Lost Soul

Chapter Twenty-One: Poison

The poison makes it hard to move my arms. Which is really disappointing since Nick is teaching people how to shoot his bow.

Technically, I know how to shoot from my many, many hours in the virtual simulations. But a simulation isn't the same as the real thing, as I learned the first time I used a dagger.

He's teaching Cat the basics while we walk. Then when we're camped out, he'll stand behind her and instruct her on how to do it for real. He keeps saying she shouldn't use his bow, since it's built for him, but she seems to be doing fine with it.

"Don't cock your draw wrist sideways like that, unless you like wrist pain."

"You're the rudest teacher I've ever had," Cat tells him.

"You've never had good teachers then. Align your shoulders."

"Nitpicky," She says, but does as she's instructed.

He smiles. "Anchor to your face."

She shoots an arrow at a tree and when she puts the bow down, Nick retrieves the arrow. It missed by twenty feet.

"Next time, don't breathe out when releasing the arrow."

"Am I just not supposed to breathe, Legolas?"

Nick frowns. "I prefer Hawkeye."

"You're not deaf," she protests.

"So? Hawkeye's not Latino, either. Doesn't mean he's not wicked cool."

"And you saying 'wicked cool' made you twenty times less cool."

He rolls his eyes and offers the arrow back. "Try again."

"Don't be so hard on her, Papi, she's learning," James calls.

Nick throws a stick at him. "That's still offensive, Jamison!"

Ava flicks him on the ear.

He rubs it and sticks his tongue out at Nick. "You didn't mind me calling you it when-."

A stick smacks him directly in the face.

"Ack!" He falls off the log he was sitting on.

"My aim is nearly perfect, James. I'd be careful what you say."

I snicker. I'm supposed to be patching worn out clothes, but it's hard the pull the thread through when my shoulders don't want to move.

Luckily, no one seems to notice me struggling.

Alex and Izzy have been very talkative with each other since the village. They've deemed themselves the dragon eggs' parents and have been in charge of carrying them.

Alex and I haven't talked yet about the whole 'I forgive you' thing.

I don't know if it was because he thought he was going to die, or what. Part of me is suspicious that he forgave me right after I told Ava, Izzy, and Cat about killing Hunter and his dad.

I'd told them not to tell him, but it's not like I know Cat and Izzy's secret keeping ability.

At least he looks me in the eye these days, which is a welcome change. He hasn't made a comment about me being 'cursed', either.

It's a start, I guess. I just hope it's for the right reasons.

Charlie waves a bowl in front of my face. "Are you there, Raven?"

I startle and pull away from the bowl. "Huh? Sorry. Spacing out."

He sets the bowl of beans on my lap.