Finishing up. (only 1 person please)

Astrid Aribarri

I do not move at all after saying what I needed for him to know. He then looks over his game back and searches for my knife. When he finds it, his blue eyes begin to look at it curiously. It is as if he’s trying to figure out something about me or how I hunt. And I do not like it. It is not that it will get me angry because it seems like he is invading my life, but more like a fear of him finding out something about myself and later judge me for my actions, etc.

I then look at him attentively and watch every gesture he makes as he peers at my knife. And with every passing second that he gazes its every detail, I slowly begin to tense up and take a few deep breaths. This makes me feel like I am being interrogated at the peacekeeper headquarters all over again. It is a horrible experience that makes you feel like some sort of criminal even though you haven’t done anything wrong.

My mind begins to debate whether to take another step forward and say something, or to just stay where I am and not say any word. But right now I cannot think clearly and therefore accede to not choose any sole option, but to do both instead. And as my legs stay firmly in position, my mind begins to command my mouth to speak. I want and am determined to say something to interrupt the boy from revising my knife. But as I slowly open my mouth to speak, no words come out, and I am shivering with an endless fear for the boy wielding my knife. And I won’t let that happen, I will not intimidate myself out of the thought of him standing there, in front of me.

And it makes me mad, that I can’t have courage to say something. I need for him to hand over the knife not only because I do not like it that he’s staring at it, but also because time is running out. Please give me my knife now. I think as my eyes peer at the rapidly setting sun.

He then turns around to face me directly and appears as if he wants to tell me something but is also, shy. The boy seems to look at me to say something but doesn’t find the way to say it. He must be scared of me or something of that kind.

I then drop my hostile gaze and try to show him a smile, but it is too hard to make it happen. I usually do not smile at anyone I do not know. But somehow, the smile I want to create comes out. It is not a grin, but a mediocre attempt to show him that I am not a mean person or anything of that kind even though I practically screamed at him for taking my knife.

"Um. Are you going hunting? If you think it's too late I'll give you some of my game. Or I will come with you...If you want." He says while trying to hide his face away from me.

Give me his game? Help me hunt? What? I think puzzled. I have never seen anyone who would say these words around here, especially to a stranger like me who has acted anything but nice. This is unrelenting. And all this inspires a bit of doubt in me. Do I really want for him to give me the game he just caught? Do I want for him to go and help me hunt?

No, I do not want for him to give me the game. He probably took hours to get his game, or maybe minutes. But the point is that it is his and not mine. I do not know him, and how can this act benefit him? And as for him hunting with me, I consider that an act of bravery. Never would I have said that to anyone. And if I probably say yes, I would just be taking up his time. But I do feel like I need help out there. I have no experience on hunting on my own and there is little time left before nightfall, and if we both help each other out there, maybe I will be able to hunt more that I could do by myself in the limited time that I have.

I then look at him with a bit of insecurity which somehow reflects as suspicion. My mind then tries to organize thoughts so that I can say to him what I actually mean. I do not want for misunderstandings. And when I think I’m ready to speak, I take a deep breath and am about to say something when he interrupts me.

"So...do you want me to go hunting with you? If you do, my name is Kyaime, and here is your knife back." He says while attempting a smile that turns out to be successful because I manage to recognize it.

I suppose I can hunt with him. It would not hurt at all and maybe he can teach me some hunting skills, after all, I am still new to this and the only thing I can do is fight with my sword. And sometimes I am really good at it that I beat the best swordsman around here. But of course, I am still learning, there is always room for more strategies regarding hunting and fighting.

“Sure, I’ll hunt with you.” I say with much pause and with a suspicious tone as if I do not trust him. And why would I trust someone easily, no one does. At least no one trusts that quickly around here after what all of us have gone through. “My name is Astrid Aribarri by the way.” I resume with confidence. Repeating my name has and will always inspire security in me since it reminds me of who I am. “And thank you for returning my knife back.” I say while extending my hand to accept the knife back.

“So,” I say while signaling towards the forest. “Do you want to go ahead and hunt already?”

