Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja X Reader: Legend (under construction)

Chapter 18: May Your Aim Be True

Randy's POV:

"How do you know she's dead? She could still be out there! Just let us look for her," Blue argued. I stared at my friend, a fighting chance glaring deeply into her eyes. It had been 5 days since the fire. "No. I can't do that. If you did find her, she would never forgive me... And say she really was dead and you still found her cold body... I'd rather not think of what I was going to do after that," I said, feeling the hurt flare up in my heart again.
A hand grabbed my shoulder. I turned to see Reaper's eyes staring at me. "Randy. We all feel this way. We need to know the truth. If she is dead, then we won't say a word. But say she is alive," he said. I stared back into his eyes, finding hope fill them to the brim.
"Yes, I agree with Blue and Reaper," Esmerelda said, her green eyes focussed on hope as well. I blinked at them. There was hope. They all had hope. And I was the dead light in the pack that was covered in ice and blocked off from the rest of the world.
I sighed and stared at my feet.
"Ok. Let's look for her."

Y/N's POV:

The last two days with Kai were the best days ever... well. Since the fire, I mean. Kai wasn't just some guy in the forest, as I have said before. He's taught me to reach deeply into myself and find my balance point and to listen to the earth. To heal wounds that never show on the skin, or bleed red blood, but that cut into you from words, actions, loss, and confusion. I was learning more everyday. We had walked miles and miles everyday in the forest. We had walked up mountains, hunted animals for meat, and all sorts of stuff.
The sun shone in through the small window above the sink on the third day. I turned over on my side, waking up and looking outside. I smiled at the day. It felt good to get away from the excitement of the world. Away from the pressures of life. Footsteps pounded on the wood stairs behind the couch that lay next to the chair. I sat up and saw Kai there, a bright smile on his face. "Morning, Y/N," he said cheerfully. I smiled back.
Not long after, the smell of meat sizzled into the air. I faced the morning with a long leather jacket that hung on the hooks in the hall way of the entryway. "Can I wear this?" I asked, fitting it on. He turned to me, and nodded.
"Fits you well," he said. He turned back to his work. I smiled gently at the morning, at Kai. He had been there for me every step of the way. He was gradually teaching me how to hunt with a bow and arrow. We had brought in a rabbit yesterday, and I grazed a squirrel. That damn thing moved just as the arrow was about to hit his neck! But I had hunted and caught plenty of ducks, one small deer, and even a rabbit! I was very proud of myself.
Suddenly, and still caught in my daydream, there was a pound in the door. One thundering pound. Kai and I both froze. A shadow appeared in the small window in the door. Another pound. I slowly backed away, wanting to disappear.
"Get the bow,"Kai whispered as he walked up behind me. I swallowed hard and nodded. I grabbed the light weight, white wood now, gathering five arrows, just in case. The bow itself was smooth and soft under my fingers. Short carved and dark strokes flattened themselves to the wood from the amount of arrows that had been fired. I stayed behind Kai as he walked quietly to the door. He gripped the handle, looked back at me with a nod. I nodded back, ready for the door to open. And the sunlight crashed in as we moved in front of the open doorway.
A man stood there, about the age of 18. He had a frightened look in his deep blue eyes. His bright orange hair was flared up like the fire I had once faced days ago. I took in a deep breath, getting ready to fire before Kai's hand flew into view. "Wait!" He yelped. I let the string go loose in my grip and turned the arrow down to the ground. "Aspen!" Kai rushed forward and grabbed the man in a hung. Aspen grinned at Kai, still holding that feared expression in his eyes. 
"Umm... Kai?" I asked, awkwardly. Kai turned back to me and nodded with a wide smile. 
"This is Aspen. He's my best buddy. Me and him used to live together when we were younger, which made it hard when we split up," Kai explained, inviting Aspen in. If you asked me, Aspen seemed a little suspicious. His bright blue eyes jumped around the room as we walked into the house. I didn't care to talk to Aspen. I looked over at Kai as he settled into the chair. He wasn't going anywhere today with Aspen there. 
"Hey, Kai," I said, edging closer to the door. He glanced my way, indicating that he was listening. "Can I go out and hunt on my own?" He looked back quickly at Aspen, then back at me with a nod. 
"Be back by sundown, you hear?" I nodded and walked out the door. I was really, really glad to get out of the house. 

I had been out here for about two hours, finding little game in the North pines. I decided that there might be some deer in the Eastern willow grove. They loved the lush grass that grew up in fronds that glittered in the sun during the morning when dew frosted them. And it was prime battle spot for the bucks to lock antlers over the doe's. 
There was a specific area called the Dome, which was made of stone, where only the bravest of deer battled for the fairest doe. (A/N: Wow. I'm reeeeeeaaallly messing things up. lol) I snuck in under the radar in the beginning of the grove. Dark brown, tan, light brown, and copper bodies and specks lined a small, thin stream. Deer..., I thought with a smile. I crawled under the hanging branches and between silver and black striped tree trunks. 
I had to be quiet, I had to be fast, and I had to bring something back. I scanned the landscape again for any wandering deer that laced the near by willows. Any that lost connection with the herd was easy prey. A few were lying in the grass near a fallen willow, but that gave me no cover to shoot from. And my bow couldn't reach as far as where they were laying. 
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something. A light tan body stood out in the green and silver. I turned slowly to where the deer stood. Across the small stream, her head was bent down and chewing up the grass. Her tail was darker brown, and her back was dotted with white. I breathed in deeply, knocking the arrow in the bowstring. I slid it carefully and slowly back to my ear, staying calm. I let out my breath, focussing on nothing more than the deer. I blinked, keeping my eyes shut for a moment, just picturing the arrow go through the deer. 
You've got this, Y/N... You've got this,I thought to myself. And when I opened my eyes, my heart stopped completely for a second. A black figure now took the place of the deer. A blue scarf billowed in the wind as it raced through the dangling branches of the willows. The other deer rampaged upstream, scared of the new coming stranger. Blue! Without a second thought, I let the arrow leave the string and let it fly through the air at her. 
It all happened in slow motion, even though I knew I was seeing time pass in mere seconds.