{R}eady...{S}et...{G}o---Open

[Leopard]

Wisssssshhh said the wind as it was dancing threw the trees. It was carrying the sweet smell of salt from the near by ocean. The sun was just peeking threw the bottoms of the trees, making it dawn.The wind carried the smell of salf, it was about a 3 days walk from where the young hunter and her companion standing at her side. In one hand she held a home maid bow she made from the forest around her, on her back laid a leather quiver filled with sharp ready to use arrows. Odin her pure breed Nother wolf stood to her brests. On his bown and white fur, Noel had made a coustom leather "backpack" to hold food, water, supplies, and most of all weopons.
The two friends were tracking the elk that were migrating through District 7. Killing just one of these beast, would provide her and Odin food for months, the pelt for clothing or bedding, or trading it at the Hob for money. In the back of her mind;I hope I get more than one! But with Odin helping me, I'm sure I'll more than one. Looking at Odin with her soft eyes, she touched his soft warm fur, griping it in her small hand loving her soft friend. Odin was all she had in her life. No real friends, and no family.
"Odin, can you smell elk? Which way?" Noel whispered softly letting go of him, crouching low to the ground. Watching him, Noel saw him lift his huge head into the air, and began to search for any smell of elk in the area. Spinning around he woofed towards the northeast. Noel nodded and picked her bow and began to dash foward towards where Odin smelled the herd of prey.
She whistled at Odin and he began to run ahead; Noel fallowed Running at a good paste for about 15 mintues, Noel spotted Odin low to the ground, wagging his tail slightly telling Noel the elk were in striking distance. Crawling up next to him, there they were, like sitting ducks. In a soft tone Noel whispred in his wolf's ear "Go in front of the group so you can kill one...". Odin nodded to her as she knew that Odin understoond. As silent as a mouse, he went way in front of the herd and waited for Noel to strike frist. Noel went to a tree and began to use the branchs to pull herself, and her wepons. Noel knew the best place was to hit in the chest killing it fast, or wounding it in the leg making it fall to the ground.
Getting herself in a posistion, she lifted her bow, reached behind her, and placed an arrow in bow. Pulling the string back, taking a deep breath, she aimed at a near by elk. Letting out, the arrow travled silently threw the trees, and stuck bull in the heart dropping it. Then the herd paniced and began to run towards Odin. Dawling another arrow, she pulled back and let go. Wounding another, making it drop. In a flash, Noel was down the tree running towards the wounded animal. Leaping on it, she pulled a knife she traded, and slit it's throat. Looking up Odin had one in his jaws dying....dying...dead.
Happy with herself and Odin's kill she whistled and Odin trotted over, and she gave him a hug. "It looks like we are gonna have to build a wagon thingy to get these home." Noel said in a great mood. But frist, she and Odin dragged the kills all togetger. Noel wanted to eat lunch. Getting dried rabbit jerkey, and fish jerkey, she gave half to Odin and the other half for her. What a great way to start the morning.

[mustangcanyon]

An axe really isn't the best weapon to use when hunting, not even close, but a knife wasn't much better. Those were the only weapons at his disposal, so he would use them the best way he could. The boy's stomach growled and he was reminded of the hunger in his belly. Money had been very scarce recently and even with him and three of his siblings working in the lumber yard the family of seven.

Ember knew little about hunting. He had killed only a few things in his time, mostly to put them out of their misery. He hated to see animals suffering, or people suffering for that matter. That was part of the reason for his current expedition. His family was going to go hungry if he didn't find them some food. Meat was too expensive to buy at the market at the moment so the sixteen year old figured going hunting was his best option. He hoped he was being quiet enough. He hadn't seen anthing yet, not even a squirrel.

Ember stopped for a moment, listening. He could hear a girl's voice in the distance. What would a girl be doing all the way out there? The tall boy moved as quietly as he could towards the girl's voice. He stopped behind a large bush and peered over it. There was a girl standing over a couple of elk with a wolf standing near her. The whole scene seemed a little odd to Ember. One of those elk would feed his family for a couple of weeks at least.

