"Family is who you find, not who you share your blood with„
15 year old Rhylee "Ray" Fern Smith has had a tough life. With a haunting past she takes a step into an even worse future. Hopelessly lost in the apocalypse, she searches for her two most l...
"I might need you or I'll break, Are we too young for this? Feels like I can't move„
Softcore - the neighbourhood
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As I didn't bother to eat last night, I decided to get a real breakfast today. I made my way to the river, gathered a few dry sticks and lit up my fire. My lighter was beginning to run out of fuel. It simmered and sparked a few times before it finally made a small flame I could use. As I let the fire rage, I began gutting one of my squirrels. Just the way I was taught. I can see just how much I've improved since the first time I tried. As the memory floods back into my mind, I can feel my eyes begin to water. But I don't let the tears drop. Not anymore.
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Two years ago
"Ew, that's gross! I'm not doing that!" I exclaimed and turned away from the man.
I could probably have heard his sigh a mile away. "Fine, guess ya don' want to learn to hunt either then." I could see him shrugging from the corner of my eye. His words made me gasp and I put a hand over my heart.
He looked at me then. "What?" He grumbled. "Gotta learn to gut yer game, else no point in huntin' em."
Reluctantly I sat down beside him on the fallen trunk. He had convinced me to do the heinous act. "Fine." I moped and grabbed a squirrel from the bunch he had caught earlier. My hunting knife quickly found it's way into my hand after.
"Good. Now ya gotta pay attention, cuz I'm only showin' ya once, got it?" I nodded, eager to learn, though my stomach was still in knots thinking about gutting and skinning the squirrel.
I watched closely as Daryl slit a little opening by top of the squirrel's back. He used his fingers to pull its hide off and I sat still, eyes wide and mouth open. "What? Jus' like tha'?" I asked bewildered.
He grunted. "The hide is easy ta get off." I let out a little 'whoa'. He continued to gut it and I watched closely every second so I wouldn't forget. I needed to do this if I wanted Daryl to teach me how to hunt game. He already taught me how to use my bow, but it's a whole other thing to learn to track and be quiet and patient.
When Daryl finally finished his hands were all bloody and gross. I grimaced at the sight. "Now git goin', girl. Yer turn."
I made a noise of discontent, but began anyways. Slowly I did just as I remembered, but it was messy and I used a lot of time. I could see Daryl holding back a laugh at times through the corner of my eye - it was so rare my heart began to flutter - but I didn't say anything. He even guided me through some of the things I forgot.
When I finally finished I let out a big breath and grinned wide. "So tha' means ya gotta teach me how ta hunt now, don' it?"
He grinned back and pointed to the remaining 5 squirrels. "Wha' do ya mean? We ain't done just yet."
