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CHAPTER SEVEN
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Lynx dropped a blanket around Caliko's shoulders. "Here. And why are you over here by yourself? I have a fire over there for us. And I did manage to catch us some dinner in the stream, don't you smell it? Aren't you hungry?"
Lynx had kept his word and talked with Bray and the others. After much argument, it was decided that Lynx would take Caliko to the Gaians. She didn't like the idea, but the Rebels held strong on not taking her back to the city. Bray told her that if the Chosen found her, she would be right back where she started as a prisoner. And who really knew what the Guardian was up to with herding together all the pregnant mothers.
"No, not really. And I am fne over here by myself. I'm warm enough."
"You should eat, for the baby." He knelt down beside her. "I think you'll like it at the camp. It will be better than being locked up in a truck."
Caliko chuckled. "I have been locked up for so long, I almost don't know what to do with myself. I -- this is the most I have seen the outside in almost a year."
"A year! I would have died long before, you must be a strong woman." He stood up. "Come on, let's get you some food in your stomache, we had a long day today, and another to go through before we get to the camp." He reached down and grabbed her arm.
Caliko tore her arm away and falling backwards. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" She yelled.
"I was -- I just -- I'm going to go get some more firewood." Lynx stormed off into the forest.
Caliko rolled over wrapping the blanket around her. She didn't mean to snap at him. She was just so tired of being pulled around and told what to do. She wanted her freedom, and she still felt as if she was waiting for it.
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Lynx angerly grabbed at a branch. Why had he agreed to take her? Why had he even agreed to talk to Bray for her? What was it about this girl? He didn't like people from the city. The only reason he was helping the Mallrats was to ensure that The Chosen never made it as far as the camp, his home. He hated being cramped up in the outskirts of the city in a metal and concrete building. He hated the smell of the city. The filth that filled it. The very people who dwelled inside it. So what posessed him to help one of them? He turned and looked through the trees toward the fire and Caliko. 'There she is, still curled up far enough away from the fire to make her toes freeze tonight.' He thought. 'What happened to the father? Did the Chosen nab him too? No, she would be looking for him. What's Eagle going to do with her once I bring her? It should be okay since Bray is the one that sent her. But who is he to say who can come to our camp or not?'
Lynx headed back to the fire. After he set the wood down he reached over and grabbed a piece of fish he left sitting beside the fire. Sitting down he ate and staring at the girl laying too far away from the fire. He watched as Caliko adjusted her swollen body on the ground and coughed slightly. 'She needs a comfortable bed and warm clothes.' The mound on Caliko's stomache stirred. 'She needs to eat for that baby. She's nothing but bones she's so skinny.' "Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" He waived the fish in the air. "I'm not a very good cook, but I'm sure its better than anything those robed crazies ever fed you. "
"If I eat, will you leave me alone in peace to sleep?" Caliko crankily replied.
"If you eat."
Caliko sighed, and clumsily pulled herself up and forced herself to stand. Her ankles throbbed with pain. 'At least the Chosen drove us around.' She thought bitterly. Walking over to Lynx, she took the food he held out for her and took a bite. "Happy now?"
"You should sit down, you need your rest, like I said, it'll be a long day tommorrow." He motioned for her to sit.
"Are you my nursemaid or my guide!" Caliko snapped.
Lynx jumped up throwing the fish to the ground and snatching the canteens from his bag. "We need water."
Caliko watched as he walked to the stream. She hadn't meant to be so rude. It was nice of him to take her to this Gaian Camp, but she couldn't help but wonder what he wanted from it. Well, she didn't need to wonder really. She knew now what men were all about and what they could do to a girl. The thoughts made her parnoid. She knew now how foolish she had been, to agree to go out into the wilderness with a guy she barely knew. She looked around for something to defend herself.
Lynx had left his knife laying beside his bag. Caliko glanced over at the stream. Lynx was bent over it, filling the canteens. She stood up and quitely grabbed the knife and sat back down, setting the knife behind her. She kept her eyes on Lynx's back. Watching as he filled both and replaced the lids. She watched as he turned around and walked back to the fire. She watched as he came toward her. She watched as reached out for her.
Caliko grabbed the knife and pressed it against his chest. "I SAID DON'T TOUCH ME!"
She dropped the knife when her eyes focused on Lynx's outstretched hand and the canteen it held.
Lynx swooped down and snatched up the knife. "What was that about? I was only going to give you some water." He crossed back over to his side of the fire and sat down.
Slowly, one by one, the tears slipped down Caliko's face. She couldn't hold them back anymore. She couldn't believe what she had become. Top Hat hadn't just raped her body and left it scarred, he had raped and scarred her heart and soul as well. What would her parents think? Her shoulders shuddered and she couldn't hold it back anymore. Her hands flew to cover her face.
Lynx watched for a moment, confused as to what he should do. He felt the need to go comfort her, but he was unsure if it would be welcomed. He watched as her shoulders rose and fell and the sobs freed themselves from Caliko's lips. He couldn't just sit here he decided. Lynx stood up and knelt down in front of Caliko. Carefully, he moved his hand under Caliko's chin. "What did the Chosen do to you?" He whispered to her.
Wiping her eyes, Caliko looked at him. "It wasn't the Chosen." She took a shuddering breath. "It was --" She couldn't say his name. The thought sickened her.
"Who?"
Caliko waived her arms around, gesturing to herself. "The jackass who did this to me!"
"The father?" He reached forward and wiped the tears from her face.
"Don't--" Caliko said pushing his hand away.
"So what did he do?" Lynx shifted his legs and sat down in front of her.
"I don't want to talk about it and I don't thinks it any of your business."
"Okay, Okay." Lynx said, waiving his hands in surrender. "I just, want you to know, whatever happened to you. It won't happen again."
Caliko looked up at him, her eyes filled with rage. "No,...it won't."
