With determination beating heavily within my heart, I grabbed a few supplies and headed out into the forest.
“Let’s find a simple animal snare and figure out how to make one ourselves,” I resolved and headed out the door.
Chapter 7
Zander
Fatima’s avoiding me, I was sure of it. I tried to think of reasons why she would distance herself as I walked out into the forest to check my traps. Had I offended her in some way? She looked pleased when I offered my assistance, and yet she insisted on sitting as far away as possible at meal times. Something was wrong, of that I was sure. If our eyes ever did meet, she’d flash me one of her fake smiles. She was hiding something, and I was determined to figure out what that was.
“Hmph.”
Someone up ahead let out a loud sigh. I crept closer to see who it was. I had, on more than one occasion, run into the teenagers who had come from Tarak’s dekes kissing in the woods. I’d even caught Vianna kissing Favalor out here once. The memory of my sister in that traitor’s arms was forever burned in my memory. She deserved better than him. He had sided with Dameron, and that was an unforgivable offense. I didn’t care about his claims of trying to get information. No honorable male ever sided with Dameron no matter how bad things got. Favalor was notan exception to that rule no matter how much Vianna wanted to believe otherwise. I would never approve of her courting Favalor. I’d sooner chop off my own arm than see her mated to that traitor.
The mystery person let out another sigh, bringing me back to the present. I silently strode forward until I spotted Fatima, of all people, sitting in the snow next to my snare trap as she inspected it.
She pulled out a rope from her pack, looked at my trap one more time then tried to tie a knot similar to mine. Her knot wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quite right either.
Why was she out here? The storehouse was full. We wouldn’t need any fresh meet for a few weeks yet.
Satisfied with her progress, Fatima stood to see how I’d fastened the top part to the tree.
She moved to the next tree over and threw her rope over the branch right above her head. The wind kicked up just then and she shivered from the chill of it against her skin. She was bundled up pretty well, but it wasn’t good enough for my liking. Whatever she was doing had gone on long enough.
“You won’t catch much game with a knot like that,” I teased in a soft tone as not to scare her.
She jumped anyway and turned toward me with wide eyes.
“Oh,” she breathed a sigh of relief as soon as our her gaze met mine. “It’s you,” Fatima gave me a soft smile that pleased me to no end.
“What are you doing out here?” I asked. The sooner I could get to the truth the sooner I could get her back inside where it was warm. She really shouldn’t be out here especially now that she was with child.
“I’m teaching myself how to hunt. I figured learning how to set up a snare was a good place to start,” there was a shyness in her tone, but she held her chin high nonetheless.
“I see,” I nodded. “Why not wait until the spring when it’s warmer? The hunters bring in food for everyone. There’s no need to learn these skills right now.”
“That’s true...for now,” her words were tentative but firm. “What if it gets harder to find food? The hunters will undoubtedly bring meat back for their mates and children first. I can’t just leave things to chance. Not anymore,” Fatima looked down at her belly and I understood her meaning.
She chewed her bottom lip and I could tell there was more that she wasn’t telling me. There was a reason why she wanted to learn how to hunt now beyond the fears she’d expressed.
“The food stores are full, there is no danger of us running low this winter season. It would make more sense to wait until the spring to learn to hunt, unless there is another reason you’re not telling me,” I let my words hang in the air. Fatima’s shoulders tensed under my critical gaze, but I did not look away. I wanted to know the truth. I couldn’t fulfill her needs unless I knew what they were.
Fatima let out a deep sigh and confessed, “we’ve run out of boar meat. That’s the only protein that I can keep down, everything else makes me nauseous.”
“I see.” That does present a big problem. Fatima had only been struggling with her pregnancy sickness for a few days and yet, she looked visibly weaker.
“I will bring more boar meat into the storehouse,” I replied.
“That’s very kind of you, but it’s not necessary,” she waved away my comment as if it meant nothing.
She doesn’t believe me. Ice filled my veins at the realization. I could offer to take care of her and her child everyday and she would refuse me. I had to show her that I meant what I said. I would have to prove that I was here for her today, and that I’d still be here tomorrow and every day after.
Fatima was stubborn, and I loved that, but it also meant it would take time to convince her of the truth. That was fine. Her stubbornness was no match for my commanding tone. I’d learned that already. I’d use that to my advantage over the coming days and weeks.
“Fine, I will do it,” I announced.
“Do what?” she furrowed her brows and gave me a confused look.
“I will teach you to hunt, but first I must teach you how to tie a rope. Follow me.”
