The Hunting

Chapter 8

I followed Javier about 50 feet from camp before we found a nice big bush that I could squat behind. From the moment I met him, I thought Javier was a serious guy. He doesn't really show a lot of emotion. But slowly I have learned that he talks with his body gestures. His body screams awkward as his whole body was rigid while he gestured to the bush. Without saying a word, I walked behind the bush and started to do my business. I have never done this in front of anyone before. Back at the Burrow, we have outhouses scattered around. Every two families share an outhouse. Basically, we dig a deep hole and when it starts to stink, we put dirt over it and go through the process. We move out houses quite a bit.

I can tell that Javier is uncomfortable as well, he just looked away and started to whistle. I grinned watching him shift from foot to foot, almost impatiently. I spoke, "You know, this is a basic human function. You shouldn't act this awkward."

He cleared his throat but didn't say anything. I grunted, "So it's going to be that way, huh?"

No response. I continued to speak, "I would've rather had Pietra come with me, at least she would've been for some good entertainment. She is so easy to rile up. Oh, while I'm on the subject of Pietra, what's up with the chemistry between Calum and her? Are they like a thing or something or are they just overly friendly with each other? You must feel weird, Pietra is the only girl and there are three boys. One of them is her supposed lover, one of them is her brother, and the other one is you. Boy, I bet dinner conversations are awkward between the four of you."

Still no response from Javier. I groaned, "Come on Javier. I mean, I know you can talk. Why can't you just hold a small conversation with me while I do basic human duties? If we carry on a conversation the sounds are just an afterthought."

Javier was now looking at me and let me tell you he wasn't looking pleased. His hands were on his hips and his eyebrows were raised. I rolled my eyes trying to hold back my laughter, "Is it because I'm your so-called 'enemy'. I mean give me a break. Have I done anything to show that I'm a horrible person?"

He scoffed, "You pointed an arrow at all of us the first time we met."

I shrugged, "Well you were going to hurt Nate. I do hate to admit this, but he and I are pretty close friends." I shivered at the end of my sentence.

"By the way, it looks like, you can't stand him. Now I might not know the customs to whatever you are, but that doesn't really sound like friendship to me."

I shrugged, "It's impossible to be buddy, buddy with everyone you meet."

"But what I have concluded over the short time is that you two are interesting. Even though you don't like him, he seems overly fond of you."

That comment left me surprised. I stuttered out while trying to hold back a blush, "I-uh, no, there is no way that Nate likes me like that. He's just a big flirt that will do anything to get into a girl's pants. Nothing more."

I could tell that Javier was trying to hold back a smirk. His voice made it sound like he won some unknown challenge, "That's what you think."

I hurried to finish up. I want to get away from this conversation now! I hiked up my pants and brushed past him to head back to the clearing. If it wasn't me being so focused on getting back to camp, I could've heard Javier's light chuckling.

Everyone else must've known something happened between Javier and me. As I stormed into the clearing, everyone automatically looked at me. Some looked confused and I am not going to mention names, but someone looked pissed off.

Javier shortly followed after me into the clearing. Before anyone could ask anything, I asked if the food was ready. My question was answered by Pietra shoving a squirrel leg into my face. I gently grabbed the leg from her and started to munch on the meat. Eating this made me realize how much I missed the Burrow's cooking. I looked at Nate and he had the same solemn expression I probably wore. We ate in silence.

It was dark by the time everyone was done eating. After a little more bickering between the four hunters, it was finally decided who was going to take first watch, Don. Don looked back and forth between Nate and me. He spoke, "Now don't you try anything or I'll have to kill you."

Nate and I snorted at the same time. Out of four, Don was the least intimidating. Don looked offended, "Uh excuse you, I'm your captor here. You might want to try and respect me."

Nate spoke up, "How about you respect me by letting me go piss?"

Calum huffed, "Not alone you're not."

Nate shrugged, "Fine."

With that, I was left alone in very awkward silence. I watched as the three started rolling out small bedrolls. Don handed me his bedroll. "Here, as payback for the berries earlier."

I didn't take it. "No, you don't have to do that. It's your bedroll you keep it."

Don shook his head, "No, I insist. I am going to be taking the first watch anyways and I hate to be in debt to people, especially to one of our prisoners. So just shut up and take the bedroll before I change my mind. "

I took the bedroll out of his hands, "Thanks."

He shrugged as he walked closer to the fire to plop down on one of the longs. Pietra was glaring at me. Honestly, I am getting sick and tired of her glaring at me so I decided to glare right back for once. For a moment, Pietra looked shocked but then her gaze narrowed back to what it was before. We were glaring at each other for what seemed like forever until Calum and Nate walked back into the clearing.

Deciding to postpone the glaring war another time I started to unroll Don's bedroll. I noticed that the hunters were setting up their bedrolls on the opposite side of where Nate and I stood. Nate asked me, "Where did you get the bedroll?"

I gestured to Don with my head, "He lent it to me."

Nate narrowed his eyes at Don, then shrugged. "Okay, do you mind sharing?" Before I could say anything. "I mean if they are going to have someone watch, I feel like one of us should take watch as well. I don't trust them. I know we agreed that they wouldn't do anything to us until they figured out what we are, but I still refuse to tempt them."

I nodded, looking at Pietra as she was talking to Calum. "That makes sense. I do agree. I defiantly feel like we could not leave some of them awake alone." Nate and I shivered at the thought.

Nate decided to take the first watch. I laid down on Don's bedroll, which I quickly noticed that it wasn't nearly as comfortable as the cots at home. By the time I got situated, the others were either watching out for each other or sleeping. I sighed as I rolled over facing the opposite direction of the fire. I wonder if I'll ever get to go back home. That night as I cried myself to sleep, was one of the first times I've cried since my dad died.