CHAPTER TWO
As I step outside I let the sweet air engulf me. The scent of honey suckles and blackberries lingers as we get closer to our destination.
I gasp when I see the meadow. It has only been a couple weeks but it has changed tremendously. Bright green grass everywhere, with little dandelions and other flowers scattered about. I pick a dandelion and silently hand it to my mother. She smiles a thank you and places it in her hair. I'm not so sure why, but dandelions are somewhat symbolic to her and every time she sees them a grin breaks out across her face. Maybe she'll explain it to me one day but for right now it is on the list of things I need to know about my parents. Lets just say that that list is very long at this point. I only know a little bit about them. I have a feeling they had something to do with The Hunger Games because every time we talk about them in history class at school , I get weird looks from my classmates and the teacher always eyes me carefully as if she expects me to say something I shouldn't.
The woods have changed too. The leaves are now a deep dark green instead of the usual light tinted green. We stop by the hollowed out log so my mother can retrieve her bow and quiver. My mother's bow is almost identical to mine except hers is a little larger and was made by my late grandfather.
She has only mentioned him once, her father, but she gave enough detail to create a mental image. She described him as about her height with the same dark hair and piercing gray eyes that she also posses. I believe he was the one who taught her how to hunt but then again I don't remember too much because I was so young.
I feel a slight tap on my shoulder. I turn only to find my mother giving me a reprimanding look. "We need to move, it will be dark soon." Her voice is quiet making sure not to scare off any nearby game. I simply nod and continue to follow her. I tend to get lost in my thoughts quite a bit and I am just glad my mother has some patients with me.
We walk further into the woods before we actually start doing anything. We check the snares that my mother has set up first and thankfully don't finish empty handed. There are a couple of squirrels that we quickly toss into the game bag but nothing else. I gather some herbs near the lake. While working I come across the plant that my mother was named after. I gently touch its leaves and that's when I notice it, the weeping willow tree that grows near the katniss roots. "Funny how that ended up there." I quickly turn around only to see a smirk stretch across my mother's face. Curse her light feet, I didn't even hear her walk up.
"You put it there didn't you?" I ask just slightly suspicious. She doesn't answer. She just walks over and takes a seat next to me.
"You use to love this place when you were little." I have not realized it until now but, most of my memories I've had since I was young took place here or in the forest. Swimming in the lake's cool water, my mother teaching me how to shoot,and picking blackberries off their prickly bushes.
"And still do." I reply because it's true. I would live here if I could. It's so peaceful with the animals and such. My favorite are the mockingjays. I adore how they can repeat almost any tune thrown their way. My mother agrees with me on this but, I have noticed when she sings they fall silent. Her, singing. I have now realized what I want for my birthday, my mother to sing to me. She does not do it often and I have not the slightest idea why because her voice is beautiful. "Can you sing to me on my birthday?" I ask hoping for an approving answer.
"Of course." she replies. "You know, when you were little you use to be very hyperactive from all the sugar that your father gave you and singing was the only way I could get you to calm down." I look her in the eye before erupting in laughter. What she said was probably true. I was my dad's number one taste tester for his baking and sometimes he gave me a little more than I needed.
I notice the sun setting and the rapidly decreasing temperature. Could we really have been here this long? "Lets get going," begins my mother "We don't want worry Asher and your father."
"But we didn't even get to shoot yet!" I whine. "And by the way Asher is probably hoping I get lost in the woods." She laughs at this.
"We can go hunting tomorrow okay?"
"Okay." I say halfheartedly. I know the woods can be dangerous at night so I try not to protest the rest of the way home.