Birthday Wishes. [Snakebird] [KJM]

Sen Darkbow

I rise from my cot, bleary eyed, yelling. I escape the clutches of the nightmare after a few minutes, and rub my eyes so that I can see. Finally I get the grit out, and look around my dad and I's one room apartment. Wooden walls, hard floor. My father is on my place, rolling over on the floor. I guess he switched places with me when I had the nightmare. Always being to nice to me for my own good. I walk over to the little wash basin in one corner and douse my face and hair. After I'm suitably awake I change, put on my hunting jacket, grab my bow and quiver, and quietly leave the building. I decide to go to the woods. I have my weapons anyway. The small forest has recently been closed to all but the best hunters, and I won one of the passes for my age group. Time to make sure I get to keep it.

I walk towards the forest, my feet kicking up little clouds of dust that accumulated overnight from the factories near the edge of town. I hate them. I wish the Capitol, after already controlling us so much, would just leave us alone. So many people have already gotten some new disease from the change in environment. I've avoided the sickness, but I know it's only a matter of time.

As I walk up to the gate in the inner fence, A few Peacekeepers spot me and move forward to remind me, painfully, that I shouldn't be here any more. Quickly I pull the pass out of my pocket and let them examine it. A few give grumbles that they don't get any action, but they give me my pass and open the gate for me. "Be back by five kid. Wouldn't want to get locked out all night."

"Yes sir. Of course sir."

After I get out of hearing range of the inner fence, I give a woop of joy and fly up the trunk of a tree and into the upper branches. A deep breath of the fresh air here fills my lungs, and a big smile crosses my face. This is the only place untouched. This is the only place I can really be myself. I start moving like a squirrel through the branches, looking for suitable prey.

After a few hours, I start coming near the outer fence. I start to curve back in towards the center of the game forest, but I hear branches snap. I drop down to the forest floor and flit through the bushes and tree, a shadow, unheard, unseen. After a few minutes, I see a person wandering through the woods from the direction of the fence. He doesn't look like the people from here. He's also my age, and I know roughly what all the other people permitted in here in my age range look like. He is not one of them. I draw an arrow, and quickly notch it on the string. Always better to be able to fight if he attacks me. I step into his view, my bow aimed down non threateningly.

"Hello."

Sen Darkbow

I frown slightly as he says he doesn't know how he got here? That doesn't make any sense... at all. You would have to know. Even if it's just blind luck. Apparently here it's really blind luck. Then he says he doesn't want trouble with Peacekeepers. I smile.

"I like making trouble for the Peacekeepers, if you get my meaning. I have no reason to make their job easier."

I pull an arrow out of the quiver, spin, and shoot a rabbit hopping around in a bush. The arrow goes through its eye, not harming the meat or the hide. All of that in one smooth motion. I smile, walk over, and hold the rabbit up by the foot.

"If this was a Peacekeeper, it would have been the same. Except then I'd be hiding it outside the fence instead of turning it in."

I take out my skinning knife and start to clean and gut the rabbit while I talk.

"Minus the skinning and gutting. Probably."

I add the last part to myself, just loud enough so that he can hear. I want him to know he can trust me. Especially since it's true. I would never help a Peacekeeper on purpose. I might let something slip by accident in the black market that I met a wanderer. Not like the Peacekeepers would do much though. I'd give a fake description. They'd leave me alone. End of story.

"Any reason in particular you're here? Or just random luck?"

Sen Darkbow

I smile at the boy. It's his birthday? He's thirteen? That's cool. This is the first kid my age who acts normal I've ever met. Well, normal is a matter of opinion. These days most people act like me. Advantageous, quiet, and skilled at what they do. Actually some are without the quiet, but more should have that particular trait. It would make people understand the few people other than me who don't like to talk much. I doubt this kid has many of those traits though. He might me advantageous. He should be.

"If it's your birthday, maybe we can get you a meal a bit more hearty then those berries if you want. A deer, a few rabbits, some plants for seasoning. Would probably be pretty tasty. I'd have to save a couple rabbits for collection. The best present I can give."

I smile and add one more thing.

"And a happy birthday to you."

This is the first time I've ever wished anyone happy birthday other than my father and myself of my own free will. Most of the people at my school are jerks and either bully me, or tell the teacher I won't wish them happy birthday. Then I wish them happy birthday to just get out of the situation.

"Your birthday just got another party-goer"

Sen Darkbow

I nod as he asks my name. It makes sense. I wouldn't want to be with someone for very long without learning their name. I hesitate fro a moment, thinking he could be a Capitol spy. Nah, he can't be. Plus, he wouldn't need my name anymore to have me locked up. No use in hiding it.

"Sen. Sen Darkbow. Nice to meet you. What's your name?"

I say as I extend my hand to shake his. Always best to start a meeting of non-hostiles with a handshake. No clue who I learned that from, otherwise it would be worded differently. Well, anyway, I put my hand out to shake as thoughts whirl around in my head.

Sen Darkbow