End of Days: The Hunted

Chapter 12

Rebecca and Timothy came through a thick brush of trees into the small camp. Tom sat near his box of ammunition, checking each gun and filling them with full magazines. Matt was sitting over by Mary as they spoke quietly while Luke and Rachel sat over by some fallen trees. Rebecca walked up to Luke and Rachel to see what they were doing. Luke held a piece of the fallen tree and a sharp hunting knife, forming a small curved piece of wood. "You're really good at that." said Rachel with enthusiasm.

Rebecca knew what he was making. "Luke used to make statues and other carvings just using his knife. Isn't that right, Luke?" said Rebecca with a bright smile.

"Yep. It's just a hobby, though. I'm no professional." Luke laughed pulling out a fine string from a pouch sitting next to him. He placed the fiber around the two ends of the carving and formed a bow. "Almost perfect." he said with a smile.

"Oh wow! That's so cool!" said Rachel. Luke let her try it out. Her tiny hands grasping the bow and pulling on the string.

"Now all you need is some arrows." said Rebecca.

He smiled at her, "Already covered. I brought some with us."

Then Tom came over, "Nice bow." he hesitated, "You do know that we have guns that we can use, right?"

"Yeah, but if we do some hunting, I want to use a bow. Less noise, plus I can get my ammo back." said Luke with a happy grin.

Tom thought for a moment, "When are you going hunting?"

"I was thinking in the morning. I assume our 'friends' will be sleeping then."

"Good idea." said Tom, "Well, it's getting darker. I think we should get some sleep."

"It's a plan." said Rebecca.

Luke sat against the thick bark of the pine tree. His hot breath could be seen in the cold, freezing morning. He shifted the curved bow in his hands. Maybe he would get some game today. If not, he didn't know how they would survive much longer. He zipped up his jacket even further to stop the shivering in his bones. His teeth chattered, bones shaking, string of the bow stretching back and forth. All sounds that an animal would hear. He calmed his breathing. He whispered to himself, "Just stay calm, Luke. You'll get one. Just stay calm."

Sure, they had enough food, mostly junk food and canned food. That wouldn't last long, though. He looked off into the distance where he had left some bait. He wondered if deer like chocolate.

Suddenly, a deer walked into his sight. He felt sudden excitement at the unaware animal. It was a small white-tailed doe. Small, but it would suffice. He pulled an arrow from his pouch and set the end against the fine string of his bow, the sharp tip touch the curved front. The deer bent its head down to eat the chocolate bar he had left behind as bait. He narrowed his eyes, aimed his arrow, and let go. The arrow flew through the air swiftly and silently finding its target. The deer collapsed as the arrow struck its side, hitting the heart. A sudden rush of adrenaline surged through his cold body. He checked to see if there were any other predators, all clear. He ran to the fallen deer and pulled the arrow out and cleaning it. He felt sad for killing it, but it was either the deer or them. He'd choose them over that deer any day. They had to survive. No matter what.