Author's Note

As a Kindergarten teacher, I have the opportunity to read some really great children's books. One of my favorite books to read is Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. It's a beautiful story of a father who takes his young child "owling" late one winter evening. As I was reading it, all I could think was, "What if Katniss took her children to the woods early one morning? What if it was a family tradition?" That is where this entry idea comes from. I hope you enjoy!

Special thanks to chele20035 for the quick read through and the notes!

Hunting (inspired by Owl Moon by Jane Yolen)

It was the perfect time of year. The leaves were turning from green, to saffron, to brown. There was a bite to the air in the early mornings that faded as the sun rose in the sky. The animals, fat from their foraging and saving up food, were a little slower, a little less cautious, as they prepare for their long winter's nap.

He knew early spring was Mama's favorite time of year, even though he was only five. But he couldn't help but think this time of year was best. In spring the animals were too skinny, after starving for the winter. But now? Now was the best time for Mama to put down a deer. No babies to worry about, plenty of meat on them to help last through the winter. Even enough to share with Haymitch.

He loved Haymitch, even though Mama and Papa rolled their eyes at the old man. But the geese! Oh he loved those geese. He'd chase them around the yard, just to hear them honk. Haymitch would pretend to be mad and tell his mama, "Get your brat away from my birds!" but he always gave the young boy a wink when he said it.

Mama would get so angry with Haymitch though. "Well, keep your damn birds off my property old man!" Then she'd grab her son's hand and march him inside. It was all a great game to the young boy.

It was early one fall morning, so early the sun hadn't even made its way up to the horizon, that Mama woke him up, told him they were going to the lake to watch the sunrise. He knew this day was coming soon, his older sister told him about it. How Mama was going to wake him up early, take him to their lake. She said his turn was coming soon. And, in her ten year old wisdom, she told him he had to be quiet though. It was important not to disturb the forest, or the animals. Because, if they were quiet, and if they were lucky, they just might see him. The Great Buck.

The Great Buck was something of a legend in the Mellark household. The story goes that Mama came home from hunting one morning empty handed, but in awe. She had spent the night at the cabin by the lake, telling Papa that she wanted to try hunting from there for once. Papa wasn't really happy about it, but he knew it was something important to Mama, so he just asked that she come to the bakery as soon as she was finished, just to let him know she was alright.

She woke up just as the sun was rising, and the mist from the lake hovered over the landscape. As Mama stood in the doorway looking out over the lake, she saw him. A beautiful buck had walked out of the woods and made his way to the lake to drink. He was so close to the cabin that Mama could see exactly where the bucks antlers rose out of the hairs on his head. He was the most majestic creature Mama had ever seen. Even though she could easily reach for her bow and arrow and shoot the creature, she didn't. He was that beautiful.

Ever since that morning, Mama has made her way at this time of the year, through the woods in the early morning, just to try to get a glimpse of him. When his sister was five, mama took her. They didn't see the buck, but his sister still talks about the beauty of the lake and the mist. His sister likes to talk like Papa, and that kind of annoys him, but he doesn't say anything, he just rolls his eyes and Mama and Papa just smile at them.

So, when Mama wakes him up this morning, he knows what's going to happen. He knows Mama will make sure he's dressed warm enough. He knows Mama and Papa have packed a breakfast for them to eat when they get there. And he knows the most important part- you have to be as silent as the fog. Because only when it's silent will the woods show themselves to you. Only when it's silent, will the animals come out of hiding.

It's still dark when they leave the house. So dark he can barely see his hand in front of him. But he holds on tight to Mama's hand. She knows these trails, these woods, like she knows her way around the house. She was born here, and though she may not be the artist Papa is, she made these trails, and they are as beautiful and as intricate as one of Papa's prized paintings, or even one of his wedding cakes that people from all over the country come to buy.

