Author's Note: This is takes place the year before Tris joins Dauntless. Keep in mind...I have only seen the movies and I know of one spoiler from the book. So, I'm writing from what I know from the movies. Not the books with the exception of one crucial detail.

I felt sweat bead on the back of my neck as I watched the deer grazing. I knelt behind a bush about a few feet from the deer. I heard a bird just above me only to see my boyfriend, Jonas, in the tree. He was very good at making bird noises. I couldn't make one to save my life.

I heard two more bird calls. One from a tree right across from the bush I hid behind, which is where my mother was. The other from the bush right cross from mine, which is where my father was. My brother, Sol, was right behind a tree to the left. There was another person hiding behind the tree to the right. It was Jonas' best friend, Adam.

The deer was completely surrounded by us. I put the arrow on the bow's string, and began to pull it back. The tip of the arrow had a sedative dart attached to it. It was designed to put the deer into a deep sleep that it wouldn't feel anything when the time came to slaughter it. I raised the arrow till the point was on the deer's side. Then, I shot the arrow.

It was a direct hit. The deer kicked and thrashed as the sting of the dart surged in it's side. However, the sedative dart acted quick as the deer surrendered to the effects of the dart within a minute.

"Good job, Gemma!" My dad said happily as he came out from behind the bush across from mine.

I heard a thud behind me as my boyfriend had come down from the tree. "That's my girl!" He said happily as he kissed my temple and put his arm around me.

"Nice shot, sis!" Sol added.

My mom came down from the other tree. "Alright, time for the hard part." She warned as she drew a hunter's knife. I knew what was coming. Even after two years, I couldn't stomach watching an animal get killed. It didn't matter if it was deeply sedated.

"Do you want to do it, Alana?" My dad asked my mother curiously.

"I can do it, Brandon." My mom said as she knelt down beside the unconscious deer. She held the knife to the deer's throat, and I looked away before she slit it. Unfortunately, I still heard the gurgle sound as blood filled the deer's mouth and a slight choking sound. Then, the deer was silent.

"I hate that part." I remarked as I turned around to see the deer dead. My dad picked up the deer where the head is while my brother picked up the part where the tail is.

"I know, sweet heart." My mom said sympathetically as she walked over to me and kissed my forehead. "However, it has to be done."

"It's not like the deer was aware of it." Jonas pointed out to me, squeezing my shoulder slightly.

"I know"

"Trust me, if it wasn't for these sedation darts...I wouldn't be able to kill the deer at all." My mom said as she put her head through the hole of the bow, so it rested on her back.

"I don't even think Johanna would allow us to hunt without them." My dad put in.

Johanna Reyes was a representative of our fraction, Amity. We don't have a leader for our faction as we vote on everything as a whole.

We started to hunt just two years ago when we had trouble keeping up with the meat supply because an epidemic had killed most of our livestock. My dad had come up with a way to protect the animals from this deadly virus since he had knowledge about fighting viruses since he was Erudite-born. So, we haven't had problems with our livestock dying since then. We did continue to hunt as a way of putting pressure off those that took care of the animals. We didn't hunt often. Probably once or twice a year

My mother was quite surprised that Johanna actually allowed Amity to have a small hunting party that consisted of my parents, my brother, my boyfriend, Adam, and I. Johanna wanted to keep our hunting party a secret from the other fractions because it would go against our rule of no violence. However, sometimes you need to do what you need to do to survive.

We put the dead deer in the back of the horse drawn cart. My mom and dad got into the seat to drive the cart while the four of us sat around the deer. My dad made some clicking noises to let the horse, Byron, know it was time to go. It took us a day to get back to the Amity compound. My dad, Sol, Jonas, and Adam took the deer to the building where we would skin and butcher the animals. It's a chore I had no part in. I sedate deer. Not kill, skin, and butcher them

I went with my mother to Adam's parents' house. They were watching my little sister, Daisy. She is eight-years-old.

"Mommy!" She squealed in delight as she ran into my mom's arms.

"How's my little girl doing?" My mom asked her curiously, giving my little sister a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm doing great, mom! I helped with weeding today."

"Good girl!"

Daisy ran to me, and gave me a big hug. "Hey Gemma!"

"Hey, Little One!" I hugged my sister back. "Did you behave for Adam's parents?"

She stuck out her chest. "Of course, I did! I'm a good girl."

"Did she behave?" My mom asked Adam's mom as a way to double check that my sister wasn't lying.

"Yes, she did." Adam's mom replied. "It's always a joy to watch Daisy. She is such a big help."

"I'm glad to hear it. See you tomorrow!"

"Bye ladies" Adam's mom said as she went back into the house.

We walked back to our house that we shared with a few other families. Jonas' family was one of them.

"So, are you looking forward to the aptitude test?" My mom asked me curiosity.

Ah, the test that would determine which fraction I should belong to based on my personality. Then, we had the Choosing Ceremony the day after our test to decide which fraction we would be a part of. We became full fledged members of society when we chose what fraction we wanted to be in. I took this test in a week from now. It shouldn't be hard for me. I know I want to be Amity. I was peaceful, kind, and happy.

"I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to it." I corrected my mom. "However, I'm not dreading it either."

"You'll do well." My mom assured me as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders and gave my shoulder a squeeze.

When we got home, we got ready for bed. Mom and I were both wiped out from our hunting trip. Daisy was tired from helping Adam's parents out. It was midnight before my dad, brother, and Jonas joined us.

"Sorry we're late" Jonas whispered to me as he got into the bed next to mine.

"It's okay." I whispered back as I took his hand.

"We needed to shower after we butchered the deer."

"I don't blame you."

He chuckled. "Adam didn't shower though. I think he likes being covered in blood."

"Ew"

He chuckled again. "I know...Adam is weird."

"Maybe he will shower when he gets to his house."

"Maybe" Jonas yawned. "So, how are you feeling about the test next week?"

"It should be okay." I told him. "I already know which fraction I'm going to choose."

"This one?"

"Yep"

"It would be great." He said tiredly. "I don't know what I would do if you chose something else."

"I don't plan on choosing anything else."

"I'm happy to hear that." He said with a smile. He puckered his lips slightly, and I leaned over to him to kiss him. "Good night, love"

"Good night"

We fell asleep holding hands. We have been falling asleep this way for the last six months, even though we have been together for a year. We have talked about getting married shortly after I join Amity. Of course, things didn't end up going to plan.