Read Online Beasts and Savages (The Beastly Series Book 1) by Emma Woods - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Emma Woods
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cleared to hunt can request a change in hunt date.”
“Ms. Dawning. Please. I’m not ready. My family isn’t ready. We need time.” I choked down a sob.
“I’m sorry Lea, it isn’t up to me. You’ve six months to get ready. Use it wisely.” There was no compassion in her voice.
I ran to the locker room, with tears blurring my vision.
“What’s wrong?” Rally asked. She touched my arm and I jerked away.
“Nothing. Everything.” I sank to the cement floor and buried my face into my hands.
“Hey. I’m here for you. I’m your best friend.” She sat down next to me and put her hand on my shoulder. This time I didn’t pull away.
“My mom. She told me that I could requisition to hunt later. Next October.”
“I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“Ms. Dawning- the Department for Fertility- says that I have to hunt. I’ve been medically cleared, so I have to hunt.”
“Lea, that’s terrible. I’m sorry.” She nudged me with her elbow. “At least you’ll get to hunt with me.”
“It’s not like that, Rally. I didn’t want to hunt at all. Now, I’m being forced to in six months.” I glared at her.
“Fine. Stay in here and have your little pity party.” She stood and stomped her foot. “I’m sure May would be willing to trade you places if she could. When you’re done feeling sorry for yourself, come find me.”
“Rally.”
“No. I was excited to hunt with you. I had someone to have this adventure with and –and- you don’t even care!” She wailed as she ran out the door.
I stared after her. Rally had never spoken to me like that before. I thought about May. If I could trade with her, I might. I wondered if May would still be upset with her lot in life if she knew she would remember killing a man for the sake of a conquest.
I didn’t bother changing. I gathered my bag and ran home. The scent of chicken and rosemary wafted through the house. I knew it was too early for Mom to be home, so I sought out Nana. She was in her usual spot in the kitchen slicing potatoes.
“You’re home early.” She didn’t look up. She knew it was me by the way I moved.
“Bad day.” I plucked a strawberry from a bowl.
“I’m making pie with those.” She passed me a bowl of grapes.
I buried my face in my hands and sighed. “Nana, would you hate me if I didn’t hunt?”
“Why would you ask me a question like that?” The knife had stopped moving and Nana watched me through hooded lids.
“I- I don’t think it’s right for me. Hunting. I don’t think I can do it.” I pulled my head up and leaned back in the chair.
“Hunting is the duty of every woman, Lea. We have a responsibility to our society, our way of life.” She plucked another potato and began slicing. “That said, I think killing is barbaric. Even when one kills a savage. And I think... that you will do the right thing.”
“Thank you Nana.” I kissed her on the cheek.
“Do you think you could convince Mom that I will?” I tilted my head.
“Now that, dear, is your responsibility. Your mother may be a little flighty, but she has a good heart. Talk to her.”
“I will.” I popped another grape in my mouth and went to Mom’s room. My costume was draped across her chair, and her bed was neatly made. I lay down on top of her gray blankets and watched the ceiling. I tried to think of ways I could convince Mother that I wasn’t ready to hunt. This would be harder because she would have to go straight to the Department of Fertility herself and petition a waiting period for me. I didn’t think she would do that.
I relaxed and thought about what Nana had told me. Follow my heart. My heart told me that I wasn’t strong enough to hunt.
“Was it strength I needed?” I asked myself aloud. No. Killing someone is something someone with a weak character would do. Maybe I didn’t have it in me to carry a complete disregard for another’s life.
I closed my eyes. Physical exhaustion was setting in from the
“Ms. Dawning. Please. I’m not ready. My family isn’t ready. We need time.” I choked down a sob.
“I’m sorry Lea, it isn’t up to me. You’ve six months to get ready. Use it wisely.” There was no compassion in her voice.
I ran to the locker room, with tears blurring my vision.
“What’s wrong?” Rally asked. She touched my arm and I jerked away.
“Nothing. Everything.” I sank to the cement floor and buried my face into my hands.
“Hey. I’m here for you. I’m your best friend.” She sat down next to me and put her hand on my shoulder. This time I didn’t pull away.
“My mom. She told me that I could requisition to hunt later. Next October.”
“I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“Ms. Dawning- the Department for Fertility- says that I have to hunt. I’ve been medically cleared, so I have to hunt.”
“Lea, that’s terrible. I’m sorry.” She nudged me with her elbow. “At least you’ll get to hunt with me.”
“It’s not like that, Rally. I didn’t want to hunt at all. Now, I’m being forced to in six months.” I glared at her.
“Fine. Stay in here and have your little pity party.” She stood and stomped her foot. “I’m sure May would be willing to trade you places if she could. When you’re done feeling sorry for yourself, come find me.”
“Rally.”
“No. I was excited to hunt with you. I had someone to have this adventure with and –and- you don’t even care!” She wailed as she ran out the door.
I stared after her. Rally had never spoken to me like that before. I thought about May. If I could trade with her, I might. I wondered if May would still be upset with her lot in life if she knew she would remember killing a man for the sake of a conquest.
I didn’t bother changing. I gathered my bag and ran home. The scent of chicken and rosemary wafted through the house. I knew it was too early for Mom to be home, so I sought out Nana. She was in her usual spot in the kitchen slicing potatoes.
“You’re home early.” She didn’t look up. She knew it was me by the way I moved.
“Bad day.” I plucked a strawberry from a bowl.
“I’m making pie with those.” She passed me a bowl of grapes.
I buried my face in my hands and sighed. “Nana, would you hate me if I didn’t hunt?”
“Why would you ask me a question like that?” The knife had stopped moving and Nana watched me through hooded lids.
“I- I don’t think it’s right for me. Hunting. I don’t think I can do it.” I pulled my head up and leaned back in the chair.
“Hunting is the duty of every woman, Lea. We have a responsibility to our society, our way of life.” She plucked another potato and began slicing. “That said, I think killing is barbaric. Even when one kills a savage. And I think... that you will do the right thing.”
“Thank you Nana.” I kissed her on the cheek.
“Do you think you could convince Mom that I will?” I tilted my head.
“Now that, dear, is your responsibility. Your mother may be a little flighty, but she has a good heart. Talk to her.”
“I will.” I popped another grape in my mouth and went to Mom’s room. My costume was draped across her chair, and her bed was neatly made. I lay down on top of her gray blankets and watched the ceiling. I tried to think of ways I could convince Mother that I wasn’t ready to hunt. This would be harder because she would have to go straight to the Department of Fertility herself and petition a waiting period for me. I didn’t think she would do that.
I relaxed and thought about what Nana had told me. Follow my heart. My heart told me that I wasn’t strong enough to hunt.
“Was it strength I needed?” I asked myself aloud. No. Killing someone is something someone with a weak character would do. Maybe I didn’t have it in me to carry a complete disregard for another’s life.
I closed my eyes. Physical exhaustion was setting in from the
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