Astrid Aribarri

I am beginning to doubt that Kyaime will want to hunt right away. One reason would be that he is holding a game bag with him right now and that can be a little annoying to carry around, especially when it is full like it seems to be right now. But a quick and cautious nod from him tells me that we are now ready to enter the forest and hunt in the little time we have left today.

My legs then begin to walk away from the district and towards the fence out front. But when I lack the hearing of Kyaime’s footsteps, I stop and turn around. That is where I gaze at him and notice that he is staring at the ground beneath him with so much concentration. What could he possibly be staring at so attentively?

I then look down to see what Kyaime is staring at and see a trickle of blood flowing around him. He has probably gotten an injury, perhaps from the forest and had not noticed it, until now. But how could Kyaime not have realized that he was bleeding from his feet? And how could I have not noticed it either if we have been standing in the same spot for several minutes?

My mouth is about to open to ask if he is going to be alright. After all, I would not like for someone to get extremely hurt when accompanying me to hunt because that would just make me feel guilty. But I then notice that he quickly sits down and begins to put on his socks and shoes. And I just stay silent, slowly realizing something in astonishment.

He didn’t have shoes on? I think surprised as I see him slowly standing up with an unmistakable grimace on him. And this just brings out a puzzled look on me which then turns to a sort of curiosity because I have never seen anyone walking around the district without shoes. But that might be because I don’t hang out here much.

When Kyaime turns towards me, my face quickly changes into a serious look that says it is time to go and hunt. And he seems to agree with it because he soon grabs his game bag and runs along with me towards the forest.

"Sorry, for mistaking your knife for mine and your knife is actually a lot different then mine. I am surprised I took it." Kyaime says apologetically and is if to begin a conversation.

I have never been good at talking to others. It just seems too hard for me because I am slightly pessimistic on what others might think of me. And that would be the main reason why I will usually be quiet all the time while giving any stranger a harsh glare that naturally comes out of me. That glare I somehow wish to get rid of because it is getting me nowhere. And the only thing that has earned me so far would be a greater deal of insecurity instead of what I actually meant for it initially. It is something I do not like because I love to be around people and this habit of mine is turning out to be a barrier for talking.

I then sigh and make an effort to say something back to Kyaime. Not only because he is helping me right now to hunt when he could be at his house already, but because he seems to be a nice person. And another would be that being around someone for a long time without talking seems utterly strange.

“No, it’s ok.” I say in a comprehensive tone. And that is all I can manage to come up and say for a long while.

When we begin to see the forest lines I feel like at home. It is the only place where I can feel at peace and full of security even though that does not make me hunt better or faster as most great hunters can when they are in this environment.

My face then begins to change its complexity in contrast of moments ago in the district. And it now has become more alert and serene. My green eyes soon begin to notice every single detail out there. I feel extremely confident.

Carefully, I reach out for my knife and take it out again. This will be the weapon of choice I will be using for now, unless Kyaime and I happen to be lucky enough to cross around a large animal which is highly unlikely. But if that happens, I will use my sword. And speaking of weapons, I wonder what Kyaime hunts with.

“Since we are going to hunt together, why don’t you tell me what weapons you use out here?” I say with a hint of curiosity hidden within the seriousness of my face.

And just after I ask that question, I notice something moving out in the distance that brings out a silent smile out of me. I cannot believe that we are barely coming out here and now have an opportunity to hunt right away.

Astrid Aribarri

After my question reaches Kyaime’s ears, he smiles while taking a knife out. He then looks at the ground in which he stands and looks up again, probably to check if he is either in a bad location that will make a lot of sound during hunting. And that is good, that he is taking precautions.

My eyes soon gaze carefully at the ground. There, all I can find is the rich brown dirt that is still moist after the rains from a few weeks ago. Then, on top of that lays the once crisp but now soft and noiseless yellow leaves. And that makes the ground an ally for hunters. They give no noise at all to the animals from near and far.