They walk out into the darkness, mother and son, hand in hand, feet silent as if they were walking on moss. The full moon lights the way, like the nightlight in the hallway. Not too bright, but just enough to guide them. He wants to cling to his mama, but he doesn't want her to think he's afraid. If he's going to be a hunter like her, like her father, and his mother before him, then he must be brave. Everdeen's know the woods, know the land won't harm them. Everdeen's take care of the earth, because the earth takes care of them. That's what Mama said. He knows he is just as much an Everdeen hunter as he is a Mellark baker. But now, in this predawn morning, it's his grandfather Everdeen he feels at his side.

He wants to ask Mama if she thinks her papa would be proud to see his grandson in the woods, as quiet as any Everdeen hunter has ever been, but he knows now is not the time for words. Now is the time to swallow those words and hold on to them. If he forgets them, then they are words that were never meant to be spoken. If he remembers them, then they will still be there when he is able to talk. So he walks quiet, swallowing his words like he swallows the cupcakes Papa brings home from the bakery.

On and on they walk through the woods. Mama walks bravely through the dark, not jumping at the shadows cast by the moonlight. He wants Mama to be proud, to know he is as big a boy as his sister is a big girl, so he refuses to worry about the shadows. So what if each one looked like a wild dog? Or a mutt bear? Mama doesn't flinch, not once. Her confidence passes down to her son.

They came to the overlook. It is one of Mama's favorite places. He's been here in the daylight before. Mama sometimes sits here and tells him stories of when she was a girl, hunting to take care of her small family. She would tell him stories of her friend Gale.

He met Gale when he'd made a trip to 12 one time, it was part of his job as national security advisor. Mama rolled her eyes at that one, and Papa tried to hide his laugh. They had supper together, and it seemed nice enough, but once Gale left, Mama and Papa seemed to relax in a way they weren't when Gale was there.

The overlook, during the day in the middle of summer, looks very different than it does in the early morning during the fall. The moonlight shines down into the valley below, like a giant with a great flashlight looking for something in the dark. Mama looks down at him here, a silent question. "Do you want to rest?" Her expression says. He shakes his head no. When you are looking for the Great Buck, you can't spend your time resting. You can rest when you get there. So on they walk.

His legs are beginning to grow tired, and his hands and feet are a little cold, but he won't complain. He wants to be a great hunter, he wants Mama and Papa to be proud of him. When you're a great hunter, you endure many hardships, you can handle the cold and the tired. Plus, he knew Mama and Papa suffered greater things than this, and if he wants anything in the world, it is to be as brave and as strong as they are.

Up over a hill and down into the valley they walk, on and on, no sound between them. No fear, no complaints. When they come to the final clearing he gasps only once. Mama looks down at him quickly. He covers his mouth with his hand, holding in all of the awe and wonder that he sees. The lake is before them, covered in mist, like his quilt covered his bed at home. It doesn't look like their lake. It looks like something out of a picture book he has at home. They make their way around the lake to the little house and they sit quietly on the doorstep.

And they wait.

After 5, 10, 15 minutes, they began to notice the forest waking up around them. It starts with the birds chirping out their good mornings to each other, like the shopkeepers in town do as they make their way to their storefronts. Then the sun begins its rise over the horizon. It starts off like a fire glowing in the distance. The mist shrouds the lake, though, keeping the fire at bay.

And then, they see him. Mama stiffens her body at first, which causes him to sit up straighter. He looks to her face and follows her eyes, then he sees him too. Standing at the edge of the lake. The Great Buck sniffs the air, like he knows someone is in the forest, but he can't tell where. Cautiously he leans forward, drinking out of the lake. One foot, two feet into the water he leans. He drinks until he's had his fill. The boy tries to count the points of the old deer's antlers, but he lost count. All he can think right now is, "Those antlers are almost as big as me!"

A branch snaps in the distance, startling the creature. He pulls himself up, and leaps away faster than you can blink. Mama turns her head to the sound too, and carefully pulls out her bow and arrows that she has on her back. But the sound is nothing more than a mama raccoon and her babies making their way to the lake to drink as well.