As evening approached, Gale brought up the idea that he should go to hunt something for dinner. Feeling guilty he had down pretty much all the hunting whilst we were travelling, I insisted on coming with him.

Part of the reason I had left the killing of animals to Gale all that time was our lack of tools. Being not particularly fast in the running department, I rarely had success with only a knife but with a bow and arrow, like the Valley pack had given us, it was a completely different story. 

"Perfect yet again!" Gale exclaimed as I shot a pheasant straight from the air. He then went to collect it from where it had landed and threw it over his shoulder with two others and a rabbit.

After we had collected some herbs and water, we cooked the meat and enjoyed a hearty, flavourful meal for once. 

"Gale, look at the sunset," I said as I wiped the stove with a rag and water. "It's beautiful."

He drew up behind me and joined me gazing out of the window, down the hillside to the lake and out onto the horizon.

"Do you fancy a walk?" he asked kissing my cheek as his hands wrapped around my waist.

I nodded and we set out into the pallet of paint the valley had become. 

 We soon reached a lakeside beach with ripples of the clear water lapping at the sand. The deep green trees cast long shadows in the evening sun and the sunset in the sky was imprinted onto the reflective surface of the lake. A gentle breeze floated in the air, rustling the branches of the trees and causing their lost leaves to dart and spin in formations of reds and oranges.

"It's just like that secret place on Elder territory," Gale breathed in awe.

"But we don't have to hide it this time," I replied. 

"If it wasn't November and if you didn't almost die of cold yesterday, I'd pick you up and throw you in that water," he said.

"If you weren't six and a half foot tall and double my weight, I'd do the same," I replied nudging him.

He laughed and wrapped his arm around me.

"I love you, Robyn Blossom," he whispered in my ear.

I stood on my tip toes and reached up to his lips. His green eyes looked down at me, his pupils dilated and the muscles in his face completely relaxed for the first time in weeks. With his messy chestnut hair and gorgeous perfect teeth, he laughed a little and crouched down so that I could kiss him. I then ran my finger along his jawline and cupped his face before bringing my lips to his ear. 

"I love you too, Gale Rivers."

END OF PART 1