Chapter 11

It was raining hard and the soil was saturated, creating mud. It felt cold even though the tropics made the jungle feel hot and humid. The mud was sticky and clingy but that didn't matter. That night was the night. It was time to make Otaktay see how wrong he really was. He would see.

Patience was the key. It always was even in the middle of all the pain and the anger and everything else. That and keeping a goal which ultimately was when you struck at your enemy. She had patience and plenty of it though it never seemed like it even to her Shappa. It was how a hunter hunted though.

Time was the ally and she had bought her time as she hoarded what she had been given. It wasn't much but it would help. Every time she hoarded, she was reminded of what she had learned as a girl from her father. Then what she pickpocketed off Otaktay… that would have him wondering.

She picked the lock to her cage with ease having the means to do it. There were the guards to worry about but it was dark and raining. It was a fat chance they would see her and they were idiots anyway. She got the lock undone and waited until she got a chance to get out.

She grabbed the first guard from behind and covered his mouth with her mud covered hands. She heard the muffled shrieks as she gave a deft twist. The snap told her that she had broken the neck. She felt the body go limp in her arms as the guard collapsed in death. She kneeled to look at the dead body with a blank expression before methodically stripping the guard of his weapons and gear.

The next step was to move on through the compound and head for the river. The river was the clear way of escape. If it appeared that she drowned then she would be free. Then she would be able to return to her tribe. Crouching low, she surveyed her surroundings before recounting the steps that she had memorized once she had been let out.

It didn't take long for them to realize that she was not where she was supposed to. She had already killed three of the guards after her initial breakout. Time to act fast. She ran a hand over her face and ended up smearing mud over her face as the rain continued to pour and pulled out the gun that she had taken from the guard. She moved on to the next checkpoint.

The commands in Spanish were coming all over the place as she slunk through the shadows. She could tell that they were over by the pit and were shouting. They were wondering where she was and how she managed to get out. Her features twitched as she headed towards the gate. They were distracted so she had a chance and she took it using the shadows and her environment as she had been taught.

She was through the gate and had gone several meters when it became evident that she wasn't completely free. Standing between her and the river was him. She had landed in the mud in a crouched position and slowly stood up as the rain began to pour. She looked at the hunter who was a predator.

"Did you think that it would be that easy Little Charlie?"

She replied, "Since when has it been easy for you?"

Otaktay chuckled, "I knew you were just like Charlie. He would have escaped like you did." He put his hands on his hips and shuffled in his stance. "Did you know that I asked… almost begged for him to teach me what he knew. You know what he said?"

"That you were weak and pathetic," she answered readily. While it was old, she knew that it would never fail to get a rise out of him. Whatever reasons her father had, they died with him and they were his own.

Otaktay's eyes narrowed as the lightning crashed above. He pointed menacingly at her, "You have no idea what you are talking about. You think that I am weak for breaking? I saw the light Little Charlie. I thought you did too. I mean where are your friends? They think that you shot at them. You can't go back now."

At that moment there was a bunch of noise and the shouts of Spanish. They both looked in the direction it was coming from. She knew that she had to get past Otaktay and to the river. The river was her chance of escape. After that, she would do what it took to get back to them… to him. Otaktay was looking at her and he said, "They're looking for you Little Charlie. Come back with me and the punishment will be less severe. Or you can fight your way out. Your choice."

"At least you learned one important thing," she said. She backed into a fighting stance, ready to fight tooth and nail to the river.

Otaktay sighed in resignation, "I did warn you Little Charlie. Even if you do escape, what hope will there be for you? You'll be branded a traitor." He backed into a fighting stance but his hands were lowered as if to give her another chance.

"That is what you think."

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

They fought like two hunters. They punched and kicked and used what they could get their hands on to use as a weapon. It changed when Otaktay pulled a knife and took a swipe at her. It took every bit she knew how to steer clear of it. She looked like an excited animal as she stayed low to the ground and bounced around. She had to get to the river.

Otaktay launched another attack and she managed to move but the searing burn on her left had her pause. He had managed to nick her and it was bleeding. It wasn't bad; that she was certain of. It would slow her down considerably but it wasn't that serious. Besides there was a saying about wounded animals. She looked at Otaktay and took a couple of breaths. She could make a run for it.

He noticed her injury and the blood was on the blade. "Did I nick you? I warned you."

