Beasts and Savages (The Beastly Series Book 1) (15 page)

“Aren't you going to eat?” I elbowed her gently.

“Not hungry. Too nervous.” Beth plucked a grape from the bunch on her plate.

“Well I’m starving. Mom wouldn't let me eat anything.” Rally exclaimed.

Beth and I laughed. After we finished our meals, we wandered from fire to fire, complimenting girls on their costumes and wishing them luck.  We had second and third platefuls of food and joined some smaller girls in a game of hide and seek.  I was always found right away, my white fur glowed in the fire and moonlight.

Late into the night, Ms. Dawning gathered us for a celebratory speech. She lined us up along the glow of the fires, our mothers standing proudly behind us.

“Ladies, both young and old,” she began. “In just a few short hours, we send these beautiful, capable girls to fulfill their destinies as hunters.”

Cheers filled the park. Mom squeezed my shoulder.

Ms. Dawning waited for the crowd to quiet before she continued. “When they return, they will no longer be our children, they will be our equals.” More cheers. Another pause.

“All of these girls have worked and trained diligently for the honor to become hunters. I will recognize them individually, but first, a moment of silence to give thanks for the men who are sacrificed so that our way of life may continue.”

Boos and hisses rumble through the crowd. Ms. Dawning talked over them, “Ladies, Please! Without savages, there would be no children, no mothers. Tradition says we must observe a moment of silence.”

The crowd grew quiet and she continued, “Since the first hunt generations ago, women have persevered over the savages, but we are connected to them. As we continue to grow, both in strength and numbers, we must carry them along with us. They serve as a reminder of where we came from, and also of what we dare not become.”

Another cheer swelled, lasting longer than before. Ms. Dawning waited patiently. Finally, she spoke, “Now for the moment of silence.” The murmurs lessened until only the crackling of the fires were heard.

I wiped my hands on my skirt and glanced around. Most women had their heads bowed. The girls around me fidgeted.

Ms. Dawning cleared her throat. “Thank you. Now girls, when I call your name step forward. Once everyone's been announced, we will sing a round of The Mother's Song, there will be time for pictures, and then the hunters will retreat to the cabin to get some rest before tomorrow.”

As Ms. Dawning called names, my heart pounded. Soon, I would have to tell Mom and Nana goodbye and try to sleep on the floor of a crowded room. I couldn't cry at the feast, it would make a scene. I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm.

Ms. Dawning called “Lea Corre” and Mom lifted her hand off my shoulder. I stepped forward and forced a smile. After several more minutes, every hunter had been called. Someone in the audience began to sing The Mother's Song. By the end of the first line, everyone had joined in.

Once the singing stopped, a flurry of camera flashes began. I posed and smiled for picture after picture. Nana made sure she had at least two each of me with Mom and me with her before she began snapping photos of me and my friends.

Ms. Dawning clapped her hands. “All right hunters! It's time to wish you happy hunting! After your families have wished you luck, please make your way to the cabin.”

Mom pulled me to her chest and stroked my hair. “You will be brave and do the right thing, I know it. I'll see you on Sunday.”

I blinked back my tears and swallowed. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too.”

When we broke the embrace, I couldn't look her in the eye. I blinked again.
I can't cry. Not here. Be brave.

Nana kissed my forehead and pulled me further into the darkness. When she was satisfied that we were far enough away from everyone else, she hugged me.

“You look beautiful. Fierce. I know you will do well.” She whispered in my ear, “And you will choose the right path for you. I am so proud of the young woman you have become.”

The tears were harder to keep back. I wiped my eyes as I pulled away from her. “I love you, Nana.”

“I love you, Lea.” Nana forced a package into my hand. “You’re going to need these. I’m so proud of you honey.”

I ripped open the brown paper and read the box. Tampons. Nana knew.

Chapter 10

~The Hunt~

The great room in the lodge was made of dark logs stacked on one another. Arched windows on three walls mirrored the curves in the high ceiling. Girls on mats filled the floor. Ms. Dawning had already turned off the light and ordered us to sleep, but the air of nervous excitement made it impossible. Whispers and giggles floated through the room.

I lay on a mat in between Beth and Rally, trying to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I thought of Mom and Nana and how much I'll miss them. Finally, I let my mind wander while I waited for morning.

