A death in the family (Open)

[artemisa]

Astrid Aribarri

"Ok everyone, since it's nearly noon now and that's the best time for hunting we've got to get outside and have a look around. The gate is still three or four miles away so we'd better pick it up", says Jade who soon starts to run. Astrid is then surprised by how quickly he can run. And I thought I could run fast!, she thinks. Astrid then tries to keep up with him but she can't, he's way too fast. She soon gets tired and starts to slow down, he then turns around to see that Astrid, Kiara and Colin can't run as fast as he can. "Sorry, I run a lot so I'm used to it. I guess we don't have to run but we at least have to walk quickly", he says looking at how tired everyone is and he then decides to wait a bit for everyone to catch up with him. Once everyone is almost at the gate he turns around walking backwards and says "Alright, so what's the plan when we get outside the gate? Do we split into pairs? Each go a different direction so we can cover more area? Or should we do a pair of two for the main group and two scouts out in front? Anyone have any ideas?", he then stops to see if anyones comes up with an idea. Well, Astrid thinks indecisively I do know that I have never hunted alone back at the forest so hunting alone is out of the question, well at least for me. Now, if we hunt in a group we won't cover much so it be best hunting in parters, but if we do...then who would I hunt with?...I mean, I could hunt with Kiara but I really don't know her and...I don't know. I could also hunt with Jade but he's too fast and I'd just slow him down anyways. Or...I could hunt with Colin but I have never seen him hunting before I just know he's good at it...Ugh, I don't know...All I know is that hunting alone is out of the question.
Astrid then responds "Well I think that hunting alone is out of the question because I have never hunted alone, not even in the district and none of us are very familiar with this place. Right?"

[Innocent]

Kiara did her best to keep up with them but she had never been much of a runner. She was more the type to sit in one spot and wait but that was going to have to change if she was going to keep up with these people.

"Ive always been a bit of a loner but its probably best if we do pair up, if all of us go together it would be really noisy though. So I say pairs, although im not sure how we could chose who goes with who."

[Molly]

~Colin
we ran to try and catch up with Jade. i usually beat the track team at running the mile in 6 minutes, but Jade was so much faster.
this then brought on the question of who would hunt with whom. i didnt mind who i hunted with, i was rather flexible. but i figured if we were hunting larger game it was best to do so in pairs.
"well," i say "why dont we split up into pairs. match each others startigies and abilities so we have half the force as a full team." i say.
that seemed like the best thing to do considering if we were all together we would make too much noise. and besides we have about 3 miles to talk the hunting partners over. there was no rush really.

[Mark Mollove]

As we walk through the forest along the nearly unforeseen path Jade keeps trying to split up everyone into groups of two in his head...

Colin and I: Well that would leave Kiara and Astrid together; guys on one team, girls on another. Also that would mean one ranged per group and one close up. But then we'd have to split up to fight one creature.I can't see many draw backs on this one unless we had to fight TWO large fierce creatures. Both Colin and I could move fast...but I don't know how well Kiara and Astrid would do.

Kiara and I: That would leave Astrid and Colin together; This ALSO would be a split with one rage and one close up attacker. Also the two creature problem. This choice is almost just like the first. Astrid is the only person Colin even has a past with...the might be something to think about.

Astrid and I: This leaves Colin and Kiara; Colin wouldn't feel weird around Kiara either because she isn't very vocal. This is also the only match that has a ranged pair and a close up pair. This is advantageous, while the close up has more power the ranged pair is equally as good for someone will always be able to shoot. Trees would be best for the ranged two and land would be best for the close-up. I wonder how well everyone can climb?
-----
To Jade the choice seems obvious, but he doesn't want to be a dictator, so he shares his thoughts on the different groups that we could pair up into. "...Ok, with all of that in mind does anyone have anymore comments on a pair? What should we do?"


Edit: *Note to everyone: I gave you each an attack distance based on your weapons. PM me if I got something wrong.*

[artemisa]

Astrid Aribarri

Astrid's thoughts keep shifting into Kiara and Astrid, Colin and Astrid or Jade and Astrid. Ugh! I can't decide. Kiara is good with at archery and combined with my fighting skills it would be good but there would not be coordination whereas with Colin it would be a bit different since I know that he's good with a machete, short sword and the sling shot so...maybe it be best with Colin. Or I could go with Jade...plus...he's the only one I've seen using weapons before so I'd have an idea of what I could do if we hunt together but...I don't know. I think it's between Jade or Colin.
Astrid's unclear thoughts are suddenly stopped by Jade who has also tried to make a decision. His is actually more thoughtful, thinks Astrid as she then tries to decide who could go with who. Maybe going with Jade would be better because there would be more coordination while hunting and he does bring up a good point by what he said so maybe going with Jade is best. Just sayin'
"I", Astrid then pauses "think that having close ups paired together and the ranged together would be more better since there would be more coordination during hunting and there would be less problems if something were to happen". Astrid then looks at everyone to see if they agree or disagree.

