"Maka-sempai," said a low and timid voice. "Can you teach me how to hunt like you?" Said girl stared at the shorter and younger one with black hair and light eyes.

"Your parents wouldn't like it if I taught you how to kill." She stated bluntly, the girl looked up at the ashy blonde and once again stared down at her worn out shoes.

"It's ok," she gripped her upper arm. "I understand." As she was about to walk away Maka stood up from the tree stump she sat on.

"Besides," she started. "I'm not a murderer." She hopped off and walked farther into the forest.

As she walked past the big pine tree that she marked as the center of the forest, Maka slowly made her way to her small cabin were others would surely be waiting for her sack of goods from the village and the meat she got. It was getting dark so she rushed herself knowing they'd worry.

Maka closed her eyes and, in her mind, all turned black and white as she sensed if others tried to follow her. All was fine; until she sensed a soul back at the village entering the woods. She was tempted to say the least to find out who entered the 'Forbidden Forest'. Maka couldn't stay at one place for too long, and as they say in the old country; curiosity killed the cat! So she ignored it and continued home.

She walked faster towards the cabin and cursed under her breath. Maka had instructed that they keep the lantern and candle use to a minimum and they have the entire home lightened up by who knows how many candles! She walked through the front door and tossed her bow and arrows at the old table.

"Something important must be happening if you have the whole damn house light up!" She yelled. As soon as she walked into the small kitchen, (which was mainly a table and fireplace with a black pot dangling above the open fire) tall blonde and shorter ebony haired teen stood shocked and excuse-less. "Well?"

They gulped and stared at each other before the girl answered.

"The nights are cold so we decided to use the candles." Maka felt a vein pop as she gripped her hands around the waist of her worn black pants; she frowned and closed her eyes as she placed her hands into the dark navy green jacket she wore. Although she held her voice back, they could still feel the venom dripping off her tone.

"I've said this before; candles and lanterns are for emergencies, like if we run out of firewood in the winter or if were being attacked." As she finished her eyes opened and for some reason went from an emerald to a green as dark as her jacket. She spoke again, but with a softer tone as if she were speaking to a child. "They draw attention and I don't want any of us getting hanged or whipped." Her eyes have softened and turned back to their natural soft green color. "Use blankets next time; I didn't trade twigs and leaves for them so you better use them next time." She nodded and apologized; she turned and flicked off each candle and lantern. The only fire now was the one in the kitchen.

Maka grabbed her bag with a rabbit, few squirrels and plump duck she found. "I really caught a good one today." She smiled and showed her duck to her friends and they widened there eyes in praise. "Just because we have more food than usual doesn't mean you get to stuff your face, Liz." She warned and said girl frowned and crossed her arms.

"Tell that to Black Star; out of me, Kid, and Patty he's lived here the longest so he should know by now." Liz shrugged and Kid rolled his golden eyes.

"I suggest we just eat the squirrels and a rabbit today; plucking a duck isn't a quick task and I'm guessing you're all starving like me." Maka nodded at him and then raised a brow.

"Where is everybody else actually?"

"Patty went to sleep early; she's really tired after picking berries with Kid." Maka nodded.

"Black Star and Tsubaki?" Liz shrugged so Maka turned to Kid for the answer.

"They left a while ago to get water from the stream." She nodded and started to skin the rabbit she caught.

She closed her eyes and once more that day her surroundings turned black and white. Maka smiled as she felt her friends wave length nearing with a barrel filled to the brim with water. She opened her eyes and let the smile grace her lips.

"I traded strawberries and plumbs for a few carrots and coins." Maka looked up at Kid and Liz with soft tired eyes. "We can roast the rabbit and the carrots together and in the morning I can try and find something for Patty since her clothes are tearing." Kid nodded and Liz watched at how someone as sweet and kind as Maka could have been hated long ago.

"Maka, do you think it would be ok if one of us came with you to the village?" She froze and stared at the raw rabbit she was slicing. After a while, she placed her knife down and turned to face both of them.

"Well, let's see," Liz felt deflated; whenever Maka goes into any type of lecture the outcome is never good. "Black Star's family is still alive so they would still recognize his star tattoo; Tsubaki's brother has died a long time ago, but from what I see she's scared to death of the village. You, Kid, and Patty have been here nearly a year, so chances are they still remember your crime schemes." She pointed to Liz, "and your fathers beliefs." She now pointed to Kid. Maka turned back to her rabbit and pealed of the chunks of fat. "But next time I go I'll make sure to ask around if they still remember you."

At this small hope of seeing the village again made them smile and they took the meat from the rabbit and the squirrels roasting them. They waited until Black Star and Tsubaki returned to roast there pieces of meat considering they must be craving something warm after their trip.

Like any night other night, this one was filled with routine that they all relied on for survival. Before taking her first bite at the now fully cooked rabbit she reminded herself to find the trespasser tomorrow and see if he was any danger.

(A/N) This story is based of an idea I've been playing around with, but never actually had the time or effort to get around too. The story will be updated soon I believe if I have the time. I was obssessed with the first book of the Hunger Games series at the time so I loved the thought of Maka using a bow and arrow; I sware that I'm not using the idea of the actual Games, and to prove my point I'm staying away from certain language like 'Game sack' and such.

So other than the arrow referance, this story is completly original from what I've read these past few days. So I hope you enjoy, review and favorite if you like it.

If it gets popular fast then I'll update faster, if it doesn't get many reviews then I'll still update, but not as fast.

~Guardian