We, who Survived

I sat on Fern’s bed with a new tunic and pants on. Fern could not find any smaller leggings for me, so I was using a thin piece of material as a belt on my waist. It was not uncomfortable but not welcomed either.

Tomorrow was the set day for me to speak to the chief and I needed better fitting clothes since my jeans and shirt were torn from my tumble into the trench. Luckily, Spark’s jersey was still with me so I could return it in one piece. To add to that, Fern was getting me new clothes from a friend, choosing to give me space after our moment. Just thinking about it made heat rise to my cheeks and a funny feeling appear in my stomach.

“I managed to get these from Zed. Meg, our seamstress, will fit them to you when she’s open,” Fern said as he walked in, holding a blue tunic and grey leggings.

“Thank you.” I smiled as I got up and took the clothing from him then sat back in the middle of the bed. “F-Fern...” Lowering my voice, I felt his gaze on me.

“Yeah?”

“If I am going to stay here, we need to... you know, get to know each other.”

Fern was silent, a thoughtful look on his face when I glanced up. He nodded before coming to sit next to me.

“What do you want to know?” He smirked, leaning back on his arms.

“Simple things, I guess. You already know how my life basically works but I don’t know about yours,” I replied shyly, feeling stupid for bringing up the subject.

“Simple? I’m nineteen, I was born in this village and my best friend is my older brother Hawk even though Zed is really close too,” Fern listed off with ease then smiled. “Your turn.”

“Uh... Why did this get harder for me?” I laughed nervously while Fern just smirked. “I’m seventeen, my best friend probably was my dad and my mentor and you already know I was born on the station.” My words came out mumbled and a bit rushed but Fern still nodded. I made myself comfortable before trying to carry on. Naturally, Fern made it easy for me to answer and talk. It was awkward but slowly became a laughing and smiling conversation.

Fern, even though he came off as hard and rough around the edges, enjoyed watching the stars and exploring buildings. He did not like snakes and hated being fooled. On his first solo hunting trip, he shot and killed a young male buck, choosing to take its skull as his mask. Each boy in his village would have the chance of a solitary hunt and whatever happened would be the beginning of their legacy as hunters.

I did not want Fern to feel sorry or angry for me, so I stayed away from the negative points of the station. I told him about my love for books and green apples, the forests and hills and animals that we saw so far. Then, I decided to try to make him laugh. I told him I disliked my height since it made me look like a small child and prevented me from doing a lot of other things besides climb trees. He did in fact laugh and told me it made me special and cute.

After that, things went downhill. I asked the wrong question which snowballed into silence.

“Where is your mom?” Were the words I had asked. Fern’s face had instantly lost its smile and became dark. He had tensed up next to me where he lay, no longer relaxed.

“I’m sorry, I should have kept quiet...” Glaring at my lap, I mentally kicked myself. Down here, terrible things could happen and one of those things could have killed Fern’s mother. If it were not for the new animals, it would be evolved diseases.

“It’s okay, Kitten,” Fern sighed, resting his head on the mattress rather than on his arms. “She died giving birth to me. My father said she had the chance to see my face and hold me but my grandmother could not stop the bleeding. She died smiling.”

“It won’t really help but I never knew my mother either. She got very sick and passed away when I was only a baby.” I closed my eyes, waiting for him to tell me I made him feel worse. But I felt his hand wrap around my arm before moving down to my wrist.

Glancing down at Fern, he was not even looking at me. I felt a tug in my heart and decided to lay down next to him then turned on my side so I could rest my head on his chest. Fern’s arm came to wrap around my waist, pulling me flush against him.

“Guess we are kinda in the same boat, aren’t we?” He whispered, stroking my side. My body was so relaxed that my eyes were beginning to close and I gripped Fern’s tunic into a fist. Sleep was waiting for me until it was rudely interrupted by someone shouting and the bang of the front door against the wall sounded. We both jolted up when Zed was standing in the doorway to the room, bent over and gasping for breath.

“The Trident group is back. They have Elias. They are demanding for Nathan,” Zed rushed out, still trying to catch his breath.

Panic started crawling up my throat, making me start to hyperventilate. What was Spark doing? His timing was terrible! If he and the others waited just a little longer, I would have brought help to them without having any threats being made.

“Kitten, what’s wrong? Is this not what you wanted?” Fern touched my arm, a sad glint in his eye.

“No! I don’t want to go, not now.” Out of impulse, I embraced Fern, holding tightly to his body and not caring that Zed was in the room. Starting to get to know Fern was amazing even though it involved me being somewhat kidnapped. If I had stayed longer, met his father and had that meeting, everything would be sorted. “I... I don’t want to leave you.”

Fern wrapped his arms around me, making sure that my head was tucked under his jaw.

“Zed, is there nothing you can do to get Elias back?”

