Ruby doesn’t even glance back.
I scoop up the cloud-seeker, its body still warm and its wings outstretched like bony hands. There’s not much meat, but it will be enough to start the day with something in our bellies.
For how many days am I willing to keep up this pointless expedition?
For how long will my brothers wait, before sailing home with the women?
That is something I must weigh, because I do not want them to leave without me, nor do I want to leave Ruby. I glance up at the sky as if the banished who came before me will tell me the answer.
They are silent.
If I follow her for five days, it will take me that to reach the ship. Ten days all up.
And a lot of ground to cover, in a place that I am not familiar with. Where some of the plants are too different for me to risk eating them, and the animals are also unfamiliar. It will be much easier to die here than on the land I grew up on.
The trail appears to widen where several trees have fallen over, creating an almost shelter. It will be enough since it is not raining.
“I’m stopping. I’ve caught breakfast and I want to cook it while I rest.”
She turns and stares at me. Her heart beats faster as though she is preparing for another fight. I can do this all night, but she can’t. Will she be reckless or smart?
“How do you know that’s safe to eat?”
“It’s a cloud-seeker.” Not my favorite, but they are easy to catch. “It’s safe. But if you’d rather hunt for something else…please…” I don’t wait for her to reply. I step off the trail and into the clearing made by the trees. I take in the area before deciding the best place to sleep. I like having something at my back, and an easy way to flee if I need. While the fallen tree leaning on another makes a tempting shelter—if I were to add some branches to one side. I can’t be bothered with the extra work, nor does it give me an easy escape route. I don’t want it falling on my head either.
The hollowed tree stump will be better, assuming nothing else is already in it.
I bring up the charge, so my markings light up and check the interior for creatures. It’s empty, so I’ll be able to sleep sitting up with my back to the heart of the dead tree.
By the time I gather some fallen wood for a fire, Ruby has joined me. not wanting to scare her, I ignore her while I light the fire. When it is burning, I grab the leaves that are similar to the ones I used at home. Gutting the cloud-seeker doesn’t take long and I throw the guts on the fire, so they don’t attract predators, then I wrap it in the leaves and bury it next to the fire, before adding more wood on top. By the time daylight comes, it will be cooked and ready to eat.
It's only then I grab my water skin and take a sip.
She makes a small whimper.
I expected a reaction, but not that. I want to hear that desperate noise again, but under very different circumstances. I don’t even know if our people are compatible, but I’d like to find out. I’m sure if I said that, she’d launch a fresh attack even though it’s one she’d lose.
Usually I’d have my pack on. I’d have more supplies and my blanket. But I took it off to retrieve the rope to tie the women. I should’ve grabbed it before running after her, but I didn’t think she’d be this stubborn.
My mistake, and one I won’t make again.
Assuming that we both live long enough for me to have that chance.
We may not.
And while I have lived ready to die since I was banished, she has not.
“Can I have a sip?” Her voice is tight, as if she hates asking.
I could be cruel and make her beg, but I don’t because I want her to stop seeing me as the enemy. I want to be so much more.
I do not want to take a woman home to my tribe to earn my place. No, I want a mate. My tribe discarded me, so I owe them nothing. My only loyalty is to my brothers.
Myself…and maybe her.
I hand her the water skin, trusting that she won’t drink it all. Until we…I…find more water, that is all we have. She looks at me as she takes a mouthful and then hands it back. I nod in thanks.
Perhaps we have a tentative truce. Though I have no idea how long it will last.
