The Woods {Closed}

[deks]

Dekota was awake, and lying in bed wondering how long it would be till he had to go to school. Finally his mother came in and he got up, pulled on a plain black t-shirt and his hiking boots and was off to school. School... it had always been a bit easy for Dekota as he was never challenged by any of the work. After sitting for hours learning nothing, it was off to work to work for a pitiful amount of money that put food on the table but always left his younger siblings hungry for more. Chopping logs was dreary and repetitive: Chop, Chop, drag, Chop Chop, drag and on and on for hours on end. Finally it would end and he would be off for the day. Usually at this point he would go home. But, today was special. Today was pay day.

With his meager amount of money stuffed in the secret pocket of his satchel he walked down the road toward district seven lost in thought about what he could buy or make as a present for his older brother Rolph's birthday. He would probably make him a new pair of crutches for him to walk on now that Rolph had fallen and broken the pair that he had made for him the year of the accident. The accident. It had been a while since Dekota had thought about the accident that had not only claimed his father's and one brother's life, it had left his other brother cripple. Now Dekota was so deep in thought that he did not even notice when he left the path. Suddenly realizing that he was not on the path. He looked around frantically for some land mark so he could place where he was. Seeing none he lectured himself about being so stupid as to get lost in the woods. Finally he started of in no direction in particular figuring that sooner or later he would find something.

[themysterybox]

Josiah Eln sat very still. It seemed like he had been doing it for a long, long time. And maybe he had, he didn't know. He did know, however, that the last thing he wanted to do right now was move.

He had gotten up that morning in the same fashion as every morning, on a sagging mattress next to his gigantic brother, Marcus. He had gently slid out from under the covers onto the cold bare wood floor, very careful not to wake Marcus, knowing the older boy was not in a good mood when woken up early. And usually, when Josiah woke up, it was early. He had crept on his tip-toes to the window, and seeing the red horizon heralding the sunrise, had gone quickly to the stack of 'clean' clothes on the floor that was his.

Pulling on a mostly-clean, mostly-whole green shirt, and a pair of well-loved blue jeans, he had dashed outside to see the daily miracle that was the rising sun. Josiah loved many colors of sunrise, and they had recently been the highlights of his day. The thought of yesterday's had brought a rarely-seen smile to his face as he shut the beaten wooden door, still being so quiet he wouldn't wake anyone up.

There was a particular tree near the house, straight and tall with many low branches. It was the tree he climbed up in to see the sunrise, and he had oh so creatively come to call it the Sunrise Tree. It was to this tree had had jogged, and climbed up in until he could see over all the houses, and all the trees in his way. The sun was just peeking around the curve of the earth, and he had swung his legs in glee at the sight of of many wondrous colors. He had sat there until the sun was well up into the sky, and he could hear his family bustling about in the house below. They would miss him soon, he knew, and he began to climb down. Oddly, heights and climbing were one of the few things he wasn't at least a bit afraid of; he enjoyed them quite a bit.

Going back into the spartan house, he had seen that his siblings were gathered around the table with his mother, eating. Four chairs in use, just one left for him. He had dashed over to it, hopping up to gobble down a steaming plate of eggs and... more eggs. Well, it was better than nothing, and the family had had nothing from time to time. Just as he was beginning, the rest had been finishing, standing up and walking to the soapy bucket of water that was used to clean... well, everything.

"Callie, get Hosea ready for school. Josiah, I don't know where you've been, but you'd better be ready too."

Josiah remained silent, but groaned inwardly. School. He hated school, with a passion. There were too many people, in too small a space, for far too long a time. He had nodded obediently, though, and headed out the door like he was going. And he did go. Just... not where he was supposed to. Rather than head down the street to school, though, he had went across the street, into the woods, and there to vanish. He loved spending his days in the woods, observing nature (from a safe, high spot, of course). And so he had.

