Read Online Beasts and Savages (The Beastly Series Book 1) by Emma Woods - Free Book Online
Authors: Emma Woods
Ads: Link
up. “No, I’m not going home. I need a minute though.” I had one more question to ask Rally.
Beth turned and walked down the hall. I faced Rally.
“Do you think hunting is the right thing to do? I mean, do you really want to kill a person just because, well to have a baby?”
“Are you asking me if I want a baby? Because the answer is yes. I hate going through the change every month. Waking up after two days feeling weak, wondering how I bruised and cut myself so badly. Seeing the scratches on the door that I know I made. And that deep hunger that lingers for days.” She shuddered. “I want to stop going through that.” She paused and added, “I want to feel a little life growing inside me. I want to cuddle a chubby little baby and teach her to grow strong and proud.” Rally stood and started to leave. “I think all of that is worth the life of one boy. He’s just a man, a savage.”
“But he’s still a human.” I countered.
Rally stopped walking and turned back to me. “Barely. Why do you think we have to wear costumes? It makes us look like them.” She paused. “Besides, my mom said they volunteer for the hunt. I’m not sure how the girl who told her knew. I doubt they are capable of using language. Anyway, going through changings is awful, and I’m sure the hunt will be just as bad. I want a daughter and am willing to go through whatever it takes to have one.” She left without a single glance back.
I stared after her. She was so young, yet so sure of herself. I wondered about her changings. I certainly hadn’t hurt myself unintentionally or clawed at the door. How long did I have before everyone realized I was different?
Chapter 6
~Requisition~
I left Beth’s before Mom could show up to collect me. When I got home, she was in the kitchen talking to Nana. The room smelled of fish and lemon; I crinkled my nose. Their conversation faltered when I arrived.
“Mom I need to talk to you.”
“Sure, sweetie, how was the sleep over?” She nodded to Nana and steered me toward the door.
“Fine. Where are we going?”
“My room. I need to take measurements for the hunting costume. I’m sure it will need some adjustments.” She smiled, but her hands fluttered nervously.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I’m sort of glad I went.”
White fur was strewn across her bed. A kitchen chair was in the middle of the room, and her bedside table had been pulled up next to it. There were needles, thick thread and leather straps arranged on it. Several pairs of fur boots were lined up along the wall.
“Change into the fur and stand on the chair. I need to fit you.” Mom picked up a box of pins.
“Already? Next week is the May hunt, and we have six months after that. Maybe more.” I glanced at her. She didn’t seem to be listening. I ran my hand over the soft fur. Its smell of dust and lavender had a tranquilizing effect. I wanted to lie down and bury myself in it; forget the world and live in my cocoon of rabbit fur.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s one of the few remaining original costumes. Every woman in our family has hunted in it. Now that honor will be bestowed upon you.” She sighed. I envisioned her wearing this same outfit, excited to hunt. I could almost see her as a young girl, dancing and twirling in the costume. Giggling as Grandmother chastised her and told her to calm down. I shook the made up memory away.
Mom laughed when the skirt would only pull up to my thighs.
“Hold on sweetie, I was much younger than you. I didn’t have hips just yet.” She tugged at the back and made some snips. The skirt loosened and fell back to the floor. When I pulled it on the second time, it was much too large and I had to hold it up. She pinched fur here and there, pinning as she went. Once she finished, the skirt sat snug just below my belly button.
She made snips to the halter before handing it to me. It hung low on my shoulders and the bottom brushed the
Beth turned and walked down the hall. I faced Rally.
“Do you think hunting is the right thing to do? I mean, do you really want to kill a person just because, well to have a baby?”
“Are you asking me if I want a baby? Because the answer is yes. I hate going through the change every month. Waking up after two days feeling weak, wondering how I bruised and cut myself so badly. Seeing the scratches on the door that I know I made. And that deep hunger that lingers for days.” She shuddered. “I want to stop going through that.” She paused and added, “I want to feel a little life growing inside me. I want to cuddle a chubby little baby and teach her to grow strong and proud.” Rally stood and started to leave. “I think all of that is worth the life of one boy. He’s just a man, a savage.”
“But he’s still a human.” I countered.
Rally stopped walking and turned back to me. “Barely. Why do you think we have to wear costumes? It makes us look like them.” She paused. “Besides, my mom said they volunteer for the hunt. I’m not sure how the girl who told her knew. I doubt they are capable of using language. Anyway, going through changings is awful, and I’m sure the hunt will be just as bad. I want a daughter and am willing to go through whatever it takes to have one.” She left without a single glance back.
I stared after her. She was so young, yet so sure of herself. I wondered about her changings. I certainly hadn’t hurt myself unintentionally or clawed at the door. How long did I have before everyone realized I was different?
Chapter 6
~Requisition~
I left Beth’s before Mom could show up to collect me. When I got home, she was in the kitchen talking to Nana. The room smelled of fish and lemon; I crinkled my nose. Their conversation faltered when I arrived.
“Mom I need to talk to you.”
“Sure, sweetie, how was the sleep over?” She nodded to Nana and steered me toward the door.
“Fine. Where are we going?”
“My room. I need to take measurements for the hunting costume. I’m sure it will need some adjustments.” She smiled, but her hands fluttered nervously.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I’m sort of glad I went.”
White fur was strewn across her bed. A kitchen chair was in the middle of the room, and her bedside table had been pulled up next to it. There were needles, thick thread and leather straps arranged on it. Several pairs of fur boots were lined up along the wall.
“Change into the fur and stand on the chair. I need to fit you.” Mom picked up a box of pins.
“Already? Next week is the May hunt, and we have six months after that. Maybe more.” I glanced at her. She didn’t seem to be listening. I ran my hand over the soft fur. Its smell of dust and lavender had a tranquilizing effect. I wanted to lie down and bury myself in it; forget the world and live in my cocoon of rabbit fur.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s one of the few remaining original costumes. Every woman in our family has hunted in it. Now that honor will be bestowed upon you.” She sighed. I envisioned her wearing this same outfit, excited to hunt. I could almost see her as a young girl, dancing and twirling in the costume. Giggling as Grandmother chastised her and told her to calm down. I shook the made up memory away.
Mom laughed when the skirt would only pull up to my thighs.
“Hold on sweetie, I was much younger than you. I didn’t have hips just yet.” She tugged at the back and made some snips. The skirt loosened and fell back to the floor. When I pulled it on the second time, it was much too large and I had to hold it up. She pinched fur here and there, pinning as she went. Once she finished, the skirt sat snug just below my belly button.
She made snips to the halter before handing it to me. It hung low on my shoulders and the bottom brushed the
Similar Books
