Hi everyone. I only have one review. Who ever is reading this, please review because I need to know what to change. I need help from my readers. Well... this chapter should be interesting. Skylark boy is at Tala's house. Why? Read to find out! Remember to Read, Review, and Enjoy!
A Wolf in The Games Chapter 4
I'm awakened by someone shaking my shoulder. I groan and crack my eyes open. It's morning and some one is standing next to me. It's Linn. A smile is spread across her face. I lift my head and open my eyes fully. She is wearing her school clothes. I stopped going to school so I could take care of Clover. Next year he will begin school. I might go back or spend my days hunting.
"Tala, I'm hungry", she complains. I get out of my seat and face her. She looks really hungry.
"Let me see...", I say checking in the cabinets for any food. I find a small jar of dandelions and hand it too her. She runs off and I hear her yell out to Clover. As usual my mom is nowhere to be seen. Typical.
I look on the table and see Ackerley sleeping. When I reach out to push my chair back in, a light pain in my arm reminds me of my injury. I look to my right arm and see it covered in my own dried blood. I move the fabric of my sleeve to get a better look and a sharp pain in my arm causes me to bite down on my bottom lip hard. The metallic taste of my own blood fills my mouth.
I sit on the small counter behind me and use a tattered rag to clean my arm. I use cold water and begin to wipe at it. Stupid animals, always attacking me. I feel like a target sometimes. I got attacked twice in one week. That has to be some kind of record.
When I finish cleaning up all of the dried blood, fresh blood starts gushing out of the deep gash in my arm. I rush to our bathroom and grab a small hand towel. When I'm back in the kitchen, I resume my previous position on the kitchen counter. I clean my wound the best I can with the old rag then wrap the towel around it tightly.
I become frustrated when it becomes undone. Stupid knot. I try a different one and after a few tries, it stays knotted. I jump off the counter and turn around to wash off the fresh blood from my hands.
I feel eyes on me. I turn and see a pair of dark blue eyes staring at me filled with worry and concern. I try to jump back on the counter but a shape pain shoots through my arm. I clutch the side of the counter and close my eyes tightly. I feel blood in my mouth again and it drips down the side of my chin. I open my eyes to see Ackerley watching me.
I whip at my blood with the back of my hand and unwrap my arm. The blood hasn't stopped and it's seeping through the cloth. I tie it back on with a sigh. I look up at Ackerley and notice the bloody bandages. I rush out of the room and up the stairs, into my shared bedroom. My mother is asleep on her bed and Clover is asleep on our bed. I go straight to our closet and pull out an old shirt that I grew out of.
I dash down the stairs and into the kitchen. Ackerley gives me a funny look and smiles. I smile back, walking up to him while ripping the shirt.
"Tell me when it hurts", I say, starting to unwrap the cloth from his leg. He nods and closes his eyes.
He has for long bite marks running across his left leg, ending at his calf. The bites aren't as deep as mine but he lost a lot of blood. I furrow my brows as I see the infection that has settled in. I try my best to clean his wounds. Once I'm finished, I wrap his leg up with the new wrap. His face relaxes when I tie the knot.
I hear someone running and Clover comes into the room sobbing. I open my arms and he leaps into them. His arms wrap around my neck and his legs around my waist. I lightly rock him, rubbing his back soothingly.
"Tala!", he sobs into my neck. He clutches at my shirt, his body shaking. My poor baby brother. I wonder what's wrong.
"Shhh, Clover. It's okay. What's wrong?", I ask, pulling back to look at his tear stained face.
"I woke up and I couldn't find you!", his cries become louder. My heart breaks.
"I'm sorry, I fell asleep here", I say softly. I kiss his tears away and push his hair out of his grey eyes.
"I-love-you", he hiccups. A small smile appears on his face.
"I love you too", I tell him, kissing his forehead.
I put him on my left hip and turn to face Ackerley. I almost forgot about him. He has a smile on his face.
"Clover, do you wanna help me move Ackerley to the couch", I ask the now calm boy. He nods and I set his feet on the chair.
"Ackerley, I need you to sit up", I say.
He nods and lifts himself into a sitting position. I stand next to him and put his left arm around my shoulder. We walk like this to the living room. Ackerley limps while I hold him up and Clover holds his right hand. We set him on our tattered couch.
"Who's hungry?", I ask the boys. Clover jumps up and down with a huge grin on his face.
