POV of Kalysta:
It has been a few weeks since she had last hunted. Kalysta was pretty sure she could hear hungry bellies growling all around her. Avoiding glances from those who expect she supply them with fresh meat each week she went back home to get ready for a trip into the woods. Once in her room she slipped into her camo pants, a olive green turtleneck, and she painted her lovely face in green, brown, and black to hide the pale skin.
Looking into my small mirror she studied the reflection. Kalysta has unnaturally pale grey eyes and milky white skin that makes her glow softly in the moonlight. She tends to be self conscious of her skin and keeps it hidden as much as possible. Her hair is jet black, long, and very smooth. She likes to run her fingers through the strands as while quickly ties the length of into a braid. Kalysta had always wished for curls but her hair rebelled against any efforts to curl it. It's length is so long she likes to wrap the braid around her neck twice like a makeshift scarf. It keeps it out of the way while she is in the prowl.
She opened the closet and reached back to grab her trusty bow. They don't use guns in the village. Grandmother always strictly forbade guns here. They have been used throughout history as a tool for violence and also they are loud. Part of why the village is able to fly under the radar of Violet City is because the people here do not call attention to themselves. To be discovered by the city would be terrible. Violet City forces everyone they come across to serve them. If you don't, you die.
Many local communities abide by the cities regime. Euphorian avoids those towns as much as possible so that we can continue to be unseen by their big cooperate eyes. No one can avoid them forever but so far they have been successful in our attempts to stay hidden. The biggest key to remaining invisible is their ability to be self sufficient. They all make make their own goods and live off of the land.
Stepping outside Kalysta rubbed the toe of her boots into the dirt on the ground. The mud has finally dried. She doesn't hunt when it is likely she will leave footprints behind. She don't like to be followed.
Kyrhen's friend has become increasingly aggressive towards Kalysta lately. When he thinks she is not aware she still sees him staring at her body hungrily. It makes Kalysta's skin crawl. He has been after her since she was 14 and grew breasts. He can never quite look her in the eyes now that she has a bigger chest. She dedicated her time to become quite stealthy in her pursuit of avoiding him at all costs.
Carefully and quietly she walked under the moon light. Weaving her body between the trees with such grace. Most of the people in the village could not see well despite being used to darkness, but Kalysta could see everything clearly in the dark. Her eyes were able to provide her with a clear picture of her surroundings in pitch black darkness, but once inside and in the candle light her vision would blur acutely.
Using her instinct she let her body feel all of the world around her. She soaked up the crisp air and cool breeze. Sometimes she thought she could hear a women's voice when the wind would breeze by her ears, but she wrote it off as a silly thought. She stood still for 15 minutes or more until she began to move again.
Feeling a sense of knowing her feet led her to a spot up ahead where a young buck was grazing. Feeling excited she notched the arrow and pulled back on the bow string. Once she pulled the bow back enough she let go. It snapped forward lunging the arrow through the air. Within a few seconds it pierced it's target burrowing into the deer's body and landed into its heart.
The dear reared up, ran a few feet, and then fell over dead. She walked up to it while pulling her knife out of her pocket. She leaned down next to her kill and gently patted it's head. She ran her hands over it's body. While petting the animal she apologized for taking it's life. She hated killing even though she was good at it.
Bringing a black box up to her mouth she pudhed on the small button on its side. A sound of static came through before she said, "Dad I already got one. Gutting it now. Please tell Kyrhen to help me bring it back. The pelt is beautiful on this buck and I don't want to damage it by dragging it home by myself."
"Girl, you get better and better each year. Sending Ky now. Be safe kid. Love you." His response was quick. He always keeps his walkie close to him while waiting for her call.
Kalysta stabbed her knife into the deer's belly and started to cut.
A few minutes later her brother's voice sounded in the walkie, "Where are you? I don't see which way you went." Kyrhen sounded unhappy about having to help her. He hated the woods and of course the blood from butchering and animal. After following her directions he found his sister knelt down by her kill.
***Crunch crunch SNAP***
Standing up but still looking at the deer she said, "I think your feet aim to stomp every leaf and stick on the ground."
She then turned around to welcome her brother but he wasn't alone. David was with him. She rolled her eyes, "You two are loud as fuck. Ky, why did you bring him with you?" She pointed the bloody knife at David while referencing him.
"David is my best friend. Stop being a bitch to him. It's not like he ever does anything to you." Kyrhen spoke harshly to his twin.
Kalysta scoffed, "Suuuuuure, he is just an innocent wittle baby." The sarcasm dripped off of her tongue while she said that. She could instantly see David's temper flare with her words. His face flushed with heat and his anger began to rise.
Kyrhen ignored them both and started carrying the bloodied deer back home. Once he had walked a few steps away from David and Kalysta he stopped and turned around waiting for David to join him. "This buck is heavy dude, c'mon!"
"One sec bro, I'm gonna try to make some peace with your sister." David smiled while he nonchalantly walked up to her. As soon as he was out of Kyrhen's earshot he leaned forward and whispered, "One of these days I'll shut up that smart mouth of yours something I have between my legs."
Her eyes widened, "Are you threatening to rape me?"
"You can't rape the willing and one day you will be ready and willing for me. Girls are such idiots. Always pretending they don't want a man. I know you find me attractive." David was over confident as he said that. The words making Kalysta have to swallow back down bile.
"David, I hate you. I would throw myself off of a cliff before I would ever allow your micro penis near me." Kalysta didn't hold back. Hoping her cruel words would get it into his head one and to all that she really does dislike him. It is not an act or her playing coy. All it did though was cause him to raise his hand and slap her face.
Warm stinging sensations lit up on the side of her face after he hit her. Before she could fight back though Kyrhen wedged himself between them. Looking at David he asked, "What happened to peace?"
"Dude I was being nice and trying to apologize for any hard feelings she has towards me and then she spit on me!"
Kyrhen turned sharp eyes on his sister. His eyes demanding an explanation.
"He is lying. He is lying to you about me again," she looked into his eyes while speaking the truth and saw that he did not believe her.
Kyrhen rolled his eyes at her. Pushing past her he and David grabbed the deer and started to walk away from her. David looked back at her to give her an evil grin and winked his eye.
She couldn't help but to think about how bad it hurt each time her twin brother chose to believe that scum over his own sister.
She started to run her hand over the top of her head in exasperation but then she looked down at the blood on her hands and forearms. She needed to clean up. Going further into the woods she came up on a small creek and washed the blood off of her hands. She looked down at the water and let out a shuddering breath as the tears she was holding in finally letting loose.
Silently crying beside the water she began to hear a shrill cry of an animal. Following the sound she found an adolescent golden eagle with a terribly injured wing.
Kalysta slowly approached the eagle in a way to avoid scaring it. "Oh no, this won't do. You can't fly with a dislocated wing. Let me see what I can do for you. You look a lot sweeter than my idiot brother."