Forest God

~ 2 ~

I wake up the next morning when the first rays of sunlight crept in through the window. Picking myself up gently, I carefully maneuver myself around the cotton-filled mats on the ground where my family is sleeping. They'll be waking up soon, but I rather them sleep in and not have me wake them up. I grab my hunting outfit to change into and put my nightwear in Mother's laundry basket. I stare at the laundry basket and try to picture myself being the one doing laundry. The thought doesn't come easily, and I brush it off. I won't be having to do it every day. Flint and I will probably be hunting together most days. I smile at the thought. It'll be nice to have a hunting partner again. I shake those thoughts away. There's no need to be thinking about the past right now.

Walking out the back of the house, I gather my bow and arrows along with a few of my knives that strap to my legs. Mother had cleaned all my weapons after dinner last night in preparation for our outing today. I walk around the side of the house and fill up both of my canteen. I have an extra one with me today just because I don't know how long we'll be out today. The last thing anyone needs while hunting is to run out of water to drink. When I first started going hunting, I made that mistake and ended up with heat stroke.

Making my way to the front of the house, I see Flint and Sol walking up the path. Both are dressed in hunting gear and carrying their own weapons. I wave to them, so they'll see me, and Sol waves back. Flint gives me a cheeky grin, the anger from last night gone.

"Good morning, Wren!" Sol calls out.

"Morning you two! Ready to get the day started?"

"You bet. I'm hoping we make some great kills today," Flint says. I walk over to them, and I can still feel some of that awkward tension between Flint and me. It'll take a while for us to get used to each other, I'm sure. Sol must've noticed it too.

"It'll be nice for all of us to go out. Once y'all are married we can take these little family hunting trips. Maybe we could even take Clove," he says with a smile.

"If Clove would even want to come hunting," I say as we start walking.

"You know she's more of a gardener than a hunter," Flint chimes in. He falls in line next to me with Sol in front of us.

"I know that, but I think she'd do it once just for us to all go together. Besides, I think it would make Mother happy."

"That's true. It'll also give Wren a break from household chores once we are married and in our own house."

I stop walking. "You do realize I will have time to hunt and help provide for our family while still doing things around the house."

"For now yea, but once we have children, it'll be harder to do so many things at once." Sol stays quiet, rightfully so, but I can't help but feel some type of way by what he said. I always knew I would have to split my time between hunting and housework, but I didn't think my future husband would flat out not want me to hunt. Women hunters were common in our village, especially since the Offerings. If the man of the house is wounded, sick, or chosen during the Offering, the woman then takes on the main provider role. My skills of hunting are valuable and should not go to waste.

"We can talk about it when that time comes," I say trying not to anger him. "I want to help in whatever way I'm able."

"That's a good thing! Y'all have plenty of time to discuss this more before that time comes," Sol hurriedly said, trying to end the conversation and move on. "Let's keep moving; we're wasting time."

Flint mutter under his breath, but I decide its best to just ignore him right now. I walk past him and catch up to Sol. I guess it makes Flint upset or something because he runs up and inserts himself between us. I roll my eyes and look away from him. How are we supposed to get married if we make each other mad when we are alone, or almost alone. But I can't help but feel bad for Flint. I mean he knows he wasn't the first choice Mother had for me. That's got to lower anyone's self-esteem.