Chapter Text
Hooves against packed dirt, worn down from years of travel. I hear them outside and run to the door. Eagerly, I count the horses as they ride up- one, two, three, four… and that’s it. My heart sinks. That’s not even half.
I hurry outside, running up beside the horses. Silena’s face crumples as I approach and she slips off her horse, holding out a hand. “Hold up, little hunteress. I don’t think you should be out here. Wait inside, sweet girl, we’ll talk soon, okay?”
I frown. “Where’s my mother?”
The faces of all three other Hunters fill with grief. There’s something draped across the backs of each of the horses. The dogs, silvered with age, pull a makeshift sled with another bundle. All of the bundles are wrapped in blankets.
“Listen, Pearl.” I know it’s a bad sign because Annie never uses my name. It’s always nicknames with her. “Just go inside, please. It’ll be okay, but I need you to trust me.”
My voice cracks, “Where’s Momma?” I turn to the third hunter, the oldest, “Varity? Where is she?”
Varity breaks down. She’s always been the most emotional of the group. It means when I want more sweets I can just give her a pouty look. It means she gives the best hugs. And it means she can’t hide this from me. She sobs into her hands, getting off her old horse and stumbling to Silena’s side. The taller frowns and wraps her wife in a hug.
“We tried, Pearl, I’m so sorry. She went out honorably.” Silena’s words don’t sound real to my ears. But I know they’re true. Momma had nightmares those days, the ones before she left. She tried to hide it from me, but I heard her telling Auntie Lola about it. Lola… She’s gone too, isn’t she? There’s five body bags. And only Varity, Silena, Annie, and Kacey are here. Queenie, Lola, Percy, Dolly… Four of my aunts are dead. And so is my mom.
The wave of tears that tries to leave me meets the wall inside my heart, the one I built up during the time when only I was left home. Only Shelby ever visited, and as sweet as they are it wasn’t enough to convince me everything would be fine. I had a feeling the entire time, the feeling that something bad was going to happen. I take a deep breath, steel myself, and remind my own tear ducts that crying won’t fix anything. Mum understood that, and though she allowed me to cry, made sure I knew it wasn’t weak, I choose to follow that path. I can’t bring her back to life by collapsing. I can bury her and then I can do what she didn’t.
“Did you win?” I ask, and my voice only wavers slightly, “Did you kill him?”
Silena bites her lip, “Uh, yeah.”
I sigh, “Kasey?”
Kasey shrugs. She’s got short, buzzed, black hair the same shade as Shelby’s. Her eyes are the same pale yellow, sharper than my friend’s but warm like theirs. The fourth living Hunter guides her horse forward. “No proof of life or death. Gravely wounded him, sure, but no proof. No certain way to tell. He ran off, bleeding, but he was smarter than us. Changelings always have a special connection with the wild. This one could vanish into the forest effortlessly. He dove into a river and, well, the dogs don’t have great senses anymore. Lost him. But he should be out of commission, at least for a while. At least long enough for the funerals.”
I look at the bundle draped across her palomino and can’t help wondering which of my dead family it is. Shaking my head, I kneel to stroke the heads of the dogs. “Any other casualties? All the dogs okay? The horses?”
Annie nods, “We left the other four at the gate, let them rest.”
Kasey starts to guide her horse to the back, where the stalls are, and the other three follow behind as Annie slips off. As she disappears around the house, Kasey tells me to unhitch the dogs from their makeshift sled.
The next few hours are spent preparing funerals, caring for the animals, checking any wounds in the remaining Hunters, then telling Shelby about the deaths. It’s hard, she sobs and I sit by her side unable to even do the same. Days pass in a blur, then weeks, then months.
Then, somehow, it’s been a year. My mother has been dead for a year. And I’ve turned sixteen. I have the four Hunters sit in the living room, Shelby and I standing in front of them. We’ve already talked, but we need to get this over with now because I can’t just leave without telling these women who I care so greatly for.
“Hi, Aunties.” I say awkwardly.
Shelby nods agreeably, “And Mom.”
“Uh, so,” I tuck my hands into my pockets, “We’ve been talking and… I think you guys should retire.”
Annie snorts a laugh, “Mhm, very funny, Pearlie. So what do you really wanna say?”
I step forward, “No, genuinely. You guys went through so much. You’re amazing Hunters, but you can’t be Hunters forever. You’re tired. The horses are old, so are the dogs. I’m sixteen now. I’m old enough to take over.”
Varity clears her throat, “Absolutely not. Sixteen is not old enough to start being Hunters. It’s dangerous.”
“And I’m ready. We both are.” I say firmly, and I do believe it.
Kasey speaks up, “You think you’ve got what it takes, kid?”
“More than I ever have.” I respond instantly.
She turns to her daughter, “And you, Shelb?”
Shelby stands a little taller at their mom’s attention, “I’m ready.”
I start to pace, “I’ve already got some ideas for who to ask to join us. We’ve spent hours talking about this. Aunties, I know you’re worried, but I swear to you we’re ready. We have been for weeks. We’ve been saving up money, rationing supplies, I’ve got a deal for two horses with that ranch on the west of town. There’s a reason the Hunters haven’t felt right. Without Mum to lead you all you feel lost. She passes leadership to me. It’s my choice when I go. We’re heading into town right after breakfast to find our chosen allies. Then once we’ve got our group, maybe two days from now, we leave. We’ve already packed. All we want is your blessings.”
I leave little room for argument. Varity looks the least sure, but she finally nods, chewing her lip. Kasey searches Shelby’s eyes, then though there’s worry in her eyes, she clearly agrees. Annie runs a hand through her hair, then quietly agrees. Finally, Silena does the same. I can feel their fear in the air and it’s almost enough to make me doubt myself, but I remind myself firmly that I need to make sure the thing that killed my mum is dead. Torn apart.
Head held high, I remind myself there are more important things to worry about than fear. I’m a Hunter now. It’s about time I start taking myself seriously.