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Authors: Kristi Helvig
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strolled over to the fire pit. The thoroughly roasted animal had been severed into parts that were laid out on five trays. Alec brought one of the trays over to Lucy who ate her entire serving in what looked like one bite.
“Next thing you know, you’ll be telling me we should eat dogs too. I am not eating an animal.” I said, knowing as I spoke that I lied. My stomach gurgled in hunger, and I would have eaten a pile of dirt if it had been placed in front of me. The aroma of the meat was pulling at me, and I picked up the tray without thinking. “Fine, I might as well try it.”
Alec returned with Lucy’s empty tray and joined James and Markus around the fire. They dug in, tearing hunks of meat off the bone with their teeth. I watched for a minute, then sat by them and picked up a larger piece with my fingers. I sank my teeth into it. The outside flesh was crispy and the inside was juicy. It was strange having something with that much substance in my mouth. Even the fruit had been mostly liquid. I had to chew slowly, my teeth grinding the meat.
“Go easy,” James warned. “This is your first time with solid food, and it will take your body some getting used to.”
All I’d ever known until Caelia was energy gel. I’d read about food in my early years studying history on the Net but couldn’t believe what I’d been missing. I swallowed another piece of meat. “This is surprisingly tasty.”
They laughed. Markus tossed a large bone over the fire to Lucy who caught it in her mouth. “You want to try hunting yourself next time?”
I shuddered. I had no desire to face something like that on my own. Plus, the thought of killing it made me queasy. “I just want to eat it, not kill it.”
Markus chuckled. “Hypocrite.”
We ate in silence, stopping only to throw scraps to Lucy. I looked at the group around me, from Lucy to Markus, and felt something that was close to happiness.
“Have any of you swam in the ocean yet?” I asked.
Markus laughed. “Maybe, but I wouldn’t exactly remember if I did.”
James shook his head. “No, not much time for fun yet.”
I wiped my mouth with the back of my arm. “I bet it’s even better than swimming in the creek. My sister and I dreamed about it. As soon as I get the guns back and save Dad, I’m going swimming.” My stomach had never felt so full before. A heavy sleepiness settled over me and I yawned. “But first, I need a nap.”
“Hold up, what was that? Your dad’s alive?” Markusasked, eyes wide in the firelight. He’d been passed out when we’d talked about it earlier.
I nodded and stretched. “Yes, he’s alive. I’ll tell you all about it, but I’m so tired right now.”
The stars twinkled against the dark sky, but I knew it would soon be light again. I curled up on the ground next to the warmth of the fire. The crackling sound of the flames lulled me into a trance.
“Good idea,” I heard James say. “We should all rest a few minutes while we can. I’ll stay out here with her.”
Footsteps crunched in the dirt as Alec and Markus made their way to their huts. For a fleeting second, I realized I was alone with James. Unfortunately, my eyelids were too heavy to open and I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter SEVEN
T HE SUN SHONE WARM AGAINST MY SKIN . A SMALL STONE pressed into my cheek, and I blinked my eyes open to find daylight. I sat up and stretched to ease the stiffness in my back. The sleep pad from the bunker would have felt like heaven compared to this. My stomach rumbled in discomfort. Alec and James hadn’t been kidding about my body not being used to this kind of food. I rubbed my belly, willing it to calm down.
The sound of muffled voices caught my attention. James crouched at the entrance to Alec’s hut, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
James nodded and stood, his pack slung over his shoulder. His build projected strength and confidence. It was hard not to stare. He startled when he turned my way.
“Next thing you know, you’ll be telling me we should eat dogs too. I am not eating an animal.” I said, knowing as I spoke that I lied. My stomach gurgled in hunger, and I would have eaten a pile of dirt if it had been placed in front of me. The aroma of the meat was pulling at me, and I picked up the tray without thinking. “Fine, I might as well try it.”
Alec returned with Lucy’s empty tray and joined James and Markus around the fire. They dug in, tearing hunks of meat off the bone with their teeth. I watched for a minute, then sat by them and picked up a larger piece with my fingers. I sank my teeth into it. The outside flesh was crispy and the inside was juicy. It was strange having something with that much substance in my mouth. Even the fruit had been mostly liquid. I had to chew slowly, my teeth grinding the meat.
“Go easy,” James warned. “This is your first time with solid food, and it will take your body some getting used to.”
All I’d ever known until Caelia was energy gel. I’d read about food in my early years studying history on the Net but couldn’t believe what I’d been missing. I swallowed another piece of meat. “This is surprisingly tasty.”
They laughed. Markus tossed a large bone over the fire to Lucy who caught it in her mouth. “You want to try hunting yourself next time?”
I shuddered. I had no desire to face something like that on my own. Plus, the thought of killing it made me queasy. “I just want to eat it, not kill it.”
Markus chuckled. “Hypocrite.”
We ate in silence, stopping only to throw scraps to Lucy. I looked at the group around me, from Lucy to Markus, and felt something that was close to happiness.
“Have any of you swam in the ocean yet?” I asked.
Markus laughed. “Maybe, but I wouldn’t exactly remember if I did.”
James shook his head. “No, not much time for fun yet.”
I wiped my mouth with the back of my arm. “I bet it’s even better than swimming in the creek. My sister and I dreamed about it. As soon as I get the guns back and save Dad, I’m going swimming.” My stomach had never felt so full before. A heavy sleepiness settled over me and I yawned. “But first, I need a nap.”
“Hold up, what was that? Your dad’s alive?” Markusasked, eyes wide in the firelight. He’d been passed out when we’d talked about it earlier.
I nodded and stretched. “Yes, he’s alive. I’ll tell you all about it, but I’m so tired right now.”
The stars twinkled against the dark sky, but I knew it would soon be light again. I curled up on the ground next to the warmth of the fire. The crackling sound of the flames lulled me into a trance.
“Good idea,” I heard James say. “We should all rest a few minutes while we can. I’ll stay out here with her.”
Footsteps crunched in the dirt as Alec and Markus made their way to their huts. For a fleeting second, I realized I was alone with James. Unfortunately, my eyelids were too heavy to open and I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter SEVEN
T HE SUN SHONE WARM AGAINST MY SKIN . A SMALL STONE pressed into my cheek, and I blinked my eyes open to find daylight. I sat up and stretched to ease the stiffness in my back. The sleep pad from the bunker would have felt like heaven compared to this. My stomach rumbled in discomfort. Alec and James hadn’t been kidding about my body not being used to this kind of food. I rubbed my belly, willing it to calm down.
The sound of muffled voices caught my attention. James crouched at the entrance to Alec’s hut, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
James nodded and stood, his pack slung over his shoulder. His build projected strength and confidence. It was hard not to stare. He startled when he turned my way.
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