Reality of Daydreams

Gunshot

An unmistakable gunshot. I stood dumbfounded as the beast fell mid-jump to the ground. Tripping backward, my back slammed into a tree. There was a strange stillness before I realized I was hyperventilating. Glancing up at the dark sky in an effort to catch my breath. I froze and held my breath. Who had shot the gun?

A twig snapped. I pressed myself against the tree trying desperately to become a part of it. If the beast was deadly, a human with a gun would be more so. If I hadn't been so keen on standing perfectly still and if that tree hadn't been there I have no doubt in my mind that I would have fallen backward and yelped in surprise. Stepping out from behind the trees and only a couple feet beside me stood the gun wielder. I shifted my eyes as he continued to walk forward towards the dying animal. He hadn't seen me. I just need to move before he did. As he knelt over the animal, putting it out of its misery, I saw an opening. Looking to where I planned to step, I took my eyes off him and lifted my foot quietly. I stopped. Letting out a soft breath. A bloodied blade had been lodged into the tree only inches away from my eyes. The blood, even at night, shown bright red.

"Is that any way to thank me?"

I took my eyes off the knife that had just narrowly missed me and followed the voice. He saw me. No longer kneeling in front of the animal, he stood staring at me. His right hand was still held in front of him, while a rifle hung over his left shoulder. He wasn't a Union.

"Thanks. I'll be going then." I said but made no effort to move remembering the knife. He put his hand out.

"Knife."

"You threw it."

I cringed at the stupidity of what I had just said. Lowering my eyes the silence was interrupted by a chuckle. Looking back up I saw him sighing.

"Do you not fear death or are you just stupid?" He asked walking towards me to retrieve his knife.

"Little bit of both. Now if you'll excuse me I'll be on my way." I turned in the opposite direction of the knife. It felt like he was going to say more but the surroundings echoed in silence.

"CHARLIE?!" Marc's voice filled the void. I turned back to where the gun wielder from earlier had been. Gone. His knife still poised in the side of the tree.

"Over here," I answered finally, no louder than a whisper. I could hear Marc cursing under his breath. "Over here!" I said again this time yelling. The moonlight bounced off the bloody blade. The handle had been carved in the shape of an animal. For some reason, I felt the need to hide it before Marc arrived. With only a moment's hesitation, I yanked the knife out, placing my palm against the tree.

"I'm not a babysitter!" I heard Marc say as he came into view. My right arm was hidden from him so I dropped the knife from it and into some nearby brush.

"And I'm not a baby. Your point?" I responded stepping away from the tree towards him.

"Just shut up and stop getting lost!" Marc slowed his stride until he stopped a small distance from me and glanced from the tree with the fresh cut to the dead animal only a few yards away. Walking over he placed his hand over the slit on the giant bore's throat. Finally, he swung it over his shoulders and, hunching over, looked back at me.

"Let's go."

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A/N

I wrote this up two days ago but didn't have wifi access. 

Also, I was in NYC sooooo I've been busy.