Hawk focuses back on his basket as Jagger explains everything again to the new arrivals. When he can get a word in between Gust’s complaints, that is.
Hawk takes out the machete and sorts through the sticks, trying to find one strong yet supple enough to be able to whittle down its tip into a fine point.
More people arrive and Hawk zones them out as he selects his stick.
“You need one like this.” He holds it up for Sam to see.
She nods and dives into her basket.
He turns to Mercy to show her, but she’s busy stacking her sticks on their ends to make a tiny hut.
“I wouldn’t mind living in one of these in real life,” she says, making it clear that she’s not especially interested in doing well in this test. Why in sweet Terra had she even put her hand up then? Surely, not for the fun of it? Because these tests are a lot of things, but they’re definitely not fun.
More people file in through the door, each with the same shocked expression to see the test has already started. Jagger gives his same speech about birds and worms, although it goes down even worse than it did with Sam. Hawk’s willing to bet there will be plenty of early birds ready to go at the next test.
Jagger’s starting to look flustered and Hawk wonders if he’s appreciating Dex and his calm manner yet. There’s more to running these Provings than meets the eye.
Clutching the machete firmly, Hawk whittles away the end of his stick to make a sharp point. Then, finding the broadest stick in the basket he carves out a long groove.
Sam’s trying her best to copy his moves, but the way she’s handling that machete, it’s clear this is going to end in nothing much except a lot of blood. Thankfully, he brought some sap with him just in case.
He shuffles over and places his sticks in front of Sam, reaching out to take hers.
“Is that allowed?” Her eyes are wide and her full lips part to make an o-shape.
He raises his eyebrows at her, letting his smirk do the talking. Jagger had been pretty clear about the rules. Or rather, the lack of them.
“Hey!” shouts Gust. “Did you see that? Jagger! Hawk gave Sam his sticks.”
Hawk sits back down beside his basket, waiting for Jagger’s verdict.
But Jagger only shrugs. “I guess Sam has an advantage now.”
“Well, she won’t need any of my tokens then.” Gust nods at Bryan and they hold out their fists and tap their knuckles together.
Hawk’s stomach lurches at the sight of this pact between brothers. A pact to exclude Sam from any of their tokens. Has he just helped her only to end up doing her more harm?
“I’m sorry,” he whispers.
“He wouldn’t have voted for me, anyway.” Sam isn’t fazed. Maybe she’s right. Gust may have been selected as a leader but Hawk’s willing to bet it was his intelligence score that tipped him over the edge. It couldn’t possibly have been his heart.
Hawk quickly whittles away the end of Sam’s stick and carves out a groove in the one he’ll use for a base.
“Like this,” he says, drawing the end of the stick down into the groove, back and forward, trying to get some kind of spark to light.
Sam copies, only for the stick to fly out of the groove and stab her in the thigh.
“Ouch!”
“You okay, Sammy?”
Hawk’s head snaps up to see Luca standing over Sam.
“I’m fine.” Sam jams her stick back into the groove and tries again. Not even the appearance of her brother is enough to distract her from the task. Hawk has to admire her focus.
“Thought you said you were going to look after her,” says Luca, directing his gaze at Hawk. “Doing a good job so far.”
Ignoring his comment, Hawk gets back to work, watching Luca out of the corner of his eye as he settles down at the basket on Sam’s other side.
But no matter how firmly or softly Hawk drags the stick down the groove, it refuses to catch light.
Mercy has knocked over her tower of sticks now and is doing a good job of pretending to care about the task at hand. She has a flush creeping up her neck and Hawk can’t help but notice how she’s glancing at Luca.
Sweet Terra! Not her, too! What is it with this guy?
“He’s your cousin,” Hawk hisses.
Mercy’s eyes spring open. “I’m quite aware of who he is.”
Hawk shakes his head and focuses back on his sticks, rubbing them together more vigorously, his heart leaping when he sees the hint of smoke rising.
He’s doing it! He’s actually making fire!
“Ouch!” Sam yelps louder this time and Hawk glances over to see her rubbing her thigh again.
He looks back at his sticks, his shoulders sinking to see the smoke has all but vanished.
“Bad luck, buddy.” Luca thumps him on the back.
“Shouldn’t you be over there?” Hawk points to Luca’s basket.
“Probably. Just thought I’d check on my cousin over here. See if she needs any help.”
Hawk hears Mercy’s sharp intake of breath as Luca heads over to her and he glares back down at his sticks, willing them to take light so he can get this hellish first test over. Luca’s not even trying! Nor is Mercy! They’re making a mockery of this whole thing. Don’t they realize what’s at stake here? This isn’t a game. The Newlands are a vital piece of the conservation puzzle for this entire planet. They can’t lose it to a bunch of selfish Outlanders.
“Come on, Sam,” he says. “We can do this.”
If he can light a fire he’ll be able to pass it over to her to light her kindling. He’s more than prepared to embrace the concept of cheating if it means helping her out. All he needs is that small trail of smoke again. This time he won’t look away for even a second. He’s got this.
You were born to do great things.
His mother’s voice in his head powers up his determination and he works harder than ever.
“I’ve got smoke!” Bryan calls from behind him. “Quick! Gust, pass me that tinder.”
Hawk grimaces, blisters appearing on his hands as he tries to remember exactly the strength at which he’d worked the stick earlier.
And there it is! A small puff of smoke. He’d miss it if he weren’t staring at it so hard.
He keeps up the rhythm and the smoke builds.
“You’re doing it, Hawk!” cries Sam.
He doesn’t turn to her. He keeps working. Focusing on the smoke. Willing it to build. Drawing the fire from these sticks like they’re made from magic.
Just as he thinks it’s strong enough to reach for his tinder, a crack of lightning splits open the sky.
No! Surely, this can’t be happening. Not now!
He takes some tinder and holds it near the smoke, blowing gently, trying to coax it to life.
But the rumble of thunder that roars across the sky has other ideas. And in moments rain is pouring down, devouring his precious wisp of smoke like a hungry leatherskin in the ocean.
Luca lets out a whoop and drags Mercy to her feet. They tilt their faces to the sky and open their mouths, laughing as they catch the droplets on their tongues.
Hawk looks across at Sam. She hasn’t moved, still dragging one stick across the other like she’s in a trance.
He goes to her, loosening her sticks from her grasp and holding her hands gently, aware he finally had the courage to touch her.