Fallen from the Heavens [Open!!!]

[LynnMarie]

I ran through the tree, my hair still wet from the morning wash clinging to the back of my neck. There had been a long line for the bath tub this morning, just like any other Sunday morning in the Linden house. Six siblings plus the baby were washed before I had the chance to step in quickly before mama started yelling that I was taking too long and that the drought was upon us in the worst way. I had poured the water quickly over my head, threw on a thin cotton dress, combed out my hair, and ran off barefoot into the forest with my satchel bag hitting my hips as I ran. The trees were thickly leaved in the new summer months. The forest floor was painted with shadows as the sun struggled to reach the ground through the thick coverage. It was only when the soft breeze hit the leaves that the sun gained its chance to emirate its light on the waiting plants under the foliage. My feet crushed the soft dead leaves that had fallen the previous fall, been hidden under snow to be uncovered again with the coming warmth.

The warmth had descended on Panem all right. Even in my light dress I could feel the sweat start to form on my back. The dry air fills my lungs and as I run it makes me gasp for water. I had run out of the house so fast that I had forgotten to quench my thirst before I left. I knew the small pond was just up ahead, but I had been warned many time by my father never to drink that water without boiling it first, and then I had been warned just last night to be careful of fire in the forest for the dry leaves would only be to happen to quickly spread the flames. Therefore, my only option for water was back at the house. However, I did not wish to go back just yet so I slowed my pace to a walk so to conserve my energy.

I did not go much farther until I came to a tall tree. I looked up and saw the thick branches stretching out close to one another. It was the perfect climbing tree. Perhaps the air would be cooler and easier to breath as I climbed. However, I did not have to go far before the stiffing air broke. I found a particularly think branch, leaning up against the rough trunk and closed my eyes inhaling a sweet breeze that had just passed over me. I reached in my satchel and pulled out my knife. The handle was worn, but worn so it fit my hand perfectly. I again reached in the bag and pulled out a half carved figurine. It was to be a beaver that I had seen the other day. It had seemed lost, looking for its lost lake. The drought had taken its toll on everyone. I looked over my work and smoothed out a bit of the beaver's back. I concentrated on forming the tale when I heard the cracking of branches below me. I looked down but saw no one.

Again I heard the cracking and in my effort to see what was causing the noise, the beaver slipped from my fingers and fell to the ground landing gently on the dead leaves below. I groaned, thinking of how I would now have to climb down and retrieve it. It readied myself to descend when I finally saw the source of the noises that had so distracted me and the source was bending down to pick up my beaver.

[Sheena]

Occasionally, Eyal was forced to work in the trees on Sundays, but for the most part, it was his free day. On this Sunday, he was free to relax, though relaxing was never on his to-do list. He did not care to sit at home with his father in the uncomfortable silence that plagued their house, so he often walked around the district. Sometimes he ran into others who worked with him, and chatted and joked with them - maybe he would stay with them for an hour or two. Eventually he would continue on his way, not daring to share his thoughts or secrets with anyone but himself, not daring to make a true friend. He hadn't ran into anyone in particular today. He supposed they had families and real friends to tend to - and many worked.

Eyal was walking among the trees he knew so well. Trees that would one day be cut and hauled and shaped into something more useful to humans. The animals who lived there would find a new temporary home and continue living their lives... if they were smart. If they were really smart, they'd find homes in a different district. It was different experiencing the heat and dry waste during a walk than when working. When he worked, his clothes became drenched in sweat, his neck was often sunburnt, and his muscles ached. Although the wind was dry now, it was refreshing and offered some relief from the heat. The weather on its own felt cool compared to work days.

Lately, Eyal had found himself wandering aimlessly often. He would take his time going home after work despite his hunger and if he had no work, like today, he would go into the forest and simply take everything in. The green all around (though the drought had turned plenty of the green yellow), the smells of moss and bark and leaves and grass; cedar, pine, birch. It all mingled within the forest to create a distinctive scent that Eyal truly loved. It was peaceful.

