(A/N): We're glad that everyone enjoyed our Valentines Day Wade surprise (seriously, gotta love Deadpool). And now we're back with another update, featuring once more the darling Kate Bishop and her Young Avengers, written by robbiepoo2341.

Into the Woods

Kate Bishop of District Twelve

Written by robbiepoo2341

"I got lost, but look what I found." –Irving Berlin

Knock, knock, knock.

Kate jerked awake, looking around frantically to try to find the source of the noise in her room that had scared her out of a particularly awesome dream.

At first, she thought maybe it was the tree next to her bedroom window. She'd made Daddy cut back some of the branches a few months ago after that night, but it might have grown back.

So she pushed aside the curtains to glare at her nemesis of a tree, only to stumble back a few steps in astonishment when she saw not a tree but a grinning face in her window.

"America!" she hissed, clutching at her chest. "What are you — "

America just grinned and pointed at the window. Kate sighed and opened it, allowing her friend to climb inside. America had been dangerously hanging from one of the barely-long-enough branches of that tree, so she had to jump to make it, but she got inside okay.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead. We're going hunting," America said with a fierce grin.

Kate looked out the window. "America," she said. "The sun's not even up."

"Yeah, so if we get going now, we'll get to the woods just in time for the sunrise. I was thinking we'd go out to this one lake area — lots of animals stop by there for a morning drink and a good bath," America said, pulling on Kate's arm to try to get her to move.

Kate grumbled about "crazy friends" while she struggled to find some good adventuring clothes to wear. She sent America down to the kitchen (because America was always hungry) while she got dressed, and when she got down the hallway, America already had half a roll stuffed in her mouth and was pocketing the other half, waving Kate on impatiently.

"Rapido," she hissed at Kate, trying to push her further along.

Kate was slightly more awake now, and she grabbed an apple for herself on her way out the door, munching on it happily as she followed America all the way down the path.

She'd only been with the little band of adventurers for a few months now, and she'd really only just started on the bow and arrow, but she was getting to be decent at it. She could even hit a bulls eye, given ten or twelve tries, and she was close enough to on-target that she could take down larger animals. She left the smaller ones to Nathaniel Richards' traps and to America Chavez's … unorthodox hunting techniques.

America boosted Kate over to the other side of the fence and whispered, "Meet you at the lunch rock."

Kate grinned and nodded, then grabbed her bow and quiver and strapped them on.

They really needed to come up with better names for things. They didn't have a name for their band of merry men, and they didn't have a better name for the huge, flat rock that they used as a table than "lunch rock."

But Kate knew the spot well. She'd spent many an afternoon out there with Eli as he taught her how to fight. She'd spent evenings there with Tommy learning about how to hide from S.W.O.R.D. hovercraft (Tommy could outrun anyone). And she'd spent entire days out there with America, because America liked the woods best out of anyone in their group. Sure, the rest of the team would come out on occasion, but America practically lived beneath those trees.

In fact, Kate was pretty sure America was only sticking around because she wanted to watch out for the kids in their group, especially Billy, who America practically worshipped.

Kate made it to the lunch rock before America did and was surprised to see several rabbits dart out of her way. She didn't usually see animals around this area — they must have come out during the night, thinking it was safe.

Kate grinned. Now she could see why America wanted to get up so early. There was plenty of game to be found.

America emerged from the trees clutching a knife and wearing a grin, and the two of them made their way as quietly as they could out to the lake.

Sure enough, there was a family of deer, and even — was that a turkey?

Kate strung her bow eagerly, aiming for the big-feathered bird. She'd only had turkey once in her life, when her dad had entertained some really rich Capitolian who was collecting District Twelve odds and ends. Something about a prodigy stylist who was looking to become the next District Twelve Avenger Games stylist when one of their current stylists retired. Seems this kid wanted to get his hands on "authentic District Twelve" stuff, and Daddy was only too glad to sell.

It had been a good deal for everyone, and now Daddy had contacts at the Capitol, which was always helpful.

