I hope you enjoy it and I hope it provides a better introduction to the character. Feel free to comment! And don't be afraid to be critical! I would love an honest opinion so I know where to go with it.
~ Dawn ~
I ducked under a branch even though I was short enough that I didn’t have to. It was instinct, though I wasn’t entirely sure why. Maybe it was because I saw everyone else do it so I automatically copied them. I stopped at my favorite tree, or really it was two trees that grew together at the bottom and then split apart. I put my foot in between the two trees, and grasping the branches above me I pulled myself up. I wove around the tree, climbing higher until I got to one of the last sturdy branches were I sat. I loved sitting here, I was just high enough to have a good view of the woods, but the branches and leaves still managed to mostly conceal me. I held my bow with my left hand and aliened an arrow with my right. Now for the hard part, waiting.
In my opinion hunting is a lot like fishing. You sit still and quiet waiting for your prey to just wander near you so you could catch it. I only went fishing once when I was a little girl so I could be completely wrong, but still all I ever saw fishermen do was sit there with the fishing pole waiting for a fish to take the bait. Here I sat, waiting for an animal to wander across my path, hopefully one that would be good to eat. Then I would have to kill it, sometimes I missed. That was always disappointing. Once I got it, if I got it, then I would have to haul it all the way back home. I always enjoyed the idea of hunting, but when I was actually doing it I found it quite boring.
“Do you mind if I use this tree too?” Adam asked, his presence startling me. I didn’t hear or see him come.
I looked down to find him standing at the base of the tree behind me. “Sure, I don’t mind.” I said, puzzled at why he would even want to use this tree too. I thought he preferred to hunt on the other side of the woods by himself.
When I glanced down again I saw him climbing the tree adjoined to mine. He moved swiftly and with ease as if he’d climbed this tree a hundred times before. Maybe he has. But when? I’m always here and this is the first time he’s ever joined me. I blinked and looked away, realizing that I was staring at him too long. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him arm his bow.
“Isn’t it kind of silly to be hunting in the same place?” I asked once I’d finally worked up the bravery.
He was an intimidating person to talk to, so silent and always looking as though he were judging you or something. When I looked back at him I saw that he was looking at me and our eyes met. It wasn’t often he made eye contact either. He either looked right through you, or he barely bothered to glance at you at all. He was a mystery to me.
“I guess so.“ He said, averting his gaze for a moment. “But this way if one of us misses the other might be able to hit it. And when we do get something it will be easier to take back to Pacem.”
“I’m not going to miss.” I said, too proud of myself to admit that I did miss… a lot….
“No, but I might. You can catch that ones I can’t get.” He said. It was probably the longest sentence I’d ever heard him say in one sitting. Come to think of it, this had to be the longest conversation we’d ever held. I didn’t expect that response from him either, it made me feel guilty for being so prideful.
“ You? Miss?” I smiled and shook my head. “Aaron said you are the best marksman we have. He told me you never miss a shot.”
“Is that so?” What was that I heard in his voice? It almost sounded lighthearted. Adam? The always solemn, dead serous Adam… being lighthearted?
“Although, I suppose he does have a tendency to exaggerate everyone’s qualities and skills.” I said, sort of playing along… if there was anything to play along with in the first place.
“It’s just his way of building people up, but I don’t think he realizes that by doing so he could just as easily tear them down.” He said, the seriousness returning to his voice. He looked back into the woods as he spoke.
“How could he could possibly tear people down by praising them?” I asked, not seeing where Adam was coming from with that idea.
“Too much pride.” He traced the curve of his long bow with his finger.
I looked at my crossbow and then back at him as his hand came to a rest on a branch and he looked up to the woods around us. It was early morning, the first rays of light were just peeking through the forest and casting long shadows on the ground. The usual silence came. I wasn’t sure if I was more comfortable when it was quiet or when he was talking. I was a little nerves talking to him, but now that the silence came it felt like any noise I made would be too loud. When I glanced at him I saw him look away. Why was he looking at me? I looked down, running my hand over my French braid to make sure none of the stray hairs were sticking out. A few strands of hair had fallen around my face, but other than that it seemed fine.