Clouds

Part 2-8 Hunting

Part 8

            When I finally wake up, unaware that I had drifted off to sleep, Jason is already up, preparing breakfast.  I crawl out of the tent and yawn.

            “How do you ever get up so early?” I ask him.  He is sitting by the fire, listening to it crackle, as he prepares eggs for breakfast.

            “Early?” He asks me, laughing.  “This is late!”

            “Oh,” I say, taking a seat next to him.  “Are the guards still here?”

            “See for yourself.”  I look around.  The other tent is gone, along with whatever food we had.

            “That’s terrible!” I exclaim.  What kinds of heartless people would steal food and shelter from people they don’t even know without a second thought?

            “Yeah,” Dakota says, handing me his pan.  The egg is cut in half, separated on either side of the pan.  I quickly eat my half then hand it back to Jason.  Hopefully it is hot enough still.

            He eats his pretty quickly as well.

            “We’ll have to go hunting today,” Jason says, finishing the last bite.  His hair is wild from tossing and turning all night, I suppose.  “Did you bring any hunting weapons?”

            “Yeah,” I say.  “A bow and arrows.”  He nods. 

            “Good.  Can you use them?”

            “Of course.  I mean, I’m not the best, but I can hit my target eight out of ten times.”

            “That’s pretty good, for a girl.”  I look at him with a raised eyebrow.

            “Are you being sexist towards girls now?” I tease.  Jason just stares down in the fire.  “Jason?”  He doesn’t respond.  “Jason!  Are you okay!”

            “Huh!” Jason jolts awake.  He looks at me.  “That tent…” He sighs.  “I forgot my last photo of my family was in there.”  A few tears stream down his eyes.

            “That’s not true,” I say, looking at him.  “The last photo of them you have can never be removed.”  Jason looks at me, confused.

            “What do you mean?” He asks.

            “I mean,” I say, pointing to his heart, “it’s there.”

            “That’s powerful, Emedee,” Jason says with a smile.  “Thank yo-“

            “I mean,” I interrupt, “it’s in your shirt pocket.”

            “What?”

            “Check your chest pocket in your shirt.”  Jason looks down at his pocket and pulls out the photo.  His mouth cracks open and then curls into a smile.

            “You sure are something, Emedee,” he says, shaking his head. He pulls me into a quick, tight hug.  “Thank you.”

            I look at him, surprised.  Jason is smiling.

            “I think the debt you owed me has been paid,” Jason says.  “That made my day!”  I smile.

            “I’m glad,” I say, meaning every word.  “Now let’s go hunting!”