Chapter 101- Partners in Crime part 1

Wilson and the big brother spent the consequent three hours, killing, skinning, cutting up and cooking the gigantic flesh of the squirrel over a spitfire.

The big brother who had introduced himself as Dash - much to the trepidation of Wilson - was very good at it. It was obvious he had experience.

"I used to go on small-scale hunting trips with my dad." He had explained.

They sat together, turning frequently to look around them, expecting the fire and rising smell of salivary meat to attract some carnivore or another, but none came. Maybe the gigantic beasts were terrors to the other beasts in the forest and now, because they made them run, the beasts saw them as terrors of terrors. Or perhaps, there was already something lurking and waiting for the perfect opportunity. Whichever way, it was still thankfully quiet. That was until Wilson broke the silence.

"So, about your sister..." Wilson began.

"Don't even think about it. She's only ten." Dash interrupted.

"Ten?" Wilson asked, eyes wide open. This new piece of information was really shocking.

The ten-year-old girl's big brother; Dash, nodded and responded:

"Early puberty."

"And you dared to leave her alone?"

"No, I didn't! I just went to ease myself. Of course I could not let her see my you-know, so I turned my back to her and peed. But when I turned back, she was gone. It was almost dark by then. I thought the worst and then, the worst almost happened." The big brother said, eyeing Wilson with disgust.

Wilson could not take such an act of defamation. It hurt his pride so he spoke up in his defense.

"Oh please! For your information, I, as a man of great moral standards, will never do such."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes!"

"Then what was that I saw protruding from your pants?" Dash asked.

Wilson paused to think up an answer.

"Teenage Hormonal effects!"

Dash looked at him anew. What the hell?

"Come on, you're a guy too. You should understand these things." Wilson said.

"Well.." Dash knew it was true. He had had his embarrassing moments too. Not like Wilson's though.

"...not on little girls." He defended himself.

"Oh please! We both know the effect your little sister will have on any male. She's a true Lolita."

"Don't use that word!"

"It is the truth! Just like it is the truth that if she were not your beloved sister, you would also feel something." Wilson said. His face calm, but inside of him, he was exceedingly proud of how he had just thought up such reasonable argument on the spur of the moment. Sounded like a true wise man.

Just as he praised himself rather pridefully, a snapping sound rang out from behind them. They both turned around to look in the direction the sound came from, but neither of them saw anything. Wilson turned to Dash.

"You heard that too, right?" He asked. He wanted to confirm he was not hearing things because of his tense nerves because, even though he was conversing with Dash, he still felt on edge and tried his best to stay vigilant amidst his sleepiness. After all, not only was he in the forest but he was being hunted by the worst kinds of beast - man. What's more, they were powerful people of unknown identities, coming for his life. There is nothing that could possibly be more terrifying than that.

Dash looked at him and answered with his own question:

"Why do you think I turned around? To play 'mimic your partner'? or 'mirror-mirror'?" Sarcasm filled the air as he once again, gave Wilson that same you-are-an-idiot look. Wilson noticed the look and sincerely speaking, it was beginning to get on his nerves. He felt the need to make his feelings clear.

"If you give me that look again, I will box it off your face." Wilson threatened.

Dash clicked his tongue and looked around them; his gaze paused for a few extra seconds at the tent his little sister was soundly asleep in.

"What do you think it was?" Wilson could not help asking.

"It could be anything. Predator, Humans, um... maybe something supernatural. Perhaps, it was just us hearing things from all the tension and hard work." Dash responded and stood up. He patted his pants and said:

"I am going to sleep. Make sure the meat is well cooked before eating and put out the fire when you are done." He walked towards the tent.

"Wait!" Wilson called. "You're not eating?"

Dash scoffed in response.

"As if I will just put anything I kill, in my body system. What if it is poisonous?"

"Huh?" Wilson blurted out. Poisonous? Why was he just saying it? This bastard. Did he want him dead? He needed to confirm.

"Hey!" Seeing Dash open the tent, Wilson called out to him. "Are you kidding me?"

"..." No response. Dash only glanced at him.

"Are you for real? Is it really poisonous?" Wilson continued asking.

"I said what if! That means it is a case of 'maybe'. Why don't you try it out and let's see in the morning." And with that response, Dash promptly entered the tent, refusing to listen to Wilson any longer. It was late and he was too tired for an unnecessary chat.

*Shoom*

As soon as Dash entered and closed the tent's zipper, a translucent blue hive-patterned shield flashed on the tent's body before disappearing.

"Amazing!" Wilson muttered.

********

Lurking in the dark; too far away from the fire for its light to reach - but not too far for her not to see Wilson - crouched a woman dressed in green and brown forest camouflage. She held a dagger in one hand and a shotgun in another, its muzzle pointing at the forest floor. She had cleverly cleared the leaves surrounding her so she could move uninhibited. She looked up at one of the tall trees by her right and searched for a little while before noticing the thumbs up coming from her partner and lover hiding on the tree, with similar camouflage clothing on.

'He is getting better at this. I almost didn't notice him this time.' She thought to herself, nodding in approval and pride. She had been the one to teach him what he knew about camouflage and sniping and now, he was already better than she was at it. That was why he was the one on top of the tree; sniper rifle in hand; half-kneeling, half-bending in order to stabilize the rifle for a clean shot.

She looked at Wilson as he argued with Dash and snapped a twig.

Wilson and Dash turned.

'Quite vigilant, I see.' She thought to herself.

Barely a second after, she could hear the two insulting and threatening themselves again and she shook her head. No, they were not vigilant. The twig must have been louder than she thought.

Soon after, Dash stood up, entered the tent after frightening a hungry, almost-salivating Wilson and the blue shield activated.

'A limited edition protective tent? Who is this boy?' She thought to herself. The tent Dash had entered was a limited edition from two years ago that cost a few million Tigs. Because there were only ten of its kind in the whole world and was still recognised as one of the most effective against all kinds of attacks; plus it was fast becoming a vintage product, it was now worth a lot more than then. Greed flashed before her eyes. If she could get that tent, she and her see sweetheart could retire, travel far away and live in an estate in the empire's capital. That was the dream. She looked up at her husband and discovered that he was looking down at her with a look that told her he was fine with whatever she decided.

She looked back at Wilson who was sitting before the fire, looking at the broiling spit thoughtfully. She could just kill him and get the bounty reward. That was some sweet cake. Or she could kill him and try to attack the boy and girl and steal the tent. That would be the buffet. She licked her lips. She wanted the full option. She knew she was being greedy but the prospect of a worry-free life of luxury clouded her mind to the dangers these second option posed.

She looked back up at her husband and nodded. He got the message. There was no need for words - such was the connection between the two lovers and partners in crime.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*