.
"Will do," I said. I pulled myself up onto Dakota's saddle and grabbed Ryker, forcing him to come with me. I waved to my friends and urged Dakota on. We trotted away, and traveled back to the rock. It was a slow, quiet, awkward ride. Ryker had never been good at making friends, and neither was Enzo, it seemed. But I hadn't expected it to happen the way it did. I pulled Dakota to a stop and slid off. Ryker slid off and walked over to lean on a tree. He glanced up at the sky. "I should be getting back," he said.
"What? You just got here," I said. He smirked and walked over to me. "Don't worry, kid. You'll see me again," he said. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head before sauntering off into the trees. I wanted to call out, stop him. But I didn't. And I regretted it, as I walked Dakota back to the cave. I left him outside and went into the cave. To my surprise, Lincoln was there. "Thank goodness," he said, sighing in relief upon my entrance. "Where have you been?"
"I could ask you the same question," dropping my pack and glancing around the cave, but my eyes found no kill, nothing to prove his hunting trip ever happened. I looked at him. "Where's your hunt? What did you kill?" His expression changed, and he sighed, looking away. "You weren't hunting," I said. "Were you?" When he didn't reply, I scoffed. "Figures," I mumbled, turning around. I picked up my pack and hefted it onto my shoulder, then left the cave. Lincoln was so predictable.
A few days ago, I'd found a sketch of a girl in his journal. Among other things. But I'd never seen her before. I climbed onto Dakota and urged him into a gallop. Little did Lincoln know, I had his journal in my pack. Once I was far enough away, I slowed to a walk and I pulled out the journal. Inside were pictures acting like a map to a camp of 'Sky People' living only a few miles north. I followed the pictures until I was only half of a mile away. I slid off of Dakota's back and pointed two fingers at the ground. "Stay," I said.
He pawed at the ground and bobbed his head with a snort. I turned and hurried through the trees. Echoes traveled through the open spaces once I drew near to the camp, and I climbed up the nearest tree. I climbed up to the fifth branch and stopped. I could see the camp from here.
I carefully hopped branches until I was above the wooden boundary fence. I hunched low to the branch and pressed against the tree. All of the people in the camp looked young, my age maybe a little younger even. Many of them were working, building more of their fence. Some looked to be sorting foods—nuts and plants. They were all wearing odd clothes. I'd never seen that style of clothing anywhere around here. Where did they come from, anyway? I suppose it's in the title. Sky People.
I watched them until past night fall. It was strange. I felt an odd interest in watching them. They were fascinating—the way they walked, how they spoke, the things they did. It was all very different, very strange. Once they began setting up watchmen, guards, on the fence I decided it was time to leave. I tree hoped until I was far enough away, and then slid down. My feet hit the ground and I hurried to find Dakota. He wasn't where I'd left him.
He was gone. I whistled, but he didn't respond. I sighed and started traveling back to the cave on foot. Lincoln was outside the cave when I arrived, holding onto Dakota's reins. "Where were you this time?" Lincoln asked, sounding angered. I stopped a few feet from him. "You were watching them, weren't you?" I said.
"This isn't about me, Jade," he said.
"No, it's about both of us," I said. He sighed annoyedly and gave me his signature look—like I was being ridiculous. "When you were hunting, you were really just watching them. Did Anya tell you to spy on them? Or is it that girl?"
"I was wondering where my journal went," he said, angrily, under a breath.
"Well? You don't get to know where I've been going unless I get to know where you've been going," I said, stubbornly. He let go of Dakota and Dakota ran off. Lincoln turned to me with a stern expression, one that a father would give his child, and he leveled his gaze with me. "Where did I go wrong? When did obedience become something of the past for you, Jade? You have been sneaking out at late hours, disappearing without a trace," I looked down, my bravery faltering.
I was being disobedient, yes. If I told him why, he would shun me. Worse, he might kick me out. And I don't think I'd be able to handle rejection from him. I wrapped my arms around myself as a cold wind blew. Lincoln went on; listing the things I'd done behind his back, which, honestly, was a long list. A very long list. I stayed put and listened, like a good girl. The good girl. That was me. The girl that listened and did as told when she was told. The girl that never talked back or flipped attitude.
The girl that pretended to be happy when all she wanted to do was cry, just because if she cried she knew her best friend would be upset. When he finally finished, taking a breath, his expression hardened slightly. He was very angry with me. "What changed?" he asked, finally. With a shaky breath, I said, "I could ask you the same thing." He tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow, his feature not softening at all. "When did we start interjecting ourselves in the business of Sky People?" I asked.
"There is no 'we' in this, Jade," he said. "I acted alone. It has nothing to do with you, and if I had wanted you to know I would've told you." I was taken aback by his words, a pang of betrayal hitting my chest. "Lincoln…we tell each other everything," I said, feeling hurt. "How could you not tell me this?"
"How could you not tell me you were sneaking out to go see your brother?" he asked.
"You knew? You knew this whole time? Why didn't you-" I stopped myself, shaking my head. "Right. I forgot. You don't tell me anything anymore. What else don't I know?"
"You are out of line. You are the one in the wrong, Jade, not me. I am a grown man, I can decide what I do for myself," he said, raising his voice an octave.
"And I'm a grown woman!" I said, raising my voice higher.
"You're a child!" he said. "And you are living with-"
"I'm nineteen!" I shouted.
"Then you're old enough to know to do as told!" he shouted back.
"You're not my father!" I shouted, choking back a sob. I forced it down with a hard swallow. "You never were."
"No, I'm not! You probably wouldn't obey me even if I was! My life would be so much easier if you were never even born!" My face shriveled back a bit, my heart shattering into a million pieces. Lincoln's anger-fueled, labored breathing slowed as the quiet settled in between us. His expression softened, but I didn't care. He was right. His life would be better if I'd never been born. It hurt, but I forced myself not to cry.
I wouldn't succumb to the baby in me. I would prove I was an adult. Adults don't cry like little girls. Though the pain and the urge to scream in a fit of tears boiled within me, I whistled and Dakota came trotting to me, having not gone far. I moved around the other side of him so that Lincoln couldn't see me and I couldn't see him.
"Fine. Leave," Lincoln said, his voice sounding deflated. "But don't bother coming home." At that, I squeezed my eyes closed and tears forced their way out of my eyes. A small squeak of a sound escaped me in my tears and I grabbed Dakota's reins. I turned my face so Lincoln couldn't see my tears and hefted myself up onto Dakota's saddle. I urged him on and we rode into the blackness of night.