Ember walked forward, clearing his throat, "Excuse me, but would you like some help?" Ember made sure to stop a good distance away from the two. He really didn't want to get bitten by a wolf.

[Leopard]

Noel watched Odin chew his jerky into nothing, and falling into a black hole in his stomach. Whitney ripped off a chuck of rabbit jerky and began to chew. At the corner of her eye, she saw Odin’s fur began to rise on his tail, letting the young hunter know something or someone was near. Slipping the bow off her chest, and reaching an arrow in seconds, she held the bow steady and strong. Drawing the bow back, she slowed her breathing to almost nothing. She was hopping it wasn’t someone from the Capitol. If it were, she wouldn’t be afraid to shoot, and kill. She made a small clicking noise alerting Odin to be on guard.
Taking a deep breath, she spoke in a soft but serious tone, “Who is out there, show yourself. Or I will shot or send to wolf in.” She was hoping she was bluffing but if it came down to it, she would fight to the death. Whitney held her focus was from her bow making sure it was ready and to the forest; waiting for any sign of sound, movement, or even sent. Whitney was ready. Please be some person here at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[mustangcanyon]

Ember heard the girl's warning and quickly made his way out into the open where he could be easily seen, his hands up in a sign of truce. "There is no need for either of those, please. I don't mean you any harm. I just wondered if you might like some help with your kill." He decided not to add the fact that he really wanted some of her kill. His stomach was hurting from hunger and he knew his younger brothers weren't fairing much better. He made sure to keep his hands out in plain sight. He didn't dream of reaching for his axe that was on his belt, or the knife he had in his boot. There would be no point in reaching for either of them. The arrow would be in his flesh before he could reach and throw either of them. He was starting to think that this was a very bad idea, but he couldn't run now. He was fast, but not that fast. He kept his golden eyes on the girl, watching for movement. If she shot the arrow he would have to duck out of the way quickly.

[Leopard]

Looking down her bow, she saw a person walk out of the shelter of the trees. In the back of her mind; she as wondering if this person was a young man or a full grown man. But the site of him, she was assuming it was a man, but by the voice of him, he was young like her. Taking a breath of relief, loosening her grip on the bow, she pointed it to the ground but was on guard. Making another double click from her mouth, she let Odin know it was alight. Looking at this young man step out of the shelter of the trees, she could notice something. Not by his size or weight, but by how he looked.
He seemed drained and weak in spirit. “I’m Whitney Waters.” She spoke softly. “You seam hungry, would you like some jerky I made? You seam hungry, I can see it in your eyes…” she trailed off at the end not wanting to make him upset. She noticed his weapons; Whitney knew he worked in the Lumber industry by the axe that was at this side. Narrowing her eyes, she lowered the bow and placed it next to her, letting it lean on a fallen log next you Odin. The young male wolf stood there, staring at the lumber worker.
Standing up she held out her hands and gazed into this stranger’s eyes. “I’ve told you my name. May I ask yours?” Whitney’s small olive white hand held out to him, waiting, and bracing herself if anything happened. A smile wiped across her face, and her blue eyes glimmered in the morning light. Deep within her she felt a good feeling about him.

[mustangcanyon]

Ember was relieved when the girl lowered her bow, but he didn't move any closer. The girl spoke her name and Ember nodded. She spoke of food and the boy's eyes lit up. He lowered his arms so that they hung at his sides. "I would love some if you can spare it." The boy was polite. He didn't really need an enemy. Most of the world was already doing a very good job of that for him. He didn't need anyone else against him. "I'm Ember Print. I would like to help you if I may. You seem to have a lot to carry." Ember took his eyes off the girl for a moment to look at her kill and then they came back to Whitney. Ember's stomach growled loudly and one of Ember's arms instantly snaked around it. He was hungry enough that it hurt. The moment passed and Ember let his hand fall back to his side.

He wouldn't ask for part of the kill yet. That would come later when the two were on better terms and the bow was no longer in the girl's hands. He reminded himself in his mind to wait. He had time. He had all the time in the world if he could get some of her kill. His family would be alright for a day maybe. They knew how to ration food.

