As I pull back my arrow, I gaze wonderingly at the creature it's aimed at. Poised on the tallest branch of the towering oak in before me is the most magnificent bird I have ever seen. At a first glance, it looks like it could be any common bird, with gray and brown speckled feathers covering its body. But I have been watching him for quite some time now, concealed by the bushes. When it roused from its sleep, extending its wings and adjusting position, I saw a flash of color on its underside. Beneath its wings was the most beautiful collage of colors and patterns, like an explosion of fireworks.
Just as I'm about to release the arrow that would mean certain death for that bird, I realize what it is. I've seen it in pictures before, only it was said to be extinct. I lower my bow. What on earth is an Althea doing in the middle of the forest? I thought the Capitol had killed them off years ago. But, because of how glorious the sight of it is, I tuck away a picture of it in my mind an move on to find other game, not willing to kill what could be the last Althea left.
Being sure to make as little sound as possible, I disappear deeper into the forest, with my arms up, bow at the ready. I hear a rustling in the brush to the left, and freeze, slowly turning my head to the side. There's a rabbit nibbling on some grass no more than five yards away. I easily take it out with a shot straight through the eye, and go to retrieve my prize. I pull out the arrow, wipe it off, and put it back into my quiver. Then I skin and clean the rabbit, wrapping it in plastic and placing it in my game bag. As I walk back to the fence at the edge of the forest, the sun begins to set. The sky explodes with color, the sun a glowing, red orb sinking behind the mountains. After a half hour or so, the air has cooled and the forest has gone black, the few stars not covered by clouds twinkling above me. Only the light of the moon is left to guide me.
I reach the fence and as I'm about to sneak under the gap in the metal, I catch the soft buzzing sound that means it's alive with electricity. I jerk back, completely shocked. The fence surrounding District 12 is hardly ever on. We barely have enough electricity to power people's homes and this fence isn't usually a priority. Why would anyone want break into to the poorest District of the lot? I sit down and lean my back against a tree, thinking of what to do. A single touch and 1,000 volts of electricity jumps into you. So, obviously, I can't come into contact with it in any way. Calling for help isn't and option, because I'm not supposed to be out here in the first place. And I don't know much about electricity, so I wouldn't be able to shut it down, I would need Gales help with that. I could wait it out, but the freezing temperature and snow-covered ground may be an issue.
I examine the tree to my right. It has a branch that sticks out slightly over the barbed wire-top of the fence, but it could easily be a twenty-foot drop. I could get to the top of the tree no-problem, but getting to the ground could be dangerous. There's no knowing how much longer the fence will stay on, but I have a feeling this may be my only chance to get out.
I climb up to the branch and slide to the end of it. Then I cautiously lower myself down until I'm just hanging by my hands. Luckily, there's a snow bank below, but seeing as I'm still about twenty feet in the air, it won't do much to cushion my fall.
I take a deep breath, and let go.