[Mark Mollove]

Jade pauses and give a faint smile to Astrid. He then pushes on with everyone else in tow. "I think that's probably best, but if either of you two.." Jade motions to Kiara and Colin "...want a different hunting partner we'll keep talking. But it looks to me like Astrid and I will go one way and you two (Kiara and Colin) will go the other way. Is that ok with you guys?" I smile and wait for a response. I can't believe I might be able to hunt with her! Alright...keep it together Jade, don't let it show.

[Molly]

OOC: the sling shot and bow sound good for Colin.


~Colin
I had no problem with whoever i hunted with. i honestly didnt mind. new experiances anyways, thats the way life should be, right? Anyways, i shrug my shoulders and look over at Kiara. "are you gunna be ok... you know, with me?" i ask. i dont think i have heard her talk this whole time i've been in the group. so her dad must be 'away' too, huh?
I couldnt tell if she was ok with this or not, but if we were going to be hunting partners it seemed only fair to ask for her opinion after all.

[Innocent]

Kiara stood silently and listen to them, she felt this wasn't her place to speak, they seemed to know every one better then her so she left it up to them and they decided she would go with Colin."I dont mind, Ive got no problem with you being my hunting partner. Ive never hunted with some one else before so you may have to bear with me. It may be a bit of a learning curve but i'm sure I can manage."

[artemisa]

Astrid Aribarri

As Astrid shares her opinion with everyone, she looks up to see if someone has something to say. That is when she notices Jade giving her a faint smile and then turns to everyone saying "I think that's probably best, but if either of you two..want a different hunting partner we'll keep talking. But it looks to me like Astrid and I will go one way and you two (Kiara and Colin) will go the other way. Is that ok with you guys?", he then smiles. Why is he smiling?, thinks Astrid a bit confused. Colin then looks at Kiara and shrugs her shoulder saying "are you gonna be ok... you know, with me?". Kiara looks at Colin and says ."I don't mind, Ive got no problem with you being my hunting partner. Ive never hunted with some one else before so you may have to bear with me. It may be a bit of a learning curve but I'm sure I can manage".
"Well", says Astrid doubtfully "With that being said, um...let's split up because noon is almost over and...well...keep your eyes open for anything", she then takes a long pause before starting to walk "Oh, and good luck", she says giving a smile to Kiara and Colin. Astrid then turns around and grabs her sword and starts to walk away giving a very faint smile to Jade. I hope I can find a clue to where my father is or why they all ended like that...

[Mark Mollove]

It appears like the pairing seems good to everyone and so it's set. Jade will be hunting with Astrid. As we progress Jade can barely see the high gate leading outside the district limits and realize that it is almost be time to hunt...as soon as we get through that checkpoint. He looks around to make sure everyone seems ready, and that appears to be the case. Suddenly Astrid speaks up..."Well, with that being said, um...let's split up because noon is almost over and...well...keep your eyes open for anything. Good luck." Jade only stops and watches as she turns and walks away. "Umm, Astrid, I was thinking we'd split up AFTER we got out of the district limits." Jade smiles among the laughter as we near the outer gate. A few peacekeepers are at this gate but they appear much stricter than the first peacekeepers. One approaches us "Sorry kids, this area is off limits to hunters. Turn around and go hunt elsewhere." Jade freezes as he recognizes the guard. It is the same man who told Jade the news of his father four days ago.

[artemisa]

Astrid Aribarri

As Astrid starts to walk away towards the checkpoint, Jade says smiling "Umm, Astrid, I was thinking we'd split up AFTER we got out of the district limits". Embarrassing! Ugh!, thinks Astrid as she turns around blushing and smiling too but this quickly turns into a scowl when she finds Jade laughing. This of course, brings a laugh out of Kiara and Colin who think of this very amusing. As Astrid sees them laugh, she smiles and giggles a little bit. "Ok...Ignoring what just happened", she says still blushing and giggling. She's about to say something in her defense so she wouldn't look dumb in front of them but the sight of a peacekeeper soon makes them have a serious look on their faces. Astrid then turns around and widens her eyes as she sees the peacekeeper. That's the one that arrested Kiara's dad and was with the group that came to my house to say that dad was missing!, she thinks as she sees the figure in front of them. Astrid then can't bear remembering what she felt when that man told her that her father was gone. As all this crosses her mind, she feels a mixture of anger and sadness but she doesn't let it show.
"Sorry kids, this area is off limits to hunters. Turn around and go hunt elsewhere", says the Peacekeeper. Hum, somethin's not right? They usually let hunters pass through here, she then looks at the peacekeepers and she is startled to see that she recognizes all of the peacekeepers because they went to her house that day. Nope. Somethin' is definitly wrong. Why would they, precisely them, be blocking our entrance?, she then looks around and sees that in the distance, they are letting a bunch of strangers that are not from District 9, enter. Capitol people. Why are they going in there? What's going on?, she then sees to her right a place where she can sneak into and go to the outside. Ha! I'm not letting them keep me from getting out there, she thinks as she makes a casual look.
"Ok, we're leaving", she says while Colin, Kiara and Jade are making faces because she listened to the peacekeeper and said that they were all going to leave without trying to reach an agreement so they could go in. As Astrid turns around she makes a faint smile which Kiara then notices and realizes that she has a plan. I just have to get a little far away from the peacekeeper to sneak in. I've got to find out what's going on in there.
As they all get away from the checkpoint, Astrid tells them what she saw and what she's thinking about sneaking in through a place a little far from the peacekeepers.