He had spent the day wandering, looking at plants, watching animals, enjoying the contentedness that solitude brought. He simply meandered aimlessly, no goal in mind but to get home in time for dinner, and maybe find an edible plant or two out here. He knew from visiting the herbalist with his mother all the times Hosea had gotten sick which plants were edible and which weren't; he'd keep an eye out.

But just then, his stomach full, enjoying the wonders of nature seemed more important than finding a food source. So he had let himself get lost in the beauty of the towering trees, the fallen leaves, the occasional plant that found a way to grow under the covering shade of the towering pines and oaks. He had watched sun-shafts filter through to the forest floor, squirrels scurry about their business. He had even been lucky enough to see a deer with two fawns, seeming to walk without purpose as he did, and watched them silently for quite a while before then finally caught scent of him and fled. After that, he had went where he felt the winds take him, even going so far as to investigate the things that looked safe.

Which brought him to now. Just moments ago, he had climbed down from a young tree where he had been poking about at a bird's nest, and turned around to find a snake coiled a few feet from him, watching him intently. Even if he was blind to the striped pattern and diamond-shaped head of it, the loud rattling was more than enough to inform him the snake was venomous. Following the advice he had learned long ago in, of all places, school, he stood as a statue, not a muscle moving. If he had been in school today, this wouldn't have happened. He resisted the urge to sigh, to blink, to even breathe. He did not want to get bit, out in the forest, with no one to hear him.

And then the snake turned its head, hearing something off in the distance. Something large, snapping twigs and crunching leaves, and heading this way. Ever so slowly turning his head, Josiah saw it, too. A large boy, a nearly grown one, had wandered off the path and was clearly lost, the way he was looking about. He would have hid from the boy, was just about to move, when the snake rattled again, far louder and angrier. So Josiah just stood, muscles getting tired from how strained they were to keep him absolutely and unnaturally still. He hoped the boy in the distance could do something to help.

[Onyx]

SUZANNE LORENSE

[/font][/size][/center]

I’ve got that feeling again. The one where you have a secret that no one else knows. The one where people envy you because you have something all to yourself. And, as a result, you feel totally and serenely satisfied. Well, that’s the feeling I have, sitting up my tree, in my secret glade. I can hear the birds around me, the winds rushing through the highest leaves of the canopy, the occasional snap of a twig as prey hurtles around the Wild Woods. But here, in my little glade, everything is still. Even the distant noises of other parts of the lumber sectors being torn apart cannot disturb the tranquillity of my little patch of sunlight.

Sometimes, a snake comes through here while I’m whittling sticks on my branch. At first I thought he would bite me, but over time I realised that snakes couldn’t give a damn. Ironic really, that us humans are the ones destroying where they live, and all they do is watch, silent but for their rattles, and curiously slither around the places left standing.

I named him Chatterton.

Anyway, my mind is wandering. I’ll cut myself if I don’t concentrate on what I’m doing. The time for relief does not come often in District Seven. When I’m not out ‘finding’ money, in the most honourable way, of course, or avoiding the neighbourhood, with its citizens with prying eyes, labelling me only as the Lorense daughter, and not as Suzanne, who has feelings and a brain, I’m here in my glade, carving sculptures in my tree, watching Chatterton go by on his way.

Today, I have carved a miniature Capitol Escort, my Grandfather, from what Father has told me about him, three Peacekeepers and myself. I often find myself carving miniature Suzannes. It’s not that I’m self-centred, well, maybe a little, it’s just they give me someone to talk to, who won’t just see my surname. It makes it less quiet out here in the Glade. My glade.