Before his mother had died, Eyal played in the forest and had an incredible imagination, based on old stories. He could be a pirate king in the jungle of some far-off place, trying to steal an invisible princess. He would climb in the trees and jump from limb to limb. Sometimes he would be on the ship, scaling masts. He could be an explorer coming upon a brand new world; the forest would be full of strange people and animals, but he would not be scared. He would meet the people and parley with them. Or he would battle and defeat them (if they were cannibals). However, Eyal was too heavy with muscle to climb most trees (though he still tried) and his mother's death had taken away most of his real imagination.

Eyal came to a rather large tree that he had climbed various times before. He loved this tree because of its sturdiness. There were natural foothold in the tree's bark, and the branches, when they began, were thick enough for him to pull on, step on, and sit on. It was a strange happiness, being high off the ground. It was a happiness that no interaction with a human could ever match. It tasted of freedom.

He approached the tree, ready to climb, when something fell right in front of him. Eyal bent down and looked at the object - a piece of wood. It was in the shape of a very accurate beaver. He chuckled softly and looked up. He tried to remember if anything stranger had every fallen from a tree in his time. He couldn't think of anything. Eyal picked it up and then looked up. If there was someone above, which he truly hoped there was for the purpose of finding the source of the mysterious beaver, the tree's leaves and branches hid them. "Hello?" he said. "I really hope there is someone up there." He held the beaver up to the branches.

[LynnMarie]

I closed my eyes and groaned a bit as I saw the figure look over the carving I had so carelessly dropped. I gently banged my head against the tree trunk I was resting my back on. I could barely see the form of the person below me, the leaves were blocking his face. yes, I could she that he was male. I felt so dumb for not even hearing him walk up to the tree. I would have never given away that I was here otherwise.

I had gotten out of the house only to be found by a stranger, or well a possible stranger, I couldn't see yet. I heard a greeting being called up from the ground, a male voice. Well that confirmed that. I sat still. Maybe he would just walk away. Was that wishful thinking? No such luck.

I sighed as he voiced that he hoped that someone was in the tree. I considered that if a carved beaver had fallen out of a tree in front of me I would want to make sure that I was being driven crazy by the heat. I folded up my pocket knife and slipped it in its special pocket in my bag. I then made sure that my bag was firmly on my shoulder before I turned and started climbing down the tree. I took my time trying to think of what to say when I reached the bottom. I wasn't doing anything illegal anyway, unless you couldn't climb trees anymore. If he asked what I was going to do with the beaver, it was going to be a gift for my mother, I was not going to chance getting in trouble for selling the figures in the market place.

I cleared the last branches with leaves, and swung down my feet touching the ground. I squatted with my weight coming down from the trees, my hands touching the dirt and leaf ground. I slowly rose from the ground, wiping my hands of the dirt on the back of my dress, smoothing it out as well. I could not see the face of my disturber.

I did recognize him, though his name escaped my memory, or was never implanted there. I stood awkwardly in front of him. I knew he was close to my age and that his father worked with my father. However, I did not have anything to say to him, and my shyness overtook me, and I failed to make any conversation.

[Sheena]

After a moment of worrisome silence, Eyal heard movement in the branches above him. Good, he thought, relieved, I'm not crazy.. The owner of the sounds and, Eyal assumed, the animal carving, made their way to the base of the tree. They never uttered a word. Eyal stepped back in order to make room for the person. It wasn't until she had reached the ground that Eyal realized the owner was a girl. He rarely expected to find a girl in the forest, not because they were unable to work, but because the majority of his time was spent around men. Testosterone every way he looked. Even at home it was just Eyal and his dad. He liked that it was a girl though. Every once in awhile, a guy needed some female presence. And it didn't hurt that she was talented.

However, when she stood before him and remained silent, he was confused. She did know how to speak, didn't she? Eyal did what he did best in awkward situations with strangers and smiled wide. The girl must have been shy. Come to think of it, she did look familiar. Perhaps he had seen her in school, though maybe not in his grade. He did not remember every speaking to her in any case. Eyal was friendly enough, so it must have been nerves. He did not know her name either.

Eyal looked down at the carved beaver in his hand and looked back to the girl. "Hi," he said. "I believe this belongs to you." He offered the animal to her and waited for her to take it before he continued to speak. "I didn't expect anyone to be hiding up in my tree, but it's not every day that beavers fall from the sky." Eyal still wore his smile, hoping the warmth he offered would be able to comfort her.

