Chapter One
The Hunt

Maria's point of view

"Dad, I'm going out!" I cried as I jogged down the steps of our tiny house. As I reached the bottom, an elderly man ducked out of the kitchen doorway and frowned at me.

"You don't have to do this, Maria."

I put my hand on the table, exasperated. We've had this conversation for ages. "Dad, it's gonna be fine. Clara's gonna be there, and I've been training for ages!"

He still looked unconvinced. "Are you sure?"

I gave him my best grown-up smile. "Yes, Dad, I am. And I promise I'll bring home some game for our dinner tonight."

He finally smiled. "Okay, Maria." He kissed my forehead. "Take care."

Clara was waiting for me. Her white-blond hair was pulled up in a ponytail, part hidden under a cowboy hat. She was facing the hills away from our town. "You're late," she grumbled as I saddled up my dapple-grey pony, Silver. "Didn't I tell you that afternoon is the best time to hunt?" She looked over my shoulder. "You don't even have your arrows."

"I'm sorry, Clara," I say. As I start to get down from my horse, Clara stops me, saying, "No matter. Just borrow mine. We're wasting time."

"Fine." After that, we plunge into the heart of the forest to hunt for some game.

The sun was setting low in the horizon when Clara finally called for a break. We camped out in a clearing and was eating the deer that I caught. My game bag was three-quarters full.

"Hey Maria," Clara said, "The fire's getting low. I'm gonna get some more wood, okay? Stay here and guard our hunt."

"Sure," I said.

Clara went to the right. I watched her melt into the trees, and stared into the fire. The bright orange-reds danced across the blue-whites. After several minutes, I think I dozed off.

I was woken up by a rampaging noise. It was coming from behind me. The horses were clip-clopping their hooves nervously. Where is Clara? I thought. She was the brave one. She was a born huntress. She could kill three birds with one arrow.

Nervously I grabbed my sheath of arrows and put it around my shoulder. I hold my bow and wait for the worst.

*WHAM!*

The bear hit me with such force and speed that I didn't have time to knock an arrow. I was lying on the ground, my arms pinned down by the bear's massive paws. My bow was lying uselessly beside me. The bear roared in my face.

All I can think of is: Has this bear EVER heard of mint leaves?

Bear spit dribbled down my chest. Yuck.

It rose like it was gonna stand up. Then I realized that it was going to swipe me with its razor-sharp claws.

With all the strength I could muster, I cried "HEEEEEEELP!" a loudly as I could.

When I woke up, I was lying in a bed of feathers. Clara was sitting beside me, her arm cast in a sling. I tried to speak, but my mouth felt bone-dry. Instead my words came out as "Ugh mmmffff argghhhh"

Clara spoke for me. "Apparently you're asking why you're here. I was also attacked by that bear, you know. It slashed my arm." She pointed to her sling. "But good thing someone else was hunting at the same time with us. He it drove away, but I noticed it was going to the direction of our camp. He let me ride his horse while we chased it. Then..." Clara stared out the window. Judging from the bright moonlight, it was already midnight.

When she spoke again, she sounded like a stranger. "I don't know. I think I fell from the back of the horse." She frowned. "I think you should ask him."

She pointed to my left.

When I saw my rescuer, I think I felt my jaw drop.