Iridescent: Chapter Three

Iridescent

Chapter Three

~Spiders and Butterflies~

After the Fall

A deer walked cautiously out of the cover of the woods. It held its head high looking for any danger. It tentatively walked toward the water’s edge. When it thought it was safe it bowed its head to drink the water from the stream.

A hunter drew back his bow, the arrow notched and ready. He waited a while longer when the deer suddenly shot up its head. Its ears darted to and fro, as it tried to listen for any sounds.

“I’m sorry,” the hunter whispered, “You must die so that we may live.”

The arrow flew toward its target. It struck the creature’s heart. The deer didn’t feel any pain. The hunter stood up from his crouching position and walked toward his kill. He got down to one knee and brought out a knife.

“Hey, Kumo,” the hunter said, “Why don’t you make yourself useful and get down here and carry some of this meet?”

A boy around age eighteen dropped down from a tree. His long brown hair was tied back into a tie around the base of his neck. He wore an off white sweat shirt and black pants and shoes. On both his hands was a glove-like device that made it so the tips of his fingers had metal claws attached. Kumo tossed a bag at the hunter.

“No thanks, Naru,” Kumo smiled, “It looks like you’ve got things.”

Naru looked over his shoulder, “Then I would appreciate it that in the future you stay far away from where I’m hunting. That deer almost spotted you. You’re lucky it didn’t run off.”

Kumo laughed, “Nothing gets by you, does it?”

“Not much,” Naru cut away at the deer, “Where are the girls?”

Kumo shrugged, “How am I supposed to know, Mr. Observant? You figure it out. I was hoping you knew.”

Naru rolled his eyes, “What do you do for this group again?”

Kumo had to think a moment, “Well, uh…”

Naru filled the bag with fresh cut meat and threw it at Kumo, “Go back to the cave and cook that meat. I’ll go find the girls.”

Kumo held the bag at arm’s length, “Do I have to?”

“I’ll be back with the girls when I find them,” Naru ignored Kumo’s complaint.

Naru placed the compound bow in a makeshift quiver on his back. He ran through the stream and followed it through the woods. There was a fallen tree over the stream. One end lay against a tree on the other side. He jumped onto the tree and ran toward the standing tree that supported the fallen. Naru traveled above ground through the trees. He moved easily like a snake traveling from tree to tree. When needed, he swung from branch to branch.

After he traveled a ways, he dropped down from the trees. He spotted something in the dirt and looked a closer look at it. Naru looked at a foot print in the dirt. He recognized the print. It was Hina’s. He sighed, wondering what she was up too. Naru continued on foot and followed Hina’s footprints. He stopped a moment as the sky rumbled overhead.

“Not good,” Naru muttered.

He ran on and came out into the fields. Naru relaxed slightly when he saw his sister standing by their female traveling companion. They sat close together talking to one another. Naru walked closer to the two girls. The other girl turned toward him and stood up. Hina only then noticed her brother’s appearance.

“Hello, Naru,” the girl greeted. Her hair was short and black. She wore a sleeveless shirt black shirt and pants. Instead of shoes, she wore sandals. She wore a black belt with four hand fans attached.

“Hey, bro!” Hina greeted, the chains wrapped around her arms shifted.

“Hina, Chou, we should head back,” Naru said as thunder rumbled through the sky.

Hina looked up and nodded, “I guess.”

“We will follow you,” Chou bowed slightly.

“Come on,” Naru turned and led them back into the forest.

He slowed his pace slightly so that they could follow easily. That meant no traveling through the trees. The trek was easy enough on the ground. They reached a cave just before the rain fell. After all the chemicals in the air it was wiser not to be out in the rain. There was no way to know what would be soaking through the skin into the body.

Rain started to fall on the leaves. The three travelers entered the warm cave just as the rain started. Kumo sat over a fire in the center of the small cave. The smells of deer meat permeated the room. When he saw the others at the cave entrance he smiled.

“It’s about time!” Kumo smiled, “I thought the three of you got lost.”

“Hello, brother,” Chou walked up to help cook, “Naru couldn’t steer us the wrong way even if he tried.”

“Let’s hope so,” Kumo stated.

“That’s more than what I could say about you,” Naru muttered.

Kumo pointed a knife in Naru’s direction, “Hey! It wasn’t my fault! If you thought we were so lost you should have said something!”

Hina looked back and forth between Naru and Kumo and shook her head. The month they had been traveling with each other had been rough. For some reason, Naru and Kumo were at odds with each other. They tried their best to get along but each had to protect the women in their lives. It was quite possible they would fight to the death if they needed to and it was still a toss-up on who would win. They had very similar builds in that they were built for speed and agility. Secretly, Hina thought Naru would win but then again she was a little bias in the matter.

Chou stood between them without making seem obvious.

“Hey, Kumo!” she held up a few leaves, “I think I found some basil on the way back! Do you think we can use it?”

“You sure it isn’t poisonous?” Hina asked.

Kumo looked at her, “I think my sister knows her plants.”

Naru was about to open his mouth to defend her. Hina, knowing Naru, didn’t think that was a good idea. So in a not so discreet way, she punched him in the shoulder.

“Ow!” Naru rubbed his sore shoulder.

“Hey Hina,” Chou called, “Why don’t you come over here and help me season!”

“Sure,” Hina walked over to where Chou was kneeling over the fire.

The girls got along better than the boys. Naru walked over and set his quiver down by a backpack of his things. He sat in the corner and watched as the others gathered around the fire. The fire crackled as Naru looked into the flame.

After Hina had dragged him through the city they came across Kumo and his sister. Apparently they were apart of another team that was hired by the Tower. They were on their way to the dock when they had gotten separated after the New Order started bombing the Island. Their team was a favorite on the Island though not very well known. It turned out their leader enjoyed avoiding the spotlight.

“Here,” Kumo muttered as he handed Naru a piece of meat on a stick.

Naru accepted it and bit into the meat. He had to admit it was better seasoned than plane. Thunder and lightning crashed outside the cave. It wasn’t unusual, the sudden thunderstorms. With all the particles in the air, it was rarely a surprise. Naru enjoyed the rain. Maybe it had something to do with his powers. He listened to the fire, the rain, and the girls chatter. Kuro lay down with his back to the fire. Naru continued eating quietly.

It was strange how peaceful the rain was as it lulled him to sleep. Hina and Chou giggled with each other. She glanced over at her brother, his eyes closed in slumber.

“Do you want more?” Chou asked her.

Hina looked at the extra strips of meat, “No, thanks. We should save it.”

Chou nodded and started to wrap the meat in leaves, “We should have enough food to last us a few days. With Naru’s hunting we shouldn’t go hungry long.”

“You never know,” Hina said, “other people might get the same idea and there won’t be any deer left.”

Chou though a moment, “True,” she said. She looked out the cave entrance, “I just hope this storm passes before then.”

Hina knew what she really meant, “But the Tower’s gone. There isn’t anything we can do.”

“I like to think that the Tower is more than just a building,” Chou smiled, “I like to think that the Tower is inside all of us on the Island. We are just as much part of the Tower as the Tower is a part of us. I’m sure we can find a way to make things right.”

“You think?” Hina asked.

“No,” Chou sighed, “We have to make things right.”

****Did you know!?!****

Chou means ‘Butterfly’ in Japanese! Like how butterfly’s like flowers! Her Power!

Kumo means ‘Spider’ in Japanese! Kind of like spiders web in how he uses string!

****Now you do!!!****