"Daddy!"

The gray-eyed dark haired girl runs up to me, her hair bobbing in the wind behind her. Her small arms wrap around my legs. It's incredible how such a small and fragile thing could hold such a strong grip on my heart.

"I have a surprise for you", I whisper into her ear.

Her eyes twinkle and she pulls back from my embrace. She is barely able to contain her excitement.

"What is it?" she questions, a smile spreading across her face.

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise would it?" I joke playfully.

"Oh, please daddy!" She bats her eyelashes and makes a pouty face.

I laugh.

She acts like she is offended, but the way she struggle to keep the corners of her mouth turned down, tells me differently.

"Come with me", I say. Katniss grabs my hand, interlocking her small fingers with mine. She swings are arms back and forth.

She talks about her day at school, and rolls her eyes when she tells the story about singing in front of the class.

When we reach the fence, her face turns to mine, with a puzzled look on it.

"What are we doing here daddy?"

"I'm going to teach you how to hunt."

"Really?" Her eyes are filled with curiosity.

I chuckle, listening for the sounds of electricity pulsing through the fence. I hear none.

I pick up her small body and fling her over my shoulder, walking towards the hole in the fence. Katniss giggles as I set her back down. I wedge my large body in between the fence and ground and pull myself through. I reach back for Katniss and drag her through. I snicker as she stands up; her dress is plastered with mud.

"What first?" she asks.

I decide a good place to start is with identifying plants.

"You see these berries?" I say firmly. She nods. "They are called Nightlock. If they are consumed you will die almost instantly". She nods solemnly.

Next, I take her to my hollowed tree and show her how to retrieve the bow and arrow concealed inside.

"It is very important that you let no one see you while you hunt. Promise me you won't get caught" I warn her.

"I promise" she says confidently.

I take her small hands in mine and look straight into her twinkling eyes.

"Are you ready to learn how to use the bow?"

She bobs her head up and down.

I begin teaching her the proper stance and firing positions. She has a determined look on her face. I hand her the bow, and she tries to position herself properly with the extra weight. I assist her in niching the arrow. Katniss squints her eyes and bites her tongue as she tries to focus on her target. She releases her fingers and lets the arrow fly into a tree about 30 feet away. That's my Katniss.

"Did you see that daddy? I did it!" she flings her arms around me.

"You were amazing sweetie."

Katniss's face is filled with so much contentment and satisfaction that it's hard not to smile just looking at her.

Going into the woods to hunt and gather plants became "our" thing. A couple afternoons a week I would sneak into the forest with Katniss, and we would hunt squirrels and pick raspberries.

I'm not exactly sure why I brought my 5 year old daughter into the woods, but I knew it was the right decision.

When I stared into the darkness of the collapsed coal mine, filled with debris and dust, I was comforted with the fact that Katniss could take care of my family. My last moments of life were not suffered in agony or grief, but in joy and happiness. I had fulfilled my duty as a father, teaching Katniss to survive. Even though my body perishes, I will forever be with Katniss. WE are survivors.