Hunting Season

A Story by Ember Smyth

A loud bang rang out through the forest. Hunting season. Dahlia always hated hunting season, but, then again, who didn't? No one was safe from the hunters. This particular evening, she happened to be out picking berries with her children, Damond and Darcy. Blueberries and blackberries were everyone's favorites.
A crinkle in the leaves. Dahlia looked up in alarm, only to see Darcy running about in the clearing. Darcy knew she wasn't supposed to be in the clearing during hunting season! She was such an obvious target, and of good size, too, as she was almost an adult.
"Darcy!" Dahlia called out to her daughter. "Darcy! You could get shot! Come back into the woods right now!" The alarm and concern in her voice was obvious, yet Darcy continued on.
"I'll go get her," Damond suggested.
"No, it's too dangerous. I would never forgive my self if one of you got shot," Dahlia told her son.
Dahlia set off immidiently, at full speed, towards her daughter. She didn't even scan the area for hunter. Dahlia was nearly in the middle of the field when she saw him. A hunter. She froze, panic rippling throughout her body. "Run," she told herself, "Run, now!", but her body would not listen.
Finally, Dahlia took off, but it was too late. The hunter had predicted her move. She could see the bullet coming straight for her. It hit her leg. Dahlia continued to run, as fast as she could with a bullet in her leg, at least, but knew she would not be able to make it. The forest was a half mile away in all directions. At least Darcy was safe. Damon was holding her in the forest, watching.
With no energy left, Dahlia began to slow. She stopped, at looked at her children one last time. This was the last image that she saw. The bullet came strait for her, hitting through the side of her head.
Life was never safe for deer during hunting season.