America glanced over at Kate and grinned when she saw what Kate was aiming for. "Careful, Princess," she said. "Don't miss."

Kate scoffed but didn't say anything back. She was still learning, after all, and it wasn't like she was a perfect shot.

Twang went the bow, and Kate let out a sigh of relief when it actually managed to hit home. It wasn't a killing blow, but she'd actually hit the turkey in one wing, so at least it wouldn't be flying off.

But it was running.

"Now you've done it!" America shouted over at Kate as the other animals, now alerted to danger, took off running and the two girls were forced to leg it after their bird. But America was grinning, clearly enjoying herself.

They spent a good twenty minutes and five arrows chasing it down before America managed to pounce on it. She got pecked in the hands for her troubles, but a few moments later, she broke the bird's neck and stuffed it into her bag.

America was grinning from ear to ear as she wiped the blood onto her pants. "Well," she said. "That was fun."

Kate leaned against a tree, panting. "He get you too bad?"

"Nah." America shook her head. "Just a love peck."

Kate snorted, then looked around, taking in the rest of their surroundings for the first time. "Where are we, anyway?"

America's smile faltered just the slightest bit as the two of them looked around, realizing for the first time that they had probably gone deeper into the woods than they meant to go. "Huh," she said at last.

"I think we came from that way," Kate said, pointing through a clearing in the trees.

America frowned. "Yeah, maybe," she said. Then, she shrugged. "Well, we might as well go exploring, anyway. I'm sure we'll find our way back before long."

It had to be late afternoon. Kate was starving.

They hadn't managed to find their way back to the lake, and what's more, the trees seemed to be getting thicker. Kate highly doubted that any humans had walked these paths since before Marvel was even a country.

America frowned, looking around. "I'm usually good at knowing where I'm going," she said, pulling nervously on the ends of her hair, which she had cut short recently after some of it got caught in some bushes near the lunch rock. It was finally starting to grow back.

"Think the others are worried about us yet?" Kate asked.

America snorted. "You kidding? With how late I've been getting back lately, they probably won't notice til it's dark outside."

Kate frowned. The thought wasn't exactly comforting.

America sighed. "You got any ideas?"

Kate pursed her lips. "I could climb a tree, see if I can spot the district from here."

"Yeah, and get us caught by a hovercraft?" America asked.

"I'll be careful."

America snorted. "Princess, you've still got a lot to learn."

Kate rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest in what she hoped was an appropriately menacing manner.

Either that had worked or America decided that Kate's climbing idea was the best one they had, because America just sighed and waved her hand at Kate. "Yeah, sure. Go climb a tree."

Kate grinned and scurried up the trunk of the nearest tree that looked like it was even remotely climbable. The trees were all growing so close together that she could even use some of the branches of nearby trees to get herself up above the treetops when the tree she was currently in ran out of places to reach.

It took her about ten minutes to pick her way through until she broke into sunlight. Glaring, blinding, sunlight. She cautiously peeked out over the edge and saw, way in the distance, a S.W.O.R.D. hovercraft was flying around the trees. But nothing that looked like a clearing in the massive wave of green.

She climbed back down, solemn-faced. She had almost reached the bottom when one of the branches beneath her gave way, and she tumbled to the ground, scraping her arm in the process. "Ow!"

America busted through some nearby undergrowth. (Kate must have gone a little bit sideways on her way down.) "Well?" she asked, once she was sure Kate wasn't dying.

Kate sucked in air as she looked at her scraped up arm, but it looked better than it felt. "We're so incredibly screwed," she said simply.

In the end, they decided to head towards the spot where Kate had seen the hovercraft, because those hovercrafts didn't stray too far from districts.

"What are we gonna do if we get there and it turns out we've hiked our way all the way to another district?" Kate asked America as they trudged along. They were quickly losing the light, and America wanted to make as much ground as they could before they had to find a place to bunk down for the night.

America laughed. "Don't worry your pretty little head," she said. "It'd take us days to get to another district."

