The Huntsman

Chapter 4 - Honesty First

About the time the pine needles were gone from repetitive chewing upon them the man stopped briefly and reached into a pocket and pulled free a handful of dried meat cut into thin strips. I stared at the dried meat that he had offered out to me. It was simply too much to take in.

Yes, I'd known he was going to feed me, but I hadn't expected him to do it so unasked for. He wasn't making me beg for anything.

Numbly I reached out and took the dried meat, even as several tears made their way down my cheeks. Overcome as I was emotionally it was still all I could do not to tear at the meat like a vicious animal, but instead to bite it off and chew in a controlled fashion.

He grunted and I forced myself to make eye contact with him. His gaze was enigmatic as he said with a voice that sounded rusty from lack of use and all the more gruff because of it, "This is the second time you've impressed me. Most people as hungry as you are would gobble that down in two seconds."

His expression, then turned quizzically curious then as he asked, "Why on earth are you crying though? I assure you that that isn't human you're eating right now if that's what's got you so concerned."

I shook my head and quickly wiped at my tears as I said, "No, I know it isn't human. I've had deer jerky before. It's just this is the first real food I've had that came directly from nature and didn't smell horrible in a very long time. Thank you for sharing it with me!"

"Where have you been held up?"

I hesitated to speak the answer not feeling entirely sure of him, but God had chosen him so I had to trust him like it or not, "A FEMA camp."

His one eyebrow rose, "And you're still a virgin?"

"Yes, I am." I responded steadily with assurance as I met his gaze head on.

He nodded and asked, "How did you get out?"

"I heard two guards talking. They were going to take us out of the camp and shoot us the next morning. I went along the next morning, but I hung to the rear of the group."

"And made a break for it?"

"Not exactly." I whispered before quickly looking away.

He stayed where he was and it was clear to me that he wasn't moving until I told him everything. Twisting my hands together nervously, I said not looking at him directly, "In the camp in order to avoid interest I made myself look bad with extra clothes and I gave myself a hunch and well anything to make me look...... unappealing. Because I knew I had to run that morning I took most of my outer clothes off and I guess I wasn't paying attention to how I walked or acted because a guard noticed me. He held me back and the others went on without us. He forced me down onto my knees and it was clear that he wanted me to use my mouth to suck his...... thing, but I wouldn't open. He had his pistol pressed to the side of my head and I knew he intended to shoot me as soon as I'd done what he wanted me to do, but that didn't matter as I would as soon as die anyway. The other guards had started to shoot the people further on away from us and he got distracted by that and when he did, I grabbed his hand and turned the gun into his belly and I managed to pull the trigger. He let go of me and I ran for it and here I am four days later."

I took a quick peek at him and was surprised to see something close to admiration being reflected in his icy hard eyes. We stared at each other for a long moment and then he asked, "Did he get it in past your lips?"

I flushed completely red at his question and face burning I whispered, "No."

"So tell me Princess will you open your mouth up for me?"

"Yes." I said numbly even as I acknowledged that I was experiencing one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.

He stared at me for a while longer and then as if to himself, he said, "That's the third time you've impressed me."