Chapter 10
Strife and Fury came outside and had a bow given to each of them.
"Some of the arrows we got out of the wall are still good. We'll use them for now. I expect a lot from you Strife; your sister has told me you're quite a marksman." Death said. Strife nodded and nudged Fury with his elbow.
"Don't lie to them." Strife said. Fury looked offended.
"I'm not lying! You're really good! If you could catch three rabbits with two stones I think you have a chance to catch more with proper weaponry." Fury shot back. Strife crossed his arms and glared at the trees as they walked. He wasn't as good as she made him out to be.
Death had leaded them to the lake.
"War, cover the south. Fury I want you to go along the west and get whatever has fur. I will see how good Strife is then go along the east." Death instructed. Fury and War nodded and ran off to their places. Strife felt uneasy with Death's eyes on him.
"Show me what you can do." Death said. Strife sighed uneasily and took an arrow and put on the string.
Alright, this is the worst time to mess up… Strife thought to himself. He turned toward the forest and opened up his ears. He could hear squirrels, birds, and something else. Strife's instincts took over and he darted out silently along the leaf littered ground.
Death followed after, walking along roots to keep from ruining the young nephilim's hunt.
Strife felt like he was one with the forest, he could hear and see everything. He swung his head around and crouched down to look around a bush. There was a fox digging at the roots of a tree, maybe after a mouse of squirrel.
Strife shifted his weight and held up his bow. He positioned the arrow and aimed it for the head. He waited for it to stop and sniff, then took a deep breath and let it fly.
The arrow struck the fox in the head and it fell with a thud. Strife stayed still and silent. Another fox came out and nudged the other fox with its nose. Strife felt a pain in his heart at the sight. What if they were mates? Or siblings?
Strife lowered his bow and bowed his head and whispered a little prayer for the fox and moved on to other prey.
Death watched him creep away from the foxes and furrowed his eyebrows. He could have twice the catch if he had taken the other fox. Death took out a bow and shot the other fox. He dragged the bodies closer to the tree and continued to follow Strife.
Deep breath, I can't hesitate this time... Strife mentally told himself. He aimed the arrow at a buck's head and carefully moved forward to get a better angle. He shot the arrow out and right when it was about to strike it in the neck, a hand caught it.
Strife lowered his bow and watched as the nephilim who caught it lower her hand and look around the clearing. She pat the deer on the neck.
"You're not shooting my deer you hunters! Come into the open! I dare you!" She yelled. She was a nephilim woman with golden hair in a messy bun filled with white petals and leaves. Strife could barely see the little antlers she had on her head. He was going to step out, but Death leapt from the undergrowth and stood chest-to-chest with her.
"What are you doing out here Faina? You do know we need these animals meat to survive." Death said. Faina bared her teeth at him and raised the arrow to Death's face.
"You think you're big and bad don't you? I will remind you I was born in these woods."
"I don't care if you were born here, we're not asking for you to sacrifice all of your deer, just a few." They continued to bicker as Strife stepped out. He put the bow on his back and approached one of the deer.
It didn't react as he pet it on the shoulder. He smiled as an idea came to him.
"You will not touch them Death!"
"I-"
"Look out!" Both of them turned and saw Strife laughing like a mad man as he rode one of the bucks in their direction. The both jumped out of the way as Strife charged through the bushes. Death and Faina glanced at each other.
"Truce?"
"Truce."
"Strife! Get back here!" Death yelled after him. Faina pulled a doe over and mounted it Death shook his head and ran after the younger nephilim with Faina behind him.