The Hunted

GEMMA

Tarrion burst into the cabin, I quickly dried my eye, he couldn't see me like that, no one could. "What happened?" I asked, clearly startling him.

"Gemma, seriously! You scared the crud outta me!" he snapped. He was angry, i could tell.

"Sorry..." I trailed.

"No, don't be." he said, violently strumming his guitar.

"What happen?" I repeated myself.

"Dimitri happened. He tickled her leg while she was bathing. You know, without clothes on. If I could get away alive, I would beat the snot out of him. I can't believe him..." said Tarrion.

Just then Domi burst in, "Look what I found! A chicken!" she exclaimed.

"Well if it's female it'll lay eggs. Let me see it." he said, extending a hand to Domi to grab it. She eyed it hesitantly and handed Tar the chicken. "One of my friends had chickens, I used to have to do this all the time. He was an immature one, always whining about how gross it was." he laughed.

"Well?" said Domi excitedly.

"It's female, so it'll lay eggs. Wild chickens are tricky because males and females looks so much the same." said Tarrion.

"I'll go fing Saphire! She can help us make a cage!" exclaimed Wren from the corner. I never noticed that she even came in.

"That sounds good! Fried eggs in the morning... oh how nice that'll be." grinned Tarrion.

With all the hustle and bustle of the camp, no one noticed as I slipped away. I needed a walk, to just fully calm down. I wasn't sure if Dimitri was still at the creek but I took a chance and went there anyways. I wasn't afraid of him.

I was at the creek still. I didn't feel a bit sorry for what I had done. I even laughed. Just then Gemma came into view. She spotted me in the water, and came over. She wasn't even mad. I could tell she wasn't scared of me. "Hey", I said. "Hey", she answered. " We should probably head back to camp", She said. So I got changed, and we headed back. Talking all the way.

TARRION

We set to work making the cage. Gemma had slipped away, but I didn't underestimate her. She could more than definately take care of herself. Saph joined us. Domi kept her distance, but I didn't mind. Whatever made her happy.

The chicken was running around the cabin freely, we had the door shut firmly. Shalo was eyeing it hungrily. "Don't even think about it!" I scolded. Wren laughed.

"You might wanna keep a close eye on Shalo Tar. She looks hungry."

We all burst into spurts of giggles. I felt like a drunk, laughing like this. The thoughts of the others had nearly slipped away entirely from my mind. They were somewhere in the back, but I really wasn't paying much attention.

"Okay, one question here people," Domi announced.

"Hmm?" I asked, watching Shalo out of the corner of my eye. She obviously couldn't be trusted at the moment.

"Well, we've got all the stuff we need. But we don't have any nails or anything."

I hadn't been thinking that far ahead. "Well...let's see here..." Okay, so I had no clue what to do. None whatsoever.

Wren piped up. "Well, we want the chicken to stay inside right?" We nodded. "Well, what we could do is this." She grabbed a branch and my bag, rummaging around inside for something.

"Umm, what are you doing exactly?" I asked. I had said before we could use my many shirts if necessary, but I had planned on being the one rummaging around in my bag. I had underwear in there after all...awkward.

She pulled out a shirt. "Well, you said we could use them." She tore it into strips and started tieing branches together.

Domi and I both grinned. "Smart!" We praised in unison, following her lead on what to do.

Gemma and Dimitri burst in the door and we all turned around. "Shut that thing! The chicken will get out!" Wren shouted.

I glared at Dimitri, inching over slightly on my butt so that I was between him and Domi and continued my work without awknowledging the man. "Hey Gemma. Care to help us out?" I removed my glare from Dimitri and smiled sweetly at her.

GEMMA

"Hey Gemma. Care to help us out?" said Tarrion, sugar coating it a bit. I didn't really blame him though.

"Oh nah, I'm not very good with stuff like that. I think I'm just going to hang out here for a while." I said.

Wren, Saphire, Domi, and Tarrion placed the chicken in the newly finished cage and took it outside, leaving me alone with Dimitri. "So...." I said akwardly.

".....Yeah?" answered Dimitri.

I could hear laughter from outside, "Maybe we should go out there. It sound like it would be a good time."

"Like I'm wanted out there," frowned Dimitri, "You go, I think I'm going to go to bed."

"Ok, if you say so." I said, raising my eyebrows.

"I do. I promise." he smiled.

I walked outside, it was cooling off substancially. "Gemma!" cried Wren, smiling, "Have you come to join us?"

DOMINIQUE

gemma came over with us, we watched the chicken who looked around frantically, obviously wondering what just happened. At least now we hd some sort of food that would always be at hand. But what happens if we cant leave camp to get more food? I looked up at the others, thinking. I let my eyes wander around the camp, there was a patch of earth that looked more moist then the rest.

I walked up and walked over to it, pushing down on it. It did look like very fertile soil. Tarrion looked over.
"What are you doing?" I probably looked like a nut case, bent over feeling the ground.
"I figured since now we need a steady supply of food, we should plant something."
"That's a great idea!" I looked over and smiled at gemma. Things are looking up around here.

~Annie May~

I sat there on that rock for hours without moving. The sun felt goo, but I knew someone would notice my absence. Though what business is it of theirs what I do, where I go? I walked back to the camp slowly, my feel hurting. My feet very rarely hurt. They did when I first got here because I wasn't use to having no shoes. And now, after a month of being here, they began to hurt. But it was OK. I would live, hopefully.

