Well here is my new mulit-chapter fanfic centered once again around Peeta-my favourtie character!-The careers will once again play a roll in it. This fanfiction begins when Peeta is eleven years old and is set in a Au world where the children of the twelve districts are born with a Daemon partner much like in the 'His Dark Materials' saga. Hope you enjoy it-once I get some reviews i will once again start my shout outs for my lovely followers. Every animal used in as Daemon partners are real animals that i have had to find and single out so if you need to get a idea of what the daemons look like just look them up on google images.
Peeta's P.O.V
When I was just a child I had learnt that boy's daemons aren't supposed to settle in the early life, in fact many of them still haven't settled by the time they reach reaping age, and if they settle in a form early then it was a sign of great courage and inner strength as it meant that the boy knew who he was both inside and out. The only person in district twelve to have their daemon settle early was that of Haymitch Aberthery, when he was twelve his daemon had settled into its form of a Wolverine then four years later he was sent into the games which he then went on to win: he was the last victor we had in district twelve: that was twenty four years ago.
As children it is expected of us to play and mock fight with our daemons just in case we were made to go into the games, girls play up until they're ten because then there is just too much of a chance for their daemons to settle and that would be dangerous. When I was ten years old and my eldest brother Aion was fourteen we all watched as his daemon Osiris settled into the beautiful lithe form of an Ocelot sticking to form with the Mellark tradition of having feline final forms. My mother and her daemon Tobias the Caracal had been so proud of the eldest son while my father and his tiger daemon Mirani had just watched them.
I had always like the cats of our family but I couldn't help but notice that my own daemon Oclan who was male-which was strange enough as I too was a boy- strayed away from the feline forms even when he could shape shift between forms, instead he stuck to foxes and puppies like a loyal companion always there. The day that changed my life though was my eleventh birthday: I had been given the day off at the bakery while my now fifteen and thirteen year old brothers took over my work load at the bakery as their gifts for me. I had eagerly ran down to the scrap heap so that I could play with the other boys down there both seam and townie it didn't matter and within moments of my arrival I had been pulled into a game with them.
But during the game I was thinking about how happy I was and how everything was in its place and then during his next transformation Oclan turned into the largest form he had ever been able to create, he had changed into a large black wolf with the clearest blue eyes I had ever seen him have, the only other color on my wolf's coat was the gold symbol splayed across his chest that Oclan had always on him at some place on his body be it his face, flank, legs back or in this case chest. I had been so shocked when I saw him because Oclan had never formed into something so amazing before, but he had that time and won so easily taking out the weaker daemon forms. After that game I refused to play again as my whole body was tingling weird and I didn't want Oclan to have to play as he still hadn't phased out of his form yet.
The boys wanted to play more but instead I walked off with a large wolf by my side, Oclan now almost reached my shoulder as of his size and I was really tempted to jump on his back but I didn't as it didn't feel it would be right. Oclan was silent but comforting by my side as I walk through the district trying to figure out what the feeling running through me was, it was like something had clicked inside of me and had found its place. As I think this I freeze and look at my daemon who turned and lowered his head almost as if he was afraid of me which was completely stupid I could never get mad at him: he had been by my side for my whole life and suddenly I know why Oclan hasn't transformed into a different form and why he was still in his large wolf form.
"Oclan" I whisper reaching out and placing my hand in the middle of his forehead making his eyes slide close and lean into my touch a little further just as he always had when he was a red panda curled up on my shoulders or a squirrel hiding from Mr Everdeen as it was common knowledge he hunted them. "You've settled" I whisper and it wasn't a question I could feel it in my very bones that he had settled which meant that I had grown up, that I had found who I was on the inside even if I couldn't see of feel it Oclan could.
The large wolf nodded and nudged me a little making me smile happily; it was scary that my daemon had settled as I'm only eleven years old but I had Oclan and he was enough to keep me strong. Without another word the two of us began walking through the district not even looking where we were headed and before I knew it we ended up in the ghostly area in Victors Village. It was strange to be in such a deserted place mainly because for as long as I could remember only one person had ever lived here, the first person died the same year Haymitch won from old age and no one had one since Haymitch had but there was something about the beautiful houses lined up alongside each other that made me gaze at them in awe.
