Born A Hunter

Chapter 3: The Boy

2013

Having lost count of the days a long time ago, the teenager guessed it had been years since she had lost her brothers. Crouching low, Addison rinsed her dagger in the cool waters of the stream. Dried blood crumbled away, tainting the waters further down. Wiping the wet blade over her torn plaid shirt sleeve, before slipping it back into the safety of her boot. Reaching out to her side, Addison made sure to grab Sam's gun from the ground, holding it tightly as she stood. A sigh tumbles off her cracked lips, checking to find only 3 rounds left.

Brows deepened into a frown, the snap of a twig alerting her of presence. Instinctively, the young girl turned gun raised in the direction of the sound. Hazel eyes narrowed, the sight of boy around her age; hands raised in a surrender, not a weapon in sight. Dark messy locks fell from beneath his sheriff like hat, covering the top of his head. His eyes bright blue captivating the girl, but still she pointed her gun at him. Paired with slow and cautious movements, Addison began to take steps back.

"I'm not a threat." The boy spoke, a soft caring tone laced in his words. From his words alone, Addison lowered her weapon, slipping it back into the waistband of her jeans. Swiftly Addison turned on her heel, heading back towards the stream, choosing to ignore her new company. "Wait..."

At the mention of the word 'wait', Addison found herself quickening her pace. Attempting to lose the boy in the midst of the trees and overgrown bushes. After a while she grew tired, gasping for air with each breath. Up ahead her eyes take note of a fallen tree, one caked in vines and moss. With a sharp change of direction, the girl threw herself over the large mass. Body crashing harshly onto the other side, pressing a hand over her mouth to supress her discomforted groan.

"We have a camp..." The boy's voice was heard in a mumble. Curiosity is what caused Addison to peak out over the top, keeping low and quiet to make sure she wasn't spotted. The boy was a few feet away, releasing an annoyed breath as he adjusted the hat upon his head. "Crap!"

"Carl!" A new voice yelled out, a deeper and gravely tone to it. Addison grew nervous spotting a new person, while the boy appeared to relax a little. The man reminded the girl of the type of people her father would have been friends with something that made her a little uneasy. He was thin, most likely due to a lack of food, but layered with muscles. His hair is almost down to the back of his neck in length, and dark brown, almost black in colour. Dressed in a leather, angel wing vest over top a shirt. Paired with dirty ripped jeans and scuffed old work boots. A loaded cross bow in his hand, which was pointed down at the floor. "Ya find anything?"

"No!" The boy spoke kicking at sticks, head hanging low. Addison watched as the man placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, urging him to start walking in the direction he had just come from. It wasn't until they had gone, did Addison release a breath she didn't know she was holding. Standing straight she stretched out her sore back, a soft sigh escaping past her lips.

Unable to catch her breath, the echo of small yelps and whimpers broke through the natural silence. Addison found herself rushing towards the sound, every breath heavy from her tight chest. Stumbling to a stop, her heart ached at the sight. A small Leonberger puppy cowering in fear behind a larger sable German Shepherd dog. Her heart raced for the innocent creatures, who remained cornered by two walking corpses and a large thorn bush.

Pulling the bow off her shoulder, two arrows instantly knocked back into the string. Tugging the string back, she took aim. The string slipped from her fingers, scraping against the bare skin over her fingertips. Both arrows released with power, each slicing into its target perfectly. A smile spreading over her face, as the two bodies fell motionless to the ground. Reaching into her pocket, she placed a few left-over pieces of beef jerky on the floor, before turning to walk away. It felt good to help them, but Addison knew she could only do so much.

Something soft brushed up against her trouser leg, glancing down a chuckle ripped from Addison's tired lungs. The black border collie following close at her side, the golden coated Leonberger bouncing slightly ahead, constantly stopping revealing his black furred muzzle as he check to make sure the pair were behind him.

With a light smile painting her features, Addison dropped into a crouch, hand scratching behind the older dog's ear. Sliding the bow back over her shoulder, the teenager focused on the red collar around its neck. Pulling the tag into view, Addison couldn't hold back the laugh at the playful name.

"Kopa!" Addison tested the name on her tongue, her voice sounding alien to her own ears, not having needed a reason to say a word over the last few years. But the name earned a bushy tail to wag and a rough pink tongue licking at the skin on her hand, leaving behind wet sloppy kisses. With the small puppy moving in closer, she took notice that the puppy obtained no collar, so he remained nameless. It too a moment for Addison to think of a new name, one that fit the small figure before her. "Kopa and Buck!"

Hey Readers,

Chapter Three Completed, I'm so proud to have not given up yet. Does anyone else have great ideas and then when trying to complete it they slowly get tired but then when you try to complete it another day you grow bored and never do?

Well, I've been known to do that a lot, but I refuse to not complete this. I'm really enjoying writing this. If you enjoyed the chapter, feel free to vote and comment to show your support

Ann_Dixon69