[ooc: sorry that this one is quite short. I wasn't sure what more I should say. Also, I may not be able to reply again until Sunday night, just so you know.]

[LynnMarie]

I shifted my foot nervously, hoping that he would either say something or send me away. I'm not sure exactly what I was truly hoping he would do, but I had a strange feeling that I wanted him to say something. You would think that if I wanted to have a conversation with this boy that I could open my mouth and start one for myself. My mind ached for this to happen, but it was not to be. He would be the first to speak.

His hand extended as he handed me back the beaver. I gratefully accepted it with a nod of my head. I tried to smile, but even that rarely gave me a pleasant appearance. Instead, I looked at him in the eye for the first time. His tree? I looked up into the leaves of the high tree. I did not know that one could own a tree. My gaze fell back down to the boy and continued down to the beaver carving I was now nervously turning in my hands.

I could feel the words coming up out of my stomach, and before my head had time to stop them, I said: "Thank you" perhaps a little too quiet for him to hear. Realizing this, I cleared my throat keeping my gaze on the wooden figure. I spoke louder. "Thank you. For retrieving my carving." Although the beaver was not completely done, I was satisfied with it. The only features missing were eyes, teeth, and claws. I could quickly finish the piece and give it to the boy as a thank you for being so nice.

I turned and walked over to the tree that I had just descended from. I sat down with my back against the strong trunk. Settling myself I spoke again. "If you just wait a moment, I want you to have this." I indicated the beaver. I reached in my satchel and pulled out my knife. I unfolded it gently and held it in my dominant hand, my left hand. I looked at the boy, unsure that he would stay. "It will only take a moment to finish, unless, unless you do not want it." I said, waiting before I gently but firmly went to work on the beaver.

no problem!

[Sheena]

Throughout the exchange of the carving, the girl did not say a word. Eyal thought that he could feel her apprehension in the air; she must have been painfully shy. The girl was also socially awkward, that was clear. However, regardless of his thoughts about the girl, he retained his effortless smile and made sure that none of his thoughts plagued her face. He definitely did not want this girl to become more nervous than she already was.

When Eyal handed the beaver back to its owner, the girl looked him directly in the eye. He was in no way prepared for such a shy girl to look into his eyes. It seemed a very bold move. The contradictions in her person interested Eyal. Most people he encountered were extroverted, some were loud, and all seemed fairly well-socialized. This girl was not like the others of District Seven. He constantly looked for digressions in people, new and old, from that of the district’s norm. He had is uneven eyes that only he seemed to notice, and this girl had a personality so different than one he had ever encountered before. It was quite refreshing.

She still remained silent, even when she had received her work, and looked around – up at the tree, back at him, and down to her hands, which played with the carving, turning it over again and again. Finally she spoke, saying “thank you” in a very soft voice. The only sound in the forest was the rustle of leaves in the trees above, which was fortunate for Eyal as he would have been unable to hear the thanks otherwise. The girl seemed to realize that her voice might have been too quiet for humans and cleared her throat, speaking the next words louder. “Thank you,” she said, “for retrieving my carving.” Her choice of words seemed strange to Eyal. District Seven’s people were not generally known the for their eloquence of speech and this girl therefore did not fit the norm. Another quirk to like, Eyal thought, grinning. ”No problem,” he replied.

The girl turned away from him, and he thought she was about to walk away. He wasn’t sure what to expect. What do socially awkward people normally do? he wondered silently. However, she went and sat by the familiar tree and spoke again, “if you just wait a moment, I want you to have this.” She would give him the piece of artwork that had interested him so? Eyal didn’t know why, but this gesture made him ecstatic, though he kept his composure. He owned very few things, and art did not factor into any of the possessions he did have.

“It will only take a moment to finish, unless- unless you do not want it,” the girl continued. Eyal did not hesitate with his response: ”Of course I want it!” he exclaimed. He walked over to the tree and sat down beside her, excited, looking at the beaver. He wanted to see her work on it, to see the beaver’s details added, giving life to the wooden figurine. ”It’s so cool,” he added, staring at the animal in the girl’s hands.