The Hunting

Chapter 48

I quickly told Conner the whole story of Nate and I's adventure as we walked towards the gate. When I finished, Conner was flabbergasted. "Wait, so you almost got killed, you found your missing dad, and you killed someone?"

I shrugged, "Yeah, that pretty much sums it up."

He ran a hand through his ginger hair, "I can't believe it, Arden. When you and Nate walked up to the wall I barely recognized you. You've gotten fairly thin; Diana is going to have to fatten you up."

I laughed as my stomach growled at the thought of Diana's cooking, "I can't wait."

Conner and I were leading the group, Nate and Don were right behind us. Pietra, Javier, and Calum were in the middle; Timmy and my dad were in the back. We were about five minutes away from the gate. For the most part, we were walking in silence. Every once in awhile you could hear Timmy comment on the surroundings. It was hard to tell if the air was tense or if it was just everyone being nervous. Now that I am so close to home, I'm bouncing with excitement. All of the doubt I had was gone. I am ready to be home – in my cot, hunting, with my friends... but I still have some explaining to do. Talking with Don helped me get my thoughts straight, now I just need to talk to them. My thoughts went silent as I heard a whistle, I looked up and on the wall was more guards. They had their helmets on, so I couldn't tell who they were. Their friendly waves made me assume that it was probably people that Nate or I knew.

Three more minutes. "After we get back, I'm not walking for a week!" Nate joked.

Don laughed, "No, I'm not going to walk. My wound still needs to heal."

Conner looked over his shoulder back at Don, "I can show you to the medics once we get in the gate. How'd you get wounded?"

"I got stabbed," Don said nonchalantly.

Conner's eyes widen, "Don't say that so casually!"

Don shrugged, "Hasn't been the first time. I've got the scars to prove it."

"That's not something you should be bragging about. You'll have to show me those later when I take you to the medical tent." Conner said teasingly.

Don replied smoothly, "I'm looking forward to it."

I turned my attention away from their conversation with a smile on my face. I knew they would get along. I was so focused on their conversation that I forgot that we were coming up on the gate. I took a deep breath. Conner nudged me with his elbow, "Nervous?"

I sighed again, "You have no idea."

We're in front of the gate now. All of us stood in front of it staring at it. "This is amazing." I heard Calum mutter.

"Isn't it? Many generations ago, our ancestors built this to protect us." My dad explained.

Even though I've seen the wall and the gate over thousands of times, today it looked extra special. The sun was coming through the trees just so that the gate looked like it was shining. On the other side of the wall, the sounds of the chains moving caught my attention. Their opening the gate. I wonder who is going to be on the other side. My hand instinctively reached for my necklace, I started to fiddle with it. It seemed that the gate started to open up in slow motion. I started to see what was on the other side. I first saw the men who were opening the gate. I saw a lot of people: Nate's family, Mary, Diana, Tatum, Shelby – everyone... everyone except. Where's mom? As we stepped into the gate, I was looking around furiously for her. Where is she?

I heard her before I could see her, "Where is she? Where is Arden?"

I watched as my mom pushed her way out of the crowd of people. When she finally got to the front, our eyes met. I choked out a sob as I ran to her. By the time I wrapped my arms around her, we were both crying. We didn't say anything as we hugged each other. I wasn't really paying attention to anything else, but between my sniffles, I heard Nate's mom crying. When my mom and I finally parted, she took ahold of my shoulders. Her brown eyes were all puffy and red. I also took note of how her hair had streaks of gray – probably from all the stress I put her through. I shook my head, "I'm so sorry mom."

She wiped the tears from my eyes as she spoke, "Don't you apologize for anything. I'm just happy that my baby is back home."

I watched as my mom's eyes flickered over my shoulder behind me. Her jaw dropped. She let go of me, I heard my dad speak behind me. "Hello, doll. How have you been?"

I turned to see my dad standing behind me with Timmy right next to him. I turned back to my mom who was still frozen. "I-I don't even know what say to you." She said exasperatedly.

I spoke up, "Mom, I know that he can tell you the story later, but I found him. He was kidnapped by scavengers and he has been traveling with the rest of the people that you see with us. He loves me and he loves you."

My mom started tearing up again, "Don't you think I know that!" She motioned for dad to come here, "You have a lot of explaining to do Ryan Able!"

My dad walked up to her and swept her up in a hug, "I know I do, Esther Able."

I took a couple of steps back and let them have their space. I looked around to see Nate talking to his family. His siblings were clinging onto him as Nate's father was hugging his mother who was still crying. I looked to see the hunters talking to a couple of the guards. I looked down at Timmy next to me. I put my hand on his shoulder. "When they get done hugging, introduce yourself to my mom."

Timmy looked down, he played with his shirt anxiously, "Will she love me?"

It took all I had not to start crying again. I hugged Timmy, "Yes – yes she will. We all will."

I let him go and walked towards Mary. Mary looked at me and smiled, "Looks like you went on a fun adventure didn't you?"

I simply nodded in response.

She laughed, "Well after you get settled in, I expect you and Nate to introduce me to this new" she paused and looked at my dad, "and not so new friends."

I laughed, "Will do."

"Arden!"

I turned to see Shelby and Tatum running over to me. At this point, I've cried so much that I just started laughing instead. "Hi."

"Don't you just say 'hi' after we haven't seen you for months!" Shelby yelled. She pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. "Do you know how much we were worried about you and Nate? We thought you were dead!"

Tatum nodded, "Yeah after you didn't show back up the village was like hell for a couple of weeks. We didn't know where you went off too... but we are glad to have you back smalls."

I glared up at him to see him smirking down at me. I pointed at him, "Why you – "

Tatum interrupted me by picking me up and carrying me around like I was a sack of potatoes. He started chanting, "Smalls is back, smalls is back – oh I'm so happy that smalls is back!"

I shouted, "If you don't put me down right now, I swear I will beat you up."

He laughed, "I would like to see you try."

"I wouldn't test her if I were you. Trust me, she damn near broke my nose."

Tatum put me down gently. I turned to see Pietra smiling. The hunters, joined by Nate and Conner, were standing there. Nate clapped his hands in excitement, "Well, I guess it's time for introductions."