Break of Dawn [DiDi]

[mara0107]

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It was early morning and mist was still hanging over the meadows that surrounded District Eight. The sun had just crept over the horizon, flooding everything in the dim light of a new day. It was still cold outside and Athena pulled her jacket closer to herself to keep the cold air from creeping through the thin layer of fabric as she left her parents house. It looked like it was going to be a nice day.

Athena wanted to meet up with Artemis to go to the woods and it was always easier to escape into the woods when it was still misty and almost dark outside. Less peacekeepers were on patrol and they were less likely to see them. They were lucky that the woods were still part of District Eight and not outside the big electric fence that surrounded the District and kept it’s citizens locked up like prisoners. The fence wasn’t electrified the whole time but it still scared Athena to climb over it to leave District Eight. Athena had left District Eight a couple of times when she was younger. She thought it was a big adventure to run through the woods and never thought about the consequences. But one day, she came back to the fence, ready to go back into the safety of District Eight and the fence was electrified. She had to spend a whole night outside the fence, huddled up in a tree before the electricity was turned off again and she could go home. Athena had never dared to cross the fence again afterwards so she was happy that they had at least a little bit of forest inside the surroundings of District Eight. She knew they couldn’t shoot anything big here, since the bigger animals were kept outside of the District by the fence, but maybe they would get lucky and spot a few squirrels or birds.

Of course everything she and Artemis wanted to do today was strictly forbidden. Entering the woods, even though they were still part of District Eight was forbidden. Picking up their self made bows from their hiding place inside the hollow tree was strictly forbidden, since weapons were strictly forbidden and hunting was above all things they would be doing today forbidden. They would have to be careful not to get caught. Usually one of them would stand guard while the other hunted. It was not easy and it was dangerous, because the punishment was big, but what could they do with all the hunger among the kids of District Eight. For sure, District Eight was better off than the lower districts, but there were still a lot of families, that didn’t have enough food to prevent their kids from being hungry. Athena couldn’t stand seeing these hungry kids in school. So when she met Artemis, who was already a good bow hunter, she asked her to show her how to use a bow and hunt. That was how the friendship between the girls had started and it had grown ever since.

Athena crossed the meadow that was still covered in mist. She could see less than a few yards, but that was a good thing since the peacekeepers weren’t likely to see her like that. She sped up her steps as she got closer to the woods and stopped only after the thick bushes that grew on the edge of the forest concealed her. The young girl held her breath and listened if there were steps from somebody that had followed her into the forest. Once she was sure that nobody had followed her, she allowed herself to breathe again and started to walk through the forest towards the place where she would meet up with Artemis. They always entered the forest separately. It was safer that way. When she reached the little clearing in the woods, she leaned against one of the trees and waited for her friend to arrive. As the sun rose, it was slowly getting brighter and she hoped Artemis would be here soon.

[DiDi Is A Ninja]

When life gives you lemons,
You make lemonade.

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Artemis Carmzarola was having a bad day so far.

Okay, so it wasn't, you know, bad bad, just bad. But this girl hoped her day will be better when she sees her best friend and hunting partner, Athena Channer. Though she was a bit older, Artemis and Athena share a big bond. One that can't be broken.

And Artie's day was pretty much like this.

"Mom!" Artemis screams. "Dad! Mom ain't feeling alright!" And she didn't. Mrs. Carmzarola was sweating, holding her fat belly that holds Artie's future sister. While Mr. Carmzarola looked over his shoulder and yelled, "She can't be havin' it yet. Just give 'er some medicine, will 'ya?" Artemis obeyed, but after dumping the medicine into her mother's hand, she ran out of the door, knowing Athena will probably question her absence.

Mom's okay. Artemis thinks to calm herself down as she walks through the woods to meet Athena. I'm not even late.

Happily, Artie was right. The fence's electricity has been turned off, and small little Artemis was able to climb the fence. When Artie landed, she ran as fast as her long legs can carry her to the place where Athena had told Artemis to meet her. Hopefully, she will be there.

Artie wondered if she and Athena will come out of the woods with food. Maybe, this time, she and Athena will not kill anything. We won't have food to take home. The thought made the girl shudder. But with Athena's brains and Artemis's archery skills, it's not likely the two will come out of the forest without game, and this made Artemis proud. Proud that they'd cheated the Peacekeepers and found a way to get food for their families.

And then Artemis saw her. Athena Channer, with her wavy-ish blonde hair and a beautiful pair of grayish blue eyes. To Artie, she was beautiful compared to her, but she also looked similar. Artemis Carmzarola has natural, wavy light blonde hair with sapphire blue eyes. Artie wasn't even sure if Athena even saw her, but by the looks of it, Athena has been waiting for quite a bit.

Oops. Artie was really late.

[mara0107]

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The blonde girl smiled when she noticed a tiny noise, that didn’t quite fit into the woods that surrounded her. You wouldn’t notice the sound if you didn’t know what to listen for. It was the sound of small feet on the soft ground. Normally a strange noise in the woods would cause Athena to hide somewhere but not this sound. This wasn’t a peacekeeper patrolling the woods. Peacekeepers sounded differently. They had heavy boots on their feet and they caused way more noise. It was a miracle they even caught people in the woods every once in a while because they could be heard from a far distance. Athena didn’t move. She remained standing with her back against the tall tree. Only her face turned in the direction of the sound she heard while she kept waiting.

