Chapter 5:

What a stupid question. Of course I would want you to get me my bow. "Thanks."

 Then, he ran off. Alone in the woods, a vulnerable little kit trembled on the soft ground... ha... as if. She had seen them. Felines dashing through the shadow for their lives. If she could stall until she could find them... it would be perfect. Feeling the fresh dirt beneath her claws, she felt alive again. Just the night before, her heart was stomped all over by that one hell of those wolves. Chewed and spat out, all beaten up and bruised. But now, they're alive, right? There's no way they would leave her here again. All of a sudden, she yawned. The night before was catching up and leaving her tired and slow. Pawsteps on the ground, black fur blended into the dark greens of the trees and amber eyes pierced hers. On his shoulder, where prey usually perched was a batten bow slung onto his shoulders. In his tight grip was a small bag with little stone blades poking out. He emerged from the shadows, on one of his legs was a pouch and inside was a dagger, gleaming in the broad daylight. She looked upwards in surprise. Sucked into her own little world, she was oblivious to the fact that it was dawn and soon the sun will be the highest thing in the sky, over all the wisps of clouds.

 "Hey."

 The tom's voice rang in her ear and she turned around. Their bodies were close, the heat was on her chest and for a moment, no one made a sound. The only thing left was their heavy breath on each other's fur. "Oh. Hi," She took a step back, her gaze unwavering from his lean torso. A large burn was forever on it, now dried and peeling. He quickly hurled the arrows towards her and passed her the bow. Eve snuck a look at Apollo's face, which had hardened, his pupils dilated, widened and his eyes frantically searched his surroundings. Like a scared little bunny... She shook off the weird feeling and picked up her bow. Tiny words were carved onto the wooden riser and some letters were chipped off. She rose from the ground, one paw clutching the leather bag full of arrows and the other holding the bow by its string. Her pale blue eyes glimmered with hope, something she thought was just an all-time lie, had come back. A spark has been lit. The fire is burning. But this time was different. She was in control.

 ***

 An arrow flew through the air and chipped off a piece of wood on a branch. Biting her lips, she pulled out another arrow, her last one and cursed violently. But the sparrow had already fled from her sight, flapping its wings. Flinging the bow down to the ground, she sat on a boulder, breathing heavily with her face in her paws. Then she stood up with her bow on one side with the last arrow. Her eyes were focused on her first prey in days. A wild hare, just like her mother. Just the thought of Brenna made her heart ache. One arrow cut through the air and went cleanly into its eye, a gruesome scene as blood trickled down its cheek. Picking up the animal between her claws, she sniffed the dead body. The smell of fresh blood flooded her nostrils, giving her a new sense of hunger. Bloodlust. There was a light thud when the hare hit the ground and Eve's mouth gaped open in shock. Disgusted with herself, she ran from the fresh-kill and out of the forest. She didn't dare to lick herself clean, terrified that she might lose control of any consciousness left.

 "Why… is this happening?" She murmured, staring unblinking at her claws, stained red with the blood. The revolting scent lingered on it and she, horrified, took off.

 On the river bank, she hastily dipped her paws into the flowing water, hoping the remains of the blood would wash away with the waves. Taking it out, she let out a long sigh of relief and splashed some of the water onto her face. Her fur, still dripping wet, turned from a snowy white to a dusty color and droplets fell from her chin. She let out a desperate sigh, the water dripping from her chin became heavier, though she wasn't sure whether or not those were tears. She had starved for revenge, her heart aching for her only family. For the blood of her enemies. Life... a deity many of her kind worshiped. The belief had made them strong, it had filled them with hope, with life itself. But Life had filled them with doubt, nonetheless. The hope inside her, burning fiery and strong, started to dim again as her vision blurred with tears. Hope was a weapon, a friend when you are in your darkest depths, but it was also your worst enemy, one that blinds you from reality, saving you but eating you alive at the same time. An empty promise, an undying fire, never gone and always there...

 ***

 His head throbbed, his chest raising slowly but steadily. A fit of coughs would show up every now and then, he was sure. But even at his worst, he still thought of her. Eve. The sweetest little bundle of joy he had ever met. She was like the little sister he had always wanted, with the delighted sparkle in her eyes and her little giggles. The reddest apple in the trees was meant for her, the best in the season was always meant for her.

 "Chris... Freya needs-" A voice was cut off by a sudden cough followed by wheezes. Chris rushed over by her side, patting her back while searching for a leaf. Where they camped wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst either. Food was everywhere, mostly fruit but it was better than nothing of course. But water, water was scarce. "-her water." Brenna finished the sentence and spat onto the ground. Since the fire, Freya had been coughing nonstop and she was feverish for several days now. He was getting worried, maybe even more worried for her than Eve. Unlike Eve, Freya was fragile. Taught to read stars and signs from the ancestors above, she had not once fought. Eve, on the other hand, was tough, lean. Trained through many jobs, running her whole life, she was strong.

 Her coughs started to get more and more violent each and every day. She needed water, even if it was only one drop, it would make her better. Another fit started, wheezing didn't stop this time but kept going and going while he ran, trying to find dewdrops or even better, a small stream nearby. For hours he ran, sweat beading heavily on his forehead. Leaning against a tree, he wiped off his sweat and looked around desperately for water. If they didn't die of the smoke in their lungs, they were sure to die from dehydration.

 His eyes widened when they met a blueish dash in the background. He stumbled, tripping over his own legs as he sprinted towards the so-called water.

 It was a river, he saw, waves rapidly pushing and shoving. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and a choked laugh escaped his mouth as tears of joy streamed down his face. But his gaze soon landed on her. Snow-white fur ruffled in the wind. Pale blue eyes glazed with tears looked up at him. They blinked, as if she didn't even believe her eyes. But then she smiled at him, ear to ear. Eve opened and closed her mouth, her chest going up and down quickly and she pounced on him.