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Post by Riley Sharp on Sept 21, 2012 7:47:10 GMT -5
The river. It was her favorite place to be, especially with the brisk Autumn air sneaking up behind her. There was something peaceful about this place. Maybe it was the lack of fancy houses, or even the lack of people. It could possibly even be the fact that she'd heard the horror stories about the loons living in the woods that line the water. Riley kicked the rocks around her feet, looking for some form of life to become friends with as she walked, but there was nothing. It was becomming too cold for small creatures to be out.
As she was walking along the bank, she noticed a figure in the distance. She slowed her steps, watching intently as an arrow flew into the water. Riley's heart skipped a beat. She'd never seen anyone fish with a bow before.
"Wow," she breathed, nearing the figure. "How'd you do that?"
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Post by Riley Sharp on Sept 21, 2012 8:32:43 GMT -5
She couldn't see him clearly, but what she could see sent a chill down her spine. Perhaps she had just stumbled upon one of the legend loons. It was then that she decided maybe she shouldn't have spoken. She was a young girl, and he was a man with a weapon. Clearning her throat quietly, she didn't take her eyes off of him. "Patience, or practice?"
Riley took in every movement he made. Regardless how hard her heart was beating, she was intrigued. Nothing about him was what she was used to. "I didn't mean to disturb you," she spoke softly. "I'm probably just scaring off your game." She bit her lip, telling herself it was time to go, but her legs refused to carry her away.
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Post by Riley Sharp on Sept 21, 2012 9:07:17 GMT -5
Her body became tense as he grabbed his bow. She was trying to remind herself of who she was. Riley Sharp feared no one. It's not fear she thought to herself. She watched his fingers, followed his eyes, took in every inch of his movements. "I would think this hour of the night would make it easier," she managed. "It's dead out here."
Her feet finally agreed to move, but in the opposite direction of which she ordered them. Stepping closer to him, she shook her head. "No.. I just like it here." Her feet came to a hault, and her eyes dared to burn back into his eyes. She felt like her soul had drifted out of her body, and the only thing bringing her back to earth was the sound of the fish flopping. "My father used to hunt with a bow," her voice was shaking mildy as she stepped passed him. Her fingers wrapped around the fish to steady the wounded tail. "He always said if you know what you're doing, it could be painless to the game. I've always been a sucker for animals, I guess he thought it'd make me feel better." She turned her head towards him, nodding to the fish. "But he would never let them suffer."
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Post by Riley Sharp on Sept 21, 2012 9:43:07 GMT -5
Riley stayed where she was, wearing the same expression she had when she spoke. She thought about when she was a little girl, how when her father would bring home a deer, she would throw all of her heaviest toys at him, and declare a week of silence. She'd changed a lot since then, learning to no longer hate death, but embrace it. We all must go at some point, and she figured, the quicker the better.
Riley turned her head slowly towards him. She'd never killed anything before, not even a bug. But the fact would remain that the fish was dying. Should she refuse, she would only make it suffer longer. She picked the fish up, feeling its little chest barely move. She placed it in the most shallow part of the water, her eyes following the blood as the water ran red. Slowly, she grabbed the rock from his hand. Giving the fish only one more moment of refreshement, she tore it from the water, the rock coming down as soon as it hit air. Lifeless, it went limp. She swallowed hard, tossing the rock to the side. "That's the first time I've ever killed anything."
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Post by Riley Sharp on Sept 21, 2012 10:05:48 GMT -5
"I'm not sure if that's the kind of compliment I should accept," she gave a faint laugh. Watching him work, she knew he'd done this plenty of times before, and she couldn't help but wonder why. There was so many other options out there.
"Riley," she responded quickly. Allowing her hands to sink into the cold sand, she slowly stood herself up. It was beautiful here, despite the blood and the death lingering around her. "Who are you? I'm here all the time, and I've never even caught a glimpse of you before."
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Post by Riley Sharp on Sept 21, 2012 10:35:10 GMT -5
Feeling a little more at ease, she shook his hand with a smile. Admittedly, she felt like a bit of a fool, for feeling so afraid of him when she'd first seen him.
"Of all the places in the world, you picked this dump?" Riley flashed another playful smile, and gave a soft shrug. "Sorry I didn't notice you. I tend to get lost in my own world when I'm out here. It's like a break of reality," she paused long enough to breathe in the brisk air she loved so much. "But I suppose you already know that, don't you?"
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Post by Riley Sharp on Sept 21, 2012 11:03:31 GMT -5
Riley followed behind him quickly. Though she wasn't even sure he wanted her to follow, she was so wrapped up in the way he did things, she wanted to learn even more about it. She was so used to spoiled rich kids and their grumpy parents, that she was beyond relieved to meet someone to went down a different path.
"Sadly, yes. I've always wanted to see the world, though. I know they say every place is the same, just different face, but I'd really like to see those faces." Comfortably trailing behind him now, she spoke again. "Do you.. live, out here? Not saying you look homeless or anything, just, you seem so natrual here."
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Post by Riley Sharp on Sept 21, 2012 11:43:11 GMT -5
Riley followed his movements closely. She was an outdoors girl, but there was something about the way he moved that made her want to move the same way. She became a little concerned when the river faded out of her ears, hoping that she'd be able to find her way back home. What's the worst that could happen if she didn't, though?
"Oh." She didn't mean to sound so surprised by his answer. She had guessed it, anyway, but it made her feel bad for him. "Why? Is there nowhere else for you to go?"
Riley almost ran into him when he came to a stop. She stood up straight to appear more composed, and bushed her bangs out of her face. She attempted to see more clearly what he was so focused on, but she was hidden by the moonlight. She could barely see an outline.
She kept on his trail, taking in every part of the forest so she could paint a picture of it in her mind. She was certain it would come in handy one day. "No... But there are stories about creeps living around here. The bad kind of creeps," she gave a half laugh, half snort. "Just another town story, I suppose. Why?"
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