Rodwood Academy

Chapter 86: Lost in the Woods

A loud grumble echoed through the woods almost as if a storm was brewing.

However, it was no storm behind the rumble, it was instead the stomach of the young boy resting his head upon his friends lap as they watched the sun rise for what seemed like the hundredth time.

Laying in silence not wanting their overly long day to begin just yet Zander stared ahead at the sun rising in the distance with big dark bags under his eyes.

While he laid upon the blond girls lap, Alia was propped up against a strong tree as Rose sat besides her girlfriend curling half of her tiny body onto hers.

The friends looked like walking skeletons compared to their healthier completions they had several weeks ago. Without any food throughout the duration of the hunt, the friends had lost much of their weight as they struggled to make it through the days.

Their hairs were in shambles as dirt and leaves tangled them. Their skins were splattered, if not covered in mud depending on the time of the day. Their faces drooped with exhaustion as their clothes were ripped and torn in all different directions.

As the sun came higher into the sky to signal the start to their new day the trio, who was currently camping out for the night at the top of a tree, were breathing heavily.

They wanted this never ending hunt to be over with already.

Everyday they played the same game with the hunters from the camp.

From the minute the sun rose to the minute it fell they were hunted and chased by the wolves sent out to kill them. It wasn't until day three into their hunt did the friends learn of the benefits of waiting the night out at the top of strong and sturdy trees.

However, as the cold nights fell upon them the friends were thankful to have been surrounded by the mass amounts of leaves capable of filtering out most of the wind. The cool evening breeze would've froze them half to death if it weren't for the small barrier they had to protect themselves.

Using the thick branches as a place to sit, Alia always used herself as a cushion for the other two to rest their heads for sleep. And no matter how many times Rose and Zander offered to switch places with her, at least for a night, the girl refused.

She wanted to make sure the other two were cared for instead.

As their silence went on longer it was again broken by the sound of Zander's hungry stomach calling out to them.

Moaning in pain the boy wrapped his arms tightly around his empty stomach as he turned to face his friends. "I'm starving." He mumbled seeing how unhealthy they both looked as well.

"I know. I am too." Alia said as she placed one of her soft hands against his mangled hair. "Maybe we'll find something to eat today." She said somewhat optimistic.

"That's what you say everyday." Rose whined as she snuggled further into her girlfriends side, hoping that her comfort would take away from her own hunger.

Sighing heavily to herself, Alia couldn't help but feel defeated. She felt as if she were letting them all down. She knew they needed food, but finding anything other than trees and shrubbery in these woods was difficult.

"Well the suns up now. Why don't we go back to the stream for some water?" She offered instead. "That always seems to help with our morning cravings."

"Do you think the hunters are around?" Rose asked anxiously as she peaked down the tall tree they had climbed up to look for the pack of cruel beasts.

"There's only one way to find out." Alia said carefully sitting both Rose and Zander up before making her way slowly down the branches.

"Be careful." Alia heard her girlfriend and friend say simultaneously as she descended down the tree.