Vivian’s bright green eyes scanned the boys as they slashed at each other with their wooden swords. “Why can’t I play with the boys Nina?” She looked up at Nina, the woman who took care of her. Nina had light brown hair that fell to her shoulder. Her eyes were also brown. She had on a dark green dress. She wasn’t very old, only about 30. Vivian didn’t understand why Nina wasn’t partnered yet, why she didn’t have kids. Maybe she had before, Vivian didn’t know. Nina didn’t talk about her past.
“Because, Child, they are boys, they’re sparing, training to be warriors. You will be no warrior.” Nina smiled at her and brushes Vivian’s black hair out of her face and behind her ear. Vivian’s hair fell to about the middle of her back. It was straight, and shone softly in the early morning sunlight. Vivian had on a light, white dress. Vivian quickly pushes her hair back over her ear. She hated her ears. They were unnaturally long and pointed, not only that, they were also split at the top and cut in three places along the side.
“Then what will I be?” Viv looked back at the boys.
“You, my darling, will be a spy, a huntress, an assassin. You will be a predator, swift and lethal.” Nina ruffled Vivian’s hair.
Viv looked over at a woman who was crouched in the grass a ways away. She was watching the boys with dark eyes. Her black hair was cropped short so it wouldn’t get in the way while she was hunting. Her light, tight, black clothes hugged her lean body. They had to be light, but tight so she could move quickly and silently. She crept along in the grass silently, towards the boys.
“Like Elena?” Viv asked, taking her eyes off Elena and looking at Nina.
“That’s right. Like Elena.” Nina smiled at her.
Vivian’s eyes flickered back to Elena. She watched as Elena crawled closer, silently.
“What’s she doing?” Viv asked.
“Just watch.”
Viv nodded, her eyes wandering back. She saw one of the boys look in the direction of Elena. Viv couldn’t see Elena. Neither, it seemed, could the boy. He shrugged and went back to sparring with another boy.
Viv narrowed her eyes, searching. “Where is she, Nina?”
“She’s there. Just wait and see.”
Viv frowned, watching and waiting. Then she spotted Elena again. Elena lifted her head slightly out of the grass, her eyes searching the group of boys. She crawled closer. Suddenly she darted out of the grass and grabbed one of the black haired boys, pulling him back and into her lap. The boy yelped, then started laughing when he realized whom it was.
Viv frowned. “What was that about?” she asked.
“She’s playing. That’s her son.” Nina said.
“Oh.” She strained to hear what they were saying.
“Hi momma!” the boy cried.
“Hello Rona.” Elena hugged him and kissed his cheek. “Are you having fun?”
“I am.” Rona wrapped his arms around her neck, hugging her.
“I’m glad.” Elena stood and put Rona down again. “Go play now.” She shooed him off. Rona ran back to the other boys.
Viv sighed sadly. “How come they all have moms, but I don’t?” she asked, looking up at Nina.
Nina looked down at her. “We’ve been over this many times Vivian.”
“But it’s not fair. Where’s my mom?” Viv asked. She knew they had been over this before and she would probably get in trouble for asking again. She would probably end up making Nina angry, or like last timing; end up crying again. She knew she wasn’t allowed to cry. No one here cried. Crying was a sign of weakness. There could be no weakness. Vivian knew the punishment for crying, but she didn’t care right now, she still wanted to know.
“I’ve told you before Vivian. I don’t know where your mother is. Now drop it.” Nina said.
“But, Nina!” Vivian whined. “I want to know. It’s not fair. They all have moms, but I don’t. Why do they all have moms?”
“Vivian hush.” Nina snapped.
Viv crossed her arms angrily over her chest. “It’s not fair.” She said, tears filling her eyes, she struggled to keep them back. No. No go away. Don’t cry Vivian! Do NOT cry! She told herself.
Nina roughly grabbed Vivian’s chin and jerked her head back so Vivian was looking at her. Viv winced.
“Stop those tears this instant Vivian.” Nina warned.
Viv struggled to stop the tears, but couldn’t, they just kept coming.
“Vivian.” Nina warned again. “You remember what happened last time?”
Vivian nodded. “Y-yes ma’am.”
“Do you want that to happen again?”
“No, ma’am.” Viv whispered, tears still rolling down her face.
“Then stop those tears.”
“I’m t-trying.” Viv all but cried.
“Vivian I’m giving you one minute to stop your crying.” Nina threatened. Viv whimpered, struggling to stop crying. Only it got worse. Vivian burst into tears.
“All right. I warned you. Come on.” Nina grabbed Vivian’s arm and yanked her up.
“No! No! I’m sorry! I’ll stop!” Vivian cried.
“Too late. I warned you. You know what you get for crying.” Nina dragged Vivian to their tent. Vivian struggled, crying.
“No!” Vivian you’re so stupid! You should have never brought it up! STUPID!


