Yarri was lost in thoughts. She could feel the woods calling to her and the urge to leave everything behind and just run was so strong that her muscles were twitching. The forest seemed so quiet and peaceful, compared to the busy beach behind her. She took out one of her javelins and leaned against it. Just holding a weapon in her hand felt good.

She glanced back at the beach. The wounded were mostly treated now, the doctor and one young boy were taking care of them with surprising efficiency. Still, it looked like the line of dead bodies was longer now. Yarri wondered how long will it take for the sea to wash out all the bodies ashore. And what will happen to those who remained aboard the Marigold. The thought was sending shivers down her spine. 

To think that one should die like that, surrounded by all that metal and the cold salty water rushing in, grabbing you by your ankles, knees, waist. The last desperate gasps for air. And then the freezing darkness as the ship sinks to the bottom of that stupid ocean. Metal graveyard full of corpses. Yarri shook her head and spat on the ground, trying to get that thought out of her mind, but her mind was weirdly obsessed with it. She realized she was holding the javelin so tight that she almost couldn’t feel her fingers anymore.

“Stupid ocean,” she mumbled for the millionth time today. ‘[i]Why exactly am I still here?’[/i] She didn’t have an answer for that. She could have been miles away now, no one would go after her, not many people would probably even notice her not being there. She could live in these woods alone without any problems. Than why did she still hesitate?

“Stupid people.” Most of them seemed absolutely useless out here, and unless there is some civilization less than two hours away from here, they were most likely bound to get themselves killed within a day. [i]‘I don’t have any obligations to them.’[/i] Then why was she even arguing with herself?

Shaela growled quietly, interrupting Yarri’s thoughts. The boy who was helping the doctor earlier was coming towards her. Yarri didn’t remember meeting him on the ship too much, maybe just catching a glimpse of him once or twice. Looks like she wasn’t the only one who liked to keep to herself. That was almost likeable. She watched him approach her, throwing cautious looks on Shaela.

By the time the boy had finished talking, Yarri was frowning. The idea itself wasn’t that bad, but its execution from the hands of these people was debatable. “I’m Yarri. Who else is supposed to be in this ‘small group’?” She looked over the group forming at the beach. Some crew members and of course, that young hunter. She had to suppress the urge to hiss. Perhaps she was spending too much time with just Shaela.

She definitely didn’t want to go anywhere with that hunter. But she also couldn’t afford to raise suspicion. So many decisions. “All right, we will go with you.” Quiet distant sound of a twig cracking caught her attention. Shaela sniffed. A prey was nearby. “Head south, I will catch up with you,” she said and entered the forest, leaving the surprised boy behind.

Using her tracking magic was dangerous with a hunter nearby, but she didn’t really think about it, it was more of an instinct for her. Shaela disappeared in the dense vegetation, circling around the animal, but Yarri could still feel her through their connection. She quickly but quietly approached the target, making sure to stay down the wind, so it wouldn’t smell them and get alerted. Glimpsing through Shaela’s eyes she could see the animal from a different angle. It looked like a small horse with a shorter neck. Yarri had never seen it before, but no doubt it was edible.

She weighted the javelin in her hand and threw it, one strong and deadly movement and the animal went silently to the ground. A second smaller one darted away, but Shaela jumped on it and tore its throat with her teeth. “Yea, you can keep that one.” 

Yarri dragged the animal to the beach, right in front of the surprised crew. “I hope you can find someone to skin it and cook it. I’m going after the rescue party.” She didn’t wait for any reply or their thanks. She just turned south and started following the group’s tracks. Shaela was still in the woods, probably finishing her meal and cleaning herself off – as all feline she too was obsessed with keeping her fur clean.