18 Chapter 16 – Elza – Iteration 1 (2/2)

”Nothing.”

”That will make a wonderful dinner tonight. Or perhaps we will eat those skins you insist we carry everywhere.”

Hess shrugged. ”He offered a bundle of apples for a deer pelt. We need the material to build a tent.”

”Do you intend to starve to death?”

”We're going to set up camp for a few days so we can hunt,” Hess said.

”So I have to spend all night making traps?”

”I thought we might try something different this time. I want you to come with me. You can have one of my extra spears.”

Elza raised a brow. ”You say I scare away the animals when I go with you.”

”Animals are a lot like men. Too much talking keeps them away.”

”And they both smell,” Elza added.

Hess stopped walking and pulled his three spears free of his pack. The things broke faster than the fire-hardened variety used by settled tribes, but otherwise served them well. He selected one and handed it to her. Elza hefted it overhand.

”No, no, no,” Hess said. He dropped everything to the ground except one spear and demonstrated the proper stance. Elza mimicked him as best she could. When he shook his head, she fixed him with a warning look. ”What am I doing wrong?”

Hess put his last spear down. ”Try again.”

She bent slightly at the knees and lifted the spear up to her ear. Hess stepped close and placed one hand on her shoulder. ”Lean forward.” His other hand touched the hip closest him. ”Center yourself.”

”I'm not very good at this,” she said.

The breath of his laugh tickled her cheek. ”It might take some time.”

”I suppose I'm not getting any older,” she said.