Episode 5

After walking a bit we arrived at a modest house, well covered and hidden. Even so, I think that she alone cannot survive on her own without anyone's help, especially in her condition, although she showed me that eyes are not always so necessary.

"This is my humble home, but at least you'll have a roof over your head at this moment when you need it so much."

"It's pretty and warm. Thank you very much for the help."

"By the way, my name is Noha, and you?"

"Megan. Do you live alone here?"

"That's right."

"I don't want to sound rude or anything, but how do you hunt?"

"Well, rabbits are stupid by nature. Go and sleep, you must be very tired."

I take a tour of the place and let myself fall on an old bed while I analyze what to do next. I don't know if it's a good idea to bring this child into the world to suffer like me. Now I have nothing, and a wanderer with a child is something that puts us at a great disadvantage, but he is not to blame for anything...

I caress my belly trying to find a clear answer. If I have him, things could get much worse, but sacrificing an innocent life... Would I be capable of killing my own son? Tiredness overcomes me and I fall asleep faster than I planned.

♡♡♡

Days later:

"I'm going out for some fresh meat."

"You are very good, you always bring big prey, but in your condition, you shouldn't put in so much effort."

"We have to take advantage while the big prey are still in the territory. We'll save the rest for when there's nothing left. I'll be back soon, Noha."

I feel very disappointed in myself, I let my guard down faster than I should with Noha, but something in her tells me that it's okay to do so, and so we began to live together. I offer her good food, and in return, she gives me shelter, which I greatly appreciate because the weather is getting worse and worse, and the snow, once soft, is now turning into ice. There would be no way I could do it alone. I like to think that Noha is like an angel who appeared when I needed her most.

That day I get a deer. It may be the last one we see until spring. I return proud of myself with my loot and I am happier knowing that it is only for me and no one else.

"You're amazing, Megan. You leave me speechless, really."

"I was the best hunter in my village. Now I wonder how they are doing, since they are not in a good position because of the war."

"Are you worried about them even though they kicked you out?"

"The truth is no, I'm enjoying it a lot inside."

"Ha ha ha. Do you want to tell me your story while we eat this last fresh delicacy?"

The last fresh meal we will have in months doesn't taste as good as I would like.

"My mom has a sister and this woman has a daughter, Freya. She always competed with me, but she could never even compare to me because she is neither strong, nor skillful, nor trustworthy. I got engaged to Jason, the strongest man in the tribe, and she, envious, begged to have his brother Alan, but I was stupid to think that she would be satisfied with him."

"So you're not marked for life?"

"We didn't get married, although we did have relations. It was only that once and I received a small mark, although not permanent. Jason was in heat and I succumbed to the pheromones."

"Be grateful that it wasn't a permanent one, at least that way your life remains uniquely yours. I learned that you should distrust family the most. Betrayals hurt more when they come from people you know."

"I think it hurts us more because they are people we know. If it were someone from outside, you know they can betray you, but we never expect it from our loved ones."

"You know, we two are more alike than you can imagine. I was the wife of a leader, and when I conceived his son, I aroused a lot of envy in the other women of the clan. They didn't consider me worthy, and one of them poisoned me to kill not only my son but me as well. Because of that, I lost my sight."

"What happened after that?"

"I escaped. If I stayed in that place, sooner or later they would kill me, and from that moment on, I've lived alone here."

"What happened to your son?"

"I had him, although the poor boy suffered the effects of the poison. For his father, neither of us was any good, so I took my baby and never returned. Megan, at least you had the luck that no one knew about your pregnancy."

"You're right."

"I won't tell you not to take revenge. If that is your wish, you are fully entitled to do so. People who harm others do not deserve mercy or forgiveness."

I can notice her sadness. Noha must have had it even worse than me, having to be abandoned blind and with a sick baby. But here she is in front of me, that gives me hope that I can do it too.

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