But suddenly, the silence is gone, as a boy stumbles into view below me, evidently having climbed down from a sapling. Foolish boy, it’s still young! Chatterton regards this new arrival in the same way I do, with lethargic awareness. The boy however, who I do not know but who probably knows me, looks suddenly panic-stricken, scrabbling away from my beloved snake. Good, he’ll be gone soon and I won’t have to threaten him. But just as I think these words, another intruder stumbles into the glade! My glade! They regard each other warily, and I decide it is time to do something about them. Perhaps I can make a little money for my family while I’m at it…

”Get away!”[/b] I yell, jumping down from my branch gracefully and brandishing my knife at one boy, and a sharpened stick at the other. ”This is my spot! Oh Chatterton, enough,” I say to stop his furious rattling. I take a step closer to the boy on the ground, waving my knife for him to stand, while flicking my eyes back to the one who just entered the glade. My glade. Trespassers had to be treated harshly, but I wanted to see what they had to say for themselves.[/font][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

Sorry if I’m intruding, just wanted to exercise my new character ^^
~Onyx

[deks]

Walking through the woods, Dekota finally stumbles into a glade and sees a boy just standing there. Thinking that this boy would know the way back to district seven he begins walking towards him. When he spots the snake, that is obviously of the poisonous and extremely deadly variety, menacing the poor boy. Coming to a halt his mind racing as he quickly tried to formulate a plan as to what to do. Just as he was about to act, someone jumped from the trees yelling to get away and also something to someone named Chatterton. The snake slithered into a bush and disappeared. Looking back to the person who had jumped out of the woods, he took a closer look and saw that it was a girl. A girl who had a knife pointed at him! She looked angry and yelled something about trespassing in her glad. Dekota did not care about any stupid glad, but she looked dangerous and that kid did looked like he was afraid and not very sure of what to do. Deciding to take the initiative, he said.

Whoa watch where you point that thing, miss. I apologies if this is your glade but i'm a bit lost... So why don't you sheathe your knife and stop threatening that poor boy over there, he is obviously terrified.

So saying, he warily took a few steps toward the boy attempting to but himself between the strange girl and the boy.

[themysterybox]

One minute, he had been alone. Completely, blissfully, silently alone. Then he had been considering how he was to deal with a snake, alone in the woods. And now he was in the company of two complete strangers, a snake disappearing into the bushes, without Marcus to hand. He would know what to do. Or, rather, he would make everyone do what he said, and watch as it all happened. He wished he was as big as Marcus.

The fact was, though, that Josiah wasn't. Instead, he was small, frail, and easily broken, and he knew it well, as his arm had just healed from a break caused by a fall from a tree. Oddly enough, that didn't make him afraid of them, only more careful. And the problem was, he and his frail self were in a glade, being stared down by a big girl with a big knife, with a slightly larger boy partly in front of him. Oh, how he wished he was home.

He started thinking, thinking about what he was going to do. He could run, to be sure, but where? The boy was blocking one way, the girl another, and the way that wasn't blocked had a large venomous snake roaming about. What he really wanted to do was curl up into a ball, head tucked between his knees, and wait for all of it to go away. After all, that's what he had done ever time his father had come home after a night of drinking, and it always worked well then. But this was different. There was a woman, this time. And she had a knife. A knife. His father was violent, to be sure, but he never had a knife, because knives kill people.

Again, he wished Marcus were here. Knife or no, he would be able to fix it, and all would be well again. All would be well. All would be well. All would be well. All would be well. That was always his mantra when--

Oh. Without even thinking about it, he had dropped into a crouch, arms wrapped around his knees and pulling them close to his chest. He probably looked pathetic, he knew, but short of running, this was all he could think to do. So he had. He didn't care what they thought of him, what anyone thought of him, it would be harder to hurt him down here. Right? Right.

[Onyx]

Power. I have power over these boys! But it is not honourable to terrify them like this, if it is not for a purpose. The boy near Chatterton has keeled over, obviously terrified out of his wits. The other has made an effort to calm me down. That amused me, I am perfectly calm. But, I will listen to his words; though he tried to patronise me, I will not rise to it. Either I act on getting them out of my territory or I question them about it.

I choose the latter.

