Clay and Kylene's Island (ON HOLD)

Prologue - Clay's POV

Prologue

- Alex

CLAY'S POV

Crunch.

Crunch.

I edged forward slowly, stepping softly to make as little noise as possible.

Crunch.

I came to a stop as the deer halted in front of me. Silently, I raised the homemade bow, which was already strung with an arrow.

Narrowing my eyes, I aimed at the doe. She stood in a perfect clearing, making my target all the more easier.

My caulloused fingers pulled back on the thin rope as I eased the bow into the right direction.

A bead of sweat rolled off my bare chest and dropped on the dirt floor beneath me.

Aiming carefully, my fingers slid and released the arrow. At the precise moment, however, the doe was spooked by a loud noise behind me and took off running.

My arrow implanted itself into a tree beyond the clearing.

Frustrated that dinner had gotten away, I stomped up to the tree and worked on tugging the sharp arrow out.

When it finally gave way, I stuck it in the sheath that was dangling from my rough leather shorts.

There was no need for me to check and see what had made the loud noise. The consistent cuckawing and flapping of wings told me that it was my 'friend' Kooky. The strange bird visited me from time to time.

He was one of those birds that was supposed to be able to repeat everything you say. So far, all he had caught onto was my name. Therefore, he flew around the island squawking 'Clay' over and over again. It was't hard to hear him coming.

"Clay! Clay!" He squawked loudly, landing on my shoulder. He took a strand of blonde hair in his beak and pulled on it playfully.

"Hey buddy," I grinned as I stroked his feathers. Most of the other birds were used to me, but none of them let me pet them like Kooky did.

I continued talking as I walked back the way I had come, bow in my hand.

"You know you scared away dinner right?"

He just screeched my name again.

"Guess we're having a salad tonight." I let out a sigh as I carefully avoided rocks and sticks. My bare feet had grown so accustomed to the dangerous surface in the woods that it wouldn't hurt much anyway.

 "Get off." I ordered Kooky as I approached a rope dangling from the trees. He flew from my shoulder and rested on a branch to watch.

Taking a cautious step back, I yanked on the rope and waited as a rope net came up from the leaf covered ground.

On my knees, I pulled it up and looked in it.

"No catches today." I informed Kooky as I set the trap back in the ground. I had different traps set throughout the island, which I checked periodically.

Kooky flew to my shoulder as I continued walking.

"You are one lazy bird." I mumbled, frustrated at the days hunting. "Can't you fly anywhere?"

"Clayclay!" He croaked in reply.

Worn out, I approached the tree I had carved footholds into and started my climb up.

"Almost home, bud. You spending the night tonight? I asked Kooky.

"Clay!"

I nodded, "Great."

My hands came to rest on a flat surface and it took the rest of my strength to pull myself up.

"Man, birdie you need to lose some pounds." I collapsed on the floor of my home, bringing Kooky down with me.

The sun was still in the sky but I felt exhausted. Struggling to stand, I tread across the worn wooden floor.

I pulled out my pocket knife and etched a mark in the sturdy wall.

It took a second to add up the numbers.

"Kooky, today is July seventh. My birthday is in a few days."

Smiling to myself, I closed my pocket knife.

"We should celebrate. What do you think?" I glanced at the fat bird.

"Clay!"

I plopped on my chair. Well, actually it was a structure made out of large leaves and dried mud.

My eyes raked down the long wall and back around on tbe other side of the treehouse. Too many marks to count.

Sighing, I laid my head back and stared at the bright blue sky.

"Yeah, we should definitely celebrate."