"So you did," she replied as she straightened up. The injury stung like crazy but she ignored it as she looked at him. "But I don't intend to be your prisoner."

"No choice in that," Otaktay replied. He gave a shrill whistle and shouted in Spanish.

She was already gone and heading towards the river as she remembered from everything she had heard from the old man. She heard the shouts coming from behind along with Otaktay's voice taunting her. He was getting closer so she went faster. She had to when they began to shoot at her.

At one point she fell and slid down a hillside in the mud. She must have hit a couple of things since she was a little sore but she was on her feet and running. A shot rang out and she heard Otaktay shouting at them not to kill her. That was not that great of a comfort that he still wanted her alive since she knew what it meant to be alive under his command. She got to her feet and hopped/hobbled towards the river to get her footing.

The river was just ahead. All she had to do was run and take a leap and after that… Well she had to trust that things would go well. It was a high drop though as she peered over the edge at the running water below. She pressed a hand to her side and noted that her injury was still bleeding and thought of another time where she had been forced to do what she was about to do. Whether or not it was irony or just déjà vu she didn't care. She sighed but was immediately brought to attention when she heard rustling in the brush. She turned to face who found her.

"There's no way out of here alive if you keep going Little Charlie," Otaktay said as he emerged from the jungle. He looked at her with that stupid grin of his, like he caught the canary as the expression went. "When are you going to realize that there is no way you are going to win?" He took a couple of steps forward.

She took a step back as if the movement would keep the distance between them. It certainly caused him to pause since she was so close to the edge. She knew that there would be challenges along the way but she would do what she had to do. Her father had taught her that there was always one more thing she could do to get out of a situation. It was a matter of finding it.

It is not enough to know how to hunt for survival. To survive merely means to satisfy basic needs. When you are hunted my little Hawk it will not be for just your very existence but for your soul.

Otaktay advanced again saying, "Come back with me Little Charlie. You know that I have never lied to you. I promised you could be set free." He held out his hand to beckon her to come back. He held out the other since the patrol was coming. He didn't want them shooting her.

Only you can decide if you want to surrender…

She knew that she wasn't going to surrender. She couldn't because deep down, she knew what she perceived as truth. They didn't abandon her. He didn't abandon her.

"Come on. Don't make me want to kill you."

That made her decision. She took a step back as she eyed Otaktay and then his men slowly. She held her ground in s strong stance. It was weakness if you slouched and it wasn't an injury that made you do it. She had seen old men with crooked backs stand straight and tall and proud. She looked at Otaktay and her gaze was clear and bright. The rain was pounding on the leaves of the trees. It was like it was cleansing everything before and leaving a path to the next step.

She looked at Otaktay. She knew then that even if she escaped and managed to return, this would never be over. He would come after her again and for Sungmanitu. She hadn't forgotten that he had wanted them both and no doubt if he had been able to, he would have taken them both off that beach. This wasn't going to be over. He was a predator and she was the hunter. There was only one way that this would truly end.

"I mean it. Come back to me Little Charlie. Be my little hawk."

She looked at Otaktay sharply. Whether or not it was a coincidence, one thing was for certain: she was not his. She said, "Before this ends I will kill you."

"You may try but you are already dead Little Charlie. You are dead to those that were once your friends."

"Death is not the end Otaktay," she said. "Even the dead can make life a living hell. I will hound you and before it is over you will know what it means to be a Ghost."

Otaktay narrowed his own eyes at her, "Bold words Little Charlie but you seem to forget that there is one way out."

"Death is a fickle thing," she said as she stared at the man. She looked at the patrol and then said, "Just be sure to tell your men that they should fear what they can't see."

Before Otaktay could say anything, she abruptly turned and pushed off from the edge, jumping into the roaring river below. She had fallen from heights before and into the water. She felt the water as it enveloped her into darkness…

Tahatanskah opened her eyes and looked around. Her body felt drenched in sweat but it was difficult to tell since she felt cold and clammy all over and probably from the humidity. It had been the same since she had woken up from the fever the elder said she had been suffering when she had been fished out of the river nearly a week ago. She dreamed about that moment up until she jumped into the river to escape from the one who essentially played his part into the events of now.

She thought she was dead when she hadn't been able to get to the shore when she was further downriver. The river was a powerful thing and if it wanted its tribute, it would have it. It seemed though that fate was to be kind to her. She did manage to get to the shore and she had been found by a local tribe of native peoples. She had been unconscious when they found her and they could have killed her. It was evident she was American since she was still wearing her old uniform but they didn't. Instead they brought her here to their village.

