Chapter 14: New Alliances

The morning light filtered weakly through the trees, casting long shadows across the dense forest floor. A heavy fog still clung to the air, giving everything a muted, eerie glow. Ethan could feel the weight of the silence pressing down on him, a stillness that mirrored the unease that had settled in Kieran since his transformation. The boy had barely spoken since their return to the caravan, his eyes distant, lost in a world of thoughts that Ethan could only guess at.

Kieran's story had been convincing enough—a tale about escaping bandits, hiding in a basement until the fighting died down. Bjorn had accepted it without question, and the twins, still rattled from the attack, had been too distracted to ask further. But Ethan knew better. He had witnessed Kieran's transformation, felt the hunger that now gnawed at the boy, like an insatiable flame ready to consume him. And Ethan knew that it wasn't just the danger they'd faced on the road that had changed him—it was something far more sinister.

The hunger wasn't just physical; it was a deep, primal need that could drive someone to madness if left unchecked.

Ethan had made a promise to Kieran, a vow that he would help him control it. And that's why he had a plan. It wasn't a great plan, but it was the only one he had. To help Kieran manage his urges, they needed to isolate him from the group, allow him to feed in a controlled environment. But most importantly, no one could know what had really happened. Not yet, anyway.

It was early morning when Ethan approached Kieran, who was sitting alone by the fire, staring into the flickering flames. His eyes seemed far away, filled with a mixture of confusion and something darker—something primal.

"Kieran," Ethan said softly, making sure the others were out of earshot, "I need to talk to you."

Kieran looked up, startled, but his face quickly regained its usual mask of neutrality. "What is it?"

"I think it's time for a hunting trip," Ethan said, his tone low but steady. "You've been restless. Thought it might help clear your mind."

Kieran stared at him for a long moment, as if weighing the offer. "A hunting trip?" he repeated, his voice flat. "Why me?"

Ethan shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "Because you need to get control over... what's going on inside you. Trust me, I get it. It helped me when I was struggling with this place. You just need to focus. Get out, take your mind off things."

Kieran still hesitated, but then he nodded, the faintest glimmer of resolve in his eyes. "Alright. Let's do it."

The two of them slipped away from the camp, moving quietly through the trees. The rest of the caravan was still asleep, and they needed to make it to a secluded spot where Kieran wouldn't be disturbed. They walked in silence for a while, Ethan's thoughts racing. He had no idea what he was doing when it came to hunting. He'd never even used a bow before—not really. But he had seen enough of it in stories to know the basics. If Kieran could just focus, maybe they'd have a chance to control the hunger.

Ethan had been able to hunt before, in a way—back in his old world, where he had the luxury of modern equipment. But here? He had no clue. He'd only seen bows being used by hunters in the woods, or in stories like The Hunger Games. That's where he got the idea for his plan, even if he was more likely to shoot an arrow into a tree than into anything edible.

They reached a clearing after a while, the fog thinning just enough to reveal a small herd of deer grazing on the far side. Ethan motioned for Kieran to stay low, crouching down himself. He'd watched enough of the old movies to know the basics—quiet movements, steady breathing, draw the string slowly, aim, release.

Kieran nodded and crouched beside him, but Ethan could see the tension in his frame, the barely controlled excitement of the hunt. It was hard to separate the boy from the predator inside him, the one that hungered for more than just meat.

Ethan reached for a bow from his back, holding it awkwardly in his hands. He'd only seen others use it—knew enough to pretend he could do it. His fingers fumbled with the arrow as he tried to nock it, feeling out of place and clumsy.

"Here," Kieran whispered, reaching out. His hand moved with precision, showing Ethan how to grip the string properly, how to position the arrow. He was steady, calm. In a strange way, it felt like Kieran had already learned these skills by instinct, the same way he'd learned how to survive after the transformation.

Ethan followed his lead, imitating what he'd seen in movies—how the character in The Hunger Games had drawn the string back, eyes narrowing in focus. He tried to replicate the movements, though there was little confidence in his posture.

"Focus," Kieran muttered, his voice low but firm. "Just like this."

Ethan exhaled slowly, drew the bow back as far as he could, and released the arrow. It sailed through the air, veering wildly off to the left, hitting a tree with a dull thud.

"Damn it," Ethan muttered, glancing at Kieran, who wasn't laughing or mocking him. Instead, the boy just nodded, his expression serious.

"Try again," Kieran said quietly.

Ethan took another breath, trying to steady himself. He didn't want to fail, not in front of Kieran—not with what was at stake. This wasn't just a hunt; it was about control. About teaching Kieran that he could still hold onto some part of himself.

This time, Ethan's shot was more controlled, the arrow finding its mark in the deer's side. It wasn't a perfect hit, but the creature stumbled, clearly wounded, and staggered off into the trees.

"Nice," Kieran said softly, eyes glinting. "That'll do."

They didn't give chase immediately. Instead, they stayed still, watching, listening. The deer was already weakening, moving slower, leaving a trail of blood behind it.

Ethan motioned for Kieran to follow, and the two of them slipped through the underbrush, their movements synchronized. They followed the blood trail, heading deeper into the woods. Kieran was almost too fast, his eyes scanning the ground with a predator's sharpness. But this time, his focus was different. The hunger was there, but it was tempered, held in check by the knowledge that Ethan was there, guiding him.

But then, just as they rounded a corner, something big shifted in the shadows.

A low growl broke the silence, and before either of them could react, a massive bear lunged out of the trees, its eyes wild with hunger. Ethan barely had time to process what was happening before the bear's claws scraped across his chest, knocking him off balance. Pain shot through him, but he managed to roll to the side, narrowly avoiding the next swipe.

Kieran was already moving, faster than Ethan could track. He darted forward, narrowly avoiding the bear's next attack, but the beast was too fast. It raked its claws down Kieran's arm, and the boy's howl of pain echoed through the forest.

Ethan scrambled to his feet, drawing his sword as he rushed to Kieran's side. "Get up! We need to fight!"

The bear roared, furious, its massive paws swiping at them both. Ethan slashed at it with his sword, but the bear's thick fur and hide absorbed most of the blow. It turned on him, swiping at him with one paw, sending him crashing to the ground.

Kieran, bleeding and winded, moved again, faster this time. He attacked the bear with a fury that almost frightened Ethan—his movements were too quick, too precise, his knife finding its way into the bear's throat.

With one final, desperate swipe, the bear fell. It collapsed in a heap, its massive body twitching before going still.

They stood in the clearing, both panting heavily, their bodies bruised and bloodied, but alive. The hunger was still there, a gnawing presence in the pit of Kieran's stomach, but this time, he had the control.

Kieran looked at Ethan, his eyes dark but steady. "We did it."

Ethan, still catching his breath, nodded slowly. "Yeah. We did."

The hunt wasn't over, not by a long shot. But they had survived. And for now, that was enough.