The Hunger games - I'm still breathing (Everlark)

Chapter 37

"Hold your chin slightly higher up, Katniss."

"Like this, daddy?" I ask, sticking my nose in the air.

My father lets out a deep, hearty laugh.

"No baby, like this," he says, whilst tilting my head forward a little. "Now take a deep breath and look straight down your arrow."

I try to still my hand that's shaking from the effort of holding my bow in the same position for the past hour. I spot a crook in the middle of a tree that stands a good few meters in front of me and make it my target. I keep my gaze in line with the arrow, draw back my arm and let it fly.

A delirious giggle escapes from my mouth as I stare in shock at the arrow that has planted itself smack bang into the crook. My father cheers beside me.

"I did it, daddy!" I scream, wrapping my arms around his waist.

He leans over and swoops me up, twirling me around in the air.

"You did do it! You'll be shooting the squirrels down with me in no time!" he says.

My father's face is aglow with pride.

"Will I be as good as you some day, daddy?" I ask him.

"Even better! I bet you'll be the one shooting all our dinners down soon and I'll get to stay in bed on a Sunday," he winks at me.

"No, daddy!" I laugh, "You have to always come to the woods with me! Promise me you will?" I plead.

My father is quiet for a moment, staring hard into the distance. I begin to think he has forgotten what I asked him and am about to ask again when he says,

"I will always be here in the woods with you, baby girl, no matter what."

He kisses me on my forehead and places me back on the ground. Satisfied with his answer, I take hold of his hand and start to lead him along the trail back home.

Little did I know how much I would need those words to get me through the difficult times in the years that were to come.

A sudden movement from a near by bush snaps me out of my daydream. I draw back my arrow and wait. A rabbit's face appears through the greenery and sniffs cautiously at it's surroundings. I hold my breath and remain completely still. When the rabbit decides the coast is clear, it hops forward, fully revealing itself out in the open. Now's my chance. It would be an easy target.

But I can't do it.

I sigh and throw my bow and arrow on to the forest floor. The rabbit flinches, turns on it's heel and scurries back to it's hiding place in the bush. My conscience, it seems, wants to hold me back from killing another living being. I get to my feet and begin to meander along through the woods. The dead leaves and twigs crunch beneath my boots, the noise having a strangely calming affect.

When I see the tree that I shot at thirteen years ago, I realise where I am. My earlier day dream has inspired my feet to lead me in this direction. I circle the tree until I find the 'KE' engraved neatly into the side. My initials. My father told me that he came back the next day to mark it, so that we'd always remember. He said that it was the day that I turned into a real hunter. I think about the words he passed on to me that day.

"I will always be here in the woods with you, baby girl, no matter what."

I lean my forehead on the bark of the tree and let out a ragged breath. The first tears of the day begin to fall. I need my father now more than ever.