Chapter Text
After the fall, the world split in two.
Two factions: The Raiders and the Gatherers. The Raiders were cruel, harsh hunters who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. The Gatherers were peaceful, relying on the land to live, and community to build. The Gatherers were called the hunted in whispered stories that were passed down by generations. Fate spun tales of mates, of a world where the Raiders knew their mates by sight, and the Gatherers knew by only a deep bond formed by trust.
Jack didn't know where he believed in such stories. The only thing he knew was that whenever a Gatherer was caught, they never came back.
A few ever escaped: They never lived long enough to tell their whole stories. Most were tortured, bred for community growth. Little to no women lived in the camp, much less survived if they were captured. Jack shivered as he walked deeper in the forest. He shouldn't think of such horrible things, not when he needed to be quick. His job of the day was to pick mushrooms for dinner. The community's cook, Martha, had a soft spot for him and always gave him easy tasks for an extra helping of dinner. Jack needed it, especially because of the age he was at. He was seventeen, in a year he would be evaluated by the elders of the community, and it would be decided whether or not he would be sent over the wall.
The men who were sent over the wall either died or were taken by the Raiders. If taken by the Raiders, they faced two choices. Join the community or die. Jack had seen many of his friends be banished and come back as a Raider. It scared him. He never wanted that life.
His oldest brother Quinn was almost banished two years ago. He reasoned with the elders and became the community's laborer. He mainly builds houses, aided by Jack and their youngest brother Luke. The other men helped as well, helping grow their community greatly.
Jack peered up from his basket of mushrooms, trying to decide whether or not he had enough. The basket was over half full, and mushrooms were not the main vegetable in the stew tonight. The sun was already slipping closer to the horizon, setting him on edge. Nothing safe roamed the forest at night.
A twig broke, causing Jack's head to snap in that direction. His body froze, terror coursing through his veins, as he gaped like a deer in headlights at the man a few feet behind him. A Raider. The man was tall and broad; his dark gaze was intense and filled with one thing. Want.
Jack did the only thing he could think of in the moment of his blind panic. Run.
"Stop!" The Raider yelled, his voice as deep as Jack expected. What Jack didn't expect was the fact the man spoke to him in his own language, not the language of the Raiders. He didn't care. He ran harder than he ever had before, such fear flooding his veins that he was surprised he didn't collapse on the spot.
The Raider was following close behind him, sprinting through the trees with heavy steps. Jack nearly tripped on the thick root in front of him. He was gasping for air, chest tight with dizziness from the air he couldn't manage to inhale. "Wait...No hurt!"
The Raider kept yelling in Jack's mother tongue, he even sounded...worried. Jack kept running. He was lost, so lost that he couldn't find his way back to the safe walls of the Gatherers. The trees became less thick as he kept running, then a river appeared. Jack didn't think twice, he jumped.
The water was cold, so cold that it shook him to his bones. He was instantly submerged into the icy current, unable to lift himself up for air. He felt heavy, sluggish, and he knew he wouldn't last long. This fate was better than the fate of being prisoner to the Raiders.
Then, hands wrapped around him and pulled. He broke the surface and gasped, coughing up the icy liquid that had ensnarled him. He couldn't even open his eyes, he was exhausted. He heard faint yelling, a voice that was raw with panic, but Jack was too tired to wonder who that voice was yelling at. He welcomed the darkness.
-
Warmth.
Delicious warmth filled his bones. He was limp, simply taking in the alluring feeling.
His brain caught up a moment later.
He was bare.
Furs were wrapped around him, yet a warmth was pressed against his back. A warmth from another bare body.
He awoke fully with a gasp. The hand he had not realized was around him tightened slightly, pulling him closer. "Shh. You safe. Is ok."
Jack could feel the Raiders muscular body behind him. He froze, then writhed against him to no avail. The Raider didn't hurt him, he just, held him. Jack eventually went still, exhaustion coming over him like a tidal wave. That river had taken more strength from him then anything ever had. His eyes fluttered shut, then snapped open. He continued to squirm. "Is safe. You are safe."
The deep guttural voice from the Raider sent a ping of fear through him. Jack knew in that moment that no matter what he did, none of it would matter. This Raider had him, and he wasn't letting him go. So he did what he knew would be best, he went pliant.
