Wild Desperation

Chapter 21

                                       Sang   

I didn't travel too far from the boys camp, instead I chose to stay in a tree a couple hundred yards away. When I woke early the next morning I could still see their fire going in the distance amidst the trees. I quietly lowered Arrow back down and packed my things up tight before heading down after him, leaving Nightmare to graze as I headed off to check the snares from yesterday. I had studied my map a bit last night and already had a good idea where I wanted to go for today, if I was traveling alone I would have already been on my way but that just wasn't the case anymore.

 I found a large rabbit, four squirrels and even a weasel in the traps and after getting them all okayed by Arrow's nose I cleaned and skinned them before heading back to the boys camp with my findings. I gave a quick whistle to let the guys know I was heading into their camp and they camp to greet me as I stepped through the bushes. "Good morning Sang." Kota greeted me with a small smile as I returned his greeting and offered the carcasses to Nathan for him to start cooking over the fire. "You went and checked the traps alone?" North crossed his arms as he leaned against a tree and frowned my way.

 "I had Arrow watching my back, besides I like the quiet. Remember North, I have been doing this a lot longer than you." I raised back, and after a grunt he kept quiet. "Cupcake if we keep you around you're going to spoil us with all this fresh meat." Luke beamed from his spot by the fire. "I just suggest you enjoy it while it lasts Sunshine, sometimes I don't have fresh meat for days. And if we keep moving then we don't have time to wait for any meals if we can't find any, best thing is to hope for good hunting and trapping along our route." I sighed as I gripped my bow tighter at the memories of last winter. 

"Speaking of our route, where will we be heading for today?" Sean voiced to the group, I brought my map out at the question only to have them eye it intently. "You have a map?" Victor breathed softly, well duh how else was I mapping my route. "Uh, yeah don't you?" I raised back and he blushed slightly, guess he realized what a stupid question that had been. "We have one but not nearly in such detail or in such great shape as yours." Kota seemed to awe at the paper map in my hands.

 "I like to keep my stuff in good shape, if it's going to be useful you have to make it last." I shrugged, they nodded thoughtfully at my words. "There is a good stopping point about 20 miles from here at Southside park, it should be good enough to make camp there." I said as I let them take a look at my map, Gabe groaned at the mention of another 20 mile hike. I also highly doubted that he would have any interest in riding Nightmare after yesterday, it had taken me a while to get used to the stallions broad back and the occasional saddle soreness that came with riding for long distances.

 "That's easily seven hours from here." Silas stated and I shrugged. "Depends on how fast we're moving, or really how fast all of you can walk." I raised back as I scanned their group. "Okay, as soon as the food is cooked and everyone is ready we'll head out. Miss Sang perhaps I could hold onto your map for today, I'd like to look it over later?" Owen asked as he held his hand out at the now neatly folded map in my hands. "Nah, I think I'll hold onto my own map, thank you very much, but I might let you look it over if we have time later. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go get Nightmare ready at the wagon." I sent a tight lipped smile to the boss man before heading for the wagon and calling Nightmare to me.

 I rubbed down the stallions muscles and made sure he had a chance to get a drink before getting him harnessed up to my wagon. I wasn't waiting for too long before Sean and Luke came hobbling out to meet me and I smiled slightly at the two goofballs. "Pookie you should have seen the look on Owen's face when you walked out of camp, he's was so surprised you said no that he didn't know how to react, it was hilarious!" Sean snickered as he leaned against the wagon for support to take some weight off his injured leg.