Dream of Peace

The Beginning

I was out hunting in the woods with a few other people, one of them being my half-brother Tristin, we were all very quiet because we knew the danger of being found. I was in the trees scoping out the woods before everyone to make sure it was safe, when I saw it was alright to keep walking I'd wave down at Tristin. Soon I saw two rabbits hop over into a small bush. I shot my arrow straight through one of them, which accidentally alarmed the group. I looked down in a hurry, "Sorry" I said in a hushed voice. Tristin rolled his eyes and walked over to the impaled animal, he looked up at me and stuffed the rabbit into a bag, "Penance" he said to me while tying up the bag. I deserve that I guess.

The weapons we had to use for hunting were a bow and arrow or a thick knife with ridges, we had nets to trap animals, but we rarely used them. Not a lot of people chose to use a bow and arrow because they thought it was harder to use than a knife, and I admit, it is. But I've come to learn to use it pretty well.

We had been walking for what seemed like ages, finally, we caught the amount of food we were assigned to get. There were about 10 teams, which were made up out of 7 people, each one with an assignment, how many pounds of deer to get, how many rabbits, how much fish. "It's time to head back", hearing those words was like music to my ears. I couldn't wait to get back to my room and sleep. I started to get down from the tree when I noticed Tristin walking a little further to look at something. I hopped down and started walking towards him to see what he was looking at...The blue camp! I've never seen it before, "Woah" I accidentally let the word slip from my lips, I quickly covered my mouth as I saw Tristin turn around. "What are you doing? Come on, we want to get home before it gets dark" he said. He put his hand on my pack and pushed me forward, "Hey!.. is that really the blue camp?", "Yes, but you haven't seen it before now for a reason, don't go near it. Get your bag so we can go, you don't want another penalty, do you?", I've gotten a few penalties for various things, but mostly for forgetting my bag of food I had caught on hunting days, I was cursed with forgetfulness. I sighed as I walked away in a huff, my feet hurt and all I wanted to do was sit and look at that camp.

Everyone was much further away, I quickly but quietly ran up to the group and started walking with my friend Drew, he smiled at me and I smiled back, he had the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen and his long black eyelashes made looking into his eyes so easy. "Busy looking at the blue camp I'm guessing"? He asked me, his voice was so soft, sweet, and just a little raspy. "Yea, I didn't know it was so big", "Have you not seen the huge crowd of them at the rally?", I thought for a moment, "I don't think so, I'm usually too busy watching the fight to look at the crowds" I remembered. We continued walking to the camp, this time in silence, I was counting each step I made, I was looking down at Drew's shoes trying to match his steps, I was trying to distract myself with anything.

Once we arrived at the entrance of the camp I looked up at Drew, slightly admiring his jawline before I asked him "Are you going to train for the rally?" "What?" he asked with a confusing look on his face, I guess he didn't hear me clearly. "I asked if you're going to go train, the rally is in a week ya know",  he stopped in his tracks for a moment to think before he answered, "I don't know, we've been out for a while. I think I'm going to get some sleep, start training tomorrow". And with that, he walked away into the camp veering to the right. I waited a few moments before following in that direction towards the mess hall, there are usually announcements that come through the loudspeakers at the mess hall around 6 am and 8 pm, if I walked fast enough I would be able to get there just before 8.

'MANDATORY TRAINING WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY 7 AM TO 5 PM'

"Are you kidding me?" I whispered under my breath. "Calm down short stock, it's not that much training,  just make sure you go to sleep early. Instead of staying up 'till 3 am doing whatever it is you do" I looked behind as I heard a familiar voice, as I turned, I saw this beautiful tall blonde with hazel eyes staring at me, Chris. Chris and I have been friends for a very long time, everyone thought our relationship was odd, maybe because we were so close, but we seemed to always be fighting. She was a real jerk magnet, every dude who fell for her was an absolute ass, and she knew that, but she used it to her advantage.

I got out of my thoughts and said to her "Hey, where have you been? I didn't see you go off with any of the hunting groups", "Oh, I begged Roy to let me stay, I've had a headache since yesterday and felt like death" she replied with a chuckle. In case you're wondering, each camp has a leader or a president if you will, Chris' uncle, Roy, is ours. He recently was appointed as the head of the camp due to his father dying, it was sad really, but they weren't close. "Yikes, hope you feel better, I'm going to go shower and try to sleep. See you in the morning?" "Yea, I will save you a seat".

I walked away slowly, my feet were still hurting from today, I can feel my heartbeat in my feet. I made it around the corner and a few homes down to my little lodge, I walked in and stood in the doorway to see my other brother Isaac sitting on the futon, "And you are here why?" In a  mockingly high-pitched voice, he said "Isaac, it's so nice to see you. Hi, how was your day Isaac?". I picked up one of his shoes and threw it at him, he surprisingly caught it. "Seriously, why are you here? I need to sleep for tomorrow and so do you", "I know, I just thought I'd come up here to see if you brought me back what I asked you to from the hunt, did you?", I rolled my eyes at him and threw my bag to him. "Hey Hey watch it, you don't want to bruise them, Kat will break up with me if they are bruised," he said and ended it with a laugh, "Aren't you done with her yet? You always talk about how you can't stand her and how you're going to break up with her, but you never do. Get a grip man," I said snarkily. "Look, I'd rather put up with that wicked girl than to be single like you", "Ok, that's enough, you can leave, I have training tomorrow", "So do i", he replied to me, "Yes, but unlike you, I actually take it seriously, and hopefully this time I will be chosen to fight". I pulled his arm so that he would get up from the chair and as soon as he did I pushed him out of the door, "Is it worth it? Getting all bruised up during training, going back every day for a week without healing just so you can earn respec-" I shut the door in his face before he got the chance to finish his last word.

I walked away from the door and went to wash my body, brush my teeth, comb my hair, change my clothes, and then fold down my futon so I could sleep. I didn't have much furniture, because I didn't need it. Hence, the small room I called home and the futon I used as a bed and a couch. Once I got as comfy as I could on that futon, I drifted off to sleep easily.