”Who are you?” I say to the one who spoke, trying to stop him from moving any closer to the weakling, rocking on the ground. ”I wouldn’t go any closer, Chatterton’s upset as it is.” I indicate that I’m talking about the snake, who is now circling a spot of sunlight greedily, ready for any sudden movements from either intruder.

I ask him again who he is, more gently this time, and sheath my knife. However, I keep my sharpened stick out warily, just in case either of them won’t leave when the time comes for me to ask them to.

While waiting for an answer, I cast a few furtive glances at the whimpering boy on the ground, taking in how frail he is. He can’t have been eating better than I am, and he surely wouldn’t have any money worth taking. It wouldn’t be right to threaten such a cowardly creature. Chatterton wouldn’t be biting him today.

[/font][/colour][/justify][/center]

[deks]

Dekota's mind was still racing to come up with a good solution to the new problem of the strange girl that looked a bit menacing, it was very lucky that she had finally put the knife away. If it came down to it he could probably take her, he was strong and fast after all, and now that she had put the knife away he could probably reach her before she could draw it again; however, she seemed to have some strange power over the snake and that thing looked extremely dangerous. Figuring that it was best to try and talk his way out of this mess instead of looking for a fight, he looked back at the boy and calmly said.

"Hey kid it is going to be okay.
turning back to the girl he looked her directly in the eyes and said.
My name is Dekota Rhodes. And, who might you be?

He was now mostly between the boy who had curled into a little ball and the strange, menacing girl. He must be terrified i have to make sure the girl doesn't attack him, that tiny kid wouldn't last one minute

Every muscle in his body was tense, so he forced himself to be calm and collected himself. He watched the girl for any sign that she was going to attack. Dekota had been in fights before, he knew what to watch for, and he was ready for what ever this stranger, who was obviously a bit unstable and also unpredictable, would do.

[themysterybox]

Rustling. Breathing. Speaking. Slightly heated words, once more to a 'Chatterton'. Josiah heard all these things, but saw only the inky blackness behind his squeezed eyelids. He didn't want to see them or hear them, or acknowledge them, because if he just stayed like this long enough, they'd go away. They'd have to, because that's how it worked.

"Hey kid it is going to be okay." Those were the only words he had actually heard, and they had got stuck in his head. They seemed to be bouncing around, reverberating from one side to the other unceasingly. It was like the bell at school, shrill and nearly painfully to hear, and only tolerable because it was short. Only this time, it wasn't. The older boy's words were still sounding, he could still hear them. And it drowned out everything else.

He tried to wonder were the snake was, or if the girl had the knife, or maybe even if the boy had taken it from her, or something. But he couldn't, couldn't focus because of the tintinnabulation in his head. He couldn't even make out the words anymore, it was just noise, noise, noise. It was his entire, inky black world, was that noise. He needed something else to focus on, to take in. Maybe if he had something to look at, that would--

And just like that, it was gone. He had looked up, to see the larger boy in front of him, and the girl with no knife in her hand, just a big sharp stick, and the snake slithering in circles like it was insane or something. But none of that was important, because that noise was gone. He could focus now. Focus on the two of them doing... what? Sizing each other up, like two stags about to fight for a female, or territory. He had seen that a few times while wandering, and it always ended badly for the loser. He scooted away on his bottom, back until he hit a tree.

The rough, hard wood was comforting. Solid. Like the rest of the forest, it had not a care for what these two did, it would go on regardless. He wished he were part of the tree. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and pretended that he was not only a part of the tree, he was the tree, eyes high above and watching the two with only a mild interest. It was easy enough to do, escape from himself when he was afraid. Pretend he were bigger, stronger, defensible.

But when he opened his eyes again, they were still there. Still the two of them, standing there, staring each other down. And he still wasn't a tree, he had to care about what happened here. Because while the girl didn't look very kind, the boy was also a stranger. Strangers were bad. All of this was bad, the whole situation. So as soon as he could, he would run. For now, he would wait.

