Into The Forest

I was sitting on the warm fresh grass, looking through my sack and counting my supplies. I needed at least nine more arrows. I decided to go look for some fallen branches and some bird feathers to get started on a few of them. The sun was high in the sky shining bright but there was a cool calm breeze, the earth's way of welcoming the spring. The sound of the wind and the rustling of the leaves have been keeping me company out here in this forest. I've been on my own since I was twelve. That's when I got separated from my brother Jonas. I've been looking for him ever since, I like to pretend that he's fine, living a happy life with a wife and a family but I know in my heart that hasn't happened for him. He's probably long gone just like our parents. We lost them years ago when I was eight and he was nine. A village breach can you believe it?

Most people cannot live in the forest. Most of them wouldn't last two days. The infected would grab hold of them inevitably. I on the other hand am trained in handling a sword and a master at the bow and arrow. I also have an immunity to the virus, ever since I was bitten the infected never show any interest in me. I can easily walk amongst them. They never even look at me.

I wander to the river. My big brown and black dog Midnight was already sitting there wagging her tail. I walked to the edge and patted her on the head. I had to fill these few canteens before I head back deep into the forest where I'm safe. We only had little rations of food. Luckily for us we had friends in another village along the gated path. A man who helped my brother and I when we were heading out into the forest in an attempt to escape the recruiters. When they found out that I had an immunity they chased me. Figured that they could use my special ability to their advantage. My brother Jonas was not okay with that neither was Jon. Jon was a kind boy no older than 17 that took my brother and me in and raised us… up until we were all separated.

I filled the four canteens with water. I splashed a little of the fresh cool water on my face. A few cold drops dripped down my neck and over my collar bone, cooling them. I cupped some in my hand; the coolness made my fingers tingle a little then I lifted my hands to my mouth and drank. It ran down my throat, cooling my throat and my chest. A relief from these warm spring days. Midnight drank some happily. This is the only place where Midnight and I can be guaranteed fresh, clean water.

I looked at my reflection. I spotted my almond shaped, chocolate brown eyes, dark brown hair that was pulled into a braid going down one of my shoulders that ended right above my waist, a feather dangled from my braid. I looked like an average girl, a girl that hasn't suffered so much loss and so much pain, a girl that is normal, a girl that isn't infected with a virus that should have killed her but it didn't, nothing like a girl that should have been dead a long time ago.

I felt a tear drip down my cheek when I realized that I look exactly like my mother. My mother was beautiful. I remember her being very tall and she had a very soft voice which I also developed from her. My voice is very soft like a school teacher's even though it's been a while since I've heard my own voice, since there aren't many people out here except for the infected and they aren't too eager to strike up a conversation. Sometime I talk to them to amuse myself. I may ask them about their previous occupation, if they had any family. They just moan and groan and hobble off into the forest. Sometimes I would even make up professions for them just to be silly. The life of the lonely girl who lives in the forest of hands and teeth.

I stood up and began walking back towards the high trees when I heard Midnight growl. She crouched down real low her teeth baring and her ears back. "What is it girl?" I asked pulling my sword almost sure that it was an infected. Midnight was not very fond of them. I didn't really like to kill them but I did so to make her happy. She is only satisfied if she sees a head rolling.

She growled. Her eyes looked furious. My heart started beating fast. It was not an infected. There was no moans and I didn't hear them shuffling through the fallen leaves. Common indicators that it's an infected near by. I drew my sword from my hip and glance around. I spot of figure all the way on the other side of the river, it looked like a tall boy, a little younger than 20 by the way he moved hastily not thinking it through. He snapped the infected one's necks and they drop to the ground. I quickly backed back to some trees nearby surrounded by some berry bushes and watched the scene. He was very pale; he looked like one of them. Those infected. The unconsecrated or whatever you may call them, but he moved differently. I tried to inch closer but not too close I didn't want to catch his attention just yet.

The Boy moved along through the tall grass killing the infected one by one with a neck snap. I wouldn't like to surprise someone like that. So I decided to stay in the shadows of the woods using the trees as camouflage. As he walked I walked staying quietly behind him. He walked along as though he was lost or looking for something and I was determined to figure out what that was, Jonas always said curiosity would be the end of me. I still chuckle when I think of the things that he said to me. His memory is the only thing that keeps me company these days, that and my Dog. She's been keeping me company since I found her two years ago in the woods just a young brown and black fluffy puppy wandering around in the forest half dead hadn't eaten or had water in days and did I mention she was filthy? So I took her in and nursed her back to health and she has been indebted to me ever since. She follows me everywhere while keeping herself out of sight.

I walked up trying to keep up with him, accidentally stepping on a branch. It snapped. The sound echoed through the trees. He paused. Looked up and started surveying the woods. I crouched down. Slowed my breathing and watched.

"Who's there?" I heard his deep voice boom.

I remained completely silent. He started walking through the river. This end was shallow so it was easy to stand in. He looked around and began walking towards the trees. I lay down in the tall grass. My advantage was that he couldn't see me but I've adjusted to the darkness from living in the forest for so long.

"It's funny." He said in an amused voice. "I know you're not one of the mudo. They don't stalk their prey…"

I still remained completely still. He got closer. I really didn't want him to see me. I had forgotten how to interact with humans.

"If you come out I can help you, with food, shelter." He was so close to me at this point until I could see the front of his boot. He bent down to move some leaves that was covering my head…. I held my breath….

