What's Out There?

Chapter 32

Sarah's POV

Before I went to sleep last night, Fern allowed me to sleep with her and Taylor and Jackson could just sleep in extra sleeping bags on the blanket.
When I woke up, Fern was no longer in the tent. I unzipped the opening and walked out. The sun was just starting to rise. Taylor and Jackson were still asleep. I saw Dad, Fern, and Clay standing at the edge of the clearing, about to walk in. I dashed to catch up with them.
"Good morning," I said with a smile.
Fern smiled and asked, "Did you sleep good, Sarah?"
I smiled back and answered, "Yeah."
Clay looked at her like she was crazy. I'm pretty sure that another crack could be found in my heart.
I shook that off. I had already gotten Danny and Fern to see the real me. All I had to do was convince Dad and Clay. Two down two to go.
"What are we doing here?" I ask.
"We are hunting for breakfast," Fern replied.
"Can I join?" I ask.
"Of course you can, Sarah," Dad said.
My face lit up with a smile once again.
Now I only had to make Clay understand who I was.
Dad hands me his bow and an arrow from his quiver.  I quickly caught sight of a bird.
Then I quickly aimed at the bird and shot it. They looked at me in amazement.
"When did you learn to do that?" Dad asked.
"Over the past year or so," I answer.
"Oh. I have a question for you," this time is was Clay who piped up.
"Okay what is it?" I respond.
"Where have you been this whole time?" Clay asked with a snarky remark.
"At Luke's compound," I tartly reply.
Clay looks me straight in the eye and asks solemnly, "What happened?"
It felt like everything I had bottled up was released, "First Luke, you know Luke, he shot me in the foot, but that was a while ago. Then on what was supposed to be the most romantic night of my life, Luke kidnapped me and took me to this strange place. And I've been there training to practically be a solider. But on my first day of training Luke twisted my ankle until the bone snapped. Then I got assigned to watch for any 'suspicious activity' over my old home since I couldn't train. Next whenever I'm finally able to train again that is all I do. And the cherry on top to all of this was that my training partner, who I might add was the only person I trusted completely, got killed. But worst of all, yesterday Luke's 'army' came to fight you guys."
"Well that's sure is one train wreck," Fern said.
"I almost forgot, when I went to talk to Luke, he told me why all of this happened," I said coldly directed to my father.
"Sarah can I talk to you over here? Alone?" Dad asked.
"No, they deserve to know," I replied.
"Go on then," Dad said, "Tell them."
"I'm afraid it's not my secret to tell, but like I said they do deserve to know," I said.
I walked off to go get the bird I had shot. Once I found it and had walked back, I knew he told them. Clay was as white as a ghost. Fern's eyes were wide-open.
"I'm gonna go hunt over there," I said right before I slid the bird off of the arrow. Then I put the arrow into my quiver.
As I start to walk away, Clay calls out, "Hey I'm coming."
My heart flutters. "Okay," I say with a small smile.
We walk away from Fern and my dad. The leaves crunch against our feet as we walk.
"So um. I'm sorry about how I was acting earlier. I was being a jerk when I shouldn't have," Clay said.
"It's fine really," I respond, "I mean I shouldn't have responded the way I did either."
"So um. I know what happened to you now, but how have you been?" Clay asks.
"Upset, a lot, and angry," I answer.
"I've been feeling the same way since you left," Clay said biting his lip.
I had been scoping the area for any animals, but when he said that I whipped my head around to face him.
Then I planted my lips on his first lightly, but it turned into something more. My hands wound up together behind his neck. His hands resting lightly above my hips. My fingers ended up twisted into his hair, which was extremely soft. He smelled of woods, I probably did too, and tasted of salt from the little sweat beads that formed on his face.
Eventually we had to stop so we could breathe. I smiled, my head resting on his chest.
He cleared his throat, "I guess your feelings for me haven't changed?"
"Not one bit," I respond.

We headed back later that morning, close to lunch.
Clay had already cleaned the birds and was almost done cooking them.
Dad, Fern, Jackson, myself, Taylor, and Danny all waited patiently for the food to cool down.
Mine was still hot whenever Dad had finished eating. But eventually it cooled down. Once it was at a decent temperature, I quickly ate.
I hadn't realized how hungry I was.

Overtime my family and new friends started to get along. Fern and Taylor really got along great right from the start. But it took a little warming up for all of the guys to get along. 
Eventually everyone was able to manage with each other.

About a week later, Dad announces, "We are going to head back home."
"What?" I yell, "Are you serious?" The excitement is shown through my eyes
"I sure am," he replied, "Oh and there is a special surprise there."