[Onyx]

I look again at the boy on the ground. It is evident he doesn’t like strangers, and I know what me and this other boy must look like to him. I don’t want to be a threat, but it’s better than becoming emotionally attached. Lorenses can’t afford to make friends. It’s not what my father would want. The stick remains ready in my clenched fist, though my knuckles are no longer white from the strain.

I stare back at the more threatening boy, and he takes my glare in with a reply to my question. ”My name is Dekota Rhodes. And, who might you be?”[/font] Did he just ask me who I was? Surely he must recognise me! But, then again, I don’t spend a lot of time with my big identity father, or anyone for that matter, and I try to avoid family events like speeches or new work campaigns. I am the Lorense that doesn’t exist, I think with a grimace. Perhaps I can play on this. Maybe it is time to make a new friend after all.

”I’m…er…” I stumble, bringing names hastily to mind, ”Ivy. Ivy Escher.”

I nod, confirming my own new identity, and half-turn to face the boy on floor. I make sure to keep Dekota in my peripheral vision.

”Seriously, kid, it’s okay,” I say, echoing Dekota’s earlier reassurance, ”What’s your name? Hey, get up will you? You look like you’re trying to become a tree down there.”[/colour] His was a feeling I knew all too well, and something I had tried to do many times before. Then I think of something else I can do to reassure this nameless boy.

I tug a wooden figurine out of my pocket and toss it into the dirt in front of him. It’s the miniature Escort I made today. ”Consider it a peace offering -careful, don't get splinters. I’m. Not. Going. To. Attack. You.” I emphasise every word so he can see I mean it.

I glance back quickly to Dekota, wondering what he’ll do next. He seems to be taking in my actions with curiosity.[/font]

Can we make this a closed thread? Just asking ^^
~Onyx

[themysterybox]

”Ivy. Ivy Escher.”

No, no she wasn't. Josiah had seen her before, somewhere, and her name certainly hadn't been Ivy. He had heard people talk about her when she walked by, that much told him she was either important or completely psychotic. And while dangerous she may appear, she certainly wasn't psychotic. At least, he didn't think so. So she was someone important. He didn't know that many important people in the district, other than the mayor and his family. Important people didn't associate with people like him.

”Seriously, kid, it’s okay. What’s your name? Hey, get up will you? You look like you’re trying to become a tree down there.”

Thus yanked out of his safe bubble of thoughts and into the immediate reality, his eyes grew wide. How did she know that? He cleared his throat to speak, but made no move to get up, or change position other than lifting his head a bit higher."I... ahm... I'm Josiah. Eln."

And I wish I were the tree. More than anything,he continued mentally. But he wasn't, and he had to deal with this situation, he reminded himself once more. He looked over at Dekota, wishing the other boy would keep this girl's attention off of him. He thought about telling the boy her name wasn't Ivy, but that might make her mad. He didn't like it when people -- especially people with knives and wooden spears -- were angry. When the figurine landed in front of him with a soft thunk, he nearly jumped out of his skin.

”Consider it a peace offering -- careful, don't get splinters. I’m. Not. Going. To. Attack. You.”

He looked down at it. It was a small wooden figure, of the Capitol Escort who came around every year for the Reaping. He would know that face anywhere, nowadays, since he had watched the man claim two of the children from his district, and knowing that the next year it might be him. Tentatively he reached for it, as though it might jump up and bite his hand, and wrapped his fingers around it. He brought it close to his face, inspecting the details on it intensely.

It was very well done, he could see that much. As good, if not better, than the ones his sister Callie did. Looking back up at her, he offered a small smile. He still, however, didn't feel like moving.

[School is the bane of my life]

Diana Holly

Another day in school, boring school, and another day in the woods, Always chopping for hours. Diana grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder.

