Page 23 of Blue Arrow Island
Pax comes all the way over to my bed, making my stomach flutter unexpectedly. “More good news—you’re off kitchen duty.”
I groan. “Don’t put me on laundry.”
The dimple in his cheek surfaces when he smiles. “You’re with me because I want you on the hunting and security team.We don’t usually put ones there, but you’re special. I’ve seen it in training and I saw it when Olin brought you in here after you were attacked. You’ve got the heart of a fighter.”
My lips part with surprise. “Olin brought me here?”
“Yeah. Billy sent him to find you when you didn’t show up for work. He kicked Marcelle’s door down.”
“Oh, wow.”
“The building crew is gonna be way too busy to fix that door, so I put it in storage. You don’t think Marcelle will mind not having a door anymore, do you?”
I’m not a cruel person, but I do think everyone should get what they deserve. And the thought of Marcelle having to sleep unprotected, unable to leave anything in her room because it could get stolen while she’s gone...it’s very well deserved.
“I think she’s tough enough to get through it,” I say with a smile.
8
He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, surviving triumphantly in a hostile environment where only the strong survive.
– Jack London, White Fang
“Way too slow.” Pax grabs the bottom of my boot as I’m about to land a roundhouse kick to his chest and shoves me away from him.
I crash to the ground, mud sloshing into my armpits and hair as I land on my back.Moremud, because I was already covered in it.
Mud is a decent makeshift sunscreen during afternoon training sessions, when the sun is at peak incineration levels. Rain showers are a welcome break from the sun’s punishing rays, but they never last long. The baseline weather here is a hellish inferno. If we had eggs—or concrete—we could definitely do the sizzling egg on pavement thing.
It’s my second day training full-time with Pax. I actually miss working in the kitchen, but this is where I need to be. Sharpening my fighting skills and making powerful allies. I won’t give Marcelle a second chance to kill me.
“Have you heard of Moringa?” I ask as I get to my feet, wiping my hands on my already filthy T-shirt.
“Nope.”
“It’s native to...I think it’s India, but you can find it other places. It thrives in tropical environments. It’s a good source of protein, fiber, several vitamins and folic acid, which pregnant women need.”
He creases his brow in thought. “I’m trying to figure out if you’re cute when you’re muddy or cute when you talk about plants and get all excited. Or is it both?”
I brush off his compliment, hoping his good mood will help me get what I want.
“I can identify edible plants. I know you guys have had some bad experiences eating plants in the past, but I can test them to make sure they’re safe. I’ll test them on myself.”
He shakes his head. “I’d kinda prefer you stay alive, actually.”
“I know what I’m doing. I can test plants without killing myself. This could be really good for the camp, especially the pregnant women.”
“Yeah. Okay. We’ll go out for a few hours tomorrow and see what we can find.”
I just nod so I don’t risk saying something that could make him change his mind. I didn’t think it would be that easy. If I can find some plants to supplement the camp diet, it will add much-needed nutrition and calories. And plants replenish themselves much more quickly than fish and boar.
It’s midmorning, and the training area is full of people at work. There are ones and twos doing muddy pushups and threes returning from swimming in the ocean. A group of three foursapproaches me and Pax, all of them drenched with sweat after a run.
Two of them are women, one of whom is pregnant. Her bowling-ball-sized belly looks out of place on her tiny frame. Pregnant women who aren’t getting enough food shouldn’t be burning the calories these women do, but I know better than to say that.
“You want us to get started with the kids, Commander?” the man asks.
“Yeah, go ahead. You know what to do. We’ll be there soon.”
