The First Hunt

Did I ever tell you about 'The First Hunt'?
 
Every Hill Dwarf clan has different traditions surrounding the Harvest Holiday. The McNaugh'stee Clan had one little tradition that we simply called 'The First Hunt'. While the clan is busy with the preparations of the harvest and preparing for winter, all the children of the age of 15 get to go out and hunt the great Bear so that the clan will have meat for the winter. When they return with their prize there is a great feast, but, not for the hunters. They say the young Dwarf needs to understand what true hunger feels like in order to build resilience and must fast on this day. If they do not it is a sign of weakness and they will lose the respect of the clan.
 
On my first hunt I was prepared. while most of my cousins spent their childhood breaking rocks in the caves, or getting into trouble in the city, I had been walking in the woods. Hunting small animals, squirrels, rabbits, yadda yadda yadda. I knew how to make traps, and I could track. I knew I could find the Great Bear and kill it before anyone else. I'd be the most celebrated McNaugh'stee of my generation! Well, I was able to track her and was the first to find her. As I pulled the string of my bow back and aimed I froze. As I hesitated, the others caught up to me and did what the tradition called for. I don't think anyone noticed that my arrow flew harmlessly into a nearby tree.
 
Is there some great lesson I learned? I don't know, I just think Bears are cool and why would you kill one for sport.