My dog jumped out growling and jumping up and down on two legs and snapping at him. The boy jumped back. I jumped up to calm the dog down. Once she calmed down I looked over at the boy. He seemed much taller up close and very handsome.

He smiled. "Well hello there." He said with a playful bow. "Catcher's the name."

I just stared at him. For someone living out here in this world he sure seemed awfully kind and friendly.

"Do you have a name?" he said raising one eye brow.

I put a strand of my dark brown hair behind my ear. "Alannah."

He smiled. "Well hello Alannah." He said sticking out his hand for me to shake. I shook it. That was a humanly gesture that I didn't forget. "Where are you from?" He led me out of the trees still holding my hand in his.

I reached over, petting the dog with the other hand. "Here."

His gorgeous eyes grew large. "You're from here… out in the forest?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He rubbed his forehead. "Wow. Well how long have you been out here? How have you been avoiding the mudo?"

I shake my head. "What is the mudo?"

"Those things." He said pointing to an infected walking behind me. "Don't worry. I'll get it."

But before he could I pulled out an arrow and my bow from the sack on my back. Placed the arrow on the bow and shot it straight through the eye.

He looked at me and nodded with approval. "Now I see how you've survived out here for so long. Impressive."

"Oh." He said looking at Midnight. "Sorry if I startled you." The dog growled louder and backed back. "Okay it still doesn't like me."

I patted her again hoping it would calm her down. "She's not very fond of strangers."

He ran his hand through his hair. "I see that." He looked back at me. "So where are you headed Alannah?"

I shook my head nervously looking away from his eyes. "Nowhere. I just hate to stay in one place."

He nodded, Poked out his bottom lip thoughtfully. "I know what you mean."

"Are you by yourself?" I asked nervously.

"Not really. I was with a group of friends. I separated from them to see if this path was safe."

"is it?"

He smiled. "Yes. Only a few Mudo and a rabid dog." He said looking down at my dog.

"Sorry about that." I replied shyly. "She's overprotective."

"Well." He said looking down at the dog studying her. The dog was sitting on the grass tongue sticking out, panting, and a little tired from today's events. "Can never be too careful out here you know. They aren't our only threat."

I considered this knowing from previous experience that the infected weren't our only threat. I have had to put down quite a few humans in my lifetime especially since I've been out on my own. People often see me as vulnerable, A young girl out on her own. Also my size doesn't help. I'm small and rather thin for my age. It comes from scavenging food when I can find it especially when I can't make it back to this village that I get food from normally. I have gone days without eating due to the simple fact that there wasn't anything to eat and basically that shows. My father trained me well knowing that there may come a day when he was no longer around and I may have to fend for myself. Neither one of us had any idea that that day would come so soon.

There were plenty of times when I had to fight to keep the little bit of food that I've scrounged up or a winter coat that I've found or just a group of men that see a young girl and see her as an easy target for whatever their twisted minds can possibly think up. Little did they know that I've had lots of training with this sword and these knives that I carry around and this Bow and arrow strapped to my back.

I have given this dog which I call Midnight (because that's when I found her.) quite a few lessons in combat as well. So let's just say I can take care of myself.

"So I don't know my way around here and I kind of lost my way. I need to get back to the ocean to meet some friends." He narrowed his eyes at me. "Can you help me?"

I look down at Midnight; her big brown eyes are looking up at me. I nod. "sure."

He smiles "I have no idea where I am. I think I'm pretty far off."

I nod. "You are."

Something told me to just give him some water, point him in the right direction and send him on his way but something about this boy intrigues me. I wanted to know more about him.

So I pointed in the direction that we needed to go in and we began walking. I looked up at him but when he looked back at me I turned away. He was a very attractive boy.

Catcher paused and put his hand out behind him as if signaling for me to stop. I stopped dead in my tracks and listened. I heard feet shuffling, and crunching through the grass. I was familiar with this sound living in the forest for so long. I heard a long moan. That was all the validation I needed. I pulled out my bow staff and an arrow. I heard more shuffles over lapping the sound of the first one. More groans chimed in with the first one I heard.

Catcher looked back at me. "Get ready to fire."

I nodded. My eyes were large this is the sort of thing you never get used to. Midnight was crouched down low... in attack position. I watched Catcher pull a knife out of his pack, he crouched down low as well using the tall bushes as camouflage. I laid my arrow across the bow and put it back up to my face. I took in a deep breath and pulled it back. I held my breath waiting for my time to fire.

When the first infected passed the tree I had him in my sight. An older man in a pale blue uniform might have been a janitor or a plumber. He walked right pass the tree catcher was leaning up against, my heart literally stopped beating and I was struggling for air… I didn't want this boy to die or worse become one of them because I knew that I would be obligated to put him down, but when the old man passed Catcher's side of the tree he didn't even look at him… It was like the boy didn't even exist. It was kind of like how they were with me.

He looked back at me and his eyes were large. I heard the low growl coming from behind me. Midnight got into attack position I turned around slowly to see two more walk right pass me. I watched them walk away but before we knew it about fifteen more had joined in. I watched the group pass. Catcher and I stood there with our chests heaving in and out. Apparently we were both horrified thinking the other was going to die because we knew absolutely nothing about each other.

He and I stood there watching the infected as they faded into the trees and became part of the forest. The sounds of their moans and groans are drowned out by the sound of my own heartbeat in my ears.

Catcher looks over at me and shrugs. "I guess we both have a lot of explaining to do."