The Collision (Sequel to The Division)

Chapter 11 (River)

I stay completely still. I must to make sure it doesn't find me. If it does I'm toast.

I watch its movements. It moves gracefully, it steps lighter than a feather, its ears intently listening to any sound.

I silently grab an arrow from my quiver strapped to my side. I slide the notch of the arrow into the bow string and pull back. I only have one shot.

I aim my arrow at it, exhale, then shoot.

The deer falls to the ground in a quick and painless death. I slip down from my high perch in a tall oak tree and tie the fallen animal's hooves together.

"May God have mercy on your soul." I whisper. It's kind of a weird thing to say, but Amber used to say it when we would go hunting.

I sling my bow across my back and begin the process of dragging the fallen deer back to camp.

"Hey," Dalton greets me.

"Hey," I greet back, "brought the food." I heave the deer to sit right beside him.

He rubs his hands together in glee. "Alright, I get to show you some of my amazing cooking skills."

I snort. "Yeah because last time it went so well."

He turns on the defensive. "That's because you burnt it!"

"Should have been watching it." I shrug, "Besides, I don't even think these 'skills' exist." I put finger quotes around the word 'skills'.

He smirks, "You seem to have forgotten, I was in the Diamond Navy." He takes out his knife. "Prepare to be amazed."

And just like that he gets to work skinning, cleaning, and cooking the deer. He puts some spices on it and boom, it's done. He puts the finished meat on two of my camping plates.

"Here you go, my lady." He hands the plate to me, "Dinner is served."

I decide to go along with his little game. "Why, thank you, good sir."

He stares at me smirking.

"What?" I ask.

He shrugs, "Just waiting on your reaction."

I look at him incredulously, but still I take a bite out of the deer leg. I literally gasp. It was so good. I glance at Dalton and he is still smirking.

"Told you." He says imply then takes his own plate and begins eating.

After dinner, I clean the used plates with some water I brought and I lay in my one man tent relaxing. Dalton begins whittling a small block of wood, that I still don't know what it is.

"What you making?" My curiosity got the better than me.

"You'll see." He says simply.

I sigh. That's the same reply I've been getting since he found the stupid piece of wood.

He chuckles to himself. "It's okay, River. I'm almost done."

He puts the last finishing touches on he wooden masterpiece then announces, "Done." He holds up his piece and then hands it to me.

I gasp at its beauty. The sculpture is a girl in flowing dress that came to her knees, her hair radiating out from her head like the sun. A flame swarmed around her like a great big ball of fire, but strangely enough she didn't look scared, no she looked determined.

"It's you," Dalton says simply.

"Me?" I look at him incredulously.

"Yes." He states as though it was obvious.