Becoming Read Online Free

from the fatal wound. The spear had penetrated its heart, ripped through its soft flesh, the spear that had saved her.
    ‘Now we’re even. Let’s see if we can break them.’
    ‘Do you think we can hold out?’
    ‘They’ll crumble and turn. They always do. Come on.’
    Aran reached out his hand and helped Gaia to her feet. His blue eyes caught hers, the sun flashing through her red hair. For a moment there was a connection, brief and awkward, but enough. They both looked away. He was tall, fair haired, attractive. His grip firm and arm strong as he pulled her up from the ground. Like all on the island he had been bred and nurtured to be trim and athletic. Gaia noted his sparkling eyes and the faintest hint of a grin. Eyes which had been admired by her before.
    They fought on together, despite being weary and jaded. After several more decisive kills the rats broke ranks and began to flee. One after another they turned and scurried away, their coarse, black hairs stained with the fresh blood of the others. The creatures scattered and fled into the fields beyond, but the community knew the rodents would be back. Next time they would be bolder and stronger again. For now the victory belonged to the community. They would savour it. For now the community remained safe and intact.
    Gaia looked around, the boy still by her side, sitting, head in hands, exhausted. It was all sinking in now, how close they had been to death. They were alive, and that was all the mattered for now. Gaia surveyed the carnage, the festering aftermath. There were corpses everywhere, mostly black and red, steaming rodents, their thick hair and long pink tails soaked in death. Most lay still, but some still heaved, death not yet upon them. The leaders and young people each made their way through the remains and finished off the near dead. Nine, maybe ten of the community were injured. They were tended to by the medical specialists. Two lay dead. Two, in addition to the girl who still lay away from the main group, alone on the edge of the dunes. Kali crouched next to one of the slain, head bowed in honour and respect. Her hands reached down and closed their eyelids one by one, lifeless eyes now locked beneath.
    Gaia moved back to where Aran was resting. She sat down, and put her arm around him, a gesture only, there were no words. He knew what was meant, and appreciated it. For a moment they sat together, sharing a rare moment of tenderness and warmth. Something they both needed, a reminder of their humanity, a reassurance of life. He tilted his head towards her and whispered.
    ‘Thanks again.’
    ‘It was nothing. We got through it, and we’re still here. That’s all that matters.’
    They sat for a while, wrapped in the blanket of each other’s warmth, their thoughts locked together. Gaia was not accustomed to this. She had little interest in boys, at least not in the way that some of the others did. To her they were shallow and childish, trying to impress with their lame jokes, and puerile shows of physical prowess. The boys in the community all looked and acted the same. Most of the other girls seemed to disagree. They would roll their eyes, and let out giddy laughter, flick their hair and flirt. Each loved to play the fool to attract the boy’s attention, but not Gaia.
    Physical liaisons were frowned upon, but it happened. There were attempts to conceal them, but with little success. It was tolerated by the leaders, monitored and contained. As long as it was discreet the young on the island were fine. Open shows of affection or contact were forbidden. This was never a concern for Gaia. Her icy disdain was apparent, and boys made no attempt to thaw her. However, Aran was different. She had noticed him before and made a point of finding out about him. This boy did not act the same as the others. There were no jokes, no attempts to show off. He was quiet, shy, kept to himself. There was a distance from the others, and most left him alone. Aran was