Born 01 - Born

truth. I've always had enough. It wasn’t grand or amazing, but it was enough. Something cold presses against my hand. I look at Leo's wolf face. His muzzle is wet.
    "Hey, boy." I scratch his face. "This is Leo."
    She nods again slowly. A smile creeps across her lips like she's in on a joke and I'm not. "He's the reason everyone knows who you are, kiddo."
    I smile at him. "You're a superstar, Leo."
    She looks intimidated by him.
    "Well, Nan, it was nice meeting you."
    "If you're planning something, you let me know."
    "Oh, this is me letting you know. Get me about seven or eight of the more dirty looking guys you know but who can fight and keep their temper at the same time. Meet me at the South-East side of camp in two hours. Pack light; food and water."
    "Sounds good, kid."
    I stand and leave with Leo next to me. I need to do this with a small group of people. It needs to be done delicately. I know exactly how to do it.
    I walk to where the group of women had been the last time I was at the camp. There are less of them milling about as they peel vegetables.
    Most of the others are watching the arguing going on in the tent between Will and Marshall.
    The older one smiles at me. "Got out, I see."
    I smile back. "I did. You know of any women here who can fight?"
    She looks at the four women beside her and opens her arms wide. "What are we, chopped liver?"
    I shake my head. "No."
    Putting her hands on her hips, she blows a piece of hair out of her eyes. I notice now how much they sparkle. "I was in the military, before. I left to start my own business after twenty years was up. Good thing I have that military pension now, or I'd starve."
    They all laugh. I'm lost.
    "I was a chef. I can do a lot of things with a knife," the woman with the scar on her face says.
    "I'm going after the women in the breeder farm," I say.
    The dark-haired one glances at the older one. They exchange a look.
    "We're in. How many women?"
    "Five would be ideal. They have to be fit. Be ready to leave here in a couple hours. Pack light, but bring food and water. Meet me at the South-East side of camp."
    She laughs, "You little shit. You're going to let them fight and sneak a small group of us out, aren’t you?"
    My eyes sparkle right back at her. "I don’t know what you're talking about."
    I walk to where the water well is dug and start filling my water bottles.
    Leo makes a noise in his throat. I glance up and see Eric watching me. His dark eyes still show faded bruising under them. I wave. He shakes his head and starts laughing. Leo growls. He puts his hands in the air innocently and walks away. I didn’t know he was at the camp here. I knew Mary asked him not to come back to the retreat. Too many fifteen-year-olds for him to be tempted by.
    I look down at Leo and rub his fur. We could kill Eric in the woods quietly and no one would know. Leo could eat him. I pull an arrow from my quiver and notice it's nearly empty. I decide I need arrows more than Eric dead.
    I walk into the forest off to the side. Leo lies in the brush while I whittle new arrows. The forest here doesn’t feel like home. I miss my cabin. I know Leo misses it. I know after this is all over and I find my inner peace again, I am going home.
    The feeling of need is burning inside of me. It is a bad feeling that haunts me. It won't stop nagging at me to help the girls in the breeder farms. I wonder if it will ever stop. Will the need ever be filled and go away?
    A giggle breaks my silence and thought. I look up to see short shorts hanging off of Will again. He's talking to a man with black hair and a big beard. She is clinging to him and hitting him softly, like he's making jokes. My stomach falls and my chest feels heavy. I hate him. I hate him for tricking me and making me care about him.
    I get up from the log I'm sitting on and walk deeper into the forest. I pull an arrow and pull out my bow. I hold it steady and listen to the forest. A bird makes a sound and I release the arrow. I feel sad when the arrow hits him because I'm not going to eat him. I only need the feathers. I don’t like waste.
    I walk up to his dead body and pull the arrow out. I pluck the feathers on the wings and try not to think about it.
    "You should be using willow branches, you know."
    I look back at him, trying desperately to fight the scowl across my face. I want more than anything to not care about him.
    "I read it in a book. Willow branches make the best arrows."
    I roll my eyes. "Will, what do