~Later~

Vivian closed her eyes, listening to the rain hit the tent. The wind whistled and shook the tent, making her shiver and curl up tighter. She whimpered. Vivian pulled the blanket closer to her front. She wanted to cover up, she wanted to be warm, but it hurt. Her back and arms stung. Anything touching them was torture.
Vivian heard the tent flap open and someone step in. She curled up tighter, tensing. Was it Nina? Back to give her more lashes?
“Vivian.” It was the General.
“Yes sir?” Vivian whispered hoarsely.
“Look at me.”
Vivian slowly looked over her shoulder. Her cheeks were tear stained, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
“Get up, wash yourself up, and get dressed. You have ten minutes.” He had no sympathy for her - he knew no sympathy.
“Yes sir.” Vivian whispered.
“When you finish, come to my tent.” With that, the General turned and left.
Vivian slowly pushed herself up. She slipped off her cot and walked over to the bowl of water. She carefully picked up a washcloth and wet it. She closed her eyes, tensing and started dabbing at the cuts and gashes that rained her back and arms.
After a long, painful five minutes Vivian gave up, put the washcloth back and went to dress. She carefully pulled on her shirt, wincing and whimpering as it touched the wounds. She then ran a brush through her hair and walked out into the pouring rain.
By the time she reached the General’s tent Vivian was soaked. Her back and arms stung horribly. She swallowed before going in.
“Hello Vivian.” Elena stood in the corner. Vivian jumped, her eyes flying over. “As you probably know, my name is Elena.” Vivian nodded.
“Good. What you don’t know is that I will be training you.” Elena stepped forward, into the light. The General sat at his table, shuffling through papers.
“T-training me?” Vivian asked.
“Yes. To be a huntress.” Elena said. “We will meet back here at dawn. You have until then to say goodbye to those you need to.”
“Yes ma’am.” Vivian nodded.
“You may go.” The General said, without looking up.
“Yes sir.” Vivian turned and walked back out, into the pouring rain. She walked slowly back to her tent.
“Vivian?” Nina asked as Viv entered the tent.
“Yes?” Vivian walked to her cot without looking at Nina.
“Vivian, child, where were you?” Nina walked over. “You’re soaked.”
Vivian didn’t look at her. “The General came by. He told me come to his tent.”
“Is that where you were Vivian? Were you in the General’s tent?” Nina brushed a hand over her hair.
“Yes. Elena was there.” Vivian whispered. “She told me I had to say goodbye.”
“Say goodbye?” Nina asked.
“Yes. She’s going to train me. We’re leaving tomorrow…” Vivian closed her eyes. “I don’t want to go Nina.” She whispered. “I don’t want to leave you.”
Nina gently wrapped an arm around her. Vivian winced.
“I know darling, but you will be back in time. We will see each other again.” Nina said softly. “Now let’s get you out of these wet clothes.”
Viv nodded and stood. Nina smiled at her before carefully helping Vivian out of her shirt.
~ “Lie down.” Nina said. “Those are starting to get infected.” She was referring to the wounds on Vivian’s back. Viv nodded and lay down on the cot, on her stomach. Nina got some cream and put it on the wounds. It felt good at first, nice and cool, but then it started to sting. Viv hissed, biting her lip.
“I know, darling, I know. It stings.” Nina murmured. “It’ll stop hurting soon, I promise.” Viv closed her eyes, biting her lip hard to keep from crying out.
Nina bustled about while Vivian waited for the pain to subside. She watched as Nina looked around Vivian’s clothes.
“You won’t be back for a while so you need some light, but sturdy clothes to wear.” Nina said as she held up a shirt. “No, this won’t do.” She put the shirt back down and dug around.
“How long will I be gone?” Vivian asked.
“A few weeks at least.” Nina didn’t look up. “Maybe a few months.”
“I have to wear one thing the whole time?”
“Yes. There is no way to carry anything along with you.”
“What about food?”
“Elena will hunt for the both of you at first, but in time you will have to learn to hunt too.” Nina held up another shirt.
Viv wrinkled her nose. “I’ll have to eat raw meat?”
“Indeed.” Nina nodded.
“Yum.” Vivian said unenthusiastically.
“You want to be a huntress no?” Nina asked, looking over her shoulder at Vivian.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Then you will do what Elena tells you to.”
“Yes ma’am.” Vivian said again.
“Good girl.” Nina smiled.
In the end Nina chose a light, brown top, tight shorts, and leggings for Vivian to wear. Then she did something she hadn’t done in years. She told Vivian to scoot over and crawled into the cot next to her. Vivian closed her eyes as Nina wrapped her arms around her. She’d missed this.
“Sleep now child.” Nina whispered. “You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.”
“Nina.” Vivian whispered after a while.
“Yes?” Nina whispered against Vivian’s hair.
“I just want to say that…” Viv thought for a moment. “Thank you, and that I love you. You’ve always taken care of me; you’re like my mother. No, you are my mother.”
Nina hugged her gently. “Thank you darling. You are like a daughter to me and I love you too.”
Vivian smiled. “I’m going to miss you.” She whispered.
“I will miss you too.” Nina whispered. “Now sleep, dream.”
Vivian yawned. “Yes ma’am.”

