Regrets

This is the first chapter to a novel I've been working on, I'm not sure If I'll continue this or not, please let me know what you think.

By: Misty Clayton

Chapter 1

Regrets. "

What does he know about regrets?" I

 growled Storming threw the thicket of branches swinging my arms in the repeated slash I had now inhabited threw out my anger. 

"I don't know how to accept things?" 

"I’ve Accepted things all of my life!" 

I ripped through more branches as I found my lips curling into a snarl 

"I know who I am!" "I know what I want!

" and in my stupidity lifted my leg and with much force kicked the trunk of a large rotting oak its bare branches covered in the winters snow. 

"Ugh" I batted my eyes as they swelled up with tears as the large oak moaned its dying breath and came crashing to the ground. 

Anger and hatred filled my veins as the pair stabbed at me trying to take over my brain and ruin what little control I managed to clutch onto. The pain in my foot ached threw the thin fur boot made from last week's hunt and the rabbits fur was soaked from sweat and the melting slush of snow. In my pathetic whimpers I slid my back down the tree letting the small branches stab into my back and rip through the thin layer of cloth. 

Why would he think that? What could I possibly have done? I swallowed the cold winter air in gulps in an attempt to stop my stupid blubbering. My body shivered as I slowly let the frozen air swirl inside of my empty body that groaned with exhaustion. How could I be so stupid? I swiped my tears away glad to be alone. Away from the lingering eyes that always seemed to find their way to me. Away from the sobbing of children whose mothers had died from the latest sickness that no one knew what was called. Away from the scrawny beggars who clutched feverishly to my ankles begging for some of the rabbit in my hunting bag. Away from the crackling of fire as someone's everything was eaten alive. Away from the cries for help that no one was bold enough to answer and right now Away from Eli. 

"WHY?" I screamed at the sky. To whatever god they said hovered above the white clouds that remain indifferent and unchanged as I challenged them with my tears. 

"WHY DID YOU CHOOSE US?"

 My knuckles had begun to turn a pale white as I clenched my fist. I knew any animal that had wandered close to me before was long gone. No hunting. Meant no food. No food meant a growling empty stomach and an empty stomach eventually would lead to the death of me. I forced myself to stand up. "I have to at least make one kill." I croaked to myself. Even though I felt that no such kill would be made.

 I carefully hoisted my bow back on my now bloody back. I didn't mind the stinging of the fresh cuts. The warm blood that trickled down my back made me feel less cold. As I turned myself into a huntress I began to walk in my usual way. Now less thunderous and angered. My feet softly balancing above the surface as my surroundings disappeared so did my anger. No one mattered. Not me, not the children waiting, not Eli. Just the hunt. The prey. It was with this hovering motion of my feet, scarcely seeming to glide across the snowy surface that took a hold of me and dazed me from reality, but it was a single noise that snapped me back into it, "Crack" My eyes shot toward the noise. "Crack" I held my breath and aimed. "Crack" I had just pulled my arm back. Muscles tense prepared for the kill when an arrow pierced through the deer's head as it dropped to the ground I froze motionless. It was not me who made that kill. I swallowed and did the only thing I knew how to. I ran. Scampering silently up into a large pine tree since it was the only refuge above that could hide me with its needles. My eyes peered though the sticky mess as I searched for the owner of the arrow. My heart pounded in my ears, my body tense. Much like how my prey becomes before the arrow comes and puts it out of its misery. "Thump thump thump" I heard the footsteps and prepared my arrow ready for a different kind of kill. Then he emerged from the dense forest. Eli. What was he doing here? Stealing my prey? Stealing myself worth? Hunting was about one of the only things I was good at. Killing. I paused hesitant but then slid down from my perch in the tree. "What do you think you’re doing?" I huffed and for a moment his stony complexion seemed startled although he quickly calmed himself.

 "I just made a kill. What do you think you’re doing miss huntress? Messing up as usual I see." he scoffed and the familiar anger boiled up inside of me from his stinging words. For a moment I stared at him with his stupid deer. Stared at what use to be the closest person I had. I stared at those unfamiliar gray eyes. The ones that had seemed so full of emotion back then now seemed dead. His black air fell in his face as he grimaced at me. My stomach twisted in knots. 

"I’m not messing up!" I growled "I was about to get that deer bef-" "Before I got it first?" he questioned. "It was mine" I snarled knowing it was a hopeless fight but desperately needing to speak to him. "It was clearly mine. First come first serve remember?" My face twisted at his comment. "I’m going to get something tonight you'll see!" "Like what? Nothing again!" "Well I’m a much better hunter then you could ever be!" "Then why do I have the deer?" I turned from him not content with our conversation. "Goodbye Eli." For a moment he paused.

 "Goodbye...Alice" I swallowed and paced off but soon my mind fluttered and despite my efforts began thinking of the way his eyes looked when they met mine.  Thinking of how he said my name. Thinking of how we used to be. Needless to say. I made no kill and started back to the village empty handed just like he said I would.

Author's Note

There is most likely more than a few grammatical errors in the piece and I haven't edited but very briefly. Please enjoy. This story might seem confusing right now, but all explains itself in due time.

Reviews

[Christoph]

This is pretty remarkable, both in terms of your storytelling and the choice of subject matter, and I wouldn't guess that a fifteen year old had written it. I'm going to follow along and see where this goes, and whether you finish it or not it's pretty clear you're a few rungs well above your age group.

Is mentioning your age twice condescending? It shouldn't be - I'm not grading on a curve, it just impressed me.

[Cassie]

Hmm. Can you add up a bit more space? :) It was good though. I wan to read what will happen next. :)

[Misty.C]

Wow! Thank you, I appreciate the feed back very much, for to have any at all makes me happy, critical or not. I'm glad you enjoyed it, I'll be sure to continue this story, for that very soul purpose, for I have written a few chapters. In fact I started this story about a year and a half ago, Once again- Thank you!