The funny thing is, we wanted to come here. We wanted a safe life and to try to get back what we lost. We may like it here. We may get along. But I feel out of place. I’m used to surviving, being on edge. I still sleep with a knife under my pillow, and I still wake up at every sound in the night.
Maybe it’s just me. Yeah, we all feel it—like something bad is going to happen—but when I look at the others, I see they’re happy. Take Abby, for example. She loves working with the animals and hanging out with other people our age. Yeah, I like that stuff too, but I feel like I don’t fit in. I’m getting bored.
But anyway, it’s morning, and I think I’m gonna go to Chief Harrow to see if I can go on the next hunting trip. Harrow is fair and kind, but he also protects his town. He has a loving wife and his kids… you won’t believe this—they’re Drake and Ashley, yeah, our friends, the chief’s kids.
So I go to his log house and knock on the door. His wife, Sarah, answers.
“Hi Jack, what can I do for you?” Sarah asks.
“Is Chief Harrow around?” I ask.
“No, sorry dear. He’s at the town center,” Sarah says.
“Okay, well I best be off then. I need to speak with him,” I say.
I head over to the town center and see him talking to the person who keeps track of our food, making sure we’ll have enough to get through winter. I overhear Tom, the food manager, say:
“We don’t have near enough food to make it through the winter.”
That worries me, but I just walk over.
“Chief Harrow?” I say.
“Ah yes, Jack. What can I do for you?” harrow asks.
He looks at Tom and says, “We can finish talking later,” then turns back to me.
“I was wondering if I can go on the next hunting trip?” I ask.
“Why would you want to do that? I thought the whole point of coming here was to be safe,” Harrow says.
“Yes, but this ain’t what I’m used to,” I say. “My dad used to let me go with him… so it would be like keeping a piece of him with me.”
Harrow studies me for a moment, like he’s weighing my words. I can feel my stomach twisting a little, hoping he’ll understand.
“You’re not like the other kids,” he finally says. “You’ve lived a different life. But hunting… it’s dangerous. You sure you’re ready for it?”
“I’m ready,” I say.
He nods slowly, a little smile on his face. “Alright, Jack. I’ll let you come along—but you listen to me the whole time, and you stay close. Understood?”
“Understood,” I say, trying to sound confident even though my heart’s pounding.
I can already feel it… this is gonna be just like the old days, out there with the wind in my face and the hunt ahead. Something about it makes me feel alive again.
ns216.73.216.141da2
and then Add to home screen.