Chapter Sixteen
The group arrived at the lake. The sun had set in the sky. Marcelo laid Finley down on a sleeping bag. He handed her a canteen filled with water. "here." Finley takes a quick sip from it. It had a minty taste to it. She screwed her face up a bit. "it has a small pain medication mixed with it." Explained Marcelo. Finley laid her head back down again. She gave a small sigh. Marcelo sat by her. "I hope the villagers will be able to help us. I don't want us to keep running all over the place." Whispered Marcelo. He watched Sam get a camp fire together. Annu sat with Leon on the other side of the campfire. Annu reached into her pouch. "back on my planet, we would use this powder to tell stories." Leon looked up at her in awe. "really?" he asked. She nodded. "yeah our elders would toss it into the fire. The fire turns a dark blue. Once the elders begin telling their stories, images appear in the flames." Annu pulled out an even smaller pouch. "what race are you guys?" questioned Leon. "shifters. We are able to shape shift into earth animals ten times the size of an average human. The Ero want us gone. I'm the last of my kind." She sighed. She looks down at her feet. "I hoped they wouldn't follow us here but they did. It's my fault that they tore Pontypandy apart trying to look for me." Sam overheard the conversation. "don't blame yourself. No one expected the Ero to follow you that far." He sat by her. He held her close.
The sun dipped lower against the horizon. Finley leaned on Marcelo. She shivered. "need warmth?" asked Marcelo. She nodded. He readjusted himself. He wrapped an arm around her gently. Finley put her cold fingers against his side. "there we go." She breathed. "so soldier since I told you my sob story, why don't you tell me yours?" she glanced up at him. "well me and my family are from Hawaii. My parents raised me near Pearl Harbor. My dad had served his time in the navy and my mom was in the Air Force. So, I decided to take after them." He just shrugs. "that's it. My story isn't grand or anything of mere importance." She laid her head up a little on his chest. "you know you still have time to write your own fairy tale right?" she asked. He smiles at her. "what are you saying?" She just laughs. "I think you know what I'm hinting at soldier." She added with a wink. The two of them stare at each other for a while. She blinks looking away from him. "right well let's get some rest." She whispered. He nodded. "good night." She cuddled close to him. "Night."
The next morning came. Marcelo helped Sam pack up the camp. He then picked up Finley. "right let's keep going." The group continued their trek through the forest. "do you think I can shoot a deer from your back?" questioned Finley. "possibly. I mean you were able to shoot down a helicopter on one leg." Murmured Marcelo. She smirked. "I can't tell if your impressed or slightly amused that I would ask that kind of question." Marcelo laughed. "any doubt I have you suddenly disprove." He had a smirk slowly spread across his lips. 'why are you suddenly doubting yourself now? Miss "I can shoot down an elk with my eyes closed" "Finley rolled her eyes. "take a turn off the path here pretty boy." Marcelo nodded. "hey Sam do you guys mind waiting for us here?" questioned Marcelo. Sam shakes his head. "good cause me and Finley have to do something. We'll be back."
Marcelo stayed downwind. Finley carefully guided him through the thick brush. Finley reached down on her belt. She pulled out her deer call. She gave it a soft blow. A sharp wail rang out. She heard the shrill call answer back. "that way." She pointed to the right of an oak tree. Marcelo carefully crept forward. Finley reached behind her. She felt the smooth bone of her elk bone bow. She rested the bow on Marcelo's shoulder. She then pulled out an arrow. Her finger tips brushed the owl feather on the back of the arrow. The obsidian tip glistened against the incoming sunlight. She put the arrow on the string. She slowly drew the string backward to Marcelo's shoulder. Her breathing slowed. Her gold eyes watched the shadows in front of her. She counted backwards from ten in her head before letting the arrow go. The arrow soared past Marcelo's ear. The arrow tip hit its target puncturing the skin. The deer let out a soft shrill. Finley let another arrow go this time landing it in the deer's neck. The deer disappeared off somewhere in the bushes. "follow it." She ordered softly.
The deer ran off down the path. It tripped over overgrown roots desperately trying to shake off its pursers. Another arrow flew through the undergrowth. It struck the deer in the back ankle shattering the heel. The deer shrilled as it finally tumbled down the hill, stopping at the bottom. Finley smiled. "she's down there. Just be careful the bush is overgrown. You won't be able to see the drop-off." Marcelo nodded. He carried Finley down the hill. The deer moaned softly in pain. It struggled to try and get up. Finley slid down Marcelo's back. "shh it's okay my friend." She comforted. Her voice had a soothing edge in it. She knelt on her good knee by it. She stroked its neck removing the arrow that was in it. "I'll make sure none of you goes to waste. Thank you. You've lived a long and honorable life. It's time for you to pass on now." She pulled out an owl feather. She dipped the feather into its blood. She watched the last light fade from the deer's eyes. She put the feather on her belt. "this is how we honor the dead. You honor them just as soon as their soul is getting ready to leave their body. I always lace the feather with the blood of those I've killed." She cut and divided the deer up into rations. She gets back up onto her feet. "let's head back to the others."
Sam heard the bushes behind them rustle. "we're back!" called Finley. "and we've got food." Annu smiled. "what did you bring?" Finley tossed a pouch filled with deer meat. "eat up. We still have a long way to go." Sam started up a fire to cook the meat with. Annu played in the bushes with Leon. "your earthling children are such fun." She chided. Leon smiled. "I haven't had this much fun in ages." She laid back on the grass. "Leon! Annu! Lunch!" yelled Sam. The two kids ran back out onto the path. Annu sat by Sam. Sam dished out the food evenly between the six of them. "so how much further do we have to travel Finley?" asked Elvis. "not long. I think we are about half way to the village. We might even make the border by sundown." Finley put her map back on her belt. Sam let out a sigh of relief. "well thanks for the food Finley." She cracked a smile at him.
The group kept walking. Sam heard a faint engine roaring in their direction. He shoved Elvis and Annu into the bushes. Finley snatched up Leon and did the same. She managed to grab Marcelo at the same time. Four jeeps rushed by them with raiders shouting and screaming out in glee. Sam caught the familiar sight of a brown tracer. He let out a low snarl. It was Buck Douglas, the man responsible for leveling PontyPandy into a nuclear wasteland. Buck Douglas leaned back in the back seat of the jeep. He tapped the suitcase that laid next to him. The jeeps disappeared off into the distance. The group exited out of the bushes. "that was Buck." Gasped Elvis. "I don't like the look he had on his face." Whispered Sam. "something doesn't feel right. I almost want to go back to look." Marcelo touched his shoulder. "we can't while we still have the kids to look after. Let's just get to the village and then plan our course of action from there." Marcelo walked past him. He helped Finley up before pulling her into his arms. He carried her on his back again.