Chapter 7:
The Eco's gathered around the campfire that night for the first time in many weeks. They had not been allowed the simple pleasure due to the constant threat of attack, but after days with no sign of their enemy and scouts reporting back that they seemed to have retreated for the moment, Hawk had relented.
The tribe now sat huddled in small groups around a massive fire pit that lit the night sky with a warm, sparkling glow. It should have been a great occasion for Amber. She was here among old friends, she had been reunited with Mouse and Patch, she and her baby were safe and her wound was recovering well. But instead Amber's thoughts were filled with sadness and despair. Where would she go if she couldn't stay here? She had been a city girl her whole life, when she had left before to start a new life she had ended up here with the Eco's and had been welcomed with open arms. This time it was different.
Hawk's accusations hung in the air around her. As she glanced away from the flames she saw him, deep in discussion with Patch. He looked up for a moment and their eyes met. Quickly, she turned her gaze back to the flames.
How could he do this to her? To her baby? He was her friend, she had considered him as close as family when she had lived here among his tribe.
She turned her head to the other side and spotted Rain and Trey. They were sitting very close together and they too seemed to be in deep discussion. The thought suddenly occurred to her that Hawk should pay more attention to his wife; obviously she was looking for it somewhere else. As she watched the discussion between Rain and Trey got more and more heated until at last Rain rose in an exasperated huff and walked away from the fire. Instead if turning to follow her departure Trey raised his eyes to Ambers and met her gaze.
As she looked into his eyes visions of him in his Techno uniform swam before her, followed quickly by thoughts of Jay and his betrayal. Tears began to burn behind her eyes. Amber rose from her place by the fire and, clutching her baby to her chest, began to make her way back to the hut she shared with Patch.
Suddenly a hand on her shoulder stopped her progress and spun her around. Through tear-clouded eyes she found herself staring up into Hawk's face.
"Amber, are you alright?" he queried with concern.
"I'm fine Hawk. Don't worry about me and little Bray, we'll be gone before you know it," Amber answered defensively.
"No, Amber, that's not what I meant. You seem distressed," he replied a bit more stiffly than before, reacting to her bitter tone.
"Distressed? Do I seem distressed to you? I really can't imagine why, Hawk," she answered sarcastically, while fighting to keep the tears at bay a while longer. "But really, Hawk," she continued, "You shouldn't be worrying so about me, after all, there is Rain for you to consider now…And where is your little wife? Seems she's been flitting about the camp lately. You really should pay more attention, Hawk. She's your concern…I'm not…" she ended flatly then turned and fled towards the door of her hut.
Hawk watched her go, unable to follow, unable to move. His mouth hung open and his eyes were wide. What had just happened? Was Amber crazy…unhinged? Or had she just shattered his world?
Suddenly shouts and screams rent through the night air, sending the Eco's around the campfires into a panic. Hawk turned toward the commotion, seeking a source, then he saw one of his trusted Eco warriors running towards him.
"Hawk!" Bear screamed as he spotted his leader, "There's been another attack in the forest, one of the lookouts, young Fox, he's been killed."
"Did you see them?" Hawk asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, no one saw anything. It was the same as before, just arrows out of nowhere, I pulled the other lookouts back into the perimeter and set more guards around the camp." Bear answered breathlessly.
"And the boy's body?" Hawk asked.
"We left it, there was no time."
"Come then, you and I will go back and get him, he deserves a proper burial," Hawk said sagely, his words filled with great sorrow at losing another member of the Eco family.
As Hawk turned to look towards the edge of the forest he spotted Trey running towards them. "Hawk, Bear, what's happened?" Trey called to them.
"Another attack," Hawk answered as Trey approached, "Bear and I are going back out to retrieve Fox's body."
A look of sorrow passed over Trey's face, he had not been here long, but had known Fox as a younger, but strong and trusted member of the Eco tribe. "I'm sorry Hawk," Trey offered in condolence.
Hawk nodded in return. "Trey, I need you to get the others inside the protective wall and keep them there until we return. I'm leaving you in charge. Can you do this for me?"
"Of course Hawk, anything I can do to help," Trey replied.
"Good, we'll see you shortly. Thank you, my friend." With that, Hawk and Bear were gone.
Trey turned his attention to herding the children into the makeshift fort. The other Tribe members followed his lead and soon he stood at the head of a large group counting heads to make certain that everyone would be safe in Hawk's absence.
Two…he was missing two…Rain and Amber.
Leaving one of the Eco men in charge he ran back through the camp toward Patch's hut…there was a light burning inside. She was there. As he reached the door he began to pound on it. "Amber…Amber…It's me Trey. There's been another attack, I need you to come with me."
As the door swung open he could see her face in the candlelight. She had been crying, but being the strong and independent woman that she was, she was trying valiantly to hide it from him.
"Amber please, come with me quickly," Trey said again.
"Is everything alright?" she asked quickly, "Is Hawk alright?"
Trey smiled a bit in the shadows of the doorway, "Yes, Hawk is fine, but he's gone into the forest with Bear to collect a fallen friend. Until his return and until we know if there is any further danger tonight, he's ordered the rest of the tribe to gather in the fort."
While he spoke Amber had gathered little Bray and joined him outside. "Am I the only one missing?" Amber asked, a touch of her leadership instinct showing.
"No, Rain is also missing. Have you seen her?"
"Not since you have…I believe you and she were arguing by the fire earlier, weren't you?" She asked innocently, slanting him an accusing look under the cover of darkness.
"Yes," he answered immediately, "she and I have been arguing a lot lately. Of course we always have, when we were little it was natural, but now that we're older and have been apart for a few years, I'm afraid we've grown apart a bit. It is hard for a family to stay together since the virus."
They had reached the enclosure and Trey rushed ahead of her to the front of the group. He began counting heads again as Amber continued to stare at him in shock. Family…they were family. Suddenly his words came together in her mind…She was his sister.
"Has anyone seen Rain since the attack?" Trey's voice cut through her thoughts as he questioned the crowd of Eco's. "Does anyone know where my sister is?"