The Hunting: Ch 17

Instructions

TW: Panic Attack, mention of bl00d Winter doesn’t know how long he’s been running. It feels like hours. His heart is pounding against his chest, faster and faster, until it feels like someone is hammering inside of his rib cage. “Winter? Are you ok?” Nadia’s face swims in and out of his vision. He tries to focus on one aspect of her-her eyes, the curve of her nose, the flower still visible tucked behind his ear, but he can’t. All he can think of is Zara. Bleeding out on the forest floor. He killed her. Zara is dead and it’’s ALL HIS FAULT “Winter? Winter!” He’s trembling so bad he can hardly get the words ‘I’m fine” out of his mouth. “Guys? I think Winter is sick.” “I-I-” His brain is in full flight-or-fight mode and as hard as he tries, he can't stop his body from trembling and shaking, can’t stop his breath coming in ragged sobs. /Stay strong, don’t show weakness. Don’t cry. Don’t cry./ Nadia reaches out a hand. “I’m fine!” Winter recoils. “I-I-I’m fine! D-don’t t-touch me!” “Shh,” she coaxes. “Winter, you’re having a panic attack. Focus on the sound of my voice.” “I-I’m not panicking! I’m fine!” He feels so strange, like he’s detached from reality. Through glazed, blurry eyes, Winter sees his friends standing over him, expressing concern and care in their faces. Like they really do care about him. /Your little group doesn’t care about you./ /When I’m gone, there will be no one left who ever loved you./ Nadia wraps her arms around Winter, and he shudders ever so slightly at the touch. “I-I’m fine!” He protests. “I-I’m just fine!” But he feels his body beginning to relax. Nadia begins to hum softly, and the vibrations are calming in a strange way. His trembling body slows down. His breath slows down to a normal pace. “Do you feel better now?” “Yes.” He hates admitting to weakness, but he’s too tired to pretend nothing is wrong anymore. “Zara’s dead,” Winter says in a small voice. “No she’s not,” Nadia says. “Those guns were longer and bulkier than your typical pistol. I couldn’t get a look at what hit Zara, but it looked long and thin, not like a bullet. It was a tranq gun, Winter. Most Hunters carry them because they want to bring therians to the Gamemaster alive.” “So…she’s alive?” “Most likely, yes.” “But the Hunters have her.” Juniper whispers, her eyes wide. “We need to rescue her!” A shudder runs through Winter’s body. “It’s not that simple,” Nadia groans. “Those vans can cover ground a lot faster than we can. They’ve probably left the area already.” “Wait.” Winter stands up, a plan forming in his mind. “I’m not as smart as Zara, but I have an idea that might work. All we need is our therian gear, weapons, and some live bait.”