Then Artemis stepped out on the clearing and Athena’s smile grew wider. “You should watch your steps. I was able to hear you for a long time before I could see you.” she teased her friend. Artie knew that Athena wasn’t serious. No one, not even Athena was able to move so quietly through the forest and the only reason why Athena was able to hear her at all was, because she knew what sounds to listen for. “Glad you could make it.” , she added and walked over to the hollow tree where Artie’s and her bow were hidden. She knew that Artie’s mom was pregnant and that she was a little… well, difficult sometimes. Well, parents were often difficult but Arties parents were somehow special in that way. Athena reached inside the hole and a few seconds later the two bows appeared in her hands. “Would you mind getting the quiver and arrows?” , she asked. The two girls were late and with the sun rising higher and higher it would be harder to spot the animals as they started hiding once it got bright outside.

[DiDi Is A Ninja]

^{You don't know the worth of water
Until the well is dry}[/i][/b][/color][/size]

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The tree's branches softly bounced up and down. Artemis loved the forest. It was so calm and quiet and a great place to escape with Athena. Though Artie had lived in District 8, where they had made clothes, there was still some nature, and for this, Artemis was thankful.

Artie laughed when Athena Channer teased her.

"Because I make the noise of a Peacekeeper's boot."Artie joked back, a smile across her face. She knew Athena was not serious. Artemis laughed. She didn't care if there was a listening Peacekeeper. Artemis suddenly started twirling and giggled. Giggled into the clear, morning sky.

"Glad you could make it."Athena said when Artemis had stopped giggling. "So am I."Artie replied. She stopped to listen to the beautiful sound of birds chirping and the feet of the animals running around the woods. They will not come out of the woods empty handed. They couldn't. There was Artemis's mother and father to take care of and Athena's family.

When Athena asked Artemis to go get the quiver and arrows, Artie nodded and obeyed. She sprinted to the hole behind the nearby tree and dug out the quiver and arrows, which, thankfully, where still there. Artie shoved the dirt into the hole and sprinted back to Athena, her legs moving so fast you could barely see them. "I've got 'em!"

Artemis felt whole when she was with Athena. There were no Peacekeepers that could scream at them if we said something wrong, or hit them for hunting like this. And they can be themselves. Artemis could practice her archery skills and help Athena with her own. They could sit there and talk about how life in District 8 is. They could do anything in this forest. This was why this was Artie's favorite place.

Artie beamed. Now the real fun with Athena was about to start.[/center][/sup][/color]

[mara0107]

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Athena started laughing when she saw Artie laughing and twirling. Some people thought her friend was a little odd because she could be so happy without any big reason, but Athena though that was one of Arties best traits. Being around her friend always made her feel like the world was just a little, a tiny bit better than normal. For one moment, she was able to forget the Capitol, and the hunger games and all the problems in the districts. For a little moment, she was just a girl, meeting in the woods with her friend and spent a wonderful day together. The moment passed when Artie stopped giggling and twirling but it still left Athena in a better mood than she was before. Still, she looked around and listened if there was someone approaching. She wasn’t in the mood for getting caught in the woods today. Athena shuddered when she thought about the punishment she would receive if they would get caught. At the moment it wouldn’t be too bad. They would only be accused of heading to the woods without permission. But once they retrieved their bows from the hollow tree and especially if they shot game, they would be in big trouble. Athena had seen people getting whipped on the District Square and she wasn’t eager to be the one who was being whipped. But a thought that was even worse was, that they would catch Artemis and punish her. Athena shook her head to banish those thoughts from her mind. "Not happening today!" , she told herself. But these thoughts, these cruel pictures in her head were the reason why she was always overly cautious when she headed to the woods. Still, it was nice to see, that Artie was in such a good mood. When Athena was sure that there was still no sign of a peacekeeper and that they were still all alone between the trees, she relaxed her tense muscles a bit. The woods were as quiet as they usually were. The only sound was the rustling of leaves, that moved in the wind and the chirping of the birds that welcomed the new day. The smile returned to Athenas face when she addressed her friend again. “What makes you so happy today?” , she asked her friend.
The smile grew bigger as she saw the excitement with which Artie ran for their hunting equipment. They kept their bow and arrows hidden in a hole behind a tree, always covered with a thick layer of dirt so they could not be found if you didn’t know where to look. But still, Athena was relieved when she saw Artie with their bows in her hands. Even though their hunting equipment was well hidden, you never knew… “I’ve got ‘em.” ,, Atrie called, her face beaming. A smirk crossed Athenas face. Even though Artie was a couple of years younger than she was, she was still one of her closest friends. Sometimes Athena thought that Artie was like a little sister to her, which was why she was looking after the thirteen-year-old whenever she was able to and spent as much time as she could spare with her.
She took the bow out of Arties outstretched hand and hung the quiver over her shoulder. “Well, if you’re ready to go, then let’s go.” , she ordered with a smile and started walking away from the clearing and into the areas of the forest, where the trees stood close together and the sunlight was dimmed by the thick roof of leaves that hung above the two girls. She too was excited to spend a day with her friend.
After a few minutes of walking in silence, when her and Arties steps where the only sound that could be heard, Athena broke the quietness. “What have you been up to lately?” , she asked her friend. It had been a while since the last time the two friends spend time together and she was eager to find out if Artie had some interesting news.


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