The breeze was hot and sticky as it swirled among the statuesque trees. I followed my well-worn path back to the peaceful secluded cabin at the top of the hill. I liked the familiarity of it all, it was calming when contrasted with the everyday duties as an Avenger. There was nothing as dependable as nature and nothing quite as rejuvenating as knowing that no one depended on him except himself: no HYDRA, no aliens, no assassins, no chaos, just miles of forest and deer.

I shifted my bow and quiver to my left hand as I approached the cabin. In blind habit, my right hand reached for the door handle only to be met with no resistance as it swung open into an empty room. I did lock it right? Now my full training kicked in. I slid to the side of the door jam, checking for any sign of life.

I knocked an arrow and cautiously took a step to gauge if anything had changed. Something rustled like a breath of wind in the far corner. Please don't let it be raccoons.

I flipped on the light. It wasn't a raccoon. It wasn't an animal. It was a girl in her early teens at most, pressed into the corner. Her whole right side was covered in a dark red liquid, and a black fletched shaft was sticking out of her shoulder.

"What the hell."

She didn't move, she just stayed frozen pushed against the back wall, mouth open like she wanted to scream or cry. I cautiously took a step forward and she jerked back with a small yelp of pain, her hand clutching her shoulder. Her eyes are wide, red, and fixed on my hands. I looked down, I was still holding my bow.

"It's okay," I whispered, taking a step back and gently setting the bow on the ground and then I kicked it to the other end of the room for good measure. "What happened?" She opened her mouth to speak, but then her head snapped to the side zeroing in on the door. Moments later I heard the footsteps, multiple pairs making their way up the stairs, then someone banged on the door.

I looked over to the girl, sitting horrified and rigid, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. "Please." She whispered, her voice breaking on the single syllable.

"Hello?" Someone called through the door. "Anyone here?"

Slowly I got up hesitant to take my eyes off the girl. She whimpered softly.

I opened the door, just a crack filling the entire space with my body so no one could see past me. On the porch, there was a man flanked by two giddy-looking teenage girls. One of them holding a compound bow, the other a crossbow. "How can I help you?"

"We were just wondering if you happened to see something run this way?" The man asked. "Me and my girls were hunting and-"

"It's Rebas' first time and she pulled the shot." The older of the girls interjected.

Suddenly I felt cold and stiff.

"I did hit though." Her sister said. My knuckles whitened on the door handle.

"Yeah, but too high on the shoulder." The older one bit back. A rubber ball wedged itself in my throat.

"Girls!" Their father shut them up. "You didn't give him a chance to answer." He turned back to me.

"uh-Yeah, no." I stuttered, collecting myself. "I saw something smallish run that way if it helps," I said pointing south with confidence.

Both girls whooped, immediately in action.

"Thanks, you're a great help. They're really enjoying this." The father said following them off the porch.

I closed the door shell shocked. This was not okay.

A/N 

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