I raised a slender hand to my eyes shading the rays from the sun as his face and form come into focus, I gasp in a breath of pure panic as i recognise the male towering over me, but to my shock he simply sighs and brushes a lock of my hair away from my face as his eyes scan over my body a look of realisation crosses his rugged face and he turned his head as though thinking.I sat stuck to the spot unsure of whether to run or to beg. when he turned back he unsheathed the bow and quiver full of arrows from his back and tossed them at my feet.
I frowned in confusion up into his face and parted my lips unsure what to say
"why I don't understand?"
He tossed his head back and laughed
"Well you are going to have to survive out here somehow are you not girl?"
Slowly I moved my hands over to the crafted bow in the grass a shiver of excitement entered my body as i lifted the forbidden weapon in my fingers admiring and examining the craftsmanship and raised my eyes to his face with a weak smile and an attempt at humour despite the obvious devastation written all over my face
"I am no longer a girl you can address me as huntress in future!"
His whole body shook as he roared with laughter at her words as he turned and began to run shouting over his shoulder "Aye I will be seeing you then Huntress Kerri!!"
I watched as he ran effortlessly over the land and just sat in complete shock over the strange exchange. My eyes fell to the bow in my hands and I shook my head a little, at least glad of the distraction from the twisted madness of my mind.
At that moment I knew for sure I was alone and would need to survive somehow...
I drew in a breath, drawing on all the strength I had in my body and what was left of my mind and rose to my feet. I looked around with a shudder knowing that I would need to work hard if I wanted to make it to morning as the sun slowly sunk from the sky, a strange hue settling over the land.
I set myself to work collecting wood and starting a small fire, then working quickly and furiously stripped branches from nearby trees, stacking them against a cliff edge close to the waters edge, creating myself a small shelter from the elements.
Cold and alone with nothing but my rags and newly gifted bow I crawled into my shelter, anyone passing close by that night would only have heard the low crackle of a fire and the strangled soft sobs of a girl as her heart broke and her world fell apart.
To be continued............................
If you missed the beginning of this fascinating story find it here