𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍, bellamy blake ¹

08; consternation

"Sometimes she did not know what she feared, what she desired: whether she feared or desired what had been or what would be, and precisely what she desired, she did not know."

― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

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"SHHH..." NAOMI HISSED, EYES DARTING OVER TO BELLAMY. She was already pissed he had decided to follow her along, and now he was trying to steal her kill. She spun she blade around in her fingers. Her eyes focused on the sow from across the clearing. "Don't startle it."

Bellamy took a step forward, swinging his axe in a circular motion. "She's mine."

Naomi gritted her teeth and shot him a sharp glare. "Not if I get her first." She drew her sword back, eyes narrowing at the target. A stick snapped behind her and she spun her body around in one swift movement, sword clutched tightly in her hand. Bellamy turned too and drew back his weapon. "Bellamy, no!"

Her cry surprised him and his aim flew off. The axe imbedded into the tree right beside her sister's head. The boar squealed and ran off through the bushes, the other boys pursing it.

"Charlotte!" Naomi exclaimed, falling to her knees next to the young girl. She threw her arms around her. "You could have been killed!"

She stayed frozen against Naomi's chest. "I'm sorry. I wanted to hunt with you."

Bellamy knelt down next to Naomi and grabbed Charlotte's hand. "You have to be careful Charlotte, okay?" he said. "I almost killed you."

"Sorry," she said again. Naomi shook her head and stroked down Charlotte's braids.

"Why aren't you back at camp?" Naomi asked.

Charlotte shrugged her shoulders and looked down. "With your friend dying... I couldn't stay there." Naomi nodded and patted her shoulders.

"Okay," Naomi said. "You can stay here with us if you stay close. And you have to be quiet."

Bellamy nodded in agreement and placed one of his hunting knifes in her fist, placing his hand over hers and clenching it. "This knife isn't a toy, alright? Be careful with it."

Naomi gave him a side look, firm but appreciative, and a small nod. His eyes read the same thing.

"Okay," Naomi said. "Then let's go."

The three of them stood, both of the older ones clutching one of Charlotte's hands. Atom gave them a look of disbelief but Naomi just raised her eyebrows and shrugged, and he dropped it.

Murphy wiped his nose and eyed Charlotte. "What is the little girl doing here?" he asked.

Charlotte cocked her head. "I'm not little—I'm going to hunt. And you being a dick isn't going to stop me."

Naomi's mouth dropped open and she gave Charlotte a look, both of surprise and approval. Even Bellamy looked impressed. Murphy looked like he was going to snap back, but the stern look on both of the Casterly sisters' faces was like steel, and—along Bellamy's amusement—it made him back down.

"Whatever," he said, turning around. "We lost the boar."

Bellamy crossed his arms. "So, we find a new one."

"You got it, boss," Murphy said. Naomi caught a slight sneer on his lips. She had gotten the idea not everyone was happy with Bellamy's 'reign'.

The group diverged into smaller ones, each trying to track down a new animal. At one point, a deer was spotted, but it too spotted them in return, and it was off within seconds. Even Naomi's knife missed it, clattering to the ground in the undergrowth.