The Hunt

Chapter 11

Alesco:

"Tell me what happened in there." Wynn says again. "I need to know."

We're walking away from the house, back towards our hut. Back to mother. I don't know what I am going to say, what to ask. The images from the mirror are flowing through my mind on repeat and there is a lot I don't understand.

"Nothing." I say to Wynn. He's asking about the vision. What I saw. What the creature says is written into the future. I felt it, but I don't want to share it. Not yet.

"You're lying." he says again. This time he grabs my arm. I stop walking. His eyes are blazing, his expression set, serious.

I pull my arm away and push him back with force. He stumbles, almost falling. "Don't dare hold me back." I hiss. I feel my own anger flaring up.

His expression changes to shock, then shifts to anger. I've never questioned the authority of my brothers, or father. But I'm different now. I feel different. Strong, powerful. My brief connection with fear has ended.

Wynn's blazing eyes are boring into mine. I meet his gaze, meet the challenge in his face. He looks away, backing down. I don't think he's sure how to deal with my changed attitude. The males are used to being the authority, heading up the families, deciding things. They challenge each other, they fight and submit. But my actions are unusual.

"Let's go back to mother. I want some answers." I say.

Wynn looks back at me. His expression is unreadable now. The anger is gone, but I can't tell what it's replaced with. I look back at him.

"Ok! Me too." He says. His new tone takes me by surprise. He's smiling now. Fangs bared in a mischievous grin. A complete transformation in the blink of an eye. He hasn't worn that look since father was taken.

He lets out a laugh. "Don't look so surprised. I always knew you had a strength about you. I just hoped you'd beat Clemente rather than me." He says. I feel my mood lighten a little. He always could lighten things up.

We're walking again, towards the edge of the village. Towards the trees. Towards mother and, hopefully, some answers.

"We're not supposed to be like this." I say.

"What are you talking about?" He says.

"Running, hiding, cowering in the shadows. We are stronger. We are the true hunters." I say. "Our prey has us hiding."

"It's been this way since the Hunt began. But we never hunted humans before that, we lived side by side. Father told us the stories. They're not our prey." He says.

"According to Father, yes. But what about the mirror? Didn't you see the images? Mother as a human, how do you explain that?" I ask.

He says nothing. He can't explain it. How can he? They never told us anything about it. Mother and Father are supposed to be hundreds of years old. If they are, then where is the child? Who is the child? Or is she younger than she says? I intend to find out.

"I cannot explain it." Wynn says. "But mother surely can."

I can see my mother up ahead. She's outside the tent, cross-legged on the ground, gazing into the forest, rocking gently. She looks lost in her thoughts, her mind. I wonder what she is thinking about. I imagine her thoughts will be on Father and Clemente. On where they are and what is happening to them.

She looks round at us as we approach. Questions are rolling around in my mind. Where to start?

Mother jumps to her feet and looks at me. "What has happened, Alesco?" She says.