I shouldn't be here... *OPEN

I hold my bow steady and take deep breaths. The moonlight hides me while giving me just enough light to see. I'm on the ground, my back to a tree. I'm not supposed to be in the orchards at night. I'll be whipped if I'm caught here outside of work hours. But I don't make nearly enough at work to feed myself and my unemployed, insane father. I have a few apples in a basket, and my bow is aimed to kill a wild goose, or any animal that might provide meat.

I hear movement, and I almost shoot. But then I see it's a person. I lower my bow. They're not a peacekeeper, I can tell. "Hello?" I say to the stranger.

the night was no different form the day for Adrianna. she'd wander the fields and orchards all the time, usually never touching the crops, and instead, just doing her own little thing.
this night was no different. the only thing that interrupted her 'routine', was a voice, sounding almost nervous.

"hello." Adrianna smiled, coming into view. A lot of people in the district knew her by her nickname... "Smash".
Smash was a larger girl, and was visibly strong as well. however, she had on a big, friendly smile and clearly didn't look like she was going to hurt anyone.
"whatcha doin' out here this late?" she asked, "and I don't think I've seen ya properly. whatcha name?"

[OOC--Smash isn't like some district-renowned girl or anything; so if your character doesn't recognize the name Smash, that's perfectly okay.]

I'm slightly confused when the girl comes into view. They have a big, innocent grin, and they aren't armed. She's older than me and looks tough, but harmless at the moment. So what would someone like her be doing out in the Orchards against all the rules?

I pause when she asks my name. I've struggled with trust issues for as long as I can remember. In fact, I still have an arrow at ready. I realize how ridiculous I must look and sling my bow over my shoulder. I sigh.

"Estelle," I say, in a pathetic attempt to sound calm, failing miserably. "I was-" Don't tell her that you're stealing! I tell myself. "Just practicing shooting," I answer the girl. Hopefully she'll assume I brought the apples with me.

"Why are you here?"

Smash grinned innocently. "oooh... didja hit anything?" she asked, sounding more curious than everything. her voice was low, and she was almost whispering. she was a simple character, but wasn't stupid.

"I'm Adrianna," she replied, "or Smash. I was just wandering around... I always do."
she was being honest as well. she did this all the time, and wasn't afraid of peacekeepers because she never actually touched or stole any produce.

"so whatcha doing shooting this late at night?" she asked, "won't you get caught?"

This girl was smarter than I gave her credit for. "Haven't caught anything yet," I mutter, sheepish. There was no use in lying to her, anyway. I fiddle with my locket like I always do when I'm nervous.

"Smash...you're not gonna, um, turn me in or anything, right?" Immediately I experience flashbacks of all the times I've seen people get whipped publicly for stealing produce. I must look and sound so tiny and scared right now.

I'm used to looking like that and it's how I slip out of trouble. My giant eyes, small size and inability to carry a conversation without wanting to hide all make for a little-kid image. But I really am a bit scared right now.

Smash had sometimes gotten into fights in her own defense, but she was not a mean-spirited person by any means. in fact, she was much more the opposite.

"turn you in?" she raised a slightly confused eyebrow, "I'd never do a thing like that... sometimes a kid's gotta eat. just don't let 'em catch ya!" she whispered encouragingly. Smash was more the friendly type anyways. it actually wasn't anything to do with the girl's expression either. the answer she gave was the one she had planned on giving either way.

I smile. Maybe I can trust Smash. "Thanks," I say with real gratitude.

"I haven't seen you before. Are you a farmer?" I say it with some curiosity. I've never met a farmer before. Father was an Orchard worker. I don't meet a lot of people, and when I do I meet them at work here in the Orchards.

Smash's smile widens happily. "You're welcome." she nods.

"yup." she nods in response to Estelle's question, "though I'm usually in the fields instead of the orchards. how 'bout you? is this where you work during the day?"
Adrianna liked getting to know people, old or young, male or female, and she always liked making friends.

"Mhm," I answer and nod. "I spend almost all my time here." I realize with frustration I haven't caught anything all night. "Can you help me catch a mockingjay?"

Smash nods. "I can try," she replied, "but they're so pretty. whatcha gonna do with one if you catch 'im?"
She never anticipated a Mockingjay ever attacking her, and so the thought of killing one never crossed her mind.

"They're the only birds that aren't migrating this time of year. We're already out of tessare grain. I don't have much of a choice..." I shift uncomfortably.

I agreed with her- the birds are beautiful. I sing with them some nights, and I don't harm them unless I have to. And I have to. There's a risk to hunting here, so I don't mind if she refuses.

Adrianna looked surprised. she seemed to be weighing her options here, and coming to the conclusion that to kill a mockingjay would be better than starving. there was only one other question she had, and it was only there because the thought of slaying one of those birds hadn't crossed her minds.

"so obviously stealing food is illegal and all, but do you know if there are punishments for killing birds? I honestly never thought of it..."
if there was risk of punishment both ways, Smash would steal food for her and then take the blame if they were caught. if knocking down a few mockingjays wasn't punishable... well, then she'd take the painless route that way.

"Yeah... a lot of punishments. Don't worry, I'll get in the most trouble. We can say you were trying to stop me."

I toss her a small-ish stone. "Besides, I'll kill them. I just need someone to throw a stone so I have time to shoot when the birds panic and fly away."

"hmm... why not just use the stone?" she asked curiously, thinking back to what she usually did. while she had never killed mockingjays, she did kill other birds through this method before.
Smash liked rocks. moving them, throwing them, smashing them... just about everything about them, and the fact that they were everywhere.

she took the rock. "this might kill any that are on the ground anyways," she warned.
Smash slung the stone out into the fields. she had a very powerful arm, and one could almost hear the rock shrieking through the air as it sped towards its target. soon there was a large rustle of grass and several birds took off into the air.

Not wasting a second, I ready my bow and quickly send an arrow shooting twords a bird flying away. It pierces its chest and the mockingjay falls to the ground.

"Good throw," I tell Smash and mean it. She threw the rock incredibly fast, in fact I could hear it as it went by. It was accurate, too- She has to throw between trees to reach the field.

I start walking to the area where the bird fell.

Adrianna nodded. "thanks." she replied, "how many didja want?" she asked curiously, "just the one?"

Smash followed Estelle to where the bird had fallen to assess the damage with her. she picked up another rock and began playing with it, tossing it from hand to hand as she waited for an answer.

I nod as I pick up the limp bird. "It's a fat one," I say. "And besides, I have these apples."

I never really thought about trading any game I caught, because it was so risky.

"Well, unless you want to catch another for you?" I offer.

Smash shrugged. "I think I'm good," she nodded, smiling sweetly. "if you've got enough, then I'm ready to go when you are."
she smiled sweetly at her friend. "take care now," she whispered. it seemed that their mission here was complete.

OOC: Adriana was reaped, so i guess this topic is dead?

[yeah. it was basically over anyways though. ^^]