"At the rate we're going, I wouldn't be surprised," Kate muttered, rubbing her arm. It was still sore.

America laughed. "I don't know — maybe we should just stay lost?" she said. And it sounded like maybe she'd been thinking that for a long time now.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, maybe we could just live out here, in the woods. It's not like we don't know how. Catch our own food, cook our own meals, never have to go to another Reaping again, never lose another friend — " America stopped suddenly, apparently realizing that she had said too much.

Kate blew out her breath quietly. She knew better than to ask about Cassie. Most of her new friends didn't talk about the blonde, cheerful girl who died in the Avenger Games just a few months ago, but Kate knew that they would often go and leave flowers where she was buried.

And then Kate realized, somewhere in the back of her mind, that today would have been Cassie's birthday.

"You planning on taking Billy and Tommy with us?" Kate asked. "I mean, they're gonna be twelve soon, so they might just get Reaped, and what are you planning on doing then?"

America was quiet.

"What about Eli? Or Teddy? Or even stupid Richards?"

America laughed. "You know Eli wouldn't go anywhere. Kid thinks he's got to have the whole world on his shoulders. You wouldn't know he's only fourteen."

Kate snorted. It was a pretty accurate description of Eli.

"Besides, you know they'll send people out looking for us if we stay missing for too long," Kate said.

"They'll send people out looking for you," America corrected Kate gently. "They probably wouldn't even notice I was gone 'til there's a name missing on the roll call at the Reaping next year."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. My dad probably hasn't even noticed I'm gone."

"He will if we stay lost for too long," America pointed out as they climbed over a huge rock. Kate gasped slightly as a spider the size of her foot scuttled away.

"What, scared of spiders?" America teased, some of the light coming back into her gaze.

"No," Kate said quickly. Too quickly. Then, with a deep breath, she said, "At least, I'm not scared of the ones that are a size I can squish."

"Everything's squishable size, if you hit it hard enough," America shot back, and to prove her point, she jumped down and squished the giant spider beneath her foot.

Kate gagged a bit at the sight of all the spider guts, then shot back, "Yeah, well, not everyone has the ability to kick holes in everything. We're not all super strong, like you are."

America had a mischievous glint in her eyes as she said, "Betcha we could help fix that problem. Give your muscles a little workout."

America pounced before Kate was quite ready, and five minutes later, Kate was pinned underneath America as the bigger girl sat on her, both arms held behind Kate's back.

"I give, I give!" Kate shouted, gasping. America climbed off, and Kate massaged her arms. "One of these days, I'm actually going to win a wrestling match with you," she said, half-threatening, half-hoping.

"Yeah, when I'm like seventy and too old to put up much of a fight," America said with a careless wink.

"Yeah, but I'd be seventy, too," Kate pointed out.

America chuckled. "You're gonna be one of those old people who causes just as much trouble as us kids — wait and see."

"Glad you've got my whole life planned out for me."

"Just you wait. You're gonna have a big wedding that's even better than your sister's, and you're not gonna invite anybody from the merchant's sector except Susan — and everyone will think you're the weirdest rich kid anyone's ever seen."

"And who am I marrying in this pretend world of yours?"

America waved her hand. "Doesn't matter," she said. "He'll probably just be arm candy."

Kate laughed out loud. "You really do have the whole thing planned."

America laughed, too, and the two of them launched into a new discussion as they picked their way through the forest — this time about the plans she had for Billy and Teddy.

"You sure this is gonna work?" Kate asked.

They were hiding up in a tree, several branches above the ground, and Kate couldn't help but notice that it was a long fall.

America nodded as she finished twisting the remains of Kate's shawl into a rope. "Should work," she said as she tied the rope around Kate's waist and then used the remains to tie herself down. "I mean, as long as you don't sleepwalk."

Kate shook her head, staring down at the tenuous line tying her down.

It was long past nightfall, and the only light they had was the light streaming down from the moon above them. They didn't dare start a fire and risk getting picked up by S.W.O.R.D. hovercraft, so they figured they couldn't get much closer to District Twelve stumbling through the dark.

