Hunted
By Madi Healey & Finlay Langelaan
~A/N: I'm so sorry everyone. I know, I know it's so late but I've had school work to be handing it and I also was having major writers block. So it may not be perfect but I hope you enjoy it xx ~Madi~
Chapter one
~Kiara
The grieving howl that comes from Mac Tire as we watch the forest and rebel camp burn, shatters my heart into pieces. It is filled with such pain and sorrow that I have to bite back a sob. The sound of wood straining, cracking, burning is the only response to his defeated call. The smell of the smoke makes my eyes water as the raging fires take hold of the forest and turn the sky a dusty, mournful grey.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Hansel collapse to his knees, a pained, choked sob comes from his lips. Gretel's fists are clenched by her sides, jaw clenched. She trying to be strong for her brother but as I turn my face to watch her, I see the tears falling from her eyes onto her cheeks.
I take a shaky breath before falling to my knees beside Hansel. My hand finds his and gives it a tight squeeze. His steely blue eyes lock with my emerald ones. They are empty. There is no emotion playing in his eyes but the tears are still falling down his cheeks. I reach my free hand to wipe the tears away with a shaky smile. He shakes his head and turns away from me.
"I failed."
I watch him as his empty expression turns into one of anger and frustration. "I failed them."
I shake my head at him. "No you didn't. You didn't know Hansel. There was nothing else we could have done. Nothing else you could have done."
Hansel rips his hand from mine and stands up. "Shut up! Just shut up! There is always something more you can do. So stop fucking bullshitting me Kiara!"
I reel back at the harshness in his voice as he says my name. He only ever uses my actual name when he's pissed. Really pissed. I think my shock registers on my face because Hansel's face drops and softens a bit. Then after a moment his face hardens into a hard, emotionless mask.
I stand up, my legs shaky, hands clenched together to stop them from giving away how close I am to breaking down. Clearing my throat, I turn to Gretel.
"How can we stop that fire?"
Gretel grunts. "I have no fucking idea."
I frown. "Could you just work with me for once?! Instead of tearing my throat out can you just work with me!? Jesus! If we don't stop that fire now, it's gonna spread and destroy half of Nevermore! So I'll ask again, how can we stop that fire?"
Gretel grumbles something under her breath before casting her eyes over the burning forest.
"We could smother it."
I raise an eyebrow at her. "Smother it?"
She nods. "Wildfires need oxygen to fuel it into spreading. If we cut off the air in the area, then hopefully the fire will die out."
"And how do you suppose we cut the air off"
Gretel gives a feral half grin. "With magic, of course."
A strong wind crashes into me and knocks me to the ground. I spit out dirt and blood and glower up at a smirking Gretel.
Then she clenches her fist and I can't breathe. It feels as if she has sucked the very air out of my lungs. I try to gasp in air but there is none to breathe in.
