Thirteen was found by The Hunter as a toddler, not long after the signal tower appeared. At first, he raised his shotgun, ready to kill her, but he hesitated. Something about her red hair... he couldn't. So, he took her home. He put a chain on her a...
When the sun had fully risen we stopped and I took my bow and arrow, wanting to find something good to eat. "I'll go with you. I can help carry stuff!" He said proudly, flexing and blushing before backtracking, "I mean, not that you're not strong, you're the strongest person I know, but one person can only carry so much, and I want to be helpful." He said quickly. "I know, Mono. Come on." I said with a smirk before leaving the Nomes in charge of the raft.
We crept through a feild with grass up to our waist, tbe river to pur left, and I saw a large bird stalking through the reeds. I knocked an arrow and winced. The hand holding the bow, my right hand, stung like a bitch. (Fun fact, you hold the bow with your nondominant hand and hold the arrow with your dominant hand. Thirteen is ambidextrous, but primarily used her left hand.) I let the arrow fly and it stuck in the crane's chest. It's wings flared before it fell over, dead. I strapped the bow to my back with the quiver and began plucking the bird's feathers.
"Is there any chance we can find vegetables too?" Mono asked. "Of course, Mono, just give me a minute." I gutted and deboned it as quickly as I could before putting the meat in a satchel. I gently rubbed my injured hand, wincing, but I smiled and shrugged it off when Mono was looking at me, worried.
"C'mon, let's go find you some plants." I said, marching through the grass. We managed to find corn, peas, carrots, and other plants, left over from peoples gardens, grown wild after years of neglect. We went back to the raft and had a lovely dinner of soup and bread, before drifting off to sleep with full bellies.
I woke up to a dark sky and stars above me. I groaned, tired, and felt around for my bow and arrows. Nothing. I sat up quickly, my head rushing, and looked around. "My bow! Where's my bow?" I asked myself, looking around before realizing Mono was gone as well. I put two and two together and scowled. Did Mono take my bow? I was pissed.
I went onto the shore and saw footsteps leading into a thicket of trees and shrubs. I followed the trail of crushed grass and broken twigs and branches. I heard light swearing and frustrated groans up ahead, and Mono stood in a little clearing, trying and failing at shooting arrows at a target drawn on paper.
"Grrr...." He started talking to himself, "C'mon Mono, Thirteen is hurt! You have to learn how to do this!" He muttered to himself. "Mono," I began, making him jump, "Why are you using my bow?" I asked, crossing my arms. "I- uh. Hi, strawberry. I- I was just-" I raised and eyebrow questioningly, "...I was trying to learn how to hunt. I know it's your forte, but you got hurt and I thought...." He trailed off. "You thought...?" I tilted my head. "I thought it would be useful if I could get food for us if you ever got too hurt or sick to. I'm sorry I took your bow." He explained, shuffling awkwardly on his feet.
Okay. My heart just melted a tiny bit.
"Okay, first, you are using the wrong hand. For you, you hold the bow with your left hand and shoot with your right. Second, my bow is too small for you. If you want, I can make you a bow and teach you how to use it. And show you edible plants." I said. "That'd be awesome!" He said. "Ok, but seriously, you're gonna break my bow, can I please have it back?"
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