Tahatanskah sat up and reached for her uniform shirt and put it over the tank top that the village had found for her. It had been cleaned and repaired to the best of an elderly woman's ability and it was still in pretty decent shape. Her uniform trousers had been switched out for a pair of cargo pants though she still had the other ones. She just happened to like the cargo pants and managed to convey that even though the language barrier proved to be a major difficulty since her Spanish was good but theirs was elementary at best.

She had been given a hut to stay in and she was left alone for the most part even though there were a few younger men that looked at her like an oddity that was interesting. Pulling on her boots and lacing them up, she watched through the open door of her hut at the signs of life in the village. People were bustling about their business whether it was cooking, tending children, repairing or hunting; everyone had a place and purpose. As far as they were concerned, she didn't really have a purpose except to gain her strength so she could leave… at least that was her thoughts.

She was out of the hut and looking around as she put the weapons she managed to ask for on a belt for her to carry. She would have preferred a gun but they were not likely to get something like that unless she figured out a way. It didn't matter anyway. She could remember what she had learned as a girl and that was a good as a place as any to start with as she had for the past five days. She walked towards the edge of the village and glanced around before taking off into the jungle. Before she did though, she looked around. Something was off about that day; like something was going to happen. It was on her mind as she took off on a jog, aware that she was being followed by the younger children who took an interest in her.

"What you are proposing is risky. This could spell doom on us all."

"It already has since we have been forced to do the Federation's bidding since they took over. I am proof of that." Cezar looked up at the elder that was considered the leader of their village and willfully showed the scars.

Jaime looked at the younger like he would a younger sibling even though they were pretty much older men and roughly the same age. He replied, "And did you not have some help with that?"

Cezar looked at his friend and in many things his brother and replied, "And as I explained, it was to buy her freedom." He sighed as he paused and then looked at his friend, "She did not wish to harm me. She remembered what I have done for her. Most wouldn't."

A noise caught their attention and it turned out to be the younger children squealing. They were running with laughter through the village. They were followed by the return of their visitor. She was panting but not like she was out of breath. She had her hands on her hips as she took in deep breaths and paced in a circle, not looking at anyone in particular before walking over to a semi private area and began practicing hand to hand.

Jaime looked at their visitor and then at Cezar and said, "She is not one of us."

"But she has no reason to like the Federation," Cezar pointed out. He sighed as thought about what to say next. He knew that this was risky. So far she had shown no inclination to betray them. Then again she showed a similar look to the man she escaped from so he could see the concern ad where it was coming from. "This one is different from the others."

"She is a soldier and with those from the north. Her concern lies with the Federation. Why would she care about us and how we are affected?"

Cesar would have answered but a cry rose out. A patrol was coming. He looked at Jaime and received a nod. He had to hide their visitor. He ran over to where she was training and apparently she knew something was up since she was looking in the direction of the shouting. She didn't understand the tribal language or Portuguese but she understood Spanish and he knew that language and said, "Come, my friend. We must hide you."

"Is it the Federation?" She didn't move but asked her question with a firm look but it wasn't intimidating. It was a look of someone who wanted to know what they were getting involved.

Cezar didn't want her in the open but something told him that she wasn't going to budge unless he answered her query. He replied, "It is a patrol. We must hide you."

"How many?"

Cezar couldn't believe she was asking this. He grabbed her by her wrist and tugged her towards the place they had hid her previously when she was unconscious. Most didn't go there and the patrols didn't when they came by. They were under the impression that it was a swamp. He motioned for her to stay there and he would have gone but she pulled him down.

As it turned out, she had been watching all the while and she noticed that Cezar was in danger of being seen. She pulled him down and held a finger to her lips to indicate that he was to be quiet while she squatted to peer through the brush that was hiding them. She grew very still and watched, the only thing moving were her eyes and the fact that she was breathing. It was enough to make Cezar wonder more about her and he was reminded when he had been assigned to be her food and water servant before she got him out.

The patrol came in like they usually did but their leader was with them. He was saying that he needed several young people who would have the honor of serving. He was taking extra because this village had slighted him by a few of their members. Cezar held his breath as he glanced between their visitor, who was still as a rock while her eyes blazed with a fire in them, and the village. He held his breath and watched as young girls were being selected.

