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The squeaking and squirming of the small squirrel-like rodent, quivering under his heel, as it was being stepped on, sent chills down his spine.
He’s had enough with these bloody wicked pests, stealing everything under his nose and being so loud they wouldn’t even allow him to rest on most nights.
His stomach growled and even as much as he hated to admit it, his mouth began to slowly water at the thought he could maybe finally taste some meat today. How barbaric. He was slowly turning into a savage. But right now he would embrace it if it meant he could have a feast.
He pressed himself down stronger on his heel, with wrath boiling in his veins. Hearing the small creature letting out a terrified agonizing cry made him instantly feel very victorious and prideful. He smirked and chuckled to himself, clearly enjoying causing pain to it.
“Let the poor thing go, Bucky.”
Her voice called out for him, brushing over him like a soft breeze, making him shiver.
“You have tortured it enough, don’t you think?”
The entire jungle was silent for him. No birds chirping, so leaves of grass shuffling, no anything, no the entire world when it was her speaking.
“Amy.” His voice was weak and raspy, “I’m starving.” He glared down at the struggling rodent, determined not to let it go. Or at least he wanted to be determined. He desperately needed to eat anything and meat was one of the few things he could trust not to poison him. He can’t just go and eat random berries off a bush. Neither did he have any luck with catching fish or birds. This was his chance and he held it for dear life.
“There can be other ways.” She slowly stepped closer, keeping her stance, unbothered by the unkept and dirty and starving man in front of her. “Would you truly allow yourself to sink so low just for a small bite of meat you wouldn’t even know how to prepare properly to not end up getting sick as well? Its bones are so little you might choke on them too.”
His eyes were glued to the animal. Its eyes were so wide open, they looked like with the smallest shake they could fall out. She made good points. He didn’t really know how to prepare meat correctly. Not to mention meat from something so small. But what did it matter? He didn’t care! He was so hungry he might as well just take a bite out of it while it was still alive right now right here!
“Don’t.” Her voice was firm but still gentle. “Keep your manners, don’t become wild.”
“I already am.” His voice cracked nervously. He was so, so very close. He didn’t need her approval, he just- he just needed her to allow him to finally-
“Shhh… shhhh…” She softly hummed. He felt her soft hand brushing against the back of his head, fingers running through his hair.
She watched his shoulders shake a little, before his eyes turned to her, full of despair. With a small nod, his boot moved off the animal, hearing the piko immediately disappear, shuffling behind leaves and sticks and bushes. Warbucks slowly dropped to his knees, clutching his growling stomach in pain. He didn’t eat for so long. Her arms wrapped around him and she hummed to him sweet melodies to calm him down. He didn’t protest and laid his head on her shoulder, embracing her back.
Her hands ran over his jacket. It was dirty from mud and dirt, slightly ripped on some places and barely holding on. He had scratches and cuts all over his arms. Some small ones from basic things like holding sticks, not being careful enough when trying to sharpen flints, and also from when he first woke up in the savanna, laying on dry grass that cut into him, for who knows how long. But also some deeper ones from animals that have attacked him and tried to feast on him themselves. His sleeves were rolled all the way up, so he wouldn’t overheat in the sun too easily, and she could see a few parts dirty from blood as well. Unfortunately, it was his own.
“You mustn’t give up just yet. Don’t allow yourself to lose sanity.”
“I’m hungry Amy...I’m so hungry…” he whined quietly and she patted his head.
“Raw food is not good enough for you.”
“I need to eat something!” He cried out “I’m losing my mind, Amy!”
“Quiet!” She silenced him, his grip around her tightened.
“You are losing your mind because you keep eating every small insect you find crawling under your feet. You must keep your sanity, even if you’d starve as the result. Rather die sane than not.”
He rested on her for a little bit longer, before she would stand up first and gestured for him to stand up too. He did.
“You must get out of the jungle. Find water.”
He sighed and nodded.
“Where is water, there is life.”
“...and there is food.”
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His hands gripped his machete stronger, his arms raised with the tool-current weapon and swiped strongly and swiftly.
The small canine (he guessed) beastly let out its last pained cry as it finally fell to the ground, dead.
He stared at the dead animal under him for a little bit, before crouching down to it and picking it up, dragging it over to his small campfire to cook it under.
“See? You did well.” She appraised him, glancing over not only the just caught prey but also over to some radish and aloe veras he found and also cooked already.
After skinning the poor animal and cutting it, he didn’t really even care that much to cook it under the fire long enough before taking a massive bite out of it. He didn’t even look at her. He knew what she thought. He was an animal. As much as he’d try to prepare the food like a civilized gentleman like he was, he couldn’t really do anything under these conditions. He didn’t want her to look at him right now, but he couldn’t stop her.
“I don’t think that at all.” Her gentle voice assured him. “You’re a desperate man in desperate times.” She patted his back as he took another big bite out of the meat, ripping the flesh out with his sharp teeth and swallowing it fast, not even caring about the taste. It was probably horrid anyway.
The thick darkness of the night surrounded the whole world, or so it seemed. He couldn’t see anything. No stars, only barely the moon. He was sure he saw some before the darkness covered the sky completely, but this result every night made him question his sanity over and over. This meant his campfire was the only thing allowing him to function and work even at night. Not that he had any more energy left to do much.
“You should rest.”
“Don’t need to yet.”
“You haven’t slept in three days.”
“And I haven’t eaten in more.”
“But you are eating now, aren’t you?”
He looked at the last morsel in his hands and went quiet.
“What’s wrong?”
Finally, he ate the last bite and wiped his hands over the grass, moving closer to the soft-wooden tree near him and leaning his back on it, staring into the fire.
“I miss your cooking.”
She smiled and ran her fingers over the strands of his silky, but slightly messy, hair again. He leaned into her touch and let her play with his hair as much as she wanted to. She curled the strands around her fingers and brushed them back, humming. He closed his eyes and listened to her angelic voice.
“When you return, I’ll cook anything you’ll want.” He smiled at the proposal and took one of her hands, gently pulling it from his hair to his lips, placing a soft kiss on it. She rubbed his cheek and kissed his forehead as well.
“I miss you.” He murmured lovingly, to which she giggled.
“And I miss you too.” She sang. He loved her voice so much, he wished he could tell her that again.
He wondered how she was doing. How long has it been? Does she even know he’s gone? Does she even remember him still? Does she really miss him?
“Of course I do.” Her warm arms brought him closer to her.
“Will you wait for me?”
She smiled and nodded.
“Always have. Always will.”
“Even if you’ll have to wait a really long time?”
She thought a little and then shook her head. “No.” He opened his eyes and looked at her hurt. “I’ll go find you myself.”
He chuckled and pressed his face into her collar bones. She ruffled his hair and laid her head on top of his, swinging with him slightly.
“It’s really late now, you need to sleep.”
“If I will, will you stay here with me?”
“Of course.” She spoke so close he could almost feel the warmth of her breath on his ears. ”I won’t ever leave you.” She promised.
“I’m not like you.”