Chapter 3

Ella wanders the woods and finds her pennance.

I brushed my fingers on the trees as I passed them, hoping with every fiber of my being that through them I could be forgiven, but nothing changed. I leaned against a thick trunk and sighed. "How can I apologize? I need to show you that I'm sorry."

I sunk to the ground and sobbed, holding my head in my hands. The tears hit the dirt, and soon there was a sizeable damp spot beneath me. I sniffed and wiped my nose when I saw Ethan Fisher approach. "Hi Ethan."

He sat next to me. "Hey." He looked up and nudged me. I followed his gaze as he spoke. "I don't know much about hunting, but I know that killing something to survive sucks. In the grand scheme of things, though, it's a small price to pay for life."

"That's not very inspirational." I sighed.

Ethan laughed. "What I mean is that the gods understand. This life revolves around the cycle of life and death. Without death, nothing would truly continue. Our civilization would stop with us, and then where would we be? I don't know about you, but I want to have kids one day, and without death, I wouldn't be able to."

I looked down. "It was a midnight."

Ethan put his arm around my shoulders. "I'm sorry. That's a huge burdon."

"I might never hunt again." I leaned into him and closed my eyes. "I can't bear the thought of killing another animal."

Ethan nodded. "Well, how about you come to the lake with me and sit on the bank while I fish? There's safety in numbers."

I wiped my eyes and nodded. "That sounds nice."

I walked next to Ethan while he talked about his betrothal to Logan Taylor. "He's really quite the charmer." Ethan said as he kicked a rock along the path. "I can't wait to marry him."

I smiled. "I'm happy for you."

"So, you've come of age. Who did they pair you up with?"

I groaned. "Adam Williams."

"He's very handsome."

"Yeah, well, I don't want to marry him."

"Then say something. They usually take your feelings into consideration."

I flopped on the bank. "They won't in this instance. I don't want to get married, and father said that they want my hunting prowess to be passed on to the next generation or some bull s**t. I have to choice."

Ethan shrugged. "You could run away. There's a city less than a day's walk from here."

I sighed. "I can't leave my family. Piper needs me."

"Well, then be a b***h to Adam. He's bound to refuse you if you're difficult."

"Already started." I put my hands behind my head and watched the clouds pass by.

"Good. Fight the system in any way possible." Ethan squeezed my knee and walked to the water.

I layed on the bank for a while before walking to a tree and grabbing a branch. I hoisted myself halfway  up the tree, and straddled a branch. I leaned against the trunk and closed my eyes. After a few minutes, I felt a small animal crawl on my head. I laughed as I reached up and grabbed it.

The lizard was about three inches long and pure black. It was smooth when I rubbed my finger down its back. I put it in my shirt pocket and climbed down. "Ethan!" I called as I ran to the lake.

"What's wrong?" He dropped his rob and ran to me.

"Nothing. Look what I found." I pulled the reptile out of my pocket.

"A baby midnight?" Ethan striked its head, and it began to purr.

I lifted its back leg. "It's a boy." I shook my head. "That must have been his mother." I looked at Ethan. "I have to protect him."

Ethan smiled. "Of course you do." He laughed. "I wonder how the elders will react."

"I'll shoot anyone that tries to take him away from me." I placed him in my pocket again. "This is my pennance to the gods."

Ethan nodded. "I'll support you." He grabbed his rod and the fish he caught, and we headed back to town