Page 3 of Hunting Savage
The first bag she rifled through was her own, figuring the memories inside it wouldn’t cripple her.After she grabbed a couple of changes of clothes, she moved on to the next.Her heart rolled over as she realized her mother had picked all her favorite things to bring with her.Fuck.
She swiped at her eyes with shaky hands, dashing away the useless tears, and opened her sister’s bag.She grabbed a couple of Starla’s most beloved outfits, just as she’d done, from her bag.Next, she placed her hand on top of her mom’s.The hardshell case radiated warmth, reminding her of her mother and the innate power she’d held.
“It’s going to be okay, Aurora.Mama is watching over us.I can feel her.”Starla placed her hand on Aurora’s shoulder and held the other over her heart.Although she had their dad’s hair color and the same skin tone, Starla’s eyes were identical to their mom’s.She swore she could feel their mother looking back as she stared at her little sister.
“You’re right, Biddy Bee.As long as we stick together, everything will be okay.”With renewed resolve, she unzipped the suitcase.Inside, she found an envelope filled with cash and credit cards.She grabbed one of the waterproof pouches filled with bathroom supplies, put the money inside it, and slid it into her backpack.Her eyes caught sight of a jewelry box.There was a strange hum to it that drew her hands like a lodestone.
“What’s happening?”Starla asked.
Aurora couldn’t answer as she lifted it out of the pile of clothes.The small silver box weighed between five and seven pounds.Underneath the pile lay an intricate key.She swiped it up and placed both inside her bag before looking for anything of value.Two sweaters her mom favored lay next to where the box had been.She put them into her backpack without giving herself a chance to reconsider.One was for her, and one was for Starla.Then, she zipped the bag back up.
Their father’s duffel bag contained another envelope with cash.Jeez.She looked over her shoulder, having a slight panic attack with thoughts of being robbed.
“Are we rich, sissy?”
Her sister’s question had a crazy, chuckle-worthy response, leaving her.“It sure feels like it, but I don’t think so.”
After reopening the waterproof bag with the other cash, she shoved the rest inside and grabbed a couple of shirts of their dad’s that reminded her of him.Just as she was closing his bag, something shiny caught her eye.She slid her hand in until she hit a hard object.Her breath stalled when she pushed the clothes out of the way.Again, she looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was behind her.
For the past several years, her father took her to the gun range, telling her she needed to be prepared to protect herself and her sister.Of course, he’d had her in several forms of martial arts classes before she’d started kindergarten, insisting she needed to know how to defend herself and Starla.Once Starla turned four, she began taking the same courses.Aurora knew she could take down most men, even those twice her size.Growing up, she’d always thought her mom and dad would be there.
Her hand shook as she wrapped it around the gun.She pulled it out, noticing a couple of clips and a Spyderco Para Military 2 knife beside it.In fact, it looked similar to the one he’d given her for her birthday.
Aurora closed her eyes and silently prayed to the heavens for strength and guidance.
She pushed to her feet and shrugged the backpack onto her shoulders.Looking down at Starla, her heart nearly broke.Her sister’s long blonde hair reminded her of their dad’s, but her brown eyes were like their mom’s.Looking into them was like looking into the soul of a much older woman.
“I’ll carry your backpack, Biddy Bee.”Aurora bent to grab the pack she’d stuffed full of things they might need.
Starla shook her head.“I can do it.”
Aurora let out a sigh.“How about I let you carry it if I get tired?”
She had no plans to let her sister carry the pack, but she wouldn’t say so to her stubborn baby sister.
“Okay, but promise you’ll let me help,” she said.
Again, her sister glared at her with flashing brown eyes, holding too much fire for a girl her age.Aurora didn’t doubt Starla would give her a run for her money one day.
“I’m going to put the suitcases inside the tree trunk.Maybe it’ll keep them safe until we can come back.”She didn’t believe they’d ever make it back, but saying the words felt right.
Although the storm raged outside the forest, where they sheltered, the rain didn’t seem to touch them.Aurora sent a prayer to the Goddess without questioning the reasons.She worked to hide all their suitcases inside the large tree, marveling at the beauty of the roots arching above the ground.Starla stayed close, handing her branches without being asked.Once she’d ensured she’d hidden it from view, she grabbed Starla’s hand and stepped back.
With an image of the tree she needed to find clear in her mind, they began working their way inward.
“Mama said the tree would teach us what we needed to know,” Starla whispered.
Aurora stopped walking, nearly tripping over a fallen tree.“When did she say such a thing?”
Starla looked up at her, and a sliver of sun shone down through a break in the trees.“The other day.She said one day you and I would go on an adventure, and we’d touch the tree to learn.”
A shiver went down her spine.Had her mother known something terrible was going to happen to her, to them?Tears welled in her eyes.She turned to begin walking again, blinking furiously.Whatever happened, she’d take care of Starla.She’d touch the fucking tree and do her best to keep them both safe.