“No, they want Nathan and are threatening to kill him if we do not comply.”

Fern groaned even though it seemed forced. He held onto me tighter before pushing me back so he could see my face. His expression was blank but an idea was forming behind his grey-green eyes. He studied my face before cracking a small smile.

“I have an idea but you two won’t like it.” He touched the side of my face, temporarily breaking eye contact to look at Zed. Adrenaline was running through me. My heart hammered against my ribs and blood rushed in my ears. Fern returned his eyes to mine. “We take you back but, before you get all pouty, I am going with you. Zed will too and another hunter. You won’t be going back alone.”

“Y...y-you can’t leave. The village needs you and as Jacob said, I am keeping you away from your duties. It would be unfair for you to come.” I was shaking now from the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

“The chief will understand. I will go get my supplies, what other hunter do you want me to get?” Zed asked, already leaving the room.

“Get Jacob. My father wants us to bond and what better place than the enemy’s ground?” Zed left with a nod. I held onto Fern again, not wanting to move.

“Come on Kitten, we have to get our warm furs and clothes packed.”

Walking out of the village gates, I followed Zed and a pissed off Jacob. The Rock Cat and zebra strode on either side of me, occasionally bumping against my side or leg. Fern would catch up after retrieving more arrows for his bow. Anxiety was making me clutch my stomach as it cramped painfully. I only let go when I felt Fern pulling my right arm away and slipping his hand in mine then pressed a kiss into my hair.

“Do you guys know how this is going to work?” Fern asked when we reached the stream. We were not too far from where Spark was camped.

“We return the weakling then come back,” Jacob growled. He sported a black eye, busted bottom lip and by the way he walked, possible bruised ribs.

“No, we go with him and help the survivors adapt faster, idiot,” Zed muttered, pointing his spear tip at Jacob. “Do not even think about leaving, the chief knows you are with us.”

“Fine, but I am not making it any easier for you.” Jacob increased his pace so he could walk upfront. Fern just squeezed my hand. We were almost there.

We passed the place where Fern and his hunting party had first attacked us before coming to stop behind thick vegetation. From there, we could see Spark but he could not see us.

“Ready?” Fern whispered, glancing around. Jacob and Zed nodded while I shook my head. “You will be okay, Kitten. Let’s go.”

Leaving the cover of bush and tree, we walked into view. Spark was the first to spot us coming. He shouted for the others to show themselves before walking towards us. I saw Maria and Max reveal themselves just as Joon jumped out of the tree the hunter Elias was tied to. Another person stepped away from the tree, making me hesitate with continuing forward. Daniel Speare was with them.

When we were close enough and Spark was standing 10 meters in front of me, Fern knocked an arrow to his bow.

“We are here, give us our man back,” Jacob shouted. Spark nodded and turned to signal to Daniel. He cut the ropes and quicker than they could react, Elias was on our side. He grabbed Zed’s hatchet before he stood facing his captors. “How the hell did you get captured by these morons?”

“Don’t ask,” Elias muttered, glaring hard at Spark.

“Fern, we have him. We can go now,” I whispered but Fern shook his head, deciding to push me forward to stand in front of him.

Something felt off as soon as I saw Spark up close. He had bloodshot eyes and black circles underneath them. He looked starved. As soon as I was in his reach, he grabbed me and before I or Fern could do anything, kissed me hard on the lips and wrapped his arms around me.

I struggled against him until I finally bit down on his lip. He released me with a yelp and I fell onto my rear. Fern protectively came to stand in front of me as I crawled back. I spat at the ground, rubbing the back of my hand over my mouth. It was wrong. I felt so disgusted that I could feel the rise of bile in my throat. Why would Spark do that?

He stared at me in disbelief as Zed and Jacob came to block me off from him. The zebra and Rock Cat were poised for attack. Elias came to help me up even though he did not have to.

“What do you think you are doing? Come here, Nate,” Spark called as I turned my back to him. I could hear the hurt in his voice. I shivered involuntarily.

“I can’t do this, Fern. I want to go back home!” I held myself tightly, keeping my back to them. Home. The hut I shared with him for only a bit sounded a hell of a lot better than with Spark who I had been travelling double the amount with.

“Wait, Nathan.” It was Maria’s voice now, desperation coating those two words with ease. “When Jae came back without you, everyone was so worried. Then the snow got worse and people began getting sick. We need help, please come back. We can’t lead without you.”

“Kitten, remember what you wanted originally. We are here to help.” Fern placed his hand on my shoulder. I glanced over it to see everyone watching me. I really wanted to go back after Spark kissed me but Fern and Maria were right. I was a leader and being a leader, I had to put my own wishes aside.

“F...f-fine but we are all staying in a different room.” I glared at Spark, taking off his jersey and throwing it at him. Fern smirked and took out a fur-lined jacket from his bag.

“Come on then, we have lots to do.”