The Arks: Over Heaven

Chapter 7: Night Hunters Strike

Part 2/2

“You know what to do Ruby. Start the fire, and I expect you do what you’re told this time,” Aurora said. Ruby nodded sadly and knelt down to the ground, taking the firewood sticks and placing them in a certain order. Neddy seemed to be glaring at Aurora.

“What the heck’s your problem man? Can you not afford to be nice or something? Are you one of those emo girls or whatever they’re called-”

“I am NOT an emo!” Aurora screamed, “You wanna be nice and soft? Be my guest! We won’t survive if we act that way! You think I became valedictorian from being nice?!”

Neddy felt something stir within his mind. He clenched his fists- He almost knocked her out right then and there, but he stopped himself. If he did that, he wouldn’t know what would happen next.

“Just- Just I don’t know!” Neddy suggested, “There’s dinosaurs. Scary ones. I don’t want to draw any attention. Let’s stop screaming.”

Aurora rolled her eyes and turned around. A soft grumble came not from her mouth but from her stomach. She reached into her pouch and rummaged around for a bit, then swore to herself.

“Ran out of berries,” Aurora whispered to herself. Aurora’s eyes glanced at Samuel's dodo bird, and a strike of hunger hit Aurora in the stomach again. Neddy noticed what was going on, and a haunting thought crossed his mind.

“Oh no… If Aurora kills it, Samuel’s gonna freak out!” Neddy thought. He was about to run up to Aurora to stop her, to tell her that they already had meat, but he heard rustling coming from behind him. Neddy turned around slowly, his breath getting raggedy. And as he stared deep into the forest, he could see blazing orange eyes manifest within the darkness.

“What… Is… That?” Neddy whispered, his heart pounding against his chest. He felt his knees buckled. He wanted to run, but he didn’t want to abandon his allies. He couldn’t move at all.

“Finally. An excuse to kill this pest,” Aurora thought as she walked up to sleeping Samuel. She reached for her back and pulled out her spear, the stone tip gleaming under the moonlight. She twirled it around in her left hand, clutching it around tightly. Red filled her vision as the hunger continued to gnaw at her stomach.

“Yes, kill that damn bird. Get some meat, eat something for once. I’ve only eaten berries since I’ve been here, smoothies and salads back home.”

A smile crept up on Aurora’s face, and as she reached the two, she prepared to plunge her weapon into the defenseless dodo. She let out a soft cackle.

“TAKE THIS!” Aurora screamed as she slammed her spear into the dodo.