[Leopard]

Whitney smiled and turned around, and let her bow lean on the tree next to Odin. Reaching for her leather backpack she pulled a big wad of jerky. “I made it myself.” Whitney spoke proudly. Holding the food into her hand, she held it out for Ember to take it. Looking next to her, she looked at Odin. He sat there, with his eyes on Ember. Odin felt Whitney’s gaze and looked up at her. Nodding to him she snapped and pointed her finger towards the forest. Odin’s tail began to hit the tree and he darted into the forest. Whitney put her arms behind her back as she watched her only friend run off into the forest. Deep within her, she felt a little alone without him near. Odin was her friend, and her protector.
“That’s Odin; he is harmless once you get to know him.” She said skipping to the huge elks. Whitney placed her hand on one of the lifeless bodies, it was warm still. “An answer to your question; I would love help with this.” Turing to him she smiled at him. There was something about him that she liked. Maybe it was just him being here made her feel safe. Leaping to her feet, she walked a few feet from her kills toward a tree. “I noticed the axe, so you’re good at cutting wood…” her words trailed off slightly. “Could you cut me some long pieces so I can make a stretch board to haul this meet to my place?” She lived in the forest but she was so tiny and it would take her forever to cut the wood, it normal does. Odin can’t really cut wood, he just pulls the thing.
“How is that jerky? Would you like more? I have plenty if you’re still hungry.” Looking at him she spoke softly. “For your help I can offer you some of this kill. That’s all I have to offer for your help. If you would accept it…”

[mustangcanyon]

Ember took the food that he was offered and attempted to savor it. He ended up eating it quickly because of his hunger. "Thank you." When Whitney spoke of her wolf friend Ember looked at him. He didn't know much about wolves and he wasn't really sure how to act around Odin so he stood where he was until Whitney spoke again and moved toward a tree. Ember's hand traveled to his axe. He smiled and nodded. "Yes. I can do that for you." Ember turned to the tree that Whitney stood near and touched a branch with his hand. It was a good tree, perfect for what needed to be done. Ember took the axe in his hand and swung at the branch he was touching. The axe went about half way through the branch so Ember pulled it out and swung again. The branch came off the tree in his hand. "I would love mmore jerky, if you can spare it." Ember said, looking back over at Whitney. According to her she had a place of her own, but he had never seen her before and he was very good at remembering faces. He turned back to his work and cut off a few more branches before moving to another small tree.

[Leopard]

Whitney turned and began to watch Ember chop at the tree, with so much grace and little effort. In the back of her head, she thought about how strong he was, and how long it must have taken to get to this point now. Shaking her head, she nodded to herself and sprung to her leather backpack that sat on the forest floor. Digging around, she pulled a big bag of jerky. “I have plenty of this at home, and it’s easy to make. Would you like the rest? My treat.” Whitney held out the bag, and then set it by a tree near Ember. “It’s up there. Help yourself, please.”
Running back to her pack, she dug out homemade rope she had made, and threw it towards the logs that were chopped. Whitney’s hand reached out, and brought the logs towards her. Gripping the rope on her hands she began to move quickly; weaving the rope around and logs tying them together. When there was a big enough platform, she stood up on her feet. Her olive hand wiped the sweat off her head and smiled at what Ember and she had made. “Looks great!” she squealed.
Walking over to her kill, she touched it and it still had slight warmth to it. Still good she thought. Gripping her hands around the first elk and pulled it easily on the stretch board. Looking at Odin’s kill she got a jealous look on her face. “Always get the bigger ones you mutt.” Whitney said with a slight happiness in her voice. Grabbing the second kill, she pulled it inch by inch until she couldn’t.
“Hey Ember! Can I get help with this one?” Whitney looked over her shoulder calling out. “Help me put this on here. For your help Ember, what could I give you for thanks?” Whitney dropped the elk’s back feet and turned to face Ember. She was hopping that he would pick something she could give him. It’s not often you have a stranger come and help you out. “I can give you one of the elks if that would help out with your home back in 7”. She said with her eyes slightly narrowed hoping she didn’t offend the boy with the ace.