The Claiming by Cooper

Layan’s Return Chapter 23. Katerina

Katerina

The morning that I was scheduled to enter the claiming, I was nervous. It was finally time. I was excited by also nervous. Alpha Luke had told me to find the cave tonight and sleep there. Luna Jara had told me the same. She also told me to carve my name into the wall, that they had started a tradition last year.

After the morning announcement that I was going into the claiming, I was given a bag of food, mostly freeze-dried meats that had minimal scent and therefore minimal flavor, but still food I would need over the course of the week.

Luna Jara had asked if I wanted anyone to walk me to the entrance, but I told her I was fine. As I walk to the entrance, I am rethinking that. My heart rate is ticking up. One more day. One more day before the hunt is on for me. I can only imagine what it was like last year for Luna Jara or Luna Hana.

As I turn, I see my 50 claimants watching me intently, possessively. They all want to catch me. I’m about to turn away when chocolate brown eyes lock with mine. Alpha Luke. A slow smile spreads across his face, as if he knows he’s just captured me in his trance.

I shake my head to clear it and turn, getting my mind into the hunt. Luna Jara said to use this first day to learn the lay of the land, and I intend to do that.

The Lunas and Layan had outlined parts of the territory for me, the lake with the cave, the stream, the cliff with the watering hole at the top and several areas where the trees were especially good for hiding. Layan, Mignon and Annabel had also given me some places where they’d found hiding spots. Now, I just need to make

the places they told me about are still there and that

the territory, I look at the front line of trees. I see the one that is most likely the one Jara spent her last couple of minutes in. It’s closest to the entrance and has a large branch near the bottom. Her group was in the claiming haze though, so she sat quietly waiting for her time to be near. I won’t have that, most likely. We don’t anticipate the claiming haze to impact anyone this year. Plus, Alpha Luke already told me that he knew about Jara in the trees, so I’ll have to be

find it easily where it comes from underground, or under the fencing of the territory. I take off my shoes and begin to casually walk through the stream, eliminating

said they found a hiding spot. When I get to the end, I realize there is an opening here. I make a note that if I’m being chased, I want to exit the stream before I get to the

I see that there is a bit of distance for me to make it to the cliff. I take a deep breath and run as far as the branch will let me, leaping

fresh water and look down on the territory below me. This will be a great spot to watch what is happening below me. And since I didn’t leave a scent trail, I will plan to head back this way to see where people are during the week. If I make it that long. I have three Alphas hunting me. All of

or omega, getting themselves caught. It’s how my mother was caught by a warrior. She was being chased by two Alphas and they chased her right into the arms of

back into the tree. It’s time for me to start heading toward the lake and the cave. I begin leaping through the trees, searching for the hiding spots the others told me about. I also make note of a couple of other cliff faces that

and leap down. They’ll find this trail, but it won’t lead them anywhere. I strip off my clothes, putting them in the waterproof bag with my food and enter the lake. I swim across, enjoying the cool water after a

trees.

the back side of the lake, I swim towards the waterfall. It’s beautiful in the evening light, the sun casting its last rays of the day into the

Lunas said that, but I wanted to make sure it’s still true. This will be my only time in the cave. If I’m cornered up there, there is only one way to escape. Leaping off the cliff into the waterfall. I’m a good swimmer, but I have no idea if there are any rock formations under the surface of the waterfall and I won’t risk breaking a bone. There would be no way to avoid capture at that point, and I intend

I’d barely be able to breathe through the waterfall, but if I’m desperate, it’s a spot I can use. Then, finding the area that will take the least. amount of steps to get to the bottom of the cliff, I get