A Hunt

She stalked through the woods.  Her feet barely making a sound.  Her ears listened for any sound, any sign of her prey.  She left behind your village to hunt for the day.  Her dark eyes took everything in and analyzed it to help her find the buck she sought.  She couldn’t get the images out of her head.  It felt like she could barely breath.  If her thoughts strayed she would be gasping for air.  There was so much and no way to make it go away.  Her eyes watered and she let out a soft sob.  She breathed in deeply.  She had to find food for her family, and pray to the goods that punishment would be swift.  

Her footsteps slowed as she spotted her target.  She brought up her bow, notched the air.  She pulled back slowly, breathed in and…

"Artemis!” A familiar voice called out. 

She yelped and jumped back.  Her arrow went into the tree.  She cursed and turned around to find her half-brother Kniles. 

“Kniles…”she growled out. 

“Hey, Papa wanted…are you crying?”

Artemis wiped her eyes and sniffed.  “No.  I was hunting and you made me miss my prey.  You are lucky I didn’t stab you.”

Kniles looked the way the deer headed.  “Looks like you missed,” he said with a smirk. 

Artemis stomped her foot.  “You’re impossible.” 

Kniles walked over and rubbed her braided hair.  “Maybe next time kid.”  

Artemis’s eyes narrowed even more if it was humanly possible. 

“I am not a kid.  I am one of the best hunters in the village.”  She crossed her arms over her chest. 

“Sure.” Kniles said as he grinned at her.  “A 12 year old hunter who still sleeps with her wabbit.” 

Artemis screamed in frustration and threw a rock at Kniles as he hid behind a tree. 

“What are you doing out here?  You said something about Papa?” Artemis blew a stray piece of hair out of her eyes. 

Kniles straightened up.  “He told me to come get you back to the village.”  His face turned very serious.  “A cow was found mutilated in the fields.” 

Artemis’s faced paled.  “A-Ar-Are you sure some wolf didn’t munch on it?”

Kniles shook his head, “No, the marks look like it was butchered with sloppily.”

Artemis drew a shaky breath in.  “I guess we better head back.” 

“Don’t worry squirt.  You can get a deer another day.”  Kniles put an arm around her shoulders as they started to walk back.  Kniles began to talk about Zi… again... but Artemis’s mind was elsewhere as she looked behind her. 

~Fin