The Hunting

Chapter 26

AUTHORS NOTE: Hello everyone! I apologize for the slow update. Things have been very hectic recently. I hope you all are staying healthy during this time. All of my classes have switched to online and I am trying to adjust to my new schedule. Also, as I am nearing the end of this book, I want to be very purposeful with what I write. That being said, I might take a little bit longer for chapters to be put out. I have enjoyed writing this book and I want to give it a well-deserved ending as I am sure the rest of you do. I am unsure about how many more chapters this will be, but let it be known that I will try to stick to posting one chapter a week from here on out. Thank you for those of you who have been sticking it out and continuing to enjoy the story. Now enjoy this chapter! 

Pietra and I have been walking for hours now, still no sign of the boys. The sun was up in the sky and we could see for miles. We've been following the scavengers' tracks and drops of blood here and there. I learned that Javier was fighting the guy that got away. Before that guy escaped, Javier injured him. Pietra didn't know how the guy escaped, but she told me she was going to wring Jaiver's neck when the boys catch up with us. When we first started walking, it was all quiet, but now though, we are actually having some good conversation. I was pleasantly surprised. I don't think she is on edge anymore because she knows that I owe her my life. Also, her boys aren't here so the only person I could possibly "hurt" is her.

The landscape has changed slightly, the grass is getting dryer, the vegetation is getting even more scarce. After a couple more minutes of walking, we stumbled across a very small stream and a couple of dead-looking trees. Pietra and I had the same thought. She said it before I did, "We should wait here for them to catch up. It is daylight, that bastard probably found someplace to hide. Scavengers do most of their movement by night."

I nodded in agreement, "We don't know how far the boys are behind us. Even if we stop for a little bit, hopefully, it will be long enough for them to catch with us. Besides, we could use this chance to collect water and strategize."

Pietra agreed, "I think for the rest of the time we need to be in smaller groups. It is more dangerous, but it will allow us to be more stealthy. One group should go-ahead to keep up with the scavenger that escaped, by the looks of it those slimy rats are still in the canyons. The outskirts of the canyons are about a day's walk. We shouldn't risk sleeping at night anymore. We should only stop for breaks."

"We are going to be running short on food here soon as well. We need to find anything. I've been trying to keep a lookout, but I haven't seen anything yet. Not even a bird."

She responded, "It is going to get worse as we get to the canyons. We haven't even seen a prairie dog yet."

I nodded. For that, we were silent for a while until Pietra sighed, "Listen, I don't want to get into your private life or anything, but whatever your intentions are with Javier forget about it."

A blush came to my cheeks, "What are you talking about? I don't have any intentions with Jaiver."

She rolled her eyes, "Don told me that you two were snuggling the first night. Don't be shy, now that you owe me your life we can talk just us girls. It has been a while, it can be hard with all of there boys around. So tell me, what are your intentions?"

I threw up my hands, "I do not have any intentions with Jaiver, that night he snuggled me when I was sleeping. I had no clue until the morning..."

Pietra leaned closer to me, "And?"

I sighed, tugging on my necklace, "I guess he is cute."

She smiled, "And what about Nate?"

I raised my eyebrows, "What about Nate?"

Pietra groaned, "Are you kidding me? You don't notice."

I shook my head, "Notice what?"

Pietra started laughing, "Oh you are so dense! Arden, it is so obvious that both of them like you. When they are around each other the air is so tense. I am so glad I am not with the boys right now. "

I looked at Pietra, eyes wide. "No, I don't think so."

It was her turn to raise her eyebrows at me, "Arden, you are smart. Even though you might be dense in the romance department, you should be smart enough to know that they are both attracted to you. Think back. I assure you that you'll think of something."

I put my head in my hands as I thought back. Well, Jaiver has cuddled me and acts different when we are alone in comparison to whenever everyone else is around. He has also made weird comments that make me blush. He also told everyone that I am his "type." I have always thought he was interesting and now that I have been getting to know him, my interest in him has only grown. He can be hard to understand at times, but I know that there is something more to him.

Nate, on the other hand, has shared a kiss with me. He has always has been there for me and I can tell him anything. I can't deny that he has flirted with me here and back at the Burrow. Now that I think about it, even though I have wanted to choke him a time or two, I have always thought he was attractive. He drives me up the wall, but ever since we started our journey with the hunters he has been nothing but kind and protective of me. He has listened to me when I told him to stop and ever since then he hasn't said any nasty comments. He even cried when I almost got- nope, not going to think about that.

I groaned. Pietra might be right. I looked up at her to see her wicked smirk. She had a devious look in her eyes as she spoke, "See, I told you. Nate has told Don that he likes you. Javier doesn't share his feelings with anyone, but it is obvious."

I shook my head, face red. I need to deny this, "Nate and I are just really good friends. Jaiver and I are just paired up together. There's nothing more to it."

Pietra glared at me, "Stop trying to deny it. They like you and..." She paused for a moment, her eyes flickered over my red cheeks. She continued, "and you like one of them!"

I looked away from Pietra. No, I don't! I looked back at her to see her smirking. I shook my head and looked up at the sky. Or do I?