Des'Tai: Book Two

23: Faye

"Back in the Hunger Games," I mumbled, mostly to myself, but in response to Ty's question.

"The what?" He glanced over at me, his brow furrowed in confusion, but his eyes blazing with anger.

My instinct was to tell him about the books, the movies, but the look on his face told me he truly wasn't interested. "Nevermind."

Pulling my knees up, I wrapped my arms around them. I was too tired for this shit. After I'd asked Luna to send me home, she argued with me that I knew better than to request something so absurd; me leaving wasn't for the best. Well it sure as fuck wasn't a great plan to send the two of us into the middle of the forest together, either, but look where we are now.

Closing my eyes, I called out to Luna, knowing only the echo of my own voice would respond. She was frustrated with us. Hell, I was frustrated with us. We went hard at each other like we were going to war. It was utterly ridiculous.

"Check the bag, see what supplies she sent us with," I requested, nodding towards the rucksack sitting next to Ty's feet.

"Anything for you, princess," he snidely commented as he kneeled and began ripping the pockets open. He looked disheveled and unkempt, making me wonder where he'd slept last night. His hurley style t-shirt was wrinkled and his jeans had some grass stains.

Rolling my eyes, I clenched my jaw shut for fear of saying the wrong thing. Again. I still held my pendant in my closed fist, fighting the urge to wrap it around my neck. What the hell would I need it for out here?

"Camping gear, no food. Knife, rope, canteen, matches, a pot, some cooking utensils, and some bandages," Ty explained as he found each item in the bag before he tossed it back inside. No map, no compass, and no food meaning I'd have to put my knowledge to the test. Great. Booksmart Faye trying to rough it with the real adventure seekers. This was going to be grand.

As Ty buttoned up the bag, he stood and began looking around.

"Where the hell did she drop us?"

Standing up, I quickly placed the necklace in the hidden pocket sewn into my leggings before dusting off my bottom. These pants were most definitely not meant for hiking through the forest.

I sighed deeply, "Most likely the southern edge of the Iroshaw Timberland."

"And how, pray tell, did you deduce that?" he asked, annoyance lacing his tone.

Pointing over my shoulder where the sun was still rising, "Our balcony faces the east. This is the only forest that would already have this much sunlight except for Ama Forest and I doubt she would put us that close to Fin Falls. Anything outside of that would put us further than a day's hike. Plus, it has the most edible vegetation so we should be able to find something to eat relatively easily."

Ty had been watching me, his eyes in narrow slits as if he was trying to figure out if I was telling the truth or just trying to make up random shit. Heaving out a deep breath, I watched as he looked towards the East where the sun was rising before glancing around him.

"And, Gamshaw Rill runs northwest to southeast. We're bound to run straight into it. If we head east, we'll probably find ourselves in..."

"Bellmoral, yeah I got you," he spoke quietly.

I sounded like a fucking guide book. This was going to be great.

"Let's go, I hear you're eager to hit the Helath and get the hell out of here," Ty snapped as he grabbed the bag and took off on a steady march towards the west.

My stomach lurched into my throat at his rude remark and I stood rooted in place as I stared at his retreating form.

Luna, what the hell were you thinking?