6 Mutant

"Take the rear, i'll block its front. Hogs can't swim so she will make a run for the bushes. She shouldn't be allowed to make that choice. I would have shot her then. I expect you to maintain your stand behind her"

"But she could charge in your direction if she feels cornered" Daryn said.

Darla shook her head.

"She will make a run for the bushes but if she retaliates....the arrow should have pierced her before that occurs"

Daryn frowned at that.

"Don't worry. Its not my first time hunting a hog. I will manoeuvre her before she gets close. I'm not getting impaled by her tusks" she said smugly

Daryn gave her a dry look before he conceeded.

"Ok lets get on with it"

They both took their positions. Darla had spotted their game. A hog that was having a drink from the banks of the stream. They had watched the animal drink its full waiting for the best time to attack it.

Just as Darla promised, Daryn had woken up this morning stronger. His knee was better. He could walk properly with it already.

"The girl knows her herbs"

Daryn reached his position first behind the hog. Trying not to make much noise. He watched Darla silently approach the hog from an angle. So silent he might have missed her in the bushes.

When she had gotten to her position, she crouched and aimed her sharp pointy arrow for the hog's skull. The metal head of the arrow displaying its deadly intent.

On cue; Daryn took out the knife she had given him at the shed in the morning. Preparing himself incase the hog took to his direction.

Suddenly the hog stood still. Her natural instincts piqued. She could feel the eyes on her. That she was hunted. For a moment their was no movement. Hog and hunters all stayed still determining each others next actions.

Would the hog run for the bushes or attack.

The hog chose the earlier option. She ran towards the bushes. Darla had seen this coming so before the hog made three quick strides towards the bushes, Darla's arrow went through its throat. The windpipe. The hog went down. Daryn watched the whole thing. He saw her aim and get the perfect timing to shoot the arrow.

Daryn was awestruck.

As the hog took its last breath, Daryn came out from his hiding spot bringing his knife along with him. He didn't need anyone to tell him his part. He plunged the knife in the hogs throat killing it instantly. They would make a hearty meal tonight from its meat.

Darla began skinning their kill. Then she shared the meat so they both shared the weight of the hog making their trip back to the shed faster.

She worked hastily but efficiently. In less an hour she was done. She gave Daryn a part and began the trip to her home.

"We need to make it to the shed quickly incase a nearby predator has picked the scent of blood and is coming our way. We can't defend ourselves and our food at the same time". She said

She started going to the direction of the shed. The shed was a two kilometres walk to were they where.

Darla moved fluidly through the jungle. She was quick in her paces but also silent. She carried grace with every step.

'She is definitely a skilled hunter'. Daryn found it hard to keep up with her pace. He lagged behind through out the whole walk.

As they got to the shed perimeters, Darla led the way for Daryn to follow. She had warned him not to trail from her direction. He did not understand why, but he obeyed her anyway.

They made it closer to the shed following the same route Darla followed. Once they reached the shed entrance, Darla put up her shed defences.

Daryn almost peed on himself as he saw the wicked spikes poking from the ground at an angle pointing to the inners of the jungle. The pointy sticks were sharpened with great care. Daryn was certain people would think twice before trying to enter the perimeter unannounced. He was also sure she had placed traps at strategic areas. Whether predator or intruder, both parties were bound to suffer injuries if they tried forcing their way in.

They enteted the shed and started preparing the meat. Darla planned to cook some and the rest she wanted to preserve for later, she would dry.

Daryn's stomach growled as the smell of the spiced up meet entered his nostrils. He was already hungry but, the meat wasn't prepared yet so he made conversations with Darla as they both waited.

"Your herbs worked wonders on my knee. Thank you. Can you tell me the herbs you used so i would know them incase i get into a situation like that again?"

Darla paused. She left her cooking and turned to Daryn looking him in the eyes to show how serious she was.

"Daryn i need to tell you something" she said

"What is it?" Daryn asked already scared.

"I did not heal your knee. Actually you...it had already healed late evening yesterday the herbs only finished the healing process and stopped infection but your body had already done the most work" she went straight to the point leaving poor Daryn confused.

"What do you mean you didn't heal my knee. I saw you yesterday apply your herbs on it. I was sure i wasn't dreaming....was i?"

"No you were not dreaming. The thing is....i found out your bad knee had healed that evening we were eating. You hadn't noticed; but you made movements you were not able to when you woke up in the afternoon yesterday".

"And why is that" Daryn asked fear running through his body. Fear of the unknown.

She took a deep breath as if she was measuring how to say what she wanted to say. Then she turned and looked him in the eye. Daryn almost got lost in them again. But he willed himself to focus on what she had to say.

"Daryn....your blood is mutated....you are a mutant___you understand what that is right".

Daryn did not answer. Though he managed to nod at her question. He was totally thrown off by what he heard he asked again.

"How did it happen?"