It took the men seventeen minutes to realize that I was following them. I had removed my shoes and was creeping silently along the forest floor, pausing when they did and moving at their pace.
The men had arrows knocked as they stalked their way through the forest, following the tracks of a deer. I, however, was on another venture entirely.
They paused suddenly, and I almost collided with a tree. Crouching on my toes, I looked around and soon saw the object of their attention. A young buck with huge velvety antlers was grazing, and the men made gestures to each other, trying to keep silent as they knocked their arrows and took aim.
This hunt, however, wasn’t a necessity for the village; we weren’t starving at the moment. Instead, the party …show more content…
Steeling my nerves, I began to march, keeping my eyes fixed on the tree line.
Everyone noticed, and they all knew what it meant. However, to their eternal credit, nobody jeered or laughed. They had done that plenty the first time, though, and the second.
Lya jogged up to join me when I was almost halfway past the field. “How did you get caught?”
“I snapped a twig. A child’s mistake.”
Lya laughed. “And now you look the part.”
“I’m absolutely dying of laughter.”
Lya shrugged. “What can you do? Oh, and your embroidery is very nice. It is adequate payment. I have already completed all of your weeding.” I glanced over Lya’s shoulder. “One of your cows is straying.” It was true; the black heifer belonging to Lya’s family was currently beginning a barrage on another family’s patch of vegetables.
Lya cursed. “We will continue this discussion later.” She sprinted off, intercepting the beast before she reached the potato sprouts.
I chuckled, marching off into the tree line. Relieved, I made sure to glance around before I began to hum quietly to myself, making sure that I wouldn’t have to
The men had arrows knocked as they stalked their way through the forest, following the tracks of a deer. I, however, was on another venture entirely.
They paused suddenly, and I almost collided with a tree. Crouching on my toes, I looked around and soon saw the object of their attention. A young buck with huge velvety antlers was grazing, and the men made gestures to each other, trying to keep silent as they knocked their arrows and took aim.
This hunt, however, wasn’t a necessity for the village; we weren’t starving at the moment. Instead, the party …show more content…
Steeling my nerves, I began to march, keeping my eyes fixed on the tree line.
Everyone noticed, and they all knew what it meant. However, to their eternal credit, nobody jeered or laughed. They had done that plenty the first time, though, and the second.
Lya jogged up to join me when I was almost halfway past the field. “How did you get caught?”
“I snapped a twig. A child’s mistake.”
Lya laughed. “And now you look the part.”
“I’m absolutely dying of laughter.”
Lya shrugged. “What can you do? Oh, and your embroidery is very nice. It is adequate payment. I have already completed all of your weeding.” I glanced over Lya’s shoulder. “One of your cows is straying.” It was true; the black heifer belonging to Lya’s family was currently beginning a barrage on another family’s patch of vegetables.
Lya cursed. “We will continue this discussion later.” She sprinted off, intercepting the beast before she reached the potato sprouts.
I chuckled, marching off into the tree line. Relieved, I made sure to glance around before I began to hum quietly to myself, making sure that I wouldn’t have to