Title: Learning To Hunt
Chapter: Section 15
Fandom: The Tribe
Author: PinkTribeChick
Summary: Sometimes, love is just right under your nose . . .
Extended Summary: An alternate-universe Series 4 romance story, from the point of view of Pride, Jack, and an original female character.

Rating: Teen
Pairing: Jack-Original Female Fiction Character, Pride-Original Female Fiction Character, Jack-Ellie, and Bray-Amber, with a few mentions of other pairings.
Author's Notes: Massive thanks to Ariannya and Whit for their thoughts and proofreading on various sections over the years! Enjoy, and please review! Feedback is much appreciated!

Disclaimer: All characters, situations, and song lyrics remain the property of their respective owners. Any original characters are sole property of me, PinkTribeChick.

Learning To Hunt

Section 15

Later that afternoon, Liliana made her way to Amber's room, with Samuel in tow. Amber lay in bed, reading a book she'd borrowed from Pride. Liliana put Samuel down and let him toddle over to Amber's bedside. He fell a couple of times, but got right back up and kept on going. As he finally made it to the bed, he let out a little squeal of joy, breaking Amber's focus on the book. She looked at him with a smile.

"Did he just walk over here all by himself?" Amber asked. Liliana nodded from where she stood in the doorway. Amber laughed, ruffling the toddler's hair. "I'm so proud of you, Samuel. You've gotten so big since I've been away."

"I know. It's amazing how quickly children change as they grow," Liliana responded in her soft voice. She walked over to the bed and lifted Samuel up on to it. He cuddled up beside Amber, playing with her hair.

"So . . . how are you?" Amber asked, closing her book and putting it aside. Even with Samuel sitting beside her, Amber still looked so little and helpless laying in the midst of all those blankets. Liliana could see in her eyes that she was tired and ready to have the baby.

"I'm doing fine. Been keeping myself busy taking care of him and doing chores around here," Liliana responded. Amber looked at Liliana for a moment, as Liliana tickled Samuel's feet. She hadn't changed a bit since they'd been away. She was still as tiny and normal looking as ever, and as quiet. There was a lot about Liliana that Amber had noticed in the past few days that she hadn't really noticed before, and she could tell the girl was aching to find someone to spill everything she was holding inside to. Luckily, Amber already had a feeling she knew what some of that was. And she knew it would just be easier to say what she was thinking and what she knew straight forward rather than pussy-footing about it.

"Liliana . . . ," Amber began. Liliana looked up from Samuel for a moment. It was then that Amber realized what Liliana was really hiding. There was something familiar about her eyes. They reminded her of someone else's. Amber took a deep breath and just spit it out. "Liliana, why do you tell everyone that Samuel's your brother?" Liliana looked up at Amber wide eyed with shock.

"I don't . . . I don't know what you're talking about," Liliana stuttered, turning pale. She averted her eyes from Amber's gaze.

"Yes, you do. He's your son, isn't he?" Amber pressed. Liliana's heart felt like it was going to explode. She knew she could trust Eagle, but she'd held it all in for so long it was hard just saying it out loud. She just started crying finally, burying her head in her hands. Amber leaned forward and put a hand on her shoulder, Samuel doing likewise, imitating Amber. "I'll take that as a yes." Liliana nodded.

"He's mine," she managed to whisper eventually. "I've just kept it inside so long . . . it felt a little weird saying it."

"I know." Amber smiled sympathetically. "Why didn't you just tell the truth?" Liliana let out a big sigh, staring out the window.

"Because my parents insisted on keeping it such a secret, even when the virus hit. They adopted him shortly after I gave birth. So legally, he is my little brother. But biologically, he is my son," Liliana said softly. Amber gathered Samuel up in her arms, as he started to drift off to sleep. She looked down at the little boy, smiling.

"And his father? Does he know?" Amber asked. Liliana's gaze didn't move, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Not exactly. He doesn't even remember anything happening between us. And on some level, I would keep it that way, but I love him too much still," Liliana answered cryptically. Amber stared hard at Liliana as it dawned on her who Liliana was talking about. Liliana's strange behavior since their return had given it away, but Amber had never entirely made the connection.

"Pride . . . ," she murmured. Liliana bit her lower lip and looked over at Amber.

"Don't tell him, please," she said faintly. "I don't want him to know. He doesn't even remember sleeping with me in the first place, so it's just better this way."

"I know . . . but if you love him, he must have loved you enough at some point to let down his guard to allow it to happen," Amber insisted. Liliana stood up and walked to the window.

