I stealthily walk through the dense forest tracking a huge black bear that I saw a mile back. It seems like it's heading towards the river. I can probably get some fish to, if I have time. When I'm about five feet away I climb a tall tree then survey the area. I'd rather not get killed because I accidentally walked into the damn thing. I'm glad I did because it's not that far away from me. In fact it's so close I can see it's eyes, not well but enough to hit it.
Pulling my bow off my shoulder I and load it with an arrow. I wait till I can see it's eye better. Focusing on the organ I release the string and pray. To my glee the arrow goes through it's eye and into the brian. The bear lets out a roar then collapses. Climbing down the tree I walk to the twitching body. Lifting it's head I snap it's neck then lift it onto my shoulders. The damn thing is so big it's feet are still dragging.
Hunting, helping carry cargo around the markets, and working in the mines has really helped me bulk up enough to carry anything. But my body is still slim looking due to my lack of proper nourishment. I only eat small quantities of meat so my diet's mainly bread, veggies, and fruits. After a few miles I reach a silver hatch. Dropping the bear I open the hatch then pick up the bear again.
This time I heft it up bridal style and carry it down the steps. I walk down a long corridor then take a left into a huge room. In the center of the room is a large steel table. Gingerly I lay the bear down on it's back then shake out my arms. Alright it's time to get to work. I pull a pair of latex gloves out of my back pocket then put them on.
Pulling out my skinning knife I start to make a shallow incision just above the pelvis. Holding the knife blade upward, to prevent cutting any organs or the intestines, I run the knife from it's pelvis to it's throat. Next I make an incision from the chest along the inside of the front legs until I reach the paws. Stopping at the base of each front paw I find the joint where the wrist-bone reaches the base of the paw.
I set down the skinning knife before pulling out my dagger, which has a sharp serrated back. Using the serrated side I cut through the joint to separate the wrist from the body.
Switching back to the skinning knife I make the same incision I did on the arms on it's hind legs. Like before I sever the bone between the wrist and body.
As cautiously as I can I work my skinning knife between the hide and the flesh to separate it from the body. I continue till it is free from the carcass. Picking up my serrated dagger I use it to separate the head from the body.
Laying the hide out on the floor, fur down. I take off my gloves off then throw them away. Grabbing a new pair I put them on before getting my bag of salt and a few glass jars. After rubbing the entire skin side of the hide with 20 pounds of salt I turn back to the headless and pawless carcass, covered in layers of white fat.
Now it is time for the more laborious task, butchering the beast. Since this room was once a morgue it is cold enough to keep it the meat in good condition. Using my dagger I cut off the outer, jelly-like, fat. I carefully shave off the fat chunks, getting as close to the red bear meat as possible.
I put the excess fat In a jar to sell at the hobbs, along with the fur, and paws. Putting down the knife I pick up my steel hand saw. After sawing the sternum down the middle I split the rib cage into two halves. Setting down the saw I separate the tenderloin from it. Next I cube them and set them aside.
Again I pick up my dagger then insert the knife just under the rib meat, on the outside of the animal's rib cage. Running my knife along the flesh and the rib bones the start peeling off the rib meat.
I strip the rest of meat from the carcass then cube the meat. After rubbing each piece down with some salt I wrap them in white wax paper, which I keep in a drawer on the side of the table. When I finish wrapping each piece I toss it into a plastic bucket under the table. I do the same with the organs but I put them in separate jars. Well except for the heart that I keep aside and mark with words. As soon as I finish I take off my gloves then hose down the table and bones. I can sell the other organs and bones to the butcher. He likes to cook with the them.
Letting out a tired sigh I pick up the meat bucket and heart before heading for the stairs on the other side of the room. These stairs lead to a wooden door, which leads to the basement of my home. I open the door then make my way up another stairscase to the first floor. Exiting my home I find that it's still dark out. As quickly as I can I travel to each house in the steams and knock on the windows three times.
The men of the houses come to the door then look at me. They always smile and take the meat, with soft thank yous. When I get to homes that consist of families that lost a loved one to the mines I sneak in through the window. I leave three pieces of meat on the table or counter then leave. When I get to the Everdeen house I set down two pieces of meat and the heart. On the organ I wrote for Katniss.
Finally I break into the miner's mess hall and leave the rest of the meat, minus four pieces, in the freezer.
Finally finished I head to my "great Uncle", Avon Mellark's, bakery. He lives in a three bedroom house above the bakery with his son Flint, daughter-in-law Niobe, and their son Peeta. I pull out my keys then unlock the door and walk in.
"I was wondering when you'd get here Tor." The old man says as he prepares the morning bread.
He's tall and rather old for an inhabitant of district 12. His once golden blonde, shoulder length, hair is now silver. He has a few wrinkles on his weary face but they don't seem to be taking away from his handsomeness. My emerald green eyes meet his lively crystal blues. Smirking I set the meats on a counter by the stove.
