Free in the Wind (Roro)
Sept 16, 2012 10:34:09 GMT -5
Post by heartwood on Sept 16, 2012 10:34:09 GMT -5
723
Jasper had spent a lot of time alone outside since Jade’s acceptance into the Career academy. Something about the fresh air and the scent of mountain flowers made him feel less anxious and alone. Maybe it was the thought that humans were just another breed of animal, and if the birds and the squirrels could be happy on their own, so could he.
The wind was a bit chilly, way crispier than usual; but that’s the way Jasper enjoyed it the most. Heat is too unbearable, sweating was no fun, and you could always put on more layers if it ever got too cold. There’s only so much you can do during a heat wave. Despite the recent drop in temperature, the sun was still out and shining. The clouds were few and far between; they were thin and seemingly slow moving, Jasper couldn’t help but trace the movements of the ones he had considered his favorites.
Like a child laying on his back in a plain full of grass and tiger-lilies, Jasper loved to stare at the clouds and make out shapes that he imagined in his head. Countless times he envision his mother in a place of peace and tranquility; a place far away from Panem that put an emphasis on love and happiness instead of violence and murder. Today though, was a bit different.
He saw images of medallions and trophies; a cloud flying through the sky reminded him of the beauty of an arrow cutting through a wind as crisp as the one that had been washing across his face all morning. He saw himself laughing and smiling, raising his hands in victory. He saw his sister cheering at the Olympics, audience members clapping politely after each one of his shots. It took only a few minutes for Jasper to realize he had been daydreaming; but to him, it felt like he had spent an eternity in his imagination.
The land of make-believe is a wonderful place, but one can only stay there so long. Normally filled with terror and tragedy, Jasper’s dreams were now filled with victory and recognition. Being absent from his sister had given him a new sense of independence, while being absent from his father had given him a long period of relaxation. It seemed as the more alone Jasper got, the better he felt; it was an odd thought to have, but he couldn’t help but notice just how real it truly seemed.
After years of wanting his dreams and reality to get better; wanting the nightmares to go away and his condition to improve, it seemed like Jasper was finally getting at least half of his wish. But he knew it was up to him to get the full thing. He wanted to make his dreams become a reality, he wanted the applause and the cheers…but most of all, he wanted to make his mother proud.
Jasper ran back into the armory and quickly got his bow and arrow. His father and sister would be back soon; he wanted to get some shooting in before they got home. He bolted out of the house, forgetting to lock the door behind him; it was highly unlikely anybody would go out of his or her way to steal from a house so remote you could barely place it on a map. He made is way to the secret training ground Jade and Jasper had crafted for themselves; a sacred place he had began to truly understand the full value of.
As Jasper fired off projectiles left and right, he couldn’t help but laugh as his arrows danced their way through the air into the targets. Jasper was getting even better, he could feel it. Days of training had made his breathing calmer, his muscles more relaxed. As the last arrow left his quiver and arrived at the final bull’s-eye, Jasper fist-pumped, knowing there was no one around to see his celebration. It was still a few hours from darkness, and Jasper couldn’t help but want to go another round.
He shot, shot, and shot again. This time he aimed for spots outside of the bull’s-eyes. It became a game to him, it wasn’t training; he was just having fun. If only the fun could last forever; never had Jasper had been at peace like this.
Jasper had spent a lot of time alone outside since Jade’s acceptance into the Career academy. Something about the fresh air and the scent of mountain flowers made him feel less anxious and alone. Maybe it was the thought that humans were just another breed of animal, and if the birds and the squirrels could be happy on their own, so could he.
The wind was a bit chilly, way crispier than usual; but that’s the way Jasper enjoyed it the most. Heat is too unbearable, sweating was no fun, and you could always put on more layers if it ever got too cold. There’s only so much you can do during a heat wave. Despite the recent drop in temperature, the sun was still out and shining. The clouds were few and far between; they were thin and seemingly slow moving, Jasper couldn’t help but trace the movements of the ones he had considered his favorites.
Like a child laying on his back in a plain full of grass and tiger-lilies, Jasper loved to stare at the clouds and make out shapes that he imagined in his head. Countless times he envision his mother in a place of peace and tranquility; a place far away from Panem that put an emphasis on love and happiness instead of violence and murder. Today though, was a bit different.
He saw images of medallions and trophies; a cloud flying through the sky reminded him of the beauty of an arrow cutting through a wind as crisp as the one that had been washing across his face all morning. He saw himself laughing and smiling, raising his hands in victory. He saw his sister cheering at the Olympics, audience members clapping politely after each one of his shots. It took only a few minutes for Jasper to realize he had been daydreaming; but to him, it felt like he had spent an eternity in his imagination.
The land of make-believe is a wonderful place, but one can only stay there so long. Normally filled with terror and tragedy, Jasper’s dreams were now filled with victory and recognition. Being absent from his sister had given him a new sense of independence, while being absent from his father had given him a long period of relaxation. It seemed as the more alone Jasper got, the better he felt; it was an odd thought to have, but he couldn’t help but notice just how real it truly seemed.
After years of wanting his dreams and reality to get better; wanting the nightmares to go away and his condition to improve, it seemed like Jasper was finally getting at least half of his wish. But he knew it was up to him to get the full thing. He wanted to make his dreams become a reality, he wanted the applause and the cheers…but most of all, he wanted to make his mother proud.
Jasper ran back into the armory and quickly got his bow and arrow. His father and sister would be back soon; he wanted to get some shooting in before they got home. He bolted out of the house, forgetting to lock the door behind him; it was highly unlikely anybody would go out of his or her way to steal from a house so remote you could barely place it on a map. He made is way to the secret training ground Jade and Jasper had crafted for themselves; a sacred place he had began to truly understand the full value of.
As Jasper fired off projectiles left and right, he couldn’t help but laugh as his arrows danced their way through the air into the targets. Jasper was getting even better, he could feel it. Days of training had made his breathing calmer, his muscles more relaxed. As the last arrow left his quiver and arrived at the final bull’s-eye, Jasper fist-pumped, knowing there was no one around to see his celebration. It was still a few hours from darkness, and Jasper couldn’t help but want to go another round.
He shot, shot, and shot again. This time he aimed for spots outside of the bull’s-eyes. It became a game to him, it wasn’t training; he was just having fun. If only the fun could last forever; never had Jasper had been at peace like this.
