Queen Alpha

Chapter 5

''Remember to aim for the heart. It's sinful to let your prey suffer'', Jenoah's breath rested against my cheek. The warmth of his exposed skin crept upon my thin sleeves as I was squinting my eyes at the slow tapir rummaging through a luscious green bush in our hindsight.

''Careful, keep your arms steady... and shoot'', Jenoah whispered against my ear, low that it was barely audible. His hands angled my arms in place and I shot the piercing arrow. The arrow severed through the pig's heart and it immediately fell to the ground. I exhaled and lowered my bow and heard Jenoah smile between breaths.

''Perfect shot, you're improving'', we cautiously rose onto our feet. Jenoah moved towards the limp animal in front of me. I slowly approached the thick pig and stroked the colorful feathers on my arrow.

''Thank you'', I murmured while watching how Jenoah was crouching down at the animal, inspecting it's body.

''We are going to savor this beauty.. We won't go hungry for at least a week'', he sang as he felt the tender flesh. We caught eye contact and he smiled back at me.

''You are my lucky charm'', he grinned and returned to our prey we would carry back to camp.

''Grab the arrow and we'll head back to camp'', he gestured and I quickly snatched the bloody arrow from the body. Blood excused from it's wounds while I wrapped a cloth around it's stomach to prevent Jenoah from being drenched of pig's blood. He picked up the heavy animal and carried it on his shoulder and we headed back to camp.

''How are you feeling?'' he asked after a long silence. I looked up at him and nodded.

''I'm growing stronger everyday Leone says'', I murmured and looked away.

''I asked how you are feeling'', he continued and I looked down to my feet and swallowed slowly.

Jenoah's behavior was so transparent which irked me. He felt guilty about lying to me and he made every effort to brighten the mood as if we were children again and that nothing had happened. He didn't allow me to grieve my father's death in peace and always interrupted my reminiscing with his cheery voice that had begun to creep under my skin.

''I'm fine'', I called back and tightened my grip on my wooden bow.

''Even about ..'' he trailed off until I snapped.

''Jenoah.'' I hissed and stared at him. He looked away from my cold gaze and nodded.

''I know.. I -'' he started after a long silence. I sighed and interrupted him.

''It's okay..'' I murmured. I exhaled a labored breath and stared right ahead. We occasionally ducked from branches in our way until I finally broke the silence.

''I'm more worried about Salvatore. Do you think he'll come back? It's been weeks since his departure'', I looked up at Jenoah who's eyebrows twitched at my sudden mentioning of Salvatore.

''I've sent scouts to follow their trail, they'll know if it there was a sign of struggle'', his voice lowered and the atmosphere turned heavy once again.

''Is it wise to send more and more men out, only to lose them? The Sousa tribes have all been burned to the ground, as well as the Yuelong scouts and the Agos' hunters gone missing?'' I questioned, raising my eyebrows. Jenoah clenched his jaw and looked straight ahead.

''We have investigated the Sousa tribe's ruins with our scouts and they returned without any sign of danger,'' he shifted the animal's weight on his shoulders.

''But not the Agos' hunters and the Yuelong scouts'', I stated and lowered my bow to avoid a branch in it's way. Jenoah fingers tightened around the animal's feet.