"He was drunk that night," Liliana reminisced. "And when he's drunk, he gets stupid. And I just happened to get dragged along with him then. Albeit, willingly. Someone spiked the punch that night, but by the time it was found out, it was too late. Everyone had already had some punch. I was a little tipsy myself, but I was in more control of my senses than he was. I hadn't had as much to drink. I was fully aware of what I was doing, and I remembered it the next morning. I woke up beside him, but he was still fast asleep, thanks to the alcohol in his system. So, I dressed and got out of there as fast as I could. When I asked him about it a few days later, he looked at me like I was an alien, Eagle. He didn't remember anything that happened, not even the party itself. How can I tell him Samuel is his son, when he doesn't remember even sleeping with me in the first place?" Amber frowned, feeling bad for the girl. It was obvious she loved Pride very much, but that she was also frightened and feeling some animosity toward the boy. Amber searched for the words to comfort her.

Liliana traced the shapes outside, trees and rocks, along the window pane with her finger. The memory of the anger and hurt she'd felt swelled up inside of her, combining with the resentment that she had bottled up for so long, causing a fresh set of tears to burn in her eyes. She felt like screaming loudly. That just screaming might make it all go away, that it might release all the tension she felt inwardly about the situation. But she couldn't. She knew it wouldn't fix anything. Only the truth could fix things, and she just couldn't bring herself to that.

"Just because he doesn't remember . . . well, it doesn't necessarily mean it was wrong or that it shouldn't have happened, Lili. In my experience, people tend to reveal secrets, things that they otherwise wouldn't have the courage to let go of when they're drunk. So even if he doesn't remember it, maybe somewhere deep down, he really cares for you a lot, loves you. And maybe he still does, he just doesn't quite know how to say it," Amber said in a soothing tone. Liliana turned to look at her, her expression a mixture of anguish and fury.

"Or maybe NOT," Liliana snapped. Amber was a little taken aback by Liliana's tone. She'd never seen her this unnerved about anything before. Liliana directed a bitter glare at Amber. "He was in love with you when Samuel and I first came here. And now he's with May. If he's so in love with me, as you seem to think, then why does he keep ending up with every girl on the face of the planet BUT me?" Tears started to trickle down her cheeks again. "I remember it so clearly, all of it. He kept telling me over and over that he loved me. There was something so urgent in his tone. I guess it was just the alcohol talking." Liliana angrily punched the cushiony arm chair beside the window, letting out a small half-growl, half-grunt of frustration. Amber laughed a little bit, empathizing with how exasperated Liliana felt.

"He's with every other girl in the world, so it seems to you, because he's a guy. And guys are just dumb like that sometimes. They don't always see what's right in front of them. And frankly, I don't think Pride actually understands what real love is. If he did - he would see how he feels about you," Amber replied. "I've seen the way he looks at you, the way he talks to you, even how he is with Samuel. I saw it on the first day he brought you to the camp. He loves you. Very much. I just think he's in denial about it. I know I was for a while there. I was almost jealous, but it was more just because I'd had him to myself for so long, my best friend, and I didn't want to share him. I guess that's when I realized how I felt about him - which is . . . I don't see him as anything more than a friend. And I think, slowly . . . he's starting to see me as nothing but that. May, too. It will only be a matter of time before he sees what's been right in front of him all along - you. Some things are inevitable. You must know that." Liliana started crying harder, her whole body shaking with sobs. She walked over and snatched her son from Amber's arms. Amber looked at her in bewilderment, shocked by Liliana's sudden hostility.

"I don't even know if I want to be with him!" Liliana exclaimed. "I gave up everything, EVERYTHING for him! For his child! I gave up my parents, my own life, my own dreams! And you know what I've gotten in return from him? NOTHING! Absolutely nothing! He was 'in love' with me for about five seconds, just long enough to get me into bed and then forget he ever felt anything for me! Enough to completely destroy my life and break my heart and my spirit! And you know what, I'm sick of it! I'm sick of him, I'm sick of the way he looks at you and May! I'm sick of worrying about everyone and everything but myself! I'm sick of this tribe and all the people in it! I'm sick of having to take care of Samuel! I'm sick of feeling this way all the time, and I'm sick of my life! I hate it! And I just want OUT! Got it? O-U-T, OUT!" Liliana stormed out of the room, bumping into Bray in the doorway. She huffed at him and pushed past. Bray looked to Amber, totally astonished.

"Is she okay?" he asked, looking back out into the hallway after Liliana.

"No," Amber shook her head sadly, "And I don't think she's going to be until she faces the truth." Bray gave a sympathetic smile, shrugging his shoulders. He walked over to Amber and cuddled up beside her on the bed, wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her on the forehead as she buried her head in his chest, her mind filled with anxiety over Liliana.

That's all for now, folks! Thanks again for reading, now please go and tell me what you thought of what you read! I love reviews – they keep me going! Toodles until later . . .