I ran as fast as I could back to the others, enjoying the feeling of being free. It's been so long since I was allowed to run. The feeling was exhilarating.
I got to the others sooner than when I left.
When Silver noticed me he ran up to me looking a little panicked.
"Where have you been? You've been gone for too long. We were getting worried about you."
I look at the other young ones. "I'm sorry everyone I got caught up in the run. I did find water but it's still a couple of hours from here. We can get there right before it gets dark if we leave now." Everyone started moving so I took it that as we're leaving now.
"Silver, have they eaten yet?"
"No, not yet. I'm not a good hunter and I wasn't sure if you had food or not."
"Alright. I didn't find any fruits or veggies along the way so I'll try to hunt something. I've never hunted large pray so I'll meet you at the river. Keep going northwest and when you get close to the river set an area to sleep." Silver nods his head and I take off to hunt.
I use to leave this up to the males to do while all I did was gather fruits and veggies. That was easy. Hunting will be a challenge but we need to survive.
Hunting either requires a hunting party or a special skill that allows you to catch your prey with ease.
I take my knife out and cut a small sturdy branch and sharpen it into a spear.
The length will help so I don't get too close. I don't have the speed nor the strength of males which is why I'll use my mind to help me survive.
Ryker was always telling me it's my greatest weapon. If I don't catch something the size of a boar, then we'll starve.
First things first, find the tracks.
It didn't take long to find some tracks and follow them to a herd of deer to an opened plain of grassy hills. I climb up a hill to see if I can spot any.
Several yards ahead was a herd of deer. Things get very dangerous with a herd.
If I could get a deer we'll all be fed well tonight, but how?
'Hum. If only I can separate one from the others, but I need at least one other person. What to do, what to do?'
'If I set a trap on this end and went around and scared them into the trap I'll have my pray.' Lyria was talking to herself and using her hands to help figure out what she wanted to do.
I've made a trap for small prey, let's see if I can make a bigger one.
I went to work making a trap that would catch one deer. When it was done I had to quickly make my way around to the other side of the herd. I got down to catch my breath for a moment.
Here comes the hard part. I have to scare them, then guide them to the trap.
I take a deep breath, calm myself, and get into a running take-off stance.
I take off running towards the herd screaming at the top of my lungs.
The sudden movement and noise did spook the herd and they started to run away from me. I kept running after them screaming and hollering to keep them running. They tried to split off so I ran towards them to keep them together.
When we got close I started trying to break off a small portion of deer so there aren't that many running toward the trap.
Tapping them on the back side, splitting them up.
'Alright, here we go.'
After running for a couple of minutes we finally made it to the edge of the woods where the trap was.
'Just a little more.'
"Snap-crunch." The sound of my plan in action.
I stop hollering and slow down.
In front of me was a young male deer hanging upside down. He was squirming around a lot. The vine will snap if it doesn't stop.
A quick kill is needed. I knife to the jugular.
"Tink- slosh." The kill ended the deer's movements.
She silently cheered to herself before cutting it down and tying it to the spear. She grabbed the spear and took off toward the river to the rest of my people.
Lyria got lucky with food and water that night, and for now, she'll celebrate since there's no telling if she'll be that lucky next time.