Chapter 8: The Hunt Begins.

The dawn broke over the forest, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the canopy, casting long shadows across the thick underbrush. Ava and Talon had found a temporary sanctuary nestled beneath an ancient oak, its wide branches sheltering them from sight. They were still on the run, and the weight of exhaustion pressed down on them both, but there was no time to rest. The raiders were still hunting them, and they needed to be prepared.

Ava knelt beside Talon, who was propped up against the base of the tree. His head was still throbbing from the concussion, the makeshift bandage she had wrapped around his wound looking even more ragged with dirt and blood. His breathing was steady, but Ava could see the strain on his face.

"We need to get that looked at properly when we make it back to Green Arbor," Ava said quietly, her brow furrowed as she checked his pulse.

Talon winced slightly but managed a grin. "Green Arbor feels like a dream right now. I just hope I don’t puke on you from all the spinning."

Ava couldn’t help but laugh softly despite the gravity of their situation. “Try not to, or I’m leaving you to fend for yourself.”

Talon chuckled but immediately regretted it as the movement sent a sharp pain through his head. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on steadying his breath. “I’ll be fine. Let’s focus on what we’ve got here.”

Ava stood up, scanning their surroundings. “You’re in no shape to fight, Talon. But we need to stay one step ahead. Show me how to set those traps you always talk about.”

Talon nodded and gestured for Ava to gather the few supplies they had—some rope, sticks, and stones. He took his time explaining how to construct basic snares and deadfall traps, his hands moving slowly as he demonstrated each step.

“This here,” Talon said, holding up a thin branch, “is perfect for a trigger. The weight pulls it down, snaps the rope, and if you’ve set it right, they’ll be caught before they know what hit them.”

Ava watched closely, mimicking his movements as they set up several traps along paths that animals—and hopefully humans—might follow. Each trap was placed with care, hidden beneath leaves and brush, just waiting to spring into action.

As the day wore on, Ava ventured deeper into the forest, her sharp eyes scanning the underbrush for anything edible. She found a patch of wild berries and some herbs, which would at least keep their energy up for another day. Every step felt like a calculated risk, but she knew they couldn’t afford to sit idle.

By mid-afternoon, they had set their traps, eaten a meager meal of berries and nuts, and rested as much as they could afford. Talon leaned back against the tree, his eyes closed but still alert. Ava, ever watchful, stood nearby, knife in hand, listening for any sign of the raiders.

"You really know your stuff with those traps," Ava remarked, breaking the silence as she scanned the treeline.

Talon gave a weak smile, opening one eye to look at her. "I did teach you everything I know, after all. But remember, the forest is on our side. Always has been."

Ava nodded, feeling a sense of calm despite the tension in the air. "You rest up. I’ll keep watch."

The forest seemed peaceful for a while, the only sounds the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind. But Ava knew it was only a matter of time before their pursuers would catch up. She glanced at Talon, who was drifting in and out of sleep, then back at the traps they had set. She hoped they would buy them enough time.

Suddenly, a sharp snap echoed through the trees—one of the snares had been triggered.

Ava’s body tensed, her heart pounding as she readied herself. She glanced back at Talon, who was now fully alert, despite the pain that flashed across his face. Their silent communication said everything: the hunt had begun.

The forest air crackled with the tension that followed the first raider’s sudden fall. His shout echoed, sending a wave of panic rippling through his comrades as they froze in their tracks. The trap had worked, a snare tightening around the man’s leg and hoisting him upside down, his body hanging awkwardly from the low branch above. The shock of his swift capture turned his angry muttering into a cry for help.

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Ava crouched low in the underbrush, her eyes sharp, tracking the three other raiders as they closed in, their rifles scanning the area. She could see the confusion in their movements, the tension in their shoulders. “Where the hell did that come from?” one of them barked, his voice laced with uncertainty. They weren’t used to being on the defensive.

Gripping the hilt of her knife, Ava watched as the leader, a tall, scarred man with a deep scowl, knelt beside the struggling raider. He cut the trap loose with a swift motion, freeing his companion, but the moment of hesitation was all Ava needed.

She stepped out from the shadows, her voice calm but commanding, “I think we need to talk.”

The raiders spun to face her, their eyes narrowing as they realized who stood before them. The leader sneered, his fingers tightening around his weapon. "The famous Blonde Death," he growled, his voice dripping with disdain. “You’ve got guts showing yourself like this. Thought you’d be smarter than that.”

