The Wild Hunt (Part One)

EXCERPT from The Wild Hunt: Savages (Part Two)

REUNION

"Over there!"

I sprinted through a narrow opening in the trees, leaping over upturned roots and bounding past a fast moving stream of water, before jumping across it and landing swiftly on my feet.

"You can't run from us, Yapo!"

No, I probably couldn't. At least, not for the next ten feet where a break in the earth gouged out a deep, wide trench. I skirted to a stop near its uneven edge and looked down at the rocky bottom. I think I want to keep my legs today.

"Where coming for you, Yapo!"

I looked up at the towering tree beside me and decided it would do. I grabbed the lowest branch and pulled myself up onto it, reaching for the next. I heard the forest rustle behind me and climbed faster, swinging my leg over a thick branch and pushing myself up to a sitting position. I grabbed my bow from around my back and pressed my body against the smooth trunk of the tree. I stilled my breathing and knocked an arrow.

"Where did that Yapo go? Spread out!" Three Tewase men gathered beneath me, all of them alert and surveying the trees around them. One took off along the edge of the trench while another went into the thicket behind me. One stayed near the base of the tree, a spear in his hand.

I recognized his shaven, tattooed head and low ponytail as Kongee. He was an excellent fighter and extremely fast. His small, lean stature allowed him to move swiftly around his opponent and land some killer blows with that spear of his.

"Come out, come out, kitty. Chief Na-Wakee is getting impatient. I promise to kill you quick."

His taunting words had me setting loose the arrow and it stuck him between the shoulder blades. He let out a howl of pain before dropping to his knees, scrambling unsuccessfully to grab the arrow from his back.

"I'm gonna kill you, Yapo!" He growled, his face contorting in pain before he lost his strength and fell to his face. His fingers twitched for a second before he completely stilled. Can't kill me now, can you?

I jerked my head to the left as one of the Tewase men came bounding out of the wood beside the tree. He ran to Kongee, kneeling beside him to examine the arrow in his back. He looked up and our eyes met.

Woosh!

The arrow plunged in between his eyes and he toppled over Kongee. I pulled my bow over my shoulders and started climbing down. I fell to my feet and hurried over to the Tewase men. I plucked the knife from the dead one and belted the sheath around my waist, then I took Kongee's spear, but not before yanking the arrow out of his back and placing it back in my quiver. I had to hurry. If this poor bastard heard Kongee's commotion then the other was probably on his way.

"Yapo!" The Tewase man shouted down the edge of the trench. He neared us and lunged towards me, saber in hand.

I rolled to the side and popped up as he barreled past me, tumbling to the ground then springing back up. He crouched, saber out in front of him and I matched his pose, holding the spear beside me.

He bared his teeth and charged forward. I deflected his attack with my spear, bringing the end of it against the back of his head and he stumbled past me, but quickly regained his stance as I twirled around to face him.

"Your gonna have to try harder than that," I teased.

His scarred face scrunched with rage and he swung his saber towards me. I stepped back, letting it slice the air in front of me before stooping down and bringing the neck of the spear hard against his legs. He was knocked off his feet and before he could register the defeat I drove the spear into his chest.

Spurt!

Blood squirted out on impact, littering his bare chest and neck. Good riddance.

I stood up, finally able to catch my breath. Perspiration covered my forehead and neck. It clung to the long strands of red hair dangling past my eyebrows. I pushed the wet strands from out my vision and behind my ears.

Crunch!

I turned around and Yetae stepped from out of the trees behind me. The air in my throat disappeared as I stared at his graven face. It's been months since I've seen him. Months since I ran away that night in Cona.

He stepped into the clearing, looking at the bodies surrounding me and his eyes darkened as they narrowed on me. I stepped back, taking hold of the spear and pulling it slowly from out the man's bloody chest.

"Yetae," I breathed. He stepped closer and I stepped back. I didn't want to fight him. I wasn't sure if he wanted to fight me. From what I remembered the last we spoke we had been on good terms, but now... I didn't recognize the steely look in his eyes. He had every right to be mad with me. I left him.

We circled each other slowly, moving around the slain bodies on the ground. Neither of us broke our gaze and I knew it was only a matter of time before more Tewase would arrive. I had to go.

"To think I'd see your pretty face again." He spoke just above a whisper. I swallowed, stepping over Kongee's outstretched arm.

"Do you know how long my fathers been searching for you? Everyone is on their knees in fear of what my father might do if he doesn't catch your tail. He never looses something and not regain it. You being alive and killing his men has him pulling his hair out. Why, Kona? Why did you leave?"

I knew he was asking me why I left him. Why I chose to break our brotherhood. A scared bond so tight, to end it would be like parting from a lover. There wasn't a day that went by I didn't think about him. That I didn't reflect on the laughter and joy we shared. The moments of exchanged secrets and dreams we dared to think. But there also wasn't a day that went by I didn't reflect on the senseless beatings, the insults, the grueling work that Chief Na-Wakee dealt towards me. He had to understand that part of me that longed for freedom. That longed to return to the village my family was slaughtered in by his father.

I blinked away the tears that brimmed my eyes and ran. I didn't look back to see if he followed after me. I ran as fast as I could, jumping over a fallen tree trunk before grabbing a hold of a thick, hanging vine, wrapping it around my wrist and veering off the edge of the trench. I grasped the vine as I swung over the man's wide trench and landed feet first on the other side, dropping to roll, then bursting to my feet.

I stared over the trench and Yetae stared back. His chest rose and fell as he panted. A deep frown crossed his face and he turned to leave, walking back through the trees.

Damn.