Title: Learning To Hunt

Chapter: Section 1

Fandom: The Tribe

Author: PinkTribeChick

Summary: Sometimes, love is just right under your nose . . .

Extended Summary: An alternate-universe Series 4 romance story, from the point of view of Pride, Jack, and an original female character.

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Jack-Original Female Fiction Character, Pride-Original Female Fiction Character, Jack-Ellie, and Bray-Amber, with a few mentions of other pairings.

Author's Notes: This story came from a dream I had one night where I was stuck in a love triangle, having to choose between Pride and Bray. I replaced Bray with Jack for the story, and voila – Learning To Hunt was born. I honestly don't know if this story will ever be finished, but I want to share it on here anyway. Massive thanks to Ariannya and Whit for their thoughts and proofreading on various sections over the years! The rating may change to Mature down the line, but for now it's Teen. Enjoy, and please review! Feedback is much appreciated!

Disclaimer: All characters, situations, and song lyrics remain the property of their respective owners. Any original characters are sole property of me, PinkTribeChick.

Learning To Hunt

Section 1

"You were a child reaching out brave and true . . . For big things in the next room . . . And I couldn't step into such open sky . . . Where on the crest of uncertainty you loom . . . I'm learning to hunt for you . . ."

Guided By Voices

"Liliana," a sing-song female voice called out, waking Liliana from her sleep. "Liliana . . ." Liliana looked out into the dark void.

"Mama?" Liliana responded, her voice cutting through the smoky air. She looked around. There was no one to be seen. "Mama?"

"Liliana . . . ," the voice called out again.

"Mama, where are you?" Liliana was growing frightened.

"I'm right here." The voice was coming from right behind her, and Liliana could feel her mother's comforting hand on her shoulder. She let out a slow breath that she had been holding. Smiling, she turned around. Then she let out a horrified shriek.

In front of her stood a rail-thin body that resembled like her mother, except their skin was decayed and falling off in large flakes at the slightest movement. Their eyes were seemingly glowing in the darkness, as it reached out a hand to Liliana. She screamed again, backing away as quickly as she could. She started to run, looking back at the slowly approaching figure.

Suddenly, she tripped over something and went falling . . . falling down and down with no end, kicking and screaming, when she finally hit something hard and everything went black . . .

Liliana suddenly felt the bed underneath her as she woke up. Her hair was plastered to her face and neck with sweat, and she was panting. She blinked a few times, gathering her bearings. It had just been a dream, all a dream.

She sat up slightly, propping herself up with her elbows. She squinted at the clock across the room. It was four in the morning. Sighing loudly, she lay back again and rolled over onto her left side.

Samuel lay in his crib, next to her bed. Liliana slid out of bed and padded in sock-clad feet over to the sleeping infant. She peeked into the crib. Samuel was still peacefully asleep. He had kicked the blanket off a bit, and she pulled it up over him a little bit. She smoothed his soft, dark brown hair back. The little boy, only a year and a half old, was her only remaining tie to the old world, the only real blood family she had left. He was what kept her grounded in their disorderly new world. Smiling to herself, she grabbed her glasses, walking out of the room and down the hallway to the kitchen.

Liliana and Samuel had been with the Gaians for almost a year, since Liliana had finally gotten up the courage to leave her house when they ran out of food. Things were always buzzing and somewhat cramped with all fifty members of the Gaian tribe living in one average sized cabin and a few odd huts. There was always something to be done, and Liliana liked it that way. She was grateful for the distractions that kept her mind off the memories. Things were even more cramped now that some of the Mall Rats were staying at the cabin. They had shown up a few days before, with Pride and a very ill Eagle in tow. She was happy to have her leaders back. The tribe had been floundering a bit without them.

As Liliana walked into the kitchen, she saw a boy sitting at one of the tables, shrouded in moonlight. One of the Mall Rats . . . the one with the bright orange hair and the charming smile. Liliana struggled to remember his name as she stood in the doorway.

"Hi," he said softly, looking up at about that time and seeing her there. He had a deep, almost raspy voice, and she could just barely see his brown eyes glistening in the moonlight.

"Hi," she breathed quietly. She walked over to him and sat down across from him at the table. "Jack, right?"

"Yeah. And you're Liliana," he responded. "I think Pride introduced us this morning." He examined her carefully. She was tiny, not more than 5'5", with shoulder-length brown hair. There were a few pearly-pink highlights in her hair, which was pulled back into a French-braid. She wore glasses, which she hadn't been wearing earlier that day, so she must've had contacts or something. Her bluish-gray eyes were sad and showed a soul much older than her physical appearance.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked timidly.

"Nah . . . haven't slept in days, actually. Can't seem to get my mind to shut off," he replied. Running a hand through his messy hair, he sighed loudly. "So much has happened in the past few days. I'm still trying to process it all."

"I'm still trying to process everything that's happened in the past year and a half. It still seems so surreal to me. I can't quite grasp it," she said, smiling. Jack laughed a little bit.

"You're not the only one," he offered with a grin. Then his expression turned serious as he thought. "How did things change so quickly? I keep feeling like I missed something . . . I like slept through class or something . . ." He paused, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples. Liliana knew what he was trying to say though.

"And you wonder, 'why didn't anyone ask me first'?" Liliana finished his thought out loud. Jack snapped out of his trance and opened his eyes.

"Yeah . . . exactly," he said in amazement, looking her in the eyes. The intensity that showed in his eyes sent shivers up her spine, which she tried hard not to show. Suddenly, the piercing cries of a baby made them both jump, and Liliana stood up.

"That's Samuel. I'd better go tend to him. I'll talk to you later, okay?" she said, already moving toward the door.

"Yeah. I'd like that," Jack responded with a shy smile. "Night, Liliana."

"Night, Jack," she responded quickly, as she scrambled out of the room, toward the screaming baby. Jack sat back in his chair, smiling to himself as he looked out the window at the bright stars.

Please review – I'm eager to hear your thoughts! And thanks for reading!