But I knew if Cray or one of his peacekeeper friends found me standing in victors village I could get a lashing so I turned on my heel ready to leave when I heard Oclan growl threateningly making me stiffen up. Suddenly I could feel a nudging on my lower leg making me gaze down in shock, standing there with a fearful look on his face was a wolverine, and not just any wolverine but the great Wolverine that stood by Haymitch through the games, I could tell it was him due to the star shaped scar that one of the daemons from district three's tribute had given him through the games sitting on its right fore-flank.
"Kana?" I asked in shock, the daemon seemed relieved that I had noticed who it was and nodded in agreement.
Oclan seemed to have understood that Kana wasn't going to hurt me and whined curiously making the smaller carnivore look at him expectantly "You must come" she said in a gruff voice and I nod before I could stop myself.
Kana seemed pleased because she turned around quickly and began bounding down the road until she reached a house two doors down from where I was standing and motioned me over. Oclan huffed and then nudged me to get going, I had said that I would follow Kana hadn't I. "Come on Peeta" Oclan said and I was shocked at how strong his voice was, it still held that boyish playful tone to it but it was also a hell of a lot stronger and more forceful than before.
Nodding I run down the street with Oclan by my side until we reached the beautiful and yet neglected house and enter in. The house was beautiful inside as well but I t was dirty, not in the grimy sense but just that no one had polished, vacuumed, swept or moped in months so there was so much dust it was hard to see past it. Kana nudged me in the leg again and then lead me through the house towards the smell of vomit and blood, Oclan whined pitifully against the smell making me reach up and rub on his ears instinctively: my daemon was a wolf now and that meant his senses were probably dealing with this stench ten times worse than myself. "You can wait here if you want" I murmur to him but get a shake in return.
Of course Oclan would never leave me: I was his and he was mine we were partners. When we reached a bathroom where the smell was coming from Kana turned to me and gave me a look full sorrow and fear "Please help him" she whined.
Nodding I push open the door and gasp when I see Haymitch the drunken victor of district twelve slumped over the toilet bowl, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth and vomit staining his chin. Without thinking of the mess of smell I surge forward and pull him away from the bowl making him groan and prop him up against the cabinet before turning and running a bath, I tear off his jacket and his pants in one quick moment not even sparing him a glance when I rip off his underwear as nudity had never been a big thing for me: not when you have two brothers and share a bathroom. Using all the strength I had gained working in the bakery I lift the much larger man into the bath water and begin washing all the dirt and grime on him as Kana crawled to my side to watch my movements. Oclan had decided to sit behind be watching over my shoulder as I clean up the drunken man.
Once I was sure he was clean I lift him from the tub and begin to dry him off, "Where's the bedroom" I ask Kana who leads me down the hall and into a lavish bedroom. I spot the bed clothes easily enough and quickly pull Haymitch into them before letting him fall back onto the bedroom before I make my way back into the bathroom which is a mess of saliva, vomit and blood.
Scrunching my nose at the sight I sigh and quickly gather items I can use to clean the mess, I know that I didn't owe the man anything, he didn't do anything nice for anyone, but I knew deep down that he didn't deserve to wake up to that kind of humiliating mess such as the one in front of him. Oclan made his way to my side and nudged me under the chin as I scrubbed the floor affectionately before leaving the tiled floor and lying down outside the bathroom to wait. All I could think was that it was my eleventh birthday and so far the only thing that had gone even the slightest bit in the good way was that Oclan had settled and even that was more dangerous than good. No one talked about it but everyone knew that if a male's daemon settled too early then they became a target to the peacekeeper, the theory was that Haymitch had been reaped because he had refused to become a peacekeeper himself at the age of twelve.
"You're still here?" glancing up I see Kana standing at the door way watching me with shocked eyes as Oclan huffed in amusement lying his head against his paws as if going to sleep. "No one ever stays" she mutters settling next to Oclan.
I don't say anything just continue to scrub the floor and without any prompting I feel the words slip from my mouth in the faintest whisper I don't even think that the two canine animals would be able to hear it. 'Happy Birthday to me'
Oclan whines softly making me smile sadly, he always knew what I was thinking and feelings so it really was no point to try and get anything pass him. I work on the bathroom for a few hours until its spotless talking to Kana about anything I could think of, and then move onto the kitchen which I then clean spotless. Kana is a good companion and suddenly I know why she was such a good partner for Haymitch, she's sarcastic and witty not letting Oclan's larger size and bigger animal form beat her down-although she had killed while my wolf had not-intimidate her even putting him in his place several times.
