Peregrine Kärsk

Chapter II

His words echoed in her head, distracting her from her basket weaving. Such a simple task.

The other young women she was with, eyed her with a hint of confusion and distaste. Most of the women in the tribe disliked her. Peregrine didn't understand why.

"Peregrine, you're doing it wrong." One of the women said, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Peregrine looked down and began to unweave it all, starting over again. She wondered how long it would be until she met that mysterious voice she had been talking to in her dream.

What if he wasn't real? That could be possible. Peregrine shook her head. And focused on her task at the moment. The other women had a couple of baskets done. Peregrine didn't have any yet, usually, she had more than enough for the tribe.

After a short while, the other women left, leaving Peregrine to do the rest of the work. Peregrine didn't notice, or care.

That just left her with her thoughts. She was there for a while, not many baskets were made. "Seventeen, eighteen... Twenty-two." She muttered, stacking them up to place off to the side. It wasn't enough... The other women never made six. They always made two baskets and then would leave. Peregrine always did the rest.

Peregrine glanced around, unsure of what to do. She could find other tasks to do. Like learning more about weaponry, and other weapons. Or just explore other areas.

She stood up and made her way to her spot in the camp. It was a secluded area, somewhat close to the river. She picked up her bow and the quiver, slinging it over her shoulder.

She held the bow tightly as she walked out of camp, exploring like usual. "Maybe I'll find herbs, good ones," Peregrine said to herself, her pace quick but quiet.

The leaves rustled gently in the wind, and the sun was covered by some clouds. It didn't look eerie, just gloomy. She perked up, pulling an arrow out from her quiver.
Peregrine crouched down, aiming the bow at the rabbit. She waited patiently for it to stop moving for a moment. The rabbit stopped and she took the chance.

She let go of the arrow, watching as it flew and then hit the rabbit, killing it. "Lunch," Peregrine muttered and slowly made her way toward the rabbit. Peregrine pressed down close to where her arrow stuck, pulling it out and putting it back in her quiver. She'll wash it when she goes to the river.

She pulled out a hunting knife from her satchel, skinning the rabbit pelt, except for its tail, feet, and head. "Useful. Make gloves." Peregrine noted. She'll make them when she gets back.

Quickly folding up the pelt and stuffing it in her satchel, along with her hunting knife, a gentle scoop and the dead rabbit were in her hands.

Peregrine scurried over to the river. She'd have to run back to camp before any other predators show up. She held onto the rabbits' floppy ears and dipped the skinned part in the water, cleaning it. Pulling the rabbit out of the water, she pulled out the arrow she shot it with and dipped it into the water then put it back in her quiver.

As she made her way back to camp, she kept looking around her surroundings. It felt like she was being watched. She quickened her pace, almost jogging back to camp.

That's when she heard it. It almost sounded like a screech. A loud one. She didn't know what it was, but she had the feeling it could kill her. She looked around again. Not spotting anything out of the ordinary.

"...Not good." Peregrine shivered and began to run, she could see the camp. Or at least the fire. She didn't stop running. She didn't look back.

And then everything blacked out.

She was back in that dark abyss. "...Mr. Voice?" Nothing. "Mr. Voice? Where are you?"

Yet, she was met with silence again.