Death's Shadow

Chapter 9

After an hour of hard work Maxxy sat comfortably on a small platform in her tree. She could see around the whole camp without moving from her perch and she also had a good view of the forest. Her platform was about 3 feet by 3 feet it was built from thick branches, she had managed to snap off of the surrounding trees, tied together with twine she had brought. The trunk of the tree had a small knot in it that Maxxy had carved out to make a small hiding spot. In the knot she had stuck a ball of twine, her spare swiss knife, a large roll of gauze, and a solar powered flash light. A few inches away from the knot is a short sturdy branch growing from the tree. Maxxy had chopped of all the leaves and smaller limbs that had been growing from it and now it was being used as a hanger for her camo long sleeve top.

She leaned back on the platform her body resting softly on the pine needles she had scattered there. She glazed out at the camp watching people scurry around always in a rush. Sticking her hand in one of her many cargo pant pockets she pulled out her favorite swiss knife she flipped the knife out and tried to twirl it around her fingers, her brother had been teaching her the trick before she left and he was trying to teaching her how to flip it up in the air and catch the hilt without slicing a finger off. Cole her brother was a street fighter during the night and a college student during the day. He had taught her how to defend herself and all different tricks of his trade. A small smiled grew on Maxxy's lips she gripped the bullet hanging from her neck.

Suddenly she saw a flurry of motion coming from the camp and a mass of people were moving to the center of the tents. Maxxy quickly grabbed her shirt and tossed it over her black t-shirt. She jumped off of her platform grabbing on to sturdy branches jumping from one to the next until she was about 10 feet off the ground she jumped down and rolled to cushion her fall. Maxxy's smile grew as she ran back to camp she hadn't even been on the island for a day and she already was taking more risks and pushing herself harder. Then her smile fade not only was she taking risks she was breaking people, the image of the boy and his broken arm snapped into her mind.

When Maxxy reached the small path that seperated her from the sleeping tent she didn't cross but waited a few moments to see if she could hear anyone around when all was silent she quickly creep around the tent and jogged for the main clearing. The light was starting to fade and her watch told her it was past 9 o'clock in the evening. When she reached the clearing she studied the huge crowd that had gathered but unlike when she first saw them they were now organized in rows and columns with commanders in front of each squadron. The voice of the general echoed through the teenage shoulders, from her vantage point Maxxy couldn't see him.

She continued to creep around the clearing staying in the shadows trying to remain invisible. After a few moments she could see the general, Maxxy stayed in the shadows and waited listening to him instruct the soilders on the different commands used during marching.

All people in the camp must been in the clearing Maxxy thought but with a quick intact of breathe Maxxy remembered Roxy and her hurt ankle. Turning Maxxy jogged to the medic tent stopping at the entrance.