I go into the kitchen and find a jar of blue berries in the back of a cabinet. I walk into the living room to see both of the boys smiling. I crouch down in front of Clover and hand him the jar. His eyes brighten and he throws his arms around my neck.
He releases me and tries to open the jar. After a moment, he sighs frustrated.
"I can't do it", he says handing it to me and crosses his arms. He puts on the scowl he recently go from me. It makes me laugh and I open the jar for him, handing it back to the pouting child.
He smiles and sits on the floor eating the fruit. His eyes close and it just makes me giggle. I sit down next to him,
"Tala. Aren't you gonna eat something?", he ask, opening his eyes.
I shake my head. "We're all out. If I go hunting today, I'll find something to eat. You just fill your little tummy up, okay. Don't worry about me", I reply.
We sit in silence for a while. Then a question pops in my head.
"Ackerley, why were you in the woods?", I question.
He looks down before he speaks. "I ran away", he says quietly.
"Why?", Clover ask before I can.
"I got tired of father beating my mother because of me. So I left", he shrugs.
"Don't you know how dangerous that is!?", I say harshly. Both boys look at me and I just shrug.
"I didn't care", he says firmly. I drop the subject.
We talk for an hour until Clover falls asleep in my lap. He looks to peaceful. I run my fingers through his black hair. Ackerley breaks the silence.
"Why did you save me?", He ask quietly.
I shrug, "Just felt like I had to".
He looks unsure for a second about what to say next.
"Um... When I heal up, can I stay here?", he ask unsure of my answer.
"I don't know. If my kids want you here, then you can stay", I reply.
"Your kids?", he asks slowly.
"I adopted them from my mom. I raised Clover since he as a month old and Linn since she was about eight. They've always been my kids", I say sweetly, looking down at my boy.
Ackerley's smile is from ear to ear. I push my bangs behind my ear and smile back. His smile makes me feel warm to the core.
Soon it's time to pick up Linn and my mother surprises me by volunteering to go. Clover go with her, leaving me alone with Ackerley.
We sit in an awkward silence. Willow comes into the room and lays down next to me. She looks at me with a pleading look. I know that look. She wants to go hunting.
I sigh and look at Ackerley. His dark blue eyes blue eyes are on me. I sigh again. Should I leave him?
I stand up and climb the stairs into my room. I change into a green tank top and my dark brown hunting pants. I slip on my hunting boots and let my hair out of its usual side braid.
I grab my game bag and stuff my father's hunting jacket inside. I head back down stairs and find Ackerley petting Willow.
When I step into the room, his eyes light up and go wide. His jaw drops slightly and he has a blank look on his face.
"I'm going hunting. When my mom gets home tell her I'll be home soon", I say as I head towards the door. Willow is at my side in a second.
Ackerley is still speechless. I smirk and leave the house, heading towards the meadow. I reach the fence and crawl under. Willow follows close by.
I hunt for an hour. I end up with five squirrels, a wild turkey, and two handfuls of strawberries.
I trade half of the berries and two squirrels. Everyone greets Willow cautiously but kindly; She loves to meet new people. I head home with a roll of bandages and a small bottle of goat's milk.
When I head home I find everyone in the living room. When I enter the room Clover jumps into my arms and I spin him, giggles filling the room. Willow and Cala are cuddled up on the floor together; Willow has always been gentle.
I sit down on the couch next to Ackerley's feet. I take my game bag off my shoulder and open it. Linn jumps on my lap and peaks into the bag.
"Goat milk!", she screams.
"We'll drink it for dinner", I poke in the tummy. She giggles and joins Clover on the floor. They are playing with Linn's doll.
I stand up and head towards the kitchen. "Everyone to the kitchen. I've got game", I demand. Everyone except Ackerley heads into the kitchen. I sigh and help him up. We make to the kitchen a few seconds later. I drop him in a chair and drop my game bag on the counter.
I begin working fast. I skin the turkey and gut it. My mother heats me up a pot of water in the fireplace. I get so lost in cooking the stew that I don't notice when I begin spinning, putting food into the pot. I do a quick twirl and toss Linn and Clover a strawberry. I spin again toss Ackerley one too. I chop up some of the strawberries and drop them in the pot. Linn taste it and gives me a thumbs up.
