The Hunted

Chapter Seven

Once we had caught a few rabbits, and collected up the pigeons, we started making our way back to the track.It wouldn’t have taken as long if we didn’t have to wind the string the whole way either. Eventually we got back on track.  As we walked, there was something niggling at the back of my mind, that I couldnt quite put my finger on. After a few minutes, it clicked.

"Tass, how are we going to eat the pigeons if you poisoned them? Wont they poison us if we eat them?"

She smiled at me. "Well thats part of my secret, the poison isnt poisonour to humans, or demigods for that matter. I use foxglove, because it slows down small animals hearts, but it doesnt really effect humans. Something in the plant reacts in animals but not in us."

I consider this for a moment. "The first time you gave it to us, how did you know we wouldnt get poisoned?"

She shrugs. "Lucky guess".

At first I frown, then I see her smiling and I start to laugh. Good old Tass. We stop laughing and I realise the question was still unanswered.  I was about to ask her when she spoke up.                            “What time do you reckon it is?” Tassie asks.                                                 I put shade my hand over my eyes and look up at the sun.“Hold on, let me check.”                                                                                                                 One of the things we learn in the hunt is how to tell time with the sun. We usually carry a sundial with us but it’s too heavy to carry, so we had to learn without it. I climb up the closest tree and make my way to the top. The tree isn’t very tall, but just tall enough to let me see the sky. The sun is nearly above our heads which means it’s very close to midday.                                                                                                             “Tass, we’ve got to hurry up.” I call out.                                                    She groans, and pulls up the bag on her shoulders.                                    “I don’t remember pigeons being so heavy.” She moans.                          I climb down quickly and pick up my bag. We speedwalk along the trail as the sun get’s closer and closer to the middle of the sky. Eventually we break into a run. It’s still freezing cold out here, but we warm up quickly when we pick up our pace. After twenty minutes or so, we make it to the centre of the forest. All the others have already arrived and are eating lunch. Artemis is standing in the middle. She looks up as we rush over. We mumble our apologies.                                                  “That’s alright. What did you catch?” she asks.                                                       

“Some pigeons and two rabbits.” I say quickly.                                Artemis nods. “Okay, go and join the other’s for lunch.”                                                           

We walk over to the others and sit down. Camione call out “Here’s your lunch.” She says sweetly and hands us some cornbread. I swear she’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a mother.                                                                    

“Thanks. Are you enjoying the hunt?”  I ask her through a mouthful of bread.She makes a face.

”Yeah…it’s okay. I prefer to stay back and cook though.”                     “Fair enough. Did you catch anything?”                                                     Tassie asks.   She shakes her head.

“Nah, but Celcy and Sarone caught a pheasant.”                                Whoa. Hold on there. They caught a pheasant? In the woods? This takes me by surprise. Pheasants are kind of like chickens, but a bit thinner and with a longer tail. Also, they taste ten times better. I havent seen one since we were travelling through England, in the farm country.        Tassie nearly chokes on her food.           

“What?” she splutters. “They caught a pheasant? What would it be doing in the woods?”                                                                                             Sarone walks over and sits down. “We don’t know. That’s why it was so strange. We reckon there’s a farm or a breeder on the other side of the woods.”       “Even if there was, it’s not the right season for Pheasants. Don’t they breed them in the summer?” I ask. Aubergine and Navia walk over to join the conversation.                                               "Yeah, your right.” Aubergine says. “They aren’t supposed to start the breeding season till May.”                                                                                “Well then where could it have come from?” Tassie asks.                                                  I shrug. Where could it have come from? The only place you will find a pheasant is near a farm because that’s where their bred and raised. Farmers always look after them really well because they’re so expensive. They can’t risk them getting out and running or a fox getting them. But this one must have escaped. Then a possibility forms.                                                                                                                    “What if it’s a wild pheasant? And what if there is more than one?”  I say.   Everyone looks at me.

“A wild Pheasant?” says Navia with raised eyebrows.                                  “Yeah, say it got out a while ago and it was pregnant? Then it had more and they kept breeding? “ I say more confidently.                           Aubergine speaks up. “Actually, it’s a possibility. Where did you find the eggs?” she asks Sarone.                                                                      Sarone points back the way they came.

“Only fifteen minutes along from there.”

“That’s practically the middle of the forest!” Tassie exclaims. “The only way it could have gotten this far, without getting eaten, is if it has a nest.”                            

I nod in agreement. “Where there’s one, there  The conversation falls silent for a few moments while we nibble our cornbread. Navia speaks up “I want to go back that way and see if we can find anymore. Who wants to come?”                                                                                                I can literally hear this opportunity calling to me. How often do you find a pheasant? “Yeah. Count me in.”                                                                                                 She smiles at me and Flio walks over. “Cmon girlies, time to get moving.” We all stand reluctantly and I throw my bag over my shoulder. I stand next to Navia as everyone re-pairs up.                                                                                                                               “Okay girls, you know the drill, be back by five." We all nod and turn to go back the way we came.