Changing the world?

Jack doesn't take the bandage, so I set it down in front of me. With my wounds just starting to heal, I didn't want his blood to get into my bloodstream and then have me end up with an infection this early on. That wouldn't do either of us any good.

He pulls the blanket around himself and then motions for me to come sit beside him. I quirk an eyebrow. Was he really one for close contact? I thought he didn't like me touching him. Well, then again, I had chosen a somewhat "sexual" way to get his attention (not that poking is anything sexual). But my desire for warmth overpowered my awkwardness, so I scooted over to sit side-by-side with him, pulling my half of the blanket around myself, pulling my knees up to my chest and keeping my semi fingerless hand protected between them. My soaked clothes felt heavy and stuck to me, and with Jack's body heat I felt muggy, despite the cold air all around me.

I'm starting to feel a bit warmer and sitting this close to Jack really isn't that bad. We're keeping each other warm, so that's good. And it's kind of nice traveling with someone for a change. Usually it's just me, myself, and I out on the road, but now I have a friend. When I'm alone, there's always silence, and it's never any good. I hang onto Jack's voice like my life depends on it. It really doesn't, but it's nice to hear a familiar voice out in the wilderness.

I snort a small laugh that sounds a little like "pfftt." Kiss and tell, what kind of an expression is that? Certainly a weird one. I roll my eyes jokingly at him and shake my head, smirking, but it slowly faded as my mind wandered off in thought. Searching my brain, I tried to think of any medicinal plant that grew in the winter. Burning Jack's wound certainly would be the quickest and easiest method, especially since it's the dead of winter and snowing and usually nothing grows in this time. After thinking a bit longer, I finally shake my head "no." All the plants, oils, ointments, teas, and poultices I could think of wouldn't work because none of the plants or trees were in bloom. I look over at him and lightly touch his shoulder, being sure to avoid the cut, and make a "ssss" sound; a bit like a hiss, but trying to sound more like a metal rod burning skin.

Even though we're being chased by Peacekeepers, I like how Jack still manages to keep a sense of humor about him. Well, if I could speak, I'd be joking right along with him, but you know, the cat's got my tongue. So I just laugh; a very normal sound coming from a tongueless fellow.

He's right, we can't light a fire. It worries me, though, that we can't do anything about the stick in his leg to prevent any infection, but what can we do? If we light a fire, that's basically just putting flashing lights over us so they find us.

I nod. It's my turn to watch, anyway. From where I'm sitting in the back of the cave, it's kind of hard to see out of the mouth of it, but I don't want to leave Jack to freeze, so I just sit there. I can listen for any sort of noises that sound suspicious. But with the creek rumbling past outside, will I be able to hear anything in time? The thought worries me, though I get over it quickly. If I focus, I can hear everything, so that's what I do. I sit silently and simply focus on listening.

Jack soon falls asleep, leaving me to my thoughts. Are we really out here? Am I really sitting here in a cave with him, trying to hide from Peacekeepers? I pinch myself and feel the sting of pain shoot up through my arm. Yeah, this is all real. I'm wide awake, so falling asleep isn't an issue. But what about food? Jack had said to not let it go by if it happens to come waltzing by, but leave him here alone? I'm so used to just being by myself that this is such an awkward situation for me. Will I leave Jack to get food? We don't have anything to eat. You know the ways of the woods: get food every chance you can because you never know when you'll find it next.

That's when I see it: roughly eight sharp, tan points jutting up into the air above the bottom of the mouth of the cave. My attention perks up. The points bob along slowly and I hear hooves. A deer? My heart leaps. I glance at Jack and unravel myself from the blanket, setting it gently over Jack and making sure he's still upright. I then take the knife I used to get the tracking device out of his arm and head very quietly to the entrance.

There must be no Peacekeepers around if there's a deer here, so it's safe. I don't even bother checking the surroundings as I quietly lower myself down onto the river bank, my eyes locked on the deer that's slowly making its way downstream. I'm thankful that I'm downwind of the animal, so it won't smell me and run off. Its nose is to the ground, sniffing around the snow and ice, probably looking for grass. I hold the knife tightly in my hand, taking each step with extreme caution as to not make any noises that would alert the creature. The rumble of the creek covers up the crunching snow under my feet, thankfully. It stops at a small patch of uncovered grass; I gradually get closer and closer, my heart starting to race nervously. We need food. Get it. I'm about to pounce on it, but suddenly it jerks its head up to the side, large ears perked straight up. I freeze right where I am. The deer's looking off to the side, just across the creek, and then it takes off bounding. There's something over there, but I need this deer. I take off as fast as I can into the forest, chasing the deer. I know I won't get lost - I can just follow my tracks back to the cave - but so can the Peacekeepers. .... fuck. Oh well. Can't turn back now. I chase the deer through the dimly lit darkness, hoping I can cut off its path at some point.

When I first was avoxed and left in the woods, I found a pack of wild dogs and just followed them around. Not only did I start mimicking their sounds as best I could so I could communicate with people, but I scavenged off the carcasses of what they left behind. I didn't particularly have to worry about starving as long as I could keep up with them.

Why the fuck did I think I could keep up with a deer?

After the howl dies away, I listen, but I don't hear anything. I don't see anything, either, so I assume that no one's heard me, which is both a good and bad thing. Good because the Peacekeepers don't know I'm here and bad because Jack doesn't know where I am. I sigh and start to walk again, trudging through the snow with the deer set across my shoulders.

That's when I see Jack running and falling flat on his face. Of course, I can't call out his name, so I just took off running after him, the deer's head flopping around like a rag doll and stabbing me with its antlers. I nearly get to him when he suddenly whirls around and drills a rock right into my nether region.

Needless to say, I drop the deer and just double over, nearly falling over in the snow. I don't know whether to be mad at him or just forget it, so I try to overcome this red-hot pain by laughing, but that's a fail on my part. It hurts and it shows on my face.