Page 41 of Outcast Fae
“What the hell?!” Wally exclaimed. “This is blatant torture.”
Meadow Song’s voice spoke from above. “We’re glad you two groups have met and are getting along so famously just as we planned. Now, for a fun and friendly competition. The first group to get to the beach gets the roasted pig.”
The image flickered out of existence, leaving us staring at each other, mouths watering.
Both groups turned and glanced at each other, then we all took off running.
Chapter Fifteen
We torethrough the jungle with one thought on our minds: roasted pig!
I could almost taste the smokey flavor of the meat as I pushed palm fronds out of my face and leaped over a fallen log. My hunger had become a living thing, a snarling beast in my gut. It had been something I’d worked hard to keep at bay over the last few days, but something about the sight of that suckling pig roasting over fire had turned on a survival instinct inside me.
Ineededthat food.
It seemed to be the same situation for the rest of the group. They were tearing through the forest ahead of me. If I had my wings, I could easily beat these humans, but, as it was, I was far behind. I wasn’t used to running, and my legs were not as strong as Vaughn’s or Sinasre’s.
Those two raced up ahead, getting further and further away from the rest of the pack. Wally and Elon were next, followed by Patricia and the three others from the second group.
Even the two children were beating me. Arg!
Only Daniella was behind me. I could hear her labored breathing over my right shoulder. Was she running her heart out or did she figure that, even if she won, someone would take the spoils for themselves? It was something I worried about. Would there be a fight over the pig? If so, would Meadow Song stop them before it became a bloodbath? I doubted it from what I’d already seen.
Soon, my sprinting became more of a jog. I waited for Daniella, letting her catch up to me. Sweaty, her dark bangs stuck to her forehead and perspiration steamed glasses.
“You don’t have to wait for me,” she said, panting. “I know you probably want that food as bad as they do.”
I shrugged. “It’s going to be a fight for the food no matter who gets there first. Plus, I can’t run like them. If I could fly, it would be a much different game, but my wings need rest. Besides, tearing through the jungle is just going to waste energy that will be needed for some other trial.”
“You’re so smart,” she replied. “Not like those dumb boys. They just run around all testosterone-filled.” She pounded her chest and adopted a deep, male voice. “‘Me dumb boy. Me want food. Me fight you for it.’”
I laughed. “I’m not sure they have more than a dozen brain cells between them sometimes.”
She smiled. “Speaking of boys, who was that guy back there? The one you hugged? Is he really just a friend?” She seemed to have some good intuition.
“Sinasre,” I said, a happy glow beginning just at the mention of his name. My family was here. I wasn’t alone. I decided to be honest with her. “Actually, he’s my cousin, but don’t tell anyone.”
“Really? How did that happen? You both are here? Partners in crime?”
I shook my head. That very question had been knocking around inside my brain. Why was Sinasre here and how was it that both of us had ended up on this island?
“It doesn’t make sense that he’s here. He’s a prince and a Fae Warrior. Human laws usually don’t apply to fae royalty.”
“Wait, you’re royalty?” Daniella said, her eyes popping. “Are you like a princess or something?”
“We don’t have those terms, but my aunt was the Seelie Queen until our realm was destroyed.”
“Woah. That’s amazing. Did you wear big dresses? Did you live in a castle? I mean, before it all went away?” Her voice dropped low as if she realized the somberness of what she was discussing. Our entire home had been poisoned, destroyed by an evil warlock whom my aunt had rebuffed, The Bane. It seemed that Daniella knew that and I was glad. I didn’t like rehashing the story.
“We didn’t live in a castle, but we had a giant tree and many rooms underneath. There were also huts in the branches and on the ground. It was magical.”
“I bet,” Daniella said. “I wish I could see it.”
“Me, too,” I said, feeling the bitter taste of homesickness once more. “It’s gone, though. We all live here now. Scattered like stalks after harvest.”
“That must be awful. I couldn’t imagine what I’d feel if my home was destroyed. Sure, it’s just some dumb two-bedroom ranch in the suburbs of Newport News, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything, you know?” She hugged herself and I could tell she was feeling as homesick as I was.
“What is your grandmother like?” I held a branch out for her as we climbed over another downed tree.