“Bye dad,”

she said softly as she walked by him. She dropped her axe by his side. He waved at her and she left the clearing. The walk back to her family’s house was a nice walk. Birds would chirp and most of the time small animals would dash by her. She stopped and dropped her backpack; she dug her hand through the bag and pulled out a carving she had been working on and a small carving knife. She closed the bag and threw it over her shoulders again. A month had gone into working on this craving and it was going to be worth it. Oh how the people would pay for her statue of a small wolf. She chipped away at it as she slowly walked. When she got to her house she opened the small door and went in.

“Hello?”

she called, wondering if anyone was home. No, mom is still at the market. She ambled down to her room and carefully placed the craving down on her lone wooden table at the side of her room. I guess I can look for friends now, but it’s a nice day I should just go in the forest for some quiet. She grabbed her knife that she kept for protection. She then jogged out of her room, zipping up her white jacket a little higher and sauntered over to a path to the forest. She stuck her hands in her pockets as her small legs took step after step. Maybe I can go off the path today? She looked carefully around making sure no one was around and then dashed off into the forest. She stopped running after a few seconds and continued on her way. A voice suddenly came out of the forest. She ducked behind a bush and looked around. The voice is coming from that glade. She inched forward and listened closely. “I’m. Not. Going. To. Attack. You,” the voice said, it sounded like a girl. There must be some other people to, maybe some possible friends? I thought I was suppose to not see any friends right now? Ah whatever. She nodded to herself and stepped out and looked at two boys and one girl.

“Hello, are you busy?”

OOC: Sorry if you dont want me here ^^ I just wanted to rp with my new character.

[Onyx]

Josiah Eln. I can’t help thinking what a beautiful name that is. He seems to like the carving, which is a good sign, and I breathe a tiny sigh of relief when he doesn’t recognise me. I return the smile he gave me, still trying to prove that I’m not a threat, that, even though I considered it, I’m not going to take his money from him. I had already put away my knife. Dekota tries to get between me and Josiah, so I turn my attention back to him. However, I try to be somewhat warmer than before.[/font]

”What brings you out into the woods? I’ve never seen you around here before and I’m here every day.” No need to mention the fact I’ve often missed school to come here, or that it’s usually because I’m hoping someone I can steal from will pass this way. And this would be a golden opportunity if it weren’t for there being too many targets.

No sooner have I thought this but the telltale rustling suggests the arrival of another person in my glade. ”Hello, are you busy?”[/colour] says a girl who I have seen before. Diana - I’ve seen her in school and around the District. I can’t say this though, in case she recognises me too. It is true, I need this disguise if I want to make friends with the two boys. If I want to take their money without my father finding out. I turn my head away from Diana, subtly, and address her:[/font]

”No…no, not busy. Just trying to find out why there are intruders in my part of the woods,” I joke, though it is true three’s already a crowd, and Chatterton is back again, ”Who… who are you?”

Oh great, Suzanne, you’ve really blown your cover now. My free hand goes defensively to my knife hilt again, though I keep my head turned away from Diana. I look back to Dekota, awaiting his reply to my question.[/font]

[deks]

Dekota had always been proud of his ability to know when people were lying, and this girl, was lying. He was almost positive her name wasn't Ivy Escher. He knew Ivy Escher. Ivy was a twelve year old girl and a friend of his sisters. Although, he considered there might be two. he doubted it, because something about how she said the name was wrong.

The girl glanced toward the kid, he tensed in case she was going to go psychotic. But no. She simply told the kid that it was going to be okay, and that she wasn't going to attack him. However, she had said no such thing to Dekota, still she appeared a bit less crazy now. He heard the kid say his name was Josiah Eln. A nice name and vaguely familiar. Eln he had heard that name before, somewhere. So Dekota relaxed a little, but still wondered why the girl had lied. People who lie have something to hide. Then the question rang out.

What brings you to the woods today?
"Well, i am afraid i am a bit lost, i was just trying to find my way back to district seven, when i saw that snake molesting poor Josiah." Then oh great a third party entered the wood. Hello, are you busy, she said. Dekota now had two other people to protect from this strange girl if she went postal and started killing people. The girl and the newcomer exchanged greetings, then the girl looked back at him. He noted that her hand was back on her knife again.

