The Huntress

by harrietmjones

Jemima 'Jem' Remington has spent her whole life as a Hunter. Brought up by her single mother, Leha, they'd spent 14 years of her life fighting together, however, danger came in the job description & unfortunately Leha, was not so lucky. Two years have passed and Jem's been working on her own, fighting against the things that go 'bump in the night'. This is the story of family. (AU)

2. I: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Lake Havasu City, Arizona
1999

Leha

'Push! Push!'

I scream in utter agony to myself, as I squat, alone in the cold dank warehouse.

My arms curve around the corners of an abandoned shelving unit, the cool metal welcome on my hot, clammy skin. I could feel the baby slowly descending, the ring of fire starting to burn.

Continuing to groan and pant with each sharp contraction, I shakily touch the baby's emerging head to help me know this was going the right way, the baby was going to be here soon.

After a couple of big pushes, the head was out, then the shoulders, an arm, another arm, torso, before finally, in the dusk lit interior I saw the wriggling shape of the baby - my baby, between my knees. I was in shock.

I was a mother. An actual mother to a baby, everything felt so surreal.

I pulled out of my bag, crumpled and stained bloody by the side of me, my blade to cut the cord before pulling off my jacket and wrapped baby in it as best as I could.

I had a baby girl.

She sucked in oxygen before letting the loud wails begin.

"There, there." I mutter, while rubbing her back through the fabric. I didn't know the first thing about what to do with a baby.

I sit there until my butt was cold & she'd stopped crying to get myself together. I was incredibly sore. Everywhere, but we had to leave though I didn't know where to go. I couldn't go to hospital, too many questions and a motel, there was one nearby but I had overstayed my welcome.

The open road was the only home for us. The open road was the solution.