I AM SO SORRY! Thank you to those of you who are still reading...
Henry knows his way around the area of the woods, leading me into a concealed thick forest and hiding us in a ditch behind boulders. We unpack and lay out all of our things. Henry got a knife, and I have a small bag that holds a slingshot, a small loaf of bread, and socks.
I examine the bread. It's similar to what we have in District 11. It's whole grain and sprinkled with nuts and small figs, but not soft, warm, fluffy and sweet like every District had below us.
"Hungry, Rue?" Henry asks.
"A bit," I reply truthfully, but a small wave of guilt covers me as I remember that we're not just camping. We're fighting for our lives. And, as far as that goes, that means no bread when you're not about to die of starvation.
"Have a little," Henry says. "I can hold off."
"As can I," I tell him, "It's okay. We need to safe this. If I have one piece, I'll finish it in one night."
Henry smiles and thinks for a moment. "Have you ever eaten a groosling, Rue?"
"A what?" I ask, perplexed.
"It's a large bird that cannot fly. I saw some around here. They are filled with fatty meat. Come on, get your slingshot. I'll help you kill one."
"Kill an animal?" I say. "All animals are sweet. I would never kill one."
"Well, there's no time like the present," Henry says, a bit impatient.
He leads me outside and helps me find one. They like to stay in the shade of the trees, away from any trouble. We hide behind a bush and I launch my first sharp pebble from the slingshot cup. It flies right into the groosling's throat, and it falls to the ground dead as the others scurry away.
I let Henry gut and clean him as the moon cats over and the night begins.
Dreaming of home, I fall asleep.
AN: Sorry It's so short. I'll get back into the groove in a bit. Thank you all so much!
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