The Forsaken

our journey to the city on the shore of the gray zone. Those details have been committed to memory by Veidman, Liam, and a few trusted others. They couldn’t risk writing them down, which means we’ll be relying on their mental notes to reach our goal—a pretty risky proposition.
    We wave our final good-byes to everyone as we follow Veidman onto a trail and into the verdant jungle. I’m surprised that Rika didn’t say good-bye to us. Maybe it was too much for her. I’m lost in the sea of my own thoughts and emotions. I’m sad about leaving, but also filled with nervous excitement about what lies ahead.
    Liam and some hunters walk at the front of our line, with a few of the other hunters bringing up the rear. Gadya and I are near the middle.
    After just ten minutes of hiking through the thick vegetation, I already start feeling tired. I don’t know how I’m going to manage too many miles.
    “So, you didn’t bring your guitar?” Gadya asks me out of the blue.
    Startled, I turn to her. “No.”
    “You think I don’t know about you and Liam.” She doesn’t sound mad anymore. Just sort of resigned. “Well, I do. I’ve even talked to him about it.”
    I stop walking for a second. “You have? Liam never mentioned that.”
    “Yeah. Well, don’t worry. Everything’s cool. I’m not going to flip out on you.”
    I’m not sure what to say. “I tried not to let anything happen. You have to believe me. All we did was kiss. Once. No, wait. Twice, technically.”
    “I know how it is. Liam has an effect on people.” She laughs, but it sounds forced. “Really, it’s okay. It’s time for me to move on anyway. It’s not like there aren’t enough other cute guys around.”
    “You sure you’re okay with this?”
    “I’m trying to be.”
    “Thanks, Gadya,” I tell her. I feel relieved that she knows the truth. But also really guilty, because I tried to hide something from her.
    “Just remember what I told you about him,” she adds. “Don’t forget that I tried to warn you.”
    “Sure.”
    We keep walking.
    An hour passes. Then another.
    Sometimes we talk among ourselves, but mostly we’re silent. Gadya doesn’t mention Liam again. She also doesn’t seem bothered by the weight of her pack and her weapons. Meanwhile, my pack is killing me.
    Suddenly, our line comes to a stumbling halt.
    “What—” I begin, but Gadya flashes me a concerned look.
    “Listen,” she mouths, motioning at the forest to our left.
    At first I hear nothing. Then comes a faint rustling in the trees. The sound of twigs snapping underneath feet. I know it’s not a hoofer. Their hoofbeats are heavier, wilder.
    Boys start raising their weapons. I’m not sure whether I should slot an arrow into my bow. Probably, but I don’t want to risk making noise. Instead I unsheathe my knife with a shaking hand.
    No one makes a move. We just stand there.
    Veidman suddenly shouts, “Show yourself!” His words ring out in the forest, loud and confident. Birds squawk and fly from the trees into the gray sky. “We’re from the blue sector. And we’re armed.” He lies: “There’s a hundred of us!”
    The footsteps increase their pace and volume. The person is heading straight at us. My pulse quickens. Bows are being drawn all around me, including Gadya’s.
    “Now there’s a hundred and one of you, Veidman,” a girl’s voice suddenly yells.
    A second later, the girl crashes out of the foliage, skidding onto the path.
    Rika.
    “I almost killed you!” Gadya yells. “Are you crazy?”
    Veidman rushes over as I lower my knife and exhale. Rika seems oblivious to the fact that she nearly got skewered by a bevy of arrows and spears.
    “I know I’m late. I know— But better late than never, right?”
    “You gotta be more careful!” Liam says, helping her up.
    “Sorry.” Rika climbs to her feet.
    “Why’d it take you so long to make the right decision?” Markus grumbles. We’re all gathering around Rika now as she brushes leaves and dirt off her clothes.
    “Cooking’s what I do. You all know that. I’m not a hunter or a builder.” She takes a breath, and then keeps going. “But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that you need a cook.”
    We all just stare at her blankly.
    “You might work your magic with weapons,” she continues. “But I work mine with roots, leaves, and hoofer meat. There are plenty of cooks back at the village. But not a single one here. Until now.”
    “How’d you even find