Back at camp, I crawled into a tree again, sitting on a limb in site of everyone. I sat there for another hour, watching them work. Then, someone noticed me.

TARRION

I glanced up in the tree and smiled. "Annie-May!" She was sitting in a tree. If she wanted to be alone, I would let her, but you can always try right? Shalo landed on my shoulder, begging for attention. I stroked her head thoughtfully, not taking my eyes off the tree.

The girls were giggling over some unkown cause, but I didn't really pay much attention. Girls were girls and girls giggled. "Feel free to join us whenever. We won't force you to stay or anything," I muttered before turning around.

I grabbed a handful of dirt and pressed it into a loose ball, hurling it at Gemma. It hit her in the back and she yelped, turning around. I laughed. She grinned and stooped over to pick up her own ammo. I started to make a run for it. Too late, it hit me in the back of the head.

Saphire
I went over to the newly aquired chicken and stroked it's feathers. It clucked in content and rubbed it's head against my hand. I smiled and continued to stroke it. I noticed Tarrion and a bunch the other girls messing around and I smiled broadly. I made a very quick makeshift bucket and filled it with water. I climbed into a tree and as Tarrion passed under it I poured it on his head. He spluttered and glared up at me. I giggled and waved at him. "Careful it looks like rain." I said sweetly. "Saph that was brilliant." Gemma gasped out between giggles. Wren was laughing too hard she just nodded in agreement. I jumped down. and faced Tarrion casually crossing my arms over my chest.

TARRION

I tried to keep a straight face, but it was pretty hard. Saphire was grinning at me like a cat. A very happy cat. I started laughing. "Guess who gets to wash my clothes later?" I winked at her and crossed my own arms.

"Umm...you?"

I shook my head. "Nu-uh. You do." I turned around to face the other girls. They were all laughing their fool heads off. I grinned and shook my head. Ah well, at least I could make them laugh. At my own expense, but laughing was laughing.

I shook like a dog, some of the water splashing Domi and Saph. "Much better." I announced, still grinning.

~Annie May~

It was all very funny actually. I watched as Tarrion got hit with dirt and I saw as Saphire climbed a tree and poured water on his head. I smiled. Maybe they weren't perfect, and maybe they did hate each other, but they were more of a family than me and my sister, which I hadn't seen in forever. I wanted to go play with them while the mood was good, but I didn't want to ruin their fun.

I watched as the sky turned grey. No one noticed it very much until a loud burst of thunder made the ground shake. It began raining, and I watched as everyone hurried into a tent. My turn to shelter, which was very hard when living in a tree, but I had gotten used to the rain. I simply slid from the tree, turning to walk back into the forest. I found a nice spot under a huge leaf from a tree--or a few leaves at that--and sat down, curling my legs to my chest.

DOMINIQUE

I saw Annie may run into the woods as it started to downpour. I looked at the others.
"I'll be right back." I turned and started running but someone held me back, i turned and came face to face with tarrion.
"Domi, it's raining, you'll get sick." I pulled away. I put my finger up as i made my point.
"First of all, don't touch me. Second of all, i like the rain, and third of all, I'm not letting Annie get sick." I smiled. It's about time i stand up to a guy. I ran into the woods.
I saw Annie sitting under a tree, looking all sad.

"Annie come on, we have shelter." I held out my hand, expecting her to take it and come with me.
"No, I'm fine." She looked away. I let my hand fall.
"Come on Annie, you'll get sick." She looked back up at me.
"I'll be alright." I crossed my arms and looked into the distance.
"But we want you to come, be part of our big happy, slightly dysfunctional family." I looked down at her. She bit her lip and looked like she was going to cry.
"Fine, I'll come." She stood slowly as we walked back to camp.

We went into the cabin and sat down. Every one looked tired, and it had gotten late. Gemma looked up clapping her hands together.
"Let's play a game! Any suggestions?" I once heard of a game, called truth or dare.
"Truth or dare?" Every one looked at me. "I'll go first, Tarrion, truth or dare?"

Wren

I grinned. Truth or dare? Why was I not surprised this was the game we had started with? It seemed to fit Domi, somehow.

I turned towards Tarrion, anticipating his reply. This could be interesting.

[Nothing more to say.... I didn't want to steal Tarrion's answer.... xD]

GEMMA

We were all in the cabin and we were all tired, I could see it in our faces. But I didn't really feel like going to bed yet. "Let's play a game! Any suggestions?" I asked.

"Truth or dare?" said Domi, "I'll go first, Tarrion, truth or dare?"

We all looked to Tarrion, awaiting his reply. He looked deep in thought, why did I get the feeling he had never played this game before?

TARRION

"Truth or dare?" Domi asked me. Her eyes held mischeif. This was usually a game I avoided, but I'd play along. I held back a smirk, remaining silent for as long as possible. It was my strategie in most things, keep silent until everybody else is nearly jumping off cliffs in anticipation. It was all a fun game of mine, watching people await an answer that was of great importance to them.

They were all staring at me pleadingly, I had been silent for quite a while now. "Come on Tar! Just pick on already!" Gemma begged.

"Please!" Wren agreed, clapping her hands together dramatically.

I let my smirk go. "Fine. I choose..." I paused for a moment, earning a few irritated groans. "Truth."