"The stew is done!", I spin placing five bowls onto the table. I pour the stew into each bowl and sit between my mother and Ackerley. Everyone -except Linn and I- look down at the stew, unsure of the taste. Linn is the first one to eat and her eyes close as she savors the taste of the stew. Everyone except Ackerley joins her, moans coming from the children.
I look to Ackerley. He's just staring at it. He notices me watching and takes a small spoonful. His eyes go wide and he wolfs down the rest. Everyone laughs at his eagerness. He licks his lips and sighs.
"That was the best thing I ever had", He compliments. I blush and eat the rest of my stew. Everyone gradually heads back into the living room when they finish their own stew. I start the fire and sit on the floor, my back against the couch. Linn, Clover, and my mother head up bed and I tuck the kids in.
"Will you sleep with us today?", Clover asks quietly, Linn fast asleep next to him.
I shrug, "I don't know. I still don't entirely trust him". I kiss each of them on the forehead and head back down to the living room. I hear a voice and immediately stop. Ackerley is talking to Willow.
"I don't know if I should tell her, girl. I just don''t know how she will react. Then there is the Quarter Quell. What if I tell her and one of us gets reaped. It will just break my heart. I really want to tell her but I guess I'm too shy. She's just so beautiful and I want to tell her, but I can barley to talk to her without going speechless", he sighs at the end. I choose this time to come down. His eyes light up and he gives me a sweet smile. I can't help it. I smile back and sit on the floor, my back against the couch. I watch the small fire flicker and dance. The fire that can kill but also help give life.
I close my eyes and sigh happily. I hear movement next to me and my ears perk up.I feel his presence next to me on the floor. I can feel his gaze on me, but I keep my eyes closed shut. I slowly open my eyes and stare into the fire. I can still fell his gaze on my face and I turn my head to stare at him. Our eyes meet. Blue and gold. I don't know how long we stay like this but I'm the fist to break eye contact. I stare down to my feet. What just happened? I wrap my arms around my chest and watch my feet. Ackerley is the first to break the awkward silence.
"I need to tell you something", he whispers. Here it comes. I wonder what he wants to tell me. I pull my legs up to my chest.
"Tala, please look at me", he says almost inaudibly. I turn to look at him and see a shy smile on his face. I smile back and he looks into the fire. He continues.
"I've been wanting to tell you this for years but I- I'm- I just didn't know how to tell you. But I know I need to tell you so I can at least get an answer". he whispers, turning to face me. I get lightheaded from his gaze.
"I- Ever since we were kids, you always had my attention. I never even thought about another girl", he says softly. "I guess what I trying to say is I-I- I like you", he whispers almost too silent to hear.
Ackerley seems to panic, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I'll just-". I cut him off, placing my hand on his. I give him a warm smile.
"It's okay. It's just... I don't know. We don't even know each other that good", I say.
He just nods. He looks so heart broken. I lean over and give him a sweet kiss on the cheek. He meets my gaze and he looks at me, hope shinning in his eyes.
"Do you think we can get to know each other?," he ask hopefully. I stare into his eyes and nod.
"I'd like that", I smile. He smiles back at me.
We spend hours talking about our past and our plans for the future. Of course Ackerley and I have different plans; I never want to have kids but he wants some in the future. We talk about Reaping day and the upcoming Quarter Quell. We eventually talk about the woods. I even tell him about my two day hunting trip I take every year. His eyes light up when I tell him about the trip. I agree that when his leg heals up, I'll take him hunting with me one day.
We somehow made our way to the couch and fall sleep there. My head is on his shoulder and our hands are intertwined. I'm so exhausted. It's been a long day. I have a feeling another long day is coming soon. The Quarter Quell announcement is in two weeks. I don't want to know what kind of horror they for us this year.
A/N
Sorry it took so long to update. I was sick again. So Ackerley and Tala like each other. Yay Tala! Sorry I had to change the story. My sister posted the wrong one. Quarter Quell coming soon! I have an idea for the arena... ( HINT: "Wolf Girl" )
Remember to Read, Review, and Enjoy!
Character Personalities:
Tala Lockwood : Kind, strong, smart, rebellious, loving, brave, keeps to herself, respected and loved by most
Linn / Linnaea Lockwood : smart, playful, loving, loved by all
Clover Lockwood: playful, loving, kind, loved by all
Ackerley Skylark : strong, kind, shy, loving, admirable, quiet, loved by most
Zander Carver : strong, keeps to himself, aggressive, liked by most