Vivian sighed, looking back at Nina again. Nina smiled and waved. Vivian waved back for the tenth time.
“Come Vivian.” Elena said.
“Coming ma’am.” Vivian’s eyes lingered for a moment before she quickly turned and ran after Elena. She saw Rona standing in the distance, watching them. He seemed to be glaring at her. Vivian frowned, but shrugged it off. What did it matter? Besides he was really far away, she couldn’t be sure anyway.
“Now, Vivian, we have a long walk ahead of us. Are you prepared?” Elena looked down at her.
“Yes ma’am.” Vivian held up her water bottle, it was all she had with her.
“Good girl. Do not lose that. Do you understand me? You will not get another one if you lose it.” Elena told her sternly.
Vivian nodded. “Yes ma’am. I understand.”
“Good. Come.” Elena led the way into the forest. Vivian followed, looking around. She noticed, as they got deeper and it got quieter, the difference in her and Elena’s walks. Vivian’s was loud and clumsy. She stumbled a lot and stepped on branches and sticks. Elena walked gracefully and silently. She made no sound as she glided along. I want to be able to walk like that. Vivian thought.
“Ma’am?” Vivian said.
“Call me Elena.” Elena said without looking at her. “And yes?”
“May I ask you a question?”
“You may.”
“Why have we not seen any animals?”
“You are too noisy.” Elena said simply.
“Oh. So if I were to be silent, as you, they would come out?”
“That’s correct.”
“Will you teach me?”
“Of course. That is the first lesson.”
Vivian smiled.
“Is that all?” Elena asked.
“Yes ma’am.” Vivian said.


~ A few weeks later~

Vivian crouched low, watching the rabbit that sat mere feet from her. She held her breath, crouching silently. Elena was watching her from up in a tree, making sure not to make a sound. Vivian moved forward slowly, making sure not to touch anything that would make a sound. She cringed as her foot landed on a twig she hadn’t seen. It broke the silence with a small crack. Vivian swore as the rabbit darted away.
“Damn it.” Vivian rocked back on her heels, rubbing a hand over her face.
“You need to be more careful Vivian.” Elena was suddenly behind her. Vivian jumped at the sound of her voice.
“I know. Like you.” Vivian sighed, standing. “It’s just so hard.”
“I know it’s hard. I had to learn to remember?” Elena brushes some twigs out of Viv’s hair.
“Yes I know.” Vivian looked at her.
Elena smiled. “Don’t worry. You’ll get it in time. Come, let’s find another rabbit.”
Vivian nodded. “Yes ma’am.”
“This time I want you to find it.” Elena said. “Remember, take it slow, look for any sign of tracks or broken twigs, places a rabbit might have slept or come through, and last, be silent. You will never catch anything if you make noise.”
Vivian sighed and nodded. “Yes ma’am.” She slowly made her way along, searching. “Why can’t I just shift and search from the sky for a deer or something and get it that way? Or I could climb a tree.”
“The point of this training is to not to catch the animal Vivian. You know that very well. You need to learn to be silent, to be swift, a predator, to be invisible. The only way you will learn that is patience and practice. Now look. I see a rabbit, can you spot it?”
Vivian swept the area. She frowned and looked again when she found nothing. On her third sweep she saw it. The rabbit was sitting next to a tree, blending in. She nodded.
“Good. Now, try to get to it without making a sound. Get as close as you can. If you do it properly you could get close enough to touch it.” Elena whispered rapidly so she wouldn’t scare the rabbit.
Vivian nodded again and crouched down, making sure not to step on anything that would make noise. Slowly, looking down at the ground, she moved forward. Don’t step on anything. Slow. Silent. Don’t step on anything. She thought to herself.
“Good. Nice and slow.” Elena whispered.
Vivian looked up for a moment, to make sure the rabbit was still there. She held her breath moving slowly. She crept along, silently, making sure not to step on anything. It was incredibly difficult. Dead leaves, branches, twigs, and many other objects that would make noise and scare the rabbit if she stepped on them, littered the ground.
“Easy. Slow.” Elena’s voice was very distant to Vivian. She blocked everything out. There was just here and rabbit. The rabbit sat perfectly still, totally unaware of Vivian’s presence. Vivian crept forward. Almost there. A few more inches. Almost there.
Vivian reached out and grabbed the rabbit. YES!
“Good job Vivian.” Elena said.
Vivian grinned and stood. “Should I let it go?” she looked down at the rabbit squirming in her arms.
“Yes, let it go.” Elena nodded.
Vivian put the rabbit down and watched it dart away.
“That’s enough for today. Unless you’d like to help me catch a deer.”
“A deer? Are you sure?”
“Yes I am. Would you like to?”
“But, won’t I just slow you down?”
“It doesn’t matter. I just want you to have the experience. Come.” Elena smiled.
“Oh, I would love to help!”  Vivian said enthusiastically. A deer? I get to help Elena hunt a deer!  She thought excitedly. A DEER!!
Elena chuckled softly. “Come then.” She started through the forest again.
Vivian hurried after her.

