“Come on, Suzy! Let’s play with our slingshot.  Let's hunt some of these bright and colorful birds. Whoever catches the most gets to take the birds for dinner!” Sotz proposed, his eyes sparkling with great excitement. Suzy shook her head. “I’m not very good with a sling shot, especially not with hunting birds,” she said softly. “Oh no, don’t worry! I’ll teach you!” Sotz said with a big, encouraging smile.

Following their usual routine, the friends stepped carefully over tiny streams. Their morning ritual of exploring the forest had become their favorite part of the day. Sotz demonstrated as he crouched low, ready to aim, while Suzy watched nervously. After a minute, Suzy sighed. “I’m going home. My mother already cooked rice and stewed beans with pigtail.” “No, don’t give up already, Suzy!” Sotz reassured. “This is fun! If we catch birds, we’ll have a feast tonight!” Suzy shook her head and turned toward her small thatch house, leaving Sotz alone.

Sotz stayed behind; he didn’t seem distracted as he was intrigued by getting his hunting skills like other men in the village. He crouched in the grass, quiet and still like a lion waiting for its prey.

Suddenly, flutter, flutter, flutter! A flock of tropical birds darted through the almost faded sunlight, their feathers shining. The sky filled with colorful feathers. Some birds swooped low, others zipped between the leaves of the breadfruit trees. Boom! A distant thunder roared, echoed across the mountains. Sotz shivered but stayed calm. “Slow down… be patient,” he whispered to himself. A big brown tanager landed on a branch nearby. Sotz crept closer, step by step, holding his slingshot tightly.

Whoosh! He swung the slingshot, got one! Another bird zipped past his ear, flutter-flutter! Sotz caught it too. “Oh no!” he gasped as two more birds almost escaped. He ran after them, his heart pounding fast. He nearly tripped over a grumble of rocks, but he didn’t give up. With one last careful move, swoop! Two more birds were caught. Sotz smiled proudly. “One… two… three… four!” he counted happily as he lined up the birds.