Ava smirked, standing tall but poised for action. “Maybe I’m smarter than you think. Take a look around—you're already in my traps.”

The leader’s eyes flicked nervously to his men, as though weighing her words. Ava could feel the shift, the sense that they were starting to realize they were outmatched by more than just her knife. She tensed, ready for the fight she knew was inevitable.

But the leader wasn't going to back down. "Get her!" he barked, and the remaining three raiders charged.

The forest air crackled with tension as the raiders’ pursuit began. Ava darted through the trees, her movements quick and calculated. She could hear the raiders crashing behind her, their footsteps heavy and disoriented by the thick underbrush. She pushed harder, leading them deeper into the forest, where the traps waited.

The first snap of the deadfall trap was sudden and brutal. A thick branch, rigged to fall, came crashing down on the nearest raider with a sickening crack. His leg bent at an unnatural angle, and he screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground as the others stopped in shock. His body writhed in the dirt, clutching his broken leg as blood pooled around him.

"Keep moving!" the leader barked, fear creeping into his voice as he urged his remaining two men forward. They continued the chase, but Ava was already several steps ahead, her mind working furiously to outsmart her pursuers.

She dashed through the trees, her senses alert to every movement. The forest seemed to close in around her, the shadows deepening as the sun dipped lower. She glanced back, catching sight of the two remaining raiders closing in. They were relentless, their eyes wild with adrenaline and anger.

Ava’s heart raced as she led them toward the next trap. This one was designed to injure, not kill, but it would give her the upper hand. As the first raider charged after her, his foot caught the tripwire, and a spear-like branch swung down from above, impaling his thigh. He let out a guttural scream as he fell, his weapon clattering to the ground. Blood streamed from the wound, staining the forest floor as he writhed in pain, trying to pull the branch free.

The leader cursed, his fury growing with each step. He leveled his gun, aiming at Ava’s retreating form, but she was too fast, ducking behind a tree just as he fired. The bark exploded in splinters where her head had been moments before. She rolled to the side, coming up in a crouch, her knife gleaming in the fading light.

With a feral snarl, the leader charged at her, his large frame barreling through the undergrowth. Ava sidestepped his wild attack, slicing at his arm as he passed. Blood sprayed from the wound, but the raider barely flinched, his rage fueling him.

He swung again, this time more controlled, aiming to knock the knife from her hand. Ava ducked, the blade whistling past her ear as she came up inside his guard. With a sharp twist, she drove her knife into his side, feeling the resistance as it pierced through muscle and bone. The raider grunted in pain, his eyes wide with shock, but he didn’t go down. His massive hand grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the ground with a growl of effort.

Ava gasped for air, her feet kicking out as she struggled against his grip. Her vision blurred at the edges, darkness creeping in as his hand tightened. Desperation surged through her veins. With a final burst of strength, she brought her knee up, slamming it into the raider’s groin with brutal force.

The raider’s grip loosened, his face contorting in pain as he dropped her. Ava hit the ground hard, rolling to her feet in one swift motion. She didn’t give him time to recover. With a precise slash, her knife cut across his throat, silencing his growls of anger. The raider fell to his knees, blood gurgling from the wound as he collapsed face-first into the dirt.

Ava stood over his body, her chest heaving with exertion. Blood dripped from her knife, her hands trembling from the adrenaline. She glanced around, taking in the scene—the broken bodies, the stillness of the forest. It was over.

But her relief was short-lived.

A sudden movement caught her eye. The final raider, the one with the impaled leg, was crawling towards his weapon, his face twisted in pain and determination. Ava moved quickly, her knife flashing once more as she kicked the rifle out of his reach.

"You don’t learn, do you?" she muttered, standing over him. His eyes widened in fear as he looked up at her, helpless and broken.

Ava crouched down, grabbing a length of rope from her belt. She tied the raider's hands and feet, dragging him to a nearby tree. "Consider this your warning," she said coldly, securing him tightly. "Tell your people I'm hunting them now."

The raider’s eyes were filled with terror as he realized his fate. Ava left him there, tied to the tree, his body trembling as he watched her walk away.

She didn’t look back.

There was no time to rest. They were still in danger, and every second counted.

When she finally made it back to the shelter, Talon was waiting, his eyes slightly glazed from his concussion but sharp enough to catch the tiredness in her step. “You all right, Blondie?”

Ava gave a small, weary smile as she crouched beside him, wiping the blood from her hands. “Just a bit of cleanup. Let’s get ready. We’re not done yet.”