Dekota sighed. He really didn't want to hurt any one, but this newcomer and now the fact that the strange girl might go for the knife again, had upped the odds. She was obviously just a little bit crazy, if she tried to hurt one of them he had to be ready. He glanced to his bag and looked absentminded as he fiddled with the straps on the bag. He had his long knife hidden in the fake bottom of his bag, he could have it out in an instant once he had the bag opened.

[themysterybox]

He wished he had just stayed home. The girl didn't seem so dangerous as she had before, at least not to him. However, the larger boy -- whose name he hadn't heard, when they were exchanged, for the ringing -- still seemed to think she was dangerous, and had moved in front of him to keep the girl away. He supposed that if she did do something with that knife of hers, it was better the other boy than him.

”What brings you out into the woods? I’ve never seen you around here before and I’m here every day.”

"Well, I am afraid I am a bit lost, I was just trying to find my way back to district seven, when I saw that snake molesting poor Josiah."Every day? But... but she looked young enough to still be in school. Which meant that she skipped, right? Or does being an important person mean you don't have to go to school? No, no it didn't. He had seen the mayor's daughter at school once, and she was certainly important.

And, molesting? He knew what molesting was, in both senses, the boy had meant being unwillingly touched. But the snake hadn't touched him, had only threatened him. He supposed the boy meant the snake was going to molest him. Because it surely was. That's what snakes did.

More rustling. Someone else. Looking towards the sound, he saw a girl emerge, one almost as small as he was. How was it that so many people had just happened to wander to this spot, so deep in the forest? Divine powers? Perhaps, but Josiah didn't put much stock in faith. It seemed too flimsy to him, to just say some words and hoped something happened because of them. Whatever it was that brought them here, he thought, was perhaps not as important as the fact that they were here."Hello, are you busy?'

As a matter of fact, I am busy. Busy trying not to piss myself, and thank you very much. He didn't say as much, of course, because he didn't want to draw attention to himself. But it was true; the older girl moved her hand to her knife again and the boy was reaching into his satchel for something. Oh, and the snake was back. Lovely

”No…no, not busy. Just trying to find out why there are intruders in my part of the woods." Her part of the woods? Her part of the woods? Josiah scowled at that, he came through here every now and again, because these woods were open to anyone. Well, anyone willing to break the law. What made this part of the woods hers?

"Who... who are you?"Well, wasn't that the question of the day. If he had had a nickel for every time he had heard it, he'd have... well, he'd have... he wasn't good at math, but he'd have more nickels than he came here with. And that would have been nice. What would have been nicer is if the two bigger people here didn't look like they were both reaching for weapons. And what would have been best, he told himself again, is if Marcus were here. His older brother could fix anything.

But for now, being only Josiah, he would sit still, and watch how it all played out.

[School is the bane of my life]

There was something odd about this girl, she thought she knew who she was but could not place her finger on it. Was she from school? Maybe.... But she looked a bit crazy. And was that a snake near her? She quickly looked over to one of the boys hand and saw a carving. Its looked pretty nice. She stared into the trees for a while.

”No…no, not busy. Just trying to find out why there are intruders in my part of the woods,”

Diana could tell she was joking, well at least she hoped she was joking, she checked her back pocket and found her knife still in there. Diana quickly put my hands on the handle but let go.

"I don’t think I will need to use this." She gazed down at a lone pebble, thinking.

Who... .Who are you?”

the girl’s voice took her out of the trance. She sounded very nervous, like she was trying to hide something. She took the opportunity to tell the boys and the odd girl who she was.

“I am Diana Holly,”she beamed. “Who are you? I have only seen you guys around but I don’t know what you are called?”

She took a step forward towards them and relaxed her shoulders. Still keeping her hands at reach so she could quickly grab her knife if needed.