Wildflower
Chapter 1
Hi! This is my first fan fiction so please use constructive criticism; tell me what you liked and what I could have done better etc.
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Hunger Games or any other books by Suzanne Collins for that matter.
I lie in on the ground awake, alone in the darkness. I have cramps all over from sleeping on the hard floor. My younger brothers, mother and father are all in the one bed. A cold draft is coming through the hole in the wall made out of timber offcuts, we call it a window. And our tiny little room, we call that our home. Today it's reaping day for district 7. I have to take tesserae, for myself my brothers (Burch, Whinsly and Thilan Pinedale) plus my parent's and that makes the odds never in my favour. I'm 15 and have my name in 4 times but then add the tessera and my name is in…well let's just say a lot. My name is Aurora. Everyone is asleep except me. Shakily I stand up and brush off the dirt and get dressed in some comfortable clothes, I can get dressed up for the Capitol later.
It is 7:24 right now according to the only clock in the district, the clock in the town square, positioned in the middle of the justice building. Our "house" is on a hill that overlooks the town so I always have a good idea of the time. I run carefully down the side of the hill opposite to the Town. When I see the paradise hidden by hills I can't help smiling. Trees of no particular sort work together to create a mass of flora and fauna we call the woods. The lumber jacks don't cut down the trees here because there is too much of a variety of trees in the one spot. It confuses them. When I was born my parents planted a tree for me in the woods. I guess that's why I have such a strong connection with that place.
The wind rocks the tree branches gently. I don't think they know it's reaping day. I walk into the woods and start making my way to my favourite spot, the meadow where my tree is. The thought of the meadow makes me feel better about things. When I was four or five mum and dad showed me the meadow, they said it was my place and that it's all mine. Of course I now know it's the Capitols land but still… I own the piece of it that will forever be in my heart. It's a tradition to go there on reaping day for me. I climb around rocks and crawl along my path through the black berries. The trees stop at beautiful green grass opening onto a meadow of wildflowers of every colour. There is a little pond dotted with water lilies and of course my tree.
My tree is an Oak tree it's quite tall and rather amazing. I walk up to my tree and climb it until I'm on my favourite branch about 4 metres up. It is a rather straight branch with a view of most of the woods. I rest my right hand against the trunk of the tree. I can see the all of the trees from up here. I even can see the district fence, the ominous hum of electricity can just be heard when you are silent. I might not ever see this place again. I lean my head against the trunk of the tree and let the tears slip from my eyes. What if Burch has to go to the games? I can't volunteer for him and no one else will. I have no control over this. No one does, no one but the Capitol. I can't dwell on this, I need to be strong for my family. I can't let them see me cry over this. The only place where I can show how vulnerable I really am is this meadow. Once I can't cry anymore I make my way down the tree and say goodbye to my meadow, possibly for the last time.
Once I get home everyone is ready. Thilan sits on the edge of the bed in a shirt many sizes too big for him and some black trousers his hair is combed neatly but he looks like he hates it. Burch is pacing in the corner of the room running his hand through his hair. He is no doubt worried. Dad leans against the wall his arms crossed not giving anything away. Whinsly sits on the floor in the centre of the room playing with a plank of wood, probably imagining it is a toy truck. Mum is stirring a pot over the fire in the corner. I walk towards her with little acknowledgement from my brothers, a wave from Thilan, a glance from Whinsly and nothing from Burch. I peek over Mum's shoulder into the pot. A meaty soup is brewing and I can't help but gasp. Dad has been hunting again. I look at him my eyebrows raised. A ghost of a smile creeps onto his face but he quickly wipes it away, back to his usual unfeeling self.
"Good Morning Aurora" Mum smiles as she turns around. She looks stressed. "Hey Mum. Are you ok?" I ask. She nods and continues mixing the pot. "Boys Aurora needs to get ready." Mum calls. Dad takes them outside and Mum follows. I walk over to the bed to see what mum has left out for me. A white blouse lies on the bed along with a pale green skirt. I've wore this since my first reaping, at first it was too big for me but now it fits. I put it on without hesitation and then reach under the bed to get the shoes. I slip the shoes on and walk over to the cracked mirror. I stare into my own green eyes and look myself over. I look nice enough. Mum re-enters the room and smiles. "Let me do your hair." she whispers sadly "It might be for the last time". I let her, I am used to this little ritual it happens once a year, every year. She braids my blonde hair up into an elaborate bun. She uses no pins, as we cannot afford any. When she is done she asks if I like it. It looks amazing so of course I say yes. "Now we're all ready to go, lets go." Mum says and claps her hands once.
When I go outside Dad is teaching Thilan and Whinsly how to chop wood. Burch already knows so he just leans against the houses exterior. Dad is one of the many Lumberjacks in district 7. He is off work today for the reaping. Dad is a bit socially awkward so I think I got that from him. "Come on, It's time to go!" I call. "Ok" Burch replies taking the boys hands. We walk down the hill towards the town square.
As we arrive in the town square Burch and I take turns at hugging Mum, Whinsly and Thilan. Dad doesn't do hugs. "Good Luck" Mum whispers as she hugs Burch and I. I shake dads hand and then hug my youngest brothers. "I hope you're lucky" Whinsly whispers. His pale little face is full of sorrow. My youngest brother doesn't know what is happening but he knows it's a sad event. "So do I" I smile. Whinsly is only 5 so he doesn't have to take part in the reaping, neither does Thilan who is 10 years old. Thilan doesn't know what to say only "Good lusk with the odds…"