***

"It's time to get up! Let's go!" Rally sprang off her mat. A sliver of gray light had formed on the window, the first evidence of morning.

"Five more minutes," Beth murmured and turned over.

I stretched and stifled a yawn. "I'm going to the bathroom."

"I'll come with," Rally said as she finished rolling her mat.

I washed my face with cold water three times, but my eyes were still bloodshot and swollen. I examined them closely and wondered if Ms. Dawning would notice.

"You didn’t sleep at all, did you?" Rally asked.

I glanced at her. "That noticeable, huh?" 

"Yeah, so you gonna tell me why?"

Beth burst into the bathroom. "Thanks for waiting on me." She stopped and looked from Rally to me. "Lea, what's wrong? Is this about not wanting to hunt?"

"Yes."

"If you don't want to hunt, why are you here?" Rally asked.

"You know it's not that simple, Rally. And I told you before; it’s the killing I'm against. "

"Okay," Beth sighed. “I thought you had at least accepted what you have to do. Besides, you won't remember the kill."

It was time for half-truths. "I remember my changings, and I'll remember if I kill."

"How is that even possible? And don’t you want a baby?" Rally tilted her head and squinted at me.

I shuddered. "I don't know, but I've seen what happens when you remember."

"Lucile," Rally breathed. "That's why -"

"Yes," I interrupted her. "But my mom has been working with me. She taught me how to hunt without killing."

"So if you aren't going to kill, why were you up all night worrying?" Beth asked.

"I'm still afraid I'll kill him, and I can't live with that."

Rally's eyes shone. "But what if he kills you?"

I hugged Rally. "Don't worry. He won't."

Beth and Rally exchanged glances as I pulled away from the embrace. Beth asked, "How do you know?"

"I just do. And please, don't tell anyone, especially Ms. Dawning." I pleaded.

The other girls looked from one another to me and back again. Finally, Rally spoke up, "We won't tell, Lea."

Beth nodded. "We promise."

***

Outside, the sky was orange and the sun still rising, casting shadows across the lawn. The hunters looked like mounds of fur under the darkness, making them hard to tell apart. I wandered through them, jumping over sprawled legs and arms.

We watched other girls bundle into groups and wished them luck as they passed. Finally, Ms. Dawning and another teacher came to the clearing. They divided us into our classes and urged us to check our supplies and fill our canteens at the fountain. I checked my canteen. Completely full.

Ms. Dawning lead us into the woods, heading in the opposite direction as the other class. We walked for a while along a bright, wide path surrounded by trees. Beth, Rally and I walked together, arms linked. We slowed when we reached a wooden bridge that had the tallest chain link fence I’d ever seen at the other end.

The bridge was narrow with red planks that were old and chipped. It crossed a deep ravine with a small creek at the bottom. The planks were no more than twelve inches wide and there were no side rails. I took a sharp breath and clasped Rally’s arm.

She laughed. “We’ll be fine, see?”

Ms. Dawning was halfway across the bridge followed by girls walking in single file behind her. When she reached a metal door built into the fence, she pulled out a key and opened a lock.

Once everyone had crossed, Ms. Dawning locked the door behind her and lead us down a darker, narrower path. As we came to smaller trails that crossed our own, she directed three or four girls down them, handing them maps and wishing them luck. As we passed more and more trails, our group shrank smaller. Finally, Ms. Dawning called Beth’s name. There were only six girls left in the group. Beth was to go down a small trail with Susie. Rally and I hugged Beth and wished her luck.

When we reached the next split Ms. Dawning called out, “This is it ladies! Lea and Rally, you take this path.” She pointed to a rocky clearing that was a dried up creek bed. She handed us our maps and wished us luck before directing the other two girls.

Rally ran down the rocky path. I padded along behind her, willing myself not to fall on the rocks. After a while, our path leveled out and the rocks gave way to crunchy leaves under our feet. The sky was a shocking blue against the reds and oranges of the autumn leaves. The air was cool, but I was comfortable in my fur.

We came across a shallow creek peppered with flat rocks. I skipped from rock to rock, dipping my toe in the water and splashing Rally. She giggled and splashed back until we were both soaked. October chill set in with the water. We continued, shivering, until we found a sunny patch of grass to dry out on.

“Maybe we should have stayed out of the water.” I collapsed down on the carpet of grass.