When my gaze lifts up towards the general, Kyaime is already up in the trees. He seems to have his eyes fixed on something downward from where he is, probably an animal. And while his eyes remain concentrated in the same direction, he slowly takes his knife out and gives it a small kiss on the blade, maybe for good luck.

The knife has what it seems to be a blue and almost purple-like gem encrusted within the black hilt. It is a very unique knife indeed. And I do not know about other districts, but here in District Nine, every knife is different. They all have a complexion that matches the personalities of their owners. Sometimes, they also have similar yet very distinct stories with them.

Take for example all the knives I carry along with me. They are similar in shape, size, and texture as most knifes around here, but when you look at them, they are difference. The blades are impeccable and reflect everything on them. Their hilts have a brown-metallic colored finish with the unmistakable engraving of my family crest in them. The blades are so pointy and deadly. They also have a story amongst them about all the adventures I have lived through. And of course I cannot forget that these knives have been with me ever since I began hunting which somehow gives me a sense of deep security when I am up here, outside the district.

And I guess this can go out for anyone as well. I mean everyone has had their shares of hunting experiences out here and therefore can conclude that each knife, no matter how similar they appear, are different. And of course this is very known amongst the District Nine residents which is the main reason why most people will customize their prized weapons in a way that not only will make them look unique, but also be a way to express yourself.

I then smile and take a quick gaze at my sword with the emeralds encrusted in them. That sword has been through so much with me that it is practically an old friend of mine. Sounds strange, that someone would have a weapon as a friend, but that seems to be the case with me. And right now I wish I could use it, but for the moment, I have to keep it sitting there until an opportunity arise in which I can use it. And now that I think of it, I haven’t used my sword in months. So I am sort of hoping that Kyaime and I can be able to go hunt big game around here even though it is unlikely.

After gazing my sword, I notice that Kyaime is conversing with his knife. I am not sure what he is saying because he is a good deal distant from the ground in which I am. And this tells me that this is dangerous because when someone is hunting with other people, they need to be able to hear everything the other says or else there is no coordination which leads to an unsuccessful hunt. That I learned the hard way a long time ago.

I then move with much stealth as close as I can get towards Kyaime. It is not a distance that one would consider ridiculous out in hunting, but it isn’t that great either. And that can be attributed to the cause that he is up in the trees, and for me to climb would not be helpful at all. This is because both of our weights in the tree can produce a debilitating noise from the very foundations of it and alert the animals nearby. Another is that if by any cause he misses, I can shoot it up close.

He then takes a second knife out, only that this time it is a knife of the same kind but with a red gem in it. And in that instant I know he is about to attack the animal that lies beneath. That alerts me into going on guard and look for a position in which I can see the animal up close, because right now I see it but cannot distinguish what it is.

My legs then look for a comfortable position to see the animal and Kyaime’s future attack. And when I find it, I notice that he is about to attack a nest of rabbits, well actually just two. One of them is sleeping and the other is plain awake but is unknown to what is going on. I am not sure as to which one Kyaime will attack, but whichever he decides to take on first, I will make sure to attack the second one so that it doesn’t escape.

I then take a deep breath and focus on the rabbits and only the rabbits. Then I see from the side Kyaime’s knife strike the one that is awake. And there is no blood coming out of it, just no movement whatsoever. This quickly awakes in a stream of alertness the other one.

I then aim at it in a millisecond and throw my knife at the same time Kyaime’s flies towards the same rabbit. This makes the animal roll over and quickly die. It is a clean kill, something I haven’t seen in a long while. This is probably because both my knife and Kyaime’s knife attacked the animal in key vital points that just paralyzed the animal to death.

I then smile at the successful kill and run towards the animals when I hear Kyaime say, "The same as you."

My legs then stop and register these words in my mind. Maybe that is why the hunt ended perfectly, because we use the same kind of weapons and possibly tactics.

I then continue on running and while I look at the rabbits I say, “Thanks for the help. Um, can you help me clean them to go ahead and place them in the bag so we can keep on hunting?”

And after that I gaze at the setting sky, remembering that at this time some of the big nocturnal animals come out.