The Last Hunter

Chapter 5- My Brother

"Hey, Artemis!" Ryan called out to me.

"Whatcha need?" I ran over to him.

"There's a guy trying to get into camp. He says he's been looking for you."

I stared at him. Could this be the person I've been hearing in the woods while I'm hunting? Is he the person spying on us? Is he the one I was on the trail of? Out of all these questions, I asked one. "Where is he?"

"Down at the arena. I think you'd better come."

We dashed down the hill. By the time I got down to the arena I had butterflies in my stomach. Is this person part of the Dalivimr Group? What does he want with the Hunters? What does he want with ME?!

I saw my life flash before my eyes. My jaw dropped as I stared at the familiar figure down below.

"Devan?" I muttered.

Ryan turned to me. "You know him?"

"That's my..." my voice caught, "my brother."

I raced towards him, wondering how he was back from the dead, wondering so many things, with only one thing in mind: to go to my long lost, only living relative.

Devan saw me, grinned, and ran forward, embracing me in a hug. Zephyr saw us and frowned.

"Who is this person you seem to know, Roslynn?".

I cringed at my name. "This is my brother, sir. I don't know how he got here. I thought he was dead." I turned to him. "How old are you now? Twelve?"

He laughed, though it sounded forced. "I'm almost 14. I'm not a baby anymore Artemis." He nudged my shoulder in a playful way, but once again, it seemed like he was holding something back: anger, resentment, or something much deeper. I shook these thoughts away.

"How did you find us?" I asked, realizing how strange it was he found our camp, right after we'd moved sites.

He shrugged. "I've been looking for you for years, so I figured I'd find you soon."

I nodded. Zephyr looked a bit uneasy, but he took a deep breath and said, "Well, I guess if you have a recommendation to join us by one of our Hunters, you may have a one week trial basis. Your hearing will be after that. If you pass, you may also become a Hunter."

I grinned at Devan. After Zephyr had left, Devan turned to me.

"We need to talk."

I frowned, shrugged, and we ran into the forest.

"You're immune."

I cocked my head. "Immune to what?"

"The explosions! We are immune. The rest of our family died, but we lived! We're immune to the jurantus bombs." His eyes were wide.

My eyebrows furrowed. "But I wasn't in the house. I..."

"You REMEMBER that, but it's not true! Think harder. What was the one room standing? Your room, right next to mine! Anything we are around won't explode, and that's why you and I are alive! Come on, just try to remember."
I closed my eyes and concentrated. Bombs, ashes, my room.

And it all came flooding back.

* * * * *

I woke up on my back, Ryan and Devan looking down at me.

"What did you do to her?! I swear, if..."

"Dude!" Devan said, hands up, "I swear I..."

I groaned, and sat up. "Don't swear, you guys. I'm fine."