The Long Road Home

Chapter Thirty-Four

Page rotated her left arm to loosen her shoulder up. She had already done the stretches Harrison had taught her. The physical therapy had helped get her back into shape, and she was excited to use her bow again after two months. Kidd was at her right waiting with a few others curious to see if the rumors of her skill was accurate.

Page picked up her bow glad the motion and weight caused her no pain at all. She set her arrow and drew back taking aim. The arrow ripped through the target just to the right of the x in the center of the target.

'Well.' Floyd said amused behind her 'I guess the rumors are true.'

Page was not happy however and she looked to see Kidd frowning to her worried.

'You missed.' The boy signed 'Dose you shoulder still hurt'

'No,' she assured him glaring at the target 'I missed because I am just a little rusty'

'Missed?' Aaron asked confused 'You got it dead on.'

Page drew another arrow without answering. She had not missed a stationary target in a very long time. Her next shot hit its mark and she could feel herself relax.

Her aim with a bow was essential to their survival. Once she fired her last arrow, she smiled to Kidd.

'See little man. I just needed to warm up a little.' He nodded looking more relaxed as well. 'Okay. Now it's your turn.'

She watched as the boy fitted an arrow onto his string. He took his time aiming before letting the arrow fly. She grinned with pride as one arrow after another hit the red around the x. 'Not bad at all little man.' She praised as she ruffled his hair.

'Not bad she says.' Floyd snorted. 'He is better than most of our people. How long did you say he's been shooting?'

'Since last fall.' Page answered as she and Kidd moved to collect their arrows. 'He shoots every day. I have a few dozen arrows with practice heads on them for him to work with. She removed her arrows with a frown. Her grouping needed work. She turned to make her way back, but paused seeing movement from the woods. The halfling she had nicknamed Night, was sitting in the tree watching them. Night was very short for, Florence Nightingale. She was sure the halfling was male, but he had kept leaving her healing plants and chunks of willow bark as she recovered. Page smiled and waved to him. He grinned showing his large square teeth as he waved back. She and Kidd made their way to the tree making no sudden movements.

'Beeetttteeerrrr?' Night asked pointing to her shoulder.

'Yes. Much better.' Page assured him. 'Thank you for the herbs. They helped a lot.'

He opened his mouth to speak again, but froze, than ran into the woods. Page turned to yell at whoever scared Night off. The group had stayed back however. There was a man she recognized from the village running toward the group. Page and Kidd headed for them wondering what had the man looking so flushed and excited.

'We got one!' He said practically bouncing 'Kidd's idea worked and we got one!'

'Calm down James.' Floyd said frowning 'What's going on. What did you get?'

'The cans.' James said with a grin, 'They alerted us that someone was by the chicken pens. We surprised a group of islanders trying to break the lock. They ran but Harrison got one. We have him tired up and I came to get you and Jimbo.'

Jimbo grinned wide and without another word, he and Floyd followed the man James toward the chicken pens. Page followed. She knew it was none of her business, but she was curious why the people from the island were harassing those of Treetop. Kidd stayed at her side as they moved through the woods.