The Hunting

Chapter 29

We decided to stay as a group until we reached the outskirts of the canyons. All of us were walking silently, we were pretty spread out. The air was filled with tension that nobody could break. Back at the camp when we were filling up with water, Jaiver tried to come and talk to me, but I brushed him off. I wasn't ready to talk to him yet. Everyone could see that he and I were not on the best of terms and nobody tried to say anything.

Calum and Pietra led the front, Jaiver was not terribly far behind them walking by himself. Don and Nate were next, even those two were quiet. I led the rear. I had a lot to sort through. What am I going to do? I am upset with Jaiver and here we are stuck together like we always have been. I thought through all of our conversations, he would understand where I am coming from. I understand that these scavengers have done terrible things to them, but seriously, I do not want to have to kill people. The image of the two dead scavengers flashed in my mind. Their cold, dead eyes staring at nothing. Their lifeless, moveless body covered in blood. Chills ran down my spine as I tried to shake that image out of my head. No, I don't want to have to do that. Not now, not ever. Pietra was right, I don't have the guts do that.

"Hey, Arden."

I jumped, as I was pulled out of my thoughts. It was Don. He slowed down to walk next to me. I looked up at him and looked forward to Nate, who was still walking in front of us. I looked back at him to see he was looking at me nervously. He scratched the back of his head. He gently spoke, "Listen, Arden, I know you probably don't want to be talked to right now. But there is something I need to tell you."

I smiled gently at him, "It's alright Don. What do you want to talk about?"

He sighed, "It's about Jaiver."

My eyes narrowed at the mention of his name, "What about him?"

He took a while to respond to me. While I waited, I looked up at the sky. The sun was starting to set, it should be getting dark within the next hour or so, however, I don't think we are going to stop anytime soon. Don started to speak again, bringing my attention to him. "Arden, I know that you're upset with him. You have every right to be. He has been a dick today."

"Yeah, he has."

He sighed again, "I want to ask you to please not hold it against him."

I scoffed, "Please tell me you have a good reason."

He continued, "The closer we get to the scavengers, the tenser he is getting. What you don't know is that he out of all of us, he has had the worst run in's with the scavengers. With all that he has been through, he has every right to want them dead." I was about to interrupt him when he put up his hands to stop me. "That doesn't mean that he should expect you to. This time, however, it's very personal to him. Remmington and Jaiver have been together since Jaiver was young, and he views Remmington like family. He took it really hard when Remmington was captured. All he wants is to have his family back Arden, so don't hold that against him."

I huffed, "Don-"

Don interrupted me, "There is also another thing."

I raised my eyebrows, "What is it?"

"Calum was talking to me earlier today about what happened this morning with the scavengers. Remember when Pietra and I were trying to hunt down the scavenger that escaped because of Jaiver?"

"Yes of course I remember."

"He was upset, furious even. When Calum chased after Jaiver, Jaiver was upset because he wasn't able to protect you. While he was fending off the scavenger that got away, he saw one of the other ones try to kill you. He was screaming your name. He wanted to come to save you, but he couldn't. He's happy that you're alive, but not being able to help you teared him up on the inside. I know Jaiver seems like a guy that doesn't care, but he does Arden. He wants those scavengers dead because of everything they have done not only to us but now to you. Please, when you get the chance, talk to him. I am not saying you have to forgive him, but hear him out."

I rubbed my hand over my dad's necklace. "Okay. I'll do it. I might as well because we are going to get stuck with each other anyway."

He smiled lightly at me, "Thank you, Arden."

I nodded and with that, he jogged back up to catch up with Nate. Don's a lot more serious than I thought. I gently laughed at the thought as I saw him shove Nate and I heard Nate say, "What the hell dude?"

I looked past them to see Jaiver still slowly trailing behind Calum and Pietra. I started to think about this whole situation. I don't know how I should go about this. I am still upset with him, but I can't stay mad at him forever. I sighed as I tried to put myself in Jaiver's shoes. What if someone I loved got taken away from me and then I almost saw a friend die and I could do nothing about it? I paused. I don't know how I would be able to handle it... I guess Don is right. Even though how Jaiver behaved is not acceptable, it doesn't come from a place of malice, but maybe a place of worry. His actions weren't directed towards me but at the scavengers themselves. I need to talk to him. I looked forward to see that the hunters and Nate were leaving me in the dust. I guess this is what I get for being short and not paying attention. I jogged to catch back up with Don and Nate. By the time I got up to them, I was out of breath.

They both looked down at me surprised. Nate chuckled lightly, "Did you get left behind shorty?"

I glared at him, "Nate, you better be careful, you know what happens when people call me short."

His chuckle slowly died down, "Yes I know, but I can't help it sometimes. You're just too adorable."

I grimaced, "Oh don't even start with that Nathaniel."

Don spoke up, "Nathaniel, is that your real name?"

Nate groaned, "Dammit Arden, why did you have to say my name?"

I smiled, "Every time you call me short, I'll call you by your real name, it's only fair."

Don started laughing, "I can't believe it. Why did you withhold such important information from me, Nathaniel?"

Nate got defensive, "What about you Don? Is that even your real name?"

He shrugged, "It is just Don."

"No it's not."

We all jerked our heads forward to see that Pietra, Calum, and Jaiver stopped to let us catch up. Pietra had her hands on her hips, looking at Don with her eyebrows raised.

Nate was smug. "Oh, what is it then Pietra?"

Pietra opened her mouth.

"Please don't do it! Pietra, please. I will do anything." Don pleaded.

"Anything?" Pietra asked with a sly smirk.

Don took a breath of relief, "Yes anything."

Without a moment's pause she blurted, "It's Donatello!"

"Pietra! Why?"

Nate burst out laughing, "Donatello? That is so ridiculous."

"It's a family name!" Don whined.

I put a hand on Don's shoulder, "I think it is a beautiful name."

Calum interrupted our conversation, "Alright everyone, get it together. We have things to discuss."

Nate bent down and whispered so that only Don and I could hear it, "What a buzzkill."

Calum looked at Nate, "What was that Nathaniel?"

Nate groaned, "Nothing!"