"It's bear meat so you have to be careful cooking it."
He lightly taps my golden blonde head then chuckles, "I know how to cook bear boy. Now get up stairs and take a shower. Get yourself cleaned up before breakfast. After you can sleep in my bed."
With a chuckle of my own I head up the stairs and into his room. The walls are white and always clean. The floors are polished red wood. Against the left wall is a long red oak dresser with family pictures on it. In the middle of the room against the wall across from the door is a king sized bed. It's covered with a black sheet and pillow cases. Atop the sheets is a big fluffy thick caramel comfiture. On it is a formal outfit for me to wear to the reaping.
It consists of a white button down shirt, black slacks with a silver button and zipper, black dress socks, a white compression tank top, black boxers, and black suspenders. Everything looks brand spanking new and fancy. I can't help but frown as I look at the outfit, a gift from my deadbeat parents no doubt. Gathering up the cloths I put them on the dresser. Stripping off my dirty clothes I head to the adjoining bathroom.
Pop-pop is the only one with a private bathroom but he lets me use it. It's got big black tiles on the floor and smaller ones halfway up the wall. The rest of the wall is an Ivory white color, like the sink and toilet against the right wall. In the center of the room is a small eggshell white tub with a steel shower head and curtain rod. There are two curtains on the rod. On is an outer clear white plastic curtain. The other is made of a black waterproof, silk like, fabric with red flames on it. My grandma gave him those curtains, bought them from district 1 before she came to twelve.
I can't help but tear up as I think about her. I've never been able to cope with her death, not well at leat. With a sigh I walk to the tub then turn on the water. Since all the water here is hot around this time I have no choice but to take a hot shower. As I step into the tub I make sure the curtains are completely closed before I grab my lufa. Pop-pop likes to use this special liquid body wash he gets from the mayor. It smells strong but has a beautiful scent. I can't really describe it cause I've never smelled anything so good before, that and it doesn't have a label on it so I don't know what it is.
Pouring a decent amount on my lufa I start to scrub my body clean. I scrub till my skin turns red then rinse my body off. Placing my lufa back on the hook I pick up the two in one shampoo and conditioner. It doesn't have a scent but it does make my scalp feel nice. I squeeze a small glob into my left hand then set the bottle down. Wetting my hair a bit I rub the liquid through it. My hair is short so washing it is really quick. After rinsing out my hair I turn off the shower. Opening the curtain I see that the door to the bedroom is open. On the bed is a white towel and a tray of food.
Smiling I step out of the tub then enter the room and grab the towel. After drying off I apply the lotion and deodorant left on the dresser. I then pull on my socks, boxers, and tank top before sitting on the bed. Pulling the plate into my lap I examine the tray. It consists of a slice of buttered toast, some scrambled eggs, a bowl of milk and cornbread, and four thin strips of meat.
I slowly eat my food then carry the tray down stairs. Sitting at the small round dinner table is Flint, Pop-pop's son. He looks like his father just younger and huskier. His face isn't wrinkled and his hair is still the color of warm honey. The man smiles at me as I come down.
"I'll take that." He says as he stands up and reaches for my plate.
I give it to him and watch as he hands it to his wife, Niobe. Since she was already washing the dishes she cleans the plate off quick. She's a gorgeous woman with a nice curvy figure. Her skin is a light olive tone and doesn't seem to have a single blemish. She has long dirty blond hair that really looks great with her grayish blue eyes. Niobe is a really nice woman, the complete opposite of her mom. I honestly don't know how someone so good came out of someone so evil. None of us really do actually, we're just happy she's so great.
"So what time did you get here?" Flint asks while sitting back down.
I shrug then look to Pop-pop for an answer.
"Boy got here an hour ago." He says for me before eating a spoonful of eggs.
"Really? What were you doing all night?" Niobe inquiries.
"Taking down a bear." I reply as I put my plate I the sink.
She places her hand on my arm as she looks me over.
"Are you alright?" She asks in a motherly tone.
If I had a family it would be the Mellarks. They all love me like I'm their own. Flint thinks of me as the baby brother he never had. Niobe see me as the firstborn son she lost to illness. Peeta thinks of me as the older brother he never knew he almost had. Avon sees me as a new son for him to take care of, since Flint is to old and Peeta has Flint. Yeah it's weird and mixed up but I love it.
"I'm fine." I respond while giving her a kind smile.
This causes her to brighten up as she sits beside me.
"Great. Go get some sleep kid, you need it" Flint say before heading out the back door.
"He's right go on boy sleep in today, it's not like you have work." Pop-pop states.
"Plus we already plan to let you and Peeta sleep till 11:40. All children deserve to get all the rest they can on Reaping day." Niobe says sullenly.
With a nod I walk back up the stairs and into Pop-Pop's room. I close the door then walk to the bed. As I get under the covers I realize just how sleepy I really am. Laying my head on the pillow I close my eyes and let the darkness consume me.