[Innocent]

Kiara was standing a little ways back trying to sum up the situation when she saw Astrid's smile. She gave a faint nod and placed her hands on the others shoulders and give them a light shove away from the gate. "Lets go. No need to cause trouble, well hunt some where else." She said smoothly as the followed Astrid away.
Once they were out of earshot of the peacekeepers Astrid shared what she saw. "Yeah i bet we could get through there without being spotted. We would just have to be fast."

[Mark Mollove]

The only thing going through Jade's mind is Why is he here? He looks back at Kiara who looks like she's lost all the blood in her body. Suddenly Jade can tell that Astrid is taking command but nothing reaches his ears. There's nothing shocking to Jade that they won't allow us through; it's outside the district and only the dangerous game hunters are allowed out.

It's just, these men where there that day. They know something. They had the evidence that caused my dad to die. I will have my revenge. But not today. The men at these gates have taken every precaution against hunters killing them and escaping through the forest. Jade's father had told him this much:
-If any of the men died the gates would latch shut for at least 24 hours. Or until they were unlocked by an authorized capitol rep.
-The district would be shut down and the town would be emptied of people, anyone seen out walking would be arrested or killed.
-The capitol might even be informed and would need to send at least a rep. to unlock the gates.
-The forests would be searched, the person (or people) responsible would be found and then turned into avoxes.
-Those in the district would be limited to any hunting and several would starve.
Basically His dad told him never, ever to attack the men at that gate.

Jade regained his senses as Astrid turned to walk away. Jade follows along with Astrid. "Sorry about that, I kinda froze. Astrid!..." Jade says realizing that we are walking AWAY from the gate. "...Why aren't we going outside? Did you tell them we are allowed out and we're going to hunt the dangerous beasts?? Where are you taking us?"

After Astrid explains what she saw Jade returns to his normal self. "Ok Kiara and Colin, you two are gonna go first, Astrid will follow and I'll bring up the rear. When you cross through the fence everyone will move about a 1/2 mile (800 meters) straight inward. We will find a large tree nearby and that will serve as our meeting place for this evening. I have no clue why the gate is down but we are gonna make the most of it. After we find our meeting place we'll split up. Colin and Kiara will turn left and head...umm...It would be East, right? Astrid you and I will head straight north. Sound like a plan to everyone?" Jade smiles and looks around at everyone. He then pull out one of his two short swords and flips it around so it runs along arm with the blade facing out.

[artemisa]

Astrid Aribarri

"Ok Kiara and Colin, you two are gonna go first, Astrid will follow and I'll bring up the rear. When you cross through the fence everyone will move about a 1/2 mile (800 meters) straight inward. We will find a large tree nearby and that will serve as our meeting place for this evening. I have no clue why the gate is down but we are gonna make the most of it. After we find our meeting place we'll split up. Colin and Kiara will turn left and head...umm...It would be East, right? Astrid you and I will head straight north. Sound like a plan to everyone?"
"yeah...I guess", Astrid responds a bit puzzled. She then starts to analyze what Jade said and hesitates for a moment as she thinks Oh no! Mom and Maysee are gonna get worried because if we don't get to the house before evening, they are going to report me missing and then the peacekeepers will think I somehow sneaked in! Oh I hope they don't report me or else we'll all get in trouble, not just with the district but with the Capitol! Astrid then sees Kiara and Colin go through the fence. She then waits for them to cross it and quickly follows with Jade being last.
When they get to the tree they are all very tired and decide to take a break. There Astrid starts to practice with her sword. As she swiftly moves her sword around she remembers what Jade had told her a few days ago regarding how to use the sword. "Hey Jade, remember you said that you knew a few sword techniques and that if I wanted, you would teach me?...Well can you show me those techniques?...Please?"

[Molly]

~Colin
once we got passed the gates and we ran for a while we finally reached the tree. i, for one, was out of breath, panting like an animal! Once i caught my breath i saw Jade and Astrid starting to learn some sword moves. i guess they wanted to bond before hunting, i should probably do that with Kiara too.
i look over at Kiara and try and make small talk; trying not to hurt her. "so Kiara, what can you do when it comes to hunting?" i ask, my voice kind and mello, trying to make her feel at ease with me. because after all, we are hunting partners.