It must have been late in the afternoon when Haymitch finally stumbled down into the kitchen where Kana is sitting on the bench as I take out some cinnamon rolls I had made earlier while Oclan sat by my side subbing his head on my legs every few minutes to comfort me. "Who the hell are you?" he asked dryly.
"Shut it Haymitch" Kana snapped back and I could see that she had been really worried about her partner "He's the one who made sure you didn't drown in your own vomit"
Haymitch must have felt the irritation flooding through their bond because he started to regard me with curious and yet measuring eyes, when his eyes focused on Oclan his eyes turned sad and he looked at me with a pitying glance "What's your name kid" he asked as he walked over pitching up a whiskey bottle on his way.
"Peeta. Peeta Mellark" I say softly handing him a roll and tearing one apart for Kana who nudges my hand in thanks.
I bend down and hand on to Oclan who snaps it up happily before taking a bite of my own, Haymitch watched me for a moment and then takes a bite of his own roll before watching me closely "How old are ya Peeta?" he asked as he watched me play with my daemon.
This caused me to blink in shock; no one really asked me that, there was no one who didn't really already know: district twelve wasn't exactly a large place to live. "Ah...I turned elven today" I say softly.
Haymitch looks at me in shock for a moment and then sighs rubbing his eyes tiredly before pointing at Oclan "Well he settled a full year before Kana did for me: tough break kid" he said handing me a glass he had been pouring whiskey in and motioning for me to drink.
Because I'm completely shocked that he had been able to tell I find myself taking a hesitant drink and spluttering at the bitter burning liquid I forced myself to swallow "How'd you know?" I ask not even trying to protest or defend myself.
The victor arched his eyebrow at me and straddled a stool reaching out to stroke Kana who growled happily as I find myself reaching out for Oclan in the same movement. "You forget kid" he said softly and suddenly I can see a softer side of the drunken man who had been through more than I could ever imagine "I too was an early settler, twelve years old and old Kana here decided she had found her place" he said before turning to face me "Your eyes gave it away, less curious and bright then the other kids: the eyes of someone who knows"
"But I don't know" I say softly scratching Oclan behind the ears "But I'm guessing Oclan found something in me that did because it just feels…different" I offer him a confused smile because the fact was I had no idea what I was talking back and despite his reputation of being unhelpful and hating children maybe Haymitch would be able to help me.
"I know" the man said picking up Kana and moving around to my side of the bench where he slipped to the floor next to my leg before dragging me to sit down next to him. "It's a strange feeling, like all your senses are on fire at one stage and then it becomes a buzzing sensation" he said and suddenly I feel like I'm transported back to that moment when Oclan transformed into the beautiful wolf form and everything was just as Haymitch said.
With a shaking hand I raise the glass to my lips and take a weak sip from it swallow the bitter liquid reluctantly and more for something to do, it was strange to know that this man who had no friends in his own home had more in common with him and knew him better now than anyone in his family could. Aion might have a settled Daemon by now but he didn't have Osiris settle until he was fourteen: I'm eleven there is a big age difference there. "Happy birthday to me" I sigh running a hand through Oclan's fur as he laid his large head on my lap.
Haymitch snorted and somehow clinked our glasses together before taking a large drain from the bottle he was drinking out of "Well kid…I don't know you despite the fact you clean me up" he muttered making me snort into my own glass "and it's probably the worse birthday gift in the world but I have the honor of giving you your first drink be it legal or not" he said and then raised the bottle in my direction before taking another large gulp of the amber liquid while I just snorted and looked into the glass.
"Yeah…thanks" I whisper and take another large swallow of the liquid, it might not be the best present I had ever gotten but it defiantly was the most needed.
I must have been at the victor's house for a few hours because by the time I leave Haymitch's house in victor's village the sun is well on its way to setting. I had only finished the one glass in the time it had taken my drinking companion to finish his bottle and by that time Kana had asked me to help her partner up into bed once more, the whole time all I had been thinking was that I hoped I never went into the games if this was how a victor lived: drunk and alone. Kana had been thankful to me and had told me she would never forget my kindness but I knew she would, I would never see the two of them again: I was a baker he was a victor we just did not cross paths not ever.
