𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 ⋆ 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘹 𝘰𝘤 ⋆ 𝘳𝘥𝘳2

Chapter XXIV: Hunting Trip I

  this one gonna be a long one, i can feel it.  

tw/ this chapter will include possible triggers including graphic details of two children's deaths and a murder. read at your own risk.

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These past few weeks have been tiring to say the least, I don't think I've ever been this tired before mentally. It's mostly due to the constant worrying over Arthur. There was one point where we all thought it was about to be it for him. I've also been trying to keep my distance from him ever since Hosea and I's talk, I'm still trying to make sense of what exactly me meant.

"Don't let each other pass by."

I pour out what is remaining in my coffee cup onto the dirt, I may be tired buy I'm still not willing to drink an entire cup full of coffee.

"Delilah?" Arthur's voice calls, I look directly in front of me to see him walking towards me. It actually warms my heart to actually see him up and walking about now. I begin to walk towards my tent that I've started to share with Mary-Beth. "Delilah!" Arthur calls louder but I try to ignore him as I walk side of my tent.

Since Arthur is so persistent, he opens my tent's drape and steps inside. Sometimes I tend to forget how tall Arthur really is as he stands a whole head taller than me. "Hi." I say sheepishly.

"Hey..." Arthur says, I look up at him. "You ignorin' me?" Arthur asks making me shake my head. "Why would you think that?" I ask him as I look down at the ground, he sighs. "I dunno... you just seem different. " Arthur points out. I look up at him and shrug.

"I'm sorry?" I almost ask more than apologize, Arthur begins to backtrack by saying "I-I didn't mean it like that I just- I just wanna make sure you're alright." Arthur rushes with his words. I have no idea what to say. Should I be honest with him about what Hosea said to try and find out what he meant by it? "You don't gotta be worryin' about me, Morgan. " I try to convince him.

"So I was uh thinkin' about that huntin' trip..." Arthur starts. Is he cancelling on me? I know it sounds bad but I can't tell if I'd be upset or relieved if he cancelled the trip. "If you still wanna go we'd have to be on the road today. " Arthur informs me, great so now it's up to me if we go or not?

"Why today?"

"Well I have a few days to breathe before I gotta start going out again, plus Pearson's pot could use some fresh ingredients. " Arthur jokes making me chuckle. I nod. I can't tell him no... not when he's looking at me like that. "I'll pack up. " I tell Arthur making him smile a little crooked smile.

"Alright, I'll meet you out by the horses. " Arthur tells me before leaving my tent, I let out air from my lungs I didn't even know I was holding in. So much for keeping my distance for a little bit.

After rolling up my bedroll and swapping to more comfortable and durable boots, I leave my tent with my bedroll in my hands. I walk through the camp towards Lakota who just happens to be hitched up right next to Banner. I don't see Arthur anywhere when I begin to wander my eyes around the camp as I tie my bedroll up to Lakota's saddle.

My eyes stop when they finally see him talking to Dutch, it seems serious by the looks on their faces and the way their body language makes them seem both uncomfortable. I divert my eyes away as soon as Arthur begins to walk towards Banner. I probably shouldn't ask what that was about even though my curiosity is literally eating away at me.

"Ready?" I ask Arthur, he just nods as he mounts up on Banner... I furrow my eyebrows together in confusion on why his mood changed so suddenly. I shake my head from any questions I have as I mount up on Lakota.