The Raider stiffened in surprise, only slightly, but enough for Jack to feel it. Jack's shoulders trembled and he felt tears seep into his eyes. They began to fall down his cheek in hot droplets. He tried his best to muffle the noise. This man-this Raider was going to do unimaginable things to him, and no one would ever know. He thought of Quinn and Luke, how scared and worried they must be. The Raider's hand moved before Jack could realize, his large, warm hand grabbed his face in a gentle grip and tilted it backwards.
Jack's breath hitched as his gaze met the man's. The Raider was beautiful. His dark hair cascaded down to his eyebrows, and his dark eyes were examining him with worry. Then, the Raider moved back, giving Jack space. "No hurt. Safe."
Jack wrapped the fur tighter around his waist, and scooted further back, closer to the fire. He was shocked. Raiders weren't gentle, they were cruel. They didn't ask if you were okay and didn't care if they hurt anyone. He kept his gaze on the Raider the same way prey watched the predator, waiting for it to strike.
The Raider didn't try to coax him to him, he just watched him with a gentle, patient expression. The man then stood up slowly, as to not startle Jack further. He moved to a small bench in the corner of the cot. There wasn't much to the place. A fire in the center, a bed of furs, and a small table that held a few bowls and a couple pots. Stew. Jack realized, the man was making stew. With meat, hunted meat that he had likely tortured before he skinned and drug back. Jack shivered and tucked himself closer to the fire, hoping that it would somehow shield him from this dangerous man.
The Raider had only wrapped a single fur around his waist, leaving his muscular body on display. This man, this Raider could kill him with a single flick of his wrist. He took up almost the whole corner of the hut, nearly reaching the ceiling in height. A snap from the forest had the Raider on high alert in mere seconds. Jack flinched from the predatory stance that enveloped the man. The Raider turned towards him. "Stay. Safe. I check."
The Raider disappeared from the hut and Jack instantly began to look for an escape route. The hut was properly sealed, leaving only one entrance and one exit. Jack stood and crept towards the door. He peered out, the Raider was a few feet in front of the hut, surveying the territory in front of him. Jack took his chance. He slowly backed away, and once he reached the back of the hut from the outside, he crept quietly into the woods.
"No!" He heard the Raider yell. "Not safe." Jack ran. He didn't make it far. He was still weak. The Raider caught him, lifting him gently, and did not harm him. "No safe. Woods. Bad." Jack struggled, but the Raider was holding him in a way that left no wiggle room. He was carried back into the hut and placed back onto the pile of furs.
"Stay." The Raider pleaded. "Safe."
Jack glared and tucked himself in the corner of the hut, where he felt safe. The man continued to make the stew and Jack was baffled. The man didn't hurt him. He was trying to keep him safe. Why? Did he just want a pet? What did this Raider want from him?
A thought crept into his head, one so bizarre, that he instantly pushed it away. No, he couldn't be.
Jack watched the powerful muscle along the man's back flex as he cooked. The stew was finished quickly, and the Raider filled two bowls. He slid one to Jack and the Gatherer stared at it for a few moments before picking it up. The bowl was warm, he held it to his chest, as the unfamiliar aroma filled his noise.
The meat was brown.
Jack swallowed nervously and glanced at the Raider. The man had sat on the opposite side of the hut, by the entrance, giving Jack plenty of space, but also making sure he wouldn't escape. The Raider noticed his gaze, then questioned softly, "Is okay?"
Jack spoke the word in the Raider's tongue, because his people did not have a word for it. "Meat?"
Understanding filled the Raiders face. He quickly stood up and got to work, cooking another stew. It was finished in minutes and the Raider approached him slowly, then slid the new bowl to him. It was vegetable stew. A sob filled his throat so quickly that Jack could not smother it. He clutched the stew that reminded him so much of home and cried. The Raider looked panicked. "Sorry! Sorry!"
Jack whispered two words. It was of the few he knew in Raider tongue. "Thank you."
The Raider froze at the second words that had left Jack's mouth not expecting the boy to speak again. Then, he nodded softly and stepped back.
Jack ate the stew slowly, feeling at peace for the first time in the past day. After he was done, he shifted into the furs, laying down close to the fire. The Raider joined him, purposely giving him as much space as he could. Jack's eyes were heavy, and his stomach was full.
He turned toward the Raider to ask him a question. He didn't need to speak in a specific tongue, both of their language had the exact word, meaning the exact thing. The Raider was gazing at him curiously as Jack turned to him.
Jack opened his mouth and asked, "Mate?"
The expression on the Raider's face told him everything he needed to know.