It took their visitor grabbing his arm and holding him in place when his young granddaughter was selected. He saw the lecherous look the leader had and she was only thirteen! He protested at his visitor restraining him but all he got was, "You're of no use if you get yourself killed."

"She is only thirteen," he replied in a heated whisper. "Do you know what they do to girls that young?"

"I am aware of it," she replied as she peered through the brush and studied everything. "If I hadn't escaped… that would have happened to me." Slowly she adjusted her position and prepared to spring into a sprint. "That is the only way to the city correct?"

"Yes. What…?"

"Come on." She got to her feet and started running.

The patrol left in their vehicles with the villagers protesting. The women were mostly wailing that their daughters were being taken. The men that tried to move forward were shot. A few were killed much to the laughter of the Federation soldiers. They were laughing but the wails of the people sounded the loudest in the jungle.

As the villagers were in shock and anger, their visitor ran past them, stopping only to pick up things that may be useful as a weapon. They watched as she ran into the jungle chasing after the trucks. Not too far behind was Cezar, trying to keep up and doing remarkably well for someone who was in their fiftieth year. Jaime watched in surprise and three of the younger men took off following before he gave the order to stay back. In his mind, they were outnumbered and those soldiers had guns. They had already lost good men. They didn't need to lose more but he could offer the prayers he had learned as a child for the visitor.

"What are you doing?" Cezar heaved as he caught up to the visitor. She was kneeling and peering over a ridge. He could hear the roaring of engines. How could they have gotten ahead?

"Going to retrieve the girls," she said as she looked to the left and right before pulling out a few things that might help. She held a spear ready to use it when they were joined by two others. She merely stared since they started speaking in Portuguese.

Cezar had to do the translation saying that they had come to help and they would do what she said. She looked at him like he was crazy. He looked to the boys and said something in Portuguese to appease them. He would just have to tell them if she decided to use their help or not. "What is the plan?"

She looked through the brush and replied, "The plan is for you to distract them. Throw rocks or something. Cause them to stop."

"And then what?"

"Just wait here," she said as she moved to head into the jungle. She looked at Cezar and said, "In five to ten minutes you need to have something in place. Get those boys to help you." She then turned and disappeared into the foliage.

"Doesn't stay too long does she," one of the boys murmured having not been able to follow the conversation.

Cezar said, "If you learned to listen then you would know." He looked at the boys and said, "We need to make a roadblock.

It became a sit back and watch when the trucks stopped because of the roadblock. The soldiers grumbled because they would have to move the debris out of the way. The leader barked orders to clear the road and got out to supervise leaving the truck with the girls only with their guards sitting inside with them. No one noticed the figure slinking through the brush with a narrowed and intense look. Even Cezar couldn't find her until he caught sight of her killing one guard who had left to go take a piss.

He had a hard time following their visitor since she slunk between the vehicles. He did catch one glimpse of her snapping the neck of another soldier and taking his weapon along with anything else that was on his person. The next thing he knew were the girls climbing out of the truck while she motioned them to move and head back towards the village. Cezar motioned for the boys to go meet the girls and go with them. He was going to wait for their visitor who apparently wasn't finished but when he searched, he couldn't find her and he began to panic.

It got worse when they road was finally clear and those that hadn't been on guard duty were returning to the trucks. He worried that they were going to head back to the village when they started shouting that the girls were gone. It was followed by that very truck exploding. The remaining soldiers that weren't dead were shouting orders for formation. There was exchange of fire as Cezar watched them shoot into the foliage after a couple of soldiers were shot dead.

The second truck exploded and those that were writhing on the ground in pain were shot dead from the jungle. Cezar watched wide eyed as they were all cut down until two remained: the leader and the one next to him. The leader looked around and shouted, "What are you waiting for?! Here I am!"

A shot rang out and the soldier next to him slumped over dead and there was blood splatter on the leader's face. The leader shouted out, "You missed!"

Another shot rang out and hit near the leader's boot. It had come close. A few more popped out and the leader shouted, "Coward!" He then turned and headed down the road in the direction of his base. He was long gone when the visitor came out. There was foliage clinging to her person and her and her face was smeared with dirt. She was holding one of the guns and looking in the direction the leader had gone. Cezar managed to climb down and join her to find out if she was okay. All she said was, "I will help you with them."

A/N: Looks like Hawk escaped and Rorke is still hunting her. Looks like she is going to fight back and in her own way. Stay tuned for more of The Hunt...