“There. You see them?” Elena pointed to a small herd of deer that were scattered through the trees. Some grazed lazily, others tore bark off the trees. Vivian watched them, making sure not to make a sound. She wanted Elena to be proud of her.
“For now I just want you to watch all right? Next time you can help.” Elena whispered.
“Yes ma’am.” That was fine with Vivian. She didn’t want to screw it up anyway. She stood perfectly still as Elena crouched down and crawled forward swiftly but silently. Vivian couldn’t wait till she could do that too. Elena froze when one of the deer looks over. The deer’s ears twitched and one of them flicked backwards. Its tail twitched and it just looked for a moment. Then it went back to grazing.
Vivian’s eyes swept the herd. There was one big buck and a few doe, a few youngsters stood here and there but no fawns. Vivian’s eyes traveled back to Elena as she slowly moved forward. The buck’s ears perked up and his large, intelligent eyes swept the area. He snorted and swished his tail before going back to tearing bark off the tree. Vivian stayed still and silent.
Elena started to move again. Vivian suddenly felt sorry for the deer. One of those beautiful, sweet creatures would die just so they could eat. She felt sick. This was horrible. She wondered if she would ever be able to do this. As Elena crouched low behind one of the deer, Vivian had to resist the urge to scare them off.
Vivian couldn’t watch anymore. She closed her eyes just as Elena jumped at the deer. Vivian heard crashing and the sound of the other deer running away. Then all was silent. Vivian slowly opened her eyes. She saw Elena crouched next to the dead deer.
Vivian walked over slowly. Elena looked up. “You didn’t watch did you?”
“No.” Vivian shook her head.
“I understand. I felt the same way the first time I saw it. Don’t worry, it’ll get easier.” Elena stood and pulled a knife out of her boot.

Vivian ate silently. She watched as Elena cut up the rest of the deer and wrap up the meat.
“We’re going back today.” Elena said.
“Going back? To camp?” Vivian asked.
“Yes, to camp. We can’t eat all this by ourselves.” Elena looked over her shoulder and smiled at Vivian. “You do want to go back no?”
“Yes ma’am I do.” Vivian nodded. She wanted to see Nina.
“Good. Once you finish that come and help me will you?”
“Yes ma’am.” Vivian quickly finished and hurried to help.
When they finished cutting and wrapping Elena put all the meat on the hide.
“Vivian I want you to pick up that end and carry it. I will carry this end. It’s not a far walk.” Elena told her.
Vivian nodded. “Yes ma’am.” She grabbed hold of the ends of hide and picked it up at the same time as Elena picked up the other side.
“Good girl. Now take it slow.” Elena started walking slowly. Vivian walked slowly; watching the meat to make sure none of it would fall out.
“We’re almost there. Just a little further.” Elena smiled encouragingly at Vivian. The muscles in Vivian’s arms burned from carrying the heavy hide for so long. Vivian blinked as sweat dripped into her eyes. She licked her dry lips. All she wanted to do was stop and sit, to have some water. But she had to keep going. She couldn’t stop. Vivian stared straight ahead, pushing herself. I have to keep going. I can’t stop.  The muscles in her arms screamed in protest.
“I know it’s heavy Vivian. You’re doing great. Just a bit further.” Elena’s voice sounded distant. All of Vivian’s concentration was on holding the hide, on walking. Don’t stop. Don’t stop. Don’t stop. She told herself. Then she saw the camp through the trees. Thank god.
Vivian stumbled out of the trees and almost fell.
“Easy, you can put it down now Vivian.” Elena called over some men to carry the hide the rest of the way.
“Vivian!” Vivian heard Nina calling her name. She looked around frantically. Nina was walking towards her.
“Nina!” Vivian called hoarsely. She looked at Elena quickly.
Elena smiled and nodded. “Go on.” Vivian stumbled over to Nina and sank against her, suddenly exhausted.
Nina hugged Vivian tightly. “Oh child, you’re exhausted. Come, come, let’s get you to bed.” She led Vivian over to their tent. As soon as she lay down, Vivian passed out.