The Hunt Part II

The forest opened into silence.

For the first time since the drop, there was no metal, no alarms — just wind and trees.

We walked until the sound of water reached us.

A lake. Clear, cold, alive.

I knelt, letting the water slip through my fingers. It was freezing, perfect.

Octavia came up behind me, frowning. "Kate, there's no meat here."

"I know." I looked at the treeline. "Maybe there are no animals left on Earth."

Her shoulders slumped, and I forced a smile. "Don't worry. We'll find something."

She nodded, and we started back toward Clarke and Finn, who were arguing over a map.

"If we follow the river, there's a bridge that crosses the mountain," Finn said.

I folded my arms. "You do that. We'll go through the woods instead."

Clarke looked up sharply. "That could be dangerous."

I started walking. "And what—going hungry isn't?"

I looked over my shoulder at her. "Come on, princess. Don't tell me you're afraid of a few branches and dirt."

The word princess still made her flinch. I liked that.

I turned to the others. "Anyone not afraid of a little mud and work—come with me.

Those who'd rather stay clean can follow the royal tour over there."

Bellamy caught my eye.

"Stay with Murphy," I told him quietly. "Make sure she doesn't get any ideas."

He nodded once. "See you in camp, Kate."

"Save me a seat at the feast," I said with a grin, then jogged past Murphy.

"Try not to die out there," he called after me.

"Same to you," I shot back, and disappeared into the trees with Octavia, Atom, Bill, and Pernille.

We moved slowly, every branch crack loud in the stillness.

Then Octavia whispered, "There."

A deer — or what used to be one — stood in the clearing. Two heads, one body, eyes too dark.

"Anyone ever thrown a spear before?" I asked.

They all shook their heads.

"Then watch me. Aim just behind the front leg — that's where the heart is."

I rose, drew my arm back, and threw.

The spear hit clean. The creature fell.

A rush of something fierce flooded my chest.

"Perfect," I whispered, smiling.

Atom stepped closer, wide-eyed. "It has... two heads."

"Did you really think the radiation spared the animals?" I said, half-smiling.

Octavia pulled a blanket from her pack, and we wrapped the carcass tight.

Atom and Bill carried it between them as we headed back.

When we reached camp, heads turned. Fires crackled.

"Who's hungry?" I called.

The cheer that followed made my grin widen.

"For every bracelet you take off," Octavia announced, "you get a share."

The crowd went quiet. Then murmurs. Then movement.

"Exactly," I said, and started cutting the meat.

Atom worked the fire while more bracelets hit the dirt