And Then I'm Running

The girl jumps out of the tree next to mine. She catches the branch next to me, and tries to make it look like she had planned it that way. But I catch the surprised expression on her face that only lasts a split second. It was luck, and we both know it.
"Well, I'm out," she says calmly.
I study her for a long time. I study the knives she has nearby. She's older then me, I can tell. Maybe fifteen, sixteen. Or maybe she's just short for her age. She's not from here. She's a wanderer.
I study her some more.
She has deep brown eyes and bright red hair that's tangled. She's dirty. Her clothes are worn. But who am I to critisize. I should look in the mirror. I'm sure my long black hair and pale skin must look plain to her. My bright green eyes are the only thing that makes me stand out.
Despite her dirty appearence, I can tell she's one of those girl's who think's they're all that. I hate people like that. I always have, and I can tell that she thinks she's startled me.
Obviously, she has no idea who I am.
I've been studying her for a while now, and I can tell she's irritated. Obviously she doesn't like my silence. I've always been the quiet type.
My eyes land on her hand.
Did I just see her inch it towards one of her blades?
It doesn't matter if I did or didn't, because my senses are telling me she's a threat. And my senses are rarely wrong.
Quickly I jump down from the tree, landing on the ground.
I have an arrow pointed at her immediately.
"If your knives fly, so does this arrow," I say. "But keep in mind, I won't hurt you if you don't hurt me."
I can't believe it, but she's actually trigered my temper, which is rare. I'm usually calm and loose, 'in my own world' as others say.
But I don't care if I live in my own world. My world is better than thiers.
The girl hasn't moved. I feel like I should just run, but my feet stay planted.
There's something about her that makes me think that she's not as strong as she thinks.
"Your move," I mutter under my breath.

"Hey,don't look at me.I'm not the one who freaked out. I'm not about to throw a knife and I never planned on it, so hush and let me sit here in peace," she says.
I'm even angrier, now. She thinks she can make a fool out of me. She thinks I overreacted.
She looks calm and amused, and that's it. I'm done with her laughing.
"You don't get it," I say, and suddenly the arrow flies and hits the tree trunk just an inch above her head. "I'm serious, and I could kill you right now."
Another arrow is loaded.
"I can't risk it," I say, and I am surprised at the anger in my voice.
I know my eyes flashed, because they always do when I'm angry.
This was District Nine, where we got payed to hunt. Where we kill each other for prey. Where we are cautious.
She has no idea.
She lives the easy life. She wanders, never having to stay in the same place, never having to listen or care about what the Capitol says.
I have to stay in one place, earn my living by hunting every day, listen to every word the Capitol says, and I have to agree with them.
It's unfair.
She's so confident, so strong, so tough, so...
Suddenly, I have new thought.
And I take a deep breath.
I lower my bow and look her straight in the eye.
I stare her down, head to toe, and finally, I smile.
I'm going to test how tough she really is.
"Kill me," I say, and I drop my arrow and give her a perfect shot.
I am no longer threatened. In fact, I'm amused. Very amused.
And I can tell that she is surprised.

I laugh.
I knew you weren't that stong, I think.
Then I look at her again. I can tell by her face that she thinks that I'm crazy. I think I owe her some explanations.
I sit down on the ground, feeling the soft grass. I lay my bow down beside me, and look at her.
I'm not angry anymore. I'm happy, and calm, and quiet, like I usually am.
I choose my words carefully.
"Kill means food," I say. "Food means money. And people will do anything for money. Including throwing some knives." I pause and look her straight in the eye. "Welcome to District Nine."
I smile, though there is nothing humorous about it.
Then I carefully pull out my rabbit from my kill bag. It could bring me some good money. The fur could help make a warm blanket for me and my mother. The meat would be sent to the Capitol, and then we would get money, so we could eat a good meal for the first time in days.
But then again, I'm not a wanderer. And I could catch another rabbit.
I toss it to the girl without a second thought. She may need it more than me.
"My name's Jestina," I say. "Jestina Lelborne."

The girl has jumped down from the tree. She catches the rabbit, and looks at it for a moment.
The girl tosses back the rabbit. I have to admit, I'm a little relieved. It will bring me some money.
She comes and sits next to me.
"I am Victoria," the girl says. I don't expect a last name. Wanderers usually don't have one.
She's okay. I mean, I can still tell she's unsure about me. I want to explain further, but years of silence keep my mouth shut.
I take this moment to really look at her. Behind that show-off-ness, I can see that she's actually trying to be nice. I can imagine tons of other people in the forest who have attacked her directly, then called her dangerous and deadly just because she protected herself.
I should know. A year ago a bear attacked me. It ran towards me. I threw my knife in front of me, thinking it would stop, but... well, at least the meat brought riches and the fur brought warmth.
Suddenly I hear something. Another rabbit, maybe. I take my bow and shoot in the direction of the noise, completely forgetting Victoria untill the last minute. I hope she doesn't think I'm showing off.
A plump rabbit falls out of the shadows. I leave it there. It might attract another, bigger animal. More money.
Then I look back at Victoria.
Maybe we can become friends. Or even hunting partners. I wonder how long she's staying. I make a mental note to ask.
"Are you any good at hunting?" I ask.

"Yes, for a long, long time," says Victoria. "How else do you think I survive in the woods?"
I smile, thinking of the possibilities of this girl. I'm sure she's pretty good with those knives, otherwise she wouldn't keep them close.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a fox coming to get the rabbit.
"It doesn't matter if you survive," I say, taking my bow and arrow and shooting the fox. "It only matters if you survive well."
I remember another wanderer I saw. They were skinny, and dirty, and suffering. And that was worse than being dead.
But I think Victoria is pretty well off. She seems like she's eating enough, and surviving okay.
I know that I should get the fox and the rabbit, but something keeps me in my place, waiting for another creature to come. Instinct, I guess.
I remember something suddenly.
"So, how long are you going to be here?" I ask, and secretly hope that the answer is a long time.
But either she doesn't answer or I don't hear her, because at that moment, a bear steps out of some bushes, smelling my kill, and obviously, it's not in a good mood, because it looks at us and I know if we don't hurry, we're next.

OOC: I though we needed some excitement, so here it is...