Page 2 of Hunting Savage
“No, no, no,” she mumbled repeatedly.
Her fingers fumbled with her seatbelt.An overwhelming desire to be with her sister filled every part of her.Finally, after too many seconds to count, the dang thing unclicked, allowing her to scoot across the wrecked interior.
The rise and fall of Starla’s chest lessened the panic rising within her.Aurora wasn’t sure what she’d have done if her sister had been...Her mind screeched to a halt at the thought.
“Starla, come on, Biddy Bee.I need you to wake up.”
Wind and rain lashed the interior of the Tahoe.Clarity hit her.A giant tree blocked her view of the front part of the SUV.The sound of rushing water crashing against the rocky cliff seemed too close, as if they were on the edge of the road instead of in the center, as they had been before.
“Sissy, what happened?”
The terror of their situation eased slightly at the sound of Starla’s voice.“We were in an accident.Where do you hurt?”
Starla moved her arms and legs, wincing as she shifted her head.“Nothing, I don’t think.You’re bleeding,” she said, pointing at Aurora’s face.
She lifted her hand to the back of her head, wincing.“Some glass cut me.I’m fine.”
They needed to get out of the vehicle before it got swept away.The fact neither of their parents had spoken to them or tried to help them worried her.She never thought their impromptu trek would lead to her being the one fighting to escape alone with her sister in the middle of a storm.A sudden chill raced down her spine as if something was coming for them.
Her mom’s voice flashed inside her mind.Don’t let the beasts within overrule the being residing above.You’re the daughter of a Gemini.You’re stronger, faster, braver than they are.You are not ruled by those who wish to chain you.Seek the Willow Tree deep within the Hoh Rain Forest.Ask the Goddess to protect you and your sister until she also comes of age.Your father and I love you and Starla to the moon and stars.Take care of one another.
“Don’t leave me, mama,” Aurora cried, knowing the voice was her mother’s and she and their father were no longer on the Earth.
“Where are mama and daddy?”Starla asked.
Aurora had to look away, using the excuse to wipe the blood from her eyes.“We need to move, Starla.”She unbuckled the seatbelt, gasping at the groan and scrape as their SUV shifted.
“Put your backpack on and follow me.We’re going out the back window.Please, just do as I say.I’ll keep us safe.”Goddess, she prayed, she wasn’t fucking shit up and leading them both into a fate worse than death.
Starla’s lips trembled, but she nodded.
They moved quickly but carefully, easing the back hatch open.Starla shrank back from the rain lashing the Earth in a frenzy.It made a torrential downpour appear bland in comparison.
“Remember what mama always said, Biddy Bee?”Aurora worked to keep her voice steady.“Hope is held in the beauty after the rain.When the sun shines through the clouds, everything is clean, and a renewal can begin.”Aurora’s heart ached.Her words felt hollow, but she hoped Starla wouldn’t hear.She grabbed her mother’s bag, remembering she’d seen her stuffed cash inside before zipping it up.With a huff, Aurora lugged hers, Starla’s, and her mom’s out the back.
A sob caught in her throat as she saw the last bag sitting in the back by itself.Against her better judgment, she reached back in, grabbing her father’s duffel, hating the thought of leaving it behind.
She loathed setting their luggage on the slippery road under their feet.However, she couldn’t carry the three pieces by herself, nor could she expect Starla to heft one of them.Starla was little more than a baby in her mind.Aurora didn’t want to put stress on her little sister.The last thing she wanted to do was weigh Starla down with anything other than her own backpack.She closed her eyes, running through scenarios.If she added a few vital things that didn’t add too much weight once she went through the suitcases, they’d be fine, and it wouldn’t be too much for a seven-year-old.Aurora had to be smart and work fast before whatever was chasing them found out they were alone.There was no doubt in her mind the storm hadn’t come from natural causes.Without their mom and dad for protection, she and Starla were no match for beings who were strong enough to create such immense magic.
Across the road, the forest would give her and Starla some coverage from the unrelenting rain.She pulled the strap of her dad’s duffel over her shoulder, stacked her suitcase on top of her mom’s, and then pulled the small handle up on Starla’s.With both her hands filled with the suitcases, she looked at her shivering little sister and gave her what she hoped was a confident smile.
“We’re going to run across the road over there and combine some of our stuff into my backpack and yours, and then we’ll find help.Okay?”
Starla looked at the mangled mess of a Tahoe, then back at her.“Why aren’t Mama and Daddy coming with us?”
The vehicle shifted and groaned, sliding further down the ravine.Aurora grabbed Starla, pulling her away from the wreckage.Her heart thundered inside her chest.Goddess, how do you tell a child their parents are gone?An all-encompassing sense of grief threatened to send her to the ground.Her knees shook with the effort to stay upright.
“Biddy Bee, mama told me to take care of you.Daddy would be so mad if I didn’t get us to safety.Now, come on.Let’s go,” she said, using the stern voice her mother used whenever they didn’t do as she said.
Her sister sniffed, but she hiked her backpack up on her shoulders and gave a nod.They moved across the desolate road, hurrying as much as possible while dodging debris.
“You good, Starla?”she yelled, slowing her steps so the younger girl could keep up.The howling wind and rain created a roaring background noise with thunder clapping over and over.
The slap, slap sound of their tennis shoes on the asphalt accompanied the cacophony of twigs scraping together in the distance as the storm continued.Goddess, Aurora hated thunderstorms.
They made it into the forest, but she kept them moving until more trees provided protection overhead.Of course, there were also more chances of another catastrophe like the one that fell on their Tahoe.She closed her eyes and came to a stop.
“Here is good, Starla.”Blowing out a breath, Aurora wondered how much therapy they’d need to have after today.Hell, she hoped they’d survive long enough.