That left the two of them in the unenviable position of staying the night in the forest.

"If I fall out of this tree during the night and break my neck, I swear I will haunt you for the rest of your life," Kate said, low and threatening.

"Shut up and go to sleep, princess. Or can't you sleep unless you have a soft feather pillow for your delicate head?"

"If I had a soft feather pillow, I'd be throwing it at you right now."

"You could always throw a pinecone."

"Yeah, but if I miss, who knows what I'd be disturbing out there?"

"Good point."

They fell silent, each trying desperately to ignore the creeping sounds of the forest waking up. There was an owl somewhere off to the right and the rustling noises of small animals in the undergrowth. Kate could see, if she looked, the moonlight reflecting off of plenty of eyes down below her, too.

And then she heard the wolf howl.

"Chavez!" Kate shouted, just so that America would know she was in trouble. Kate only used her friend's last name when she was really mad.

America took only a few seconds to untie herself before she bounded around her branches to sit by Kate, who was higher up in the tree.

"I'm gonna kill you," Kate muttered, glaring at America. "We are so dead. I'm gonna be eaten by a wolf, and no one's ever gonna know, and it's all your fault."

"My fault?" America shot back. "If you'd hit that turkey dead on like you were supposed to —"

"I told you I'm not very good yet! You've got to give me some time to get used to hunting —"

"You said you'd be running the team in a few months —"

"You said you'd teach me how to get good enough to run —"

Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

Both girls stopped dead in the middle of their argument.

"Uh-oh," Kate said.

"You were right. We're screwed," America whispered back.

Because there, in front of them, was a single tracker jacker. Not too menacing on its own, but both of them knew from experience that those bugs were never too far from the nest, which meant there had to be one in the treetops nearby.

"Go, go, go!" America shouted, pushing Kate as Kate fumbled with the rope around her waist. They both climbed down the tree — though tumbled down would be a more accurate description — and booked it out of there, not caring which way they went as long as they put some distance between them and the menacing insect.

Kate woke up because she felt something crawling on her arm.

With a shout, she flung the giant grasshopper off of her arm and then jumped to her feet, shaking herself down to get rid of any other creepy crawlies that might have made their way into her clothes. She shook out a couple ants from her boots and one tiny spider from her hair.

Kate shivered at the thoughts of things with that many legs touching her, then looked over to see that America was still asleep, too. They'd finally collapsed of exhaustion in a tree they'd barely managed to climb with protesting arms after a night spent running from one terrifying noise to the next.

The sun was just starting to rise, though, which meant they had the light on their side now.

"America?" she called out, untying herself and crawling over to her friend.

When Kate reached out to shake America awake, she was rewarded with a loud scream and a swift kick in the shins that sent her tumbling down a couple branches before she grabbed the tree to stop her descent.

"Don't do that to me!" America called down to Kate before climbing down to help her friend.

"I could say the same thing!" Kate shouted back as she pulled herself back up so that she could get out of the tree in a much more controlled descent.

"Sorry," America said quickly. She followed Kate down the tree and looked around. "Well," she said. "We survived the night."

"Yeah," Kate said. "Let's not do that again, huh?" She looked around, trying to get her bearings.

And that's when she saw it.

Impossibly, Kate knew where they were. Because there, right in front of her, was a strip of her pink dress, one of the markers she'd left behind as a warning to America and her team that one of Richards' traps was nearby.

America saw the pink marker at about the same time Kate raised her arm to point it out and groaned dramatically. "You've got to be kidding me," she said. "We spent the night this close to home?"

Kate felt like laughing with relief. "If I'm right," she said, pointing, "the lake should be just over that ridge over there."

America sighed and jerked her head in the direction Kate was pointing. "Well, let's get going then. Wouldn't want to miss whatever lecture Eli's got prepared for us this time about safety or whatever else."

"We probably deserve it," Kate pointed out.

America snorted. "Yeah, but don't ever admit it, right?"