"Well this has been an eventful day" Oclan said as we enter the town the lights of different houses and shops illuminating the streets I walk down with no one but my daemon as a companion. "Hasn't it"
After everything I've been through I just want to cry but my father had always told me that crying was a sign that you had given up so instead I begin to laugh as I try to look at everything in a funny light and find that it had actually been quite a funny day maybe not the best birthday I had ever had the honor of having but it could have been a hell of a lot worse. "Yeah you could say that" I laugh before looking up at the bakery where I could see the armored figures of Peacekeepers. "Huh Cray must be here for his order"
I knew the Peacekeeper better than any eleven year old in district twelve could say, he came in every Friday to pick up his bakery order and most days I worked the counter so I had been forced into many a conversations with him. Without skipping a beat or hesitating I walk into the bakery and wave to my second eldest brother Warren who was working the counter with a bored expression, his daemon Biella flitting between a robin and then a possum making Cray's Culpeo daemon Silvis snickered at the amusing sight.
"Peeta your back" Warren said happily as he spotted me and I wave back and then give my brother a confused look when his skin turned pale and he pointed in my direction "Ah Peet, there's a large wolf standing behind you" he said nervously.
Glancing back I see that he is talking about Oclan and I nod in agreement "Yeah Oclan is always with me" I say shrugging and I can hear Cray make a noise of shock and then I realize what I had said and want to beat myself for it but it's too late because Cray has my chin in his hands and was staring into my eyes with a fierce glare.
"Warren was it" he said never taking his eyes off me "Go get your parents I think Peeta has some big news to tell them" he said as Oclan growled low in his throat at my mistreatment.
I swallow nervously and begin sending calming and happy thoughts back to my large daemon, it wouldn't do to have Oclan attack Silvis. He was a hell of a lot bigger than the tiny canine daemon the Cray had and if he attacked him I could only guess that it would end up in disaster more so than normal. "Please don't hurt them" I whisper softly and I mean it, Cray could do whatever the hell he wanted for me but I just wanted him to leave my family alone.
The peacekeeper must have seen something in my eyes because he nodded and then let my chin go only to lay an intimidating hand on my shoulder keeping me in place as my father and Mirani walk in side by side with mother and Tobias striding up behind them. "Cray what is this news that you had to tell us that you would drag us out here" my father said in amusement.
"Oh not me Seth but it's your son who in fact has the news" he said patting my shoulder forcibly.
My parents turn their gases to me as Aion walked in with his own daemon on his heels as I step forward and clear my throat uneasily "Today is my eleventh birthday" I say uneasily and look back at Oclan who nudged me comfortably "And when I went and played with the other boys something happened to Oclan" I whisper and look at my father who's eyes were beginning to widen in shock.
"Peeta please tell me he didn't" he whispered painfully and I know why: people who settled early are recognized as adults early which meant Cray would be able to treat me as one. Aion had to leave school and gets a job in the mines when Osiris settled so what settling meant for me could be anything: I wasn't even of reaping age yet.
"He settled" I whispered as Oclan stepped forward drawing everyone's eyes to his wolf form. When I look at my mother I could see the horror reflected in them: their hadn't been a canine in our family for years, everyone in our family had a feline daemon and here I was with the largest canine in the family.
Both my parents looked at Cray my father's gaze dark and tired "What does this mean for him?" he asked the Peacekeeper who looked at me closely for a moment and then at Oclan who bristled a little under the scrutiny.
"He obviously can't go to school anymore, so he'll have to get a job" he said arching and eyebrow at my mother who nodded and crossed her arms across her chest, "And every Monday, Wednesday and Friday he's to come to the Peacekeeper barracks for training and schooling as he's too young not to be taught" he said seriously and my parents nod in agreement.
It was fair, I was going to be taught and trained but I knew that my 'punishment' for settling was going too announced any moment now, just as my parents did as well. "As for his age I think that because he is so young and yet so mature" Cray started his voice sniping and sarcastic "He shall begin on his twelve year with eight slips" I feel horror sweep through my bones as he said this: eight slips that was the minimum and eighteen year old could end up with and I'm starting with that! "Then each year he shall be rewarded with six slips instead of the usual one" that was one more slips for every year I'm eligible for the reaping.
"Forty four slips by the time he's eighteen" Aion whispered in shock.
Cray nodded and then squeezed my shoulder once more before placing his helmet back on his head "I'll see Peeta on Monday for his first lesson" he said turning on his heel and striding out the door leaving me with my family who were all watching me in shock and confusion.
My mother who had always been mean and vicious when I came to me walked over and laid a land on my shoulder giving me a look I could describe before sighing as if she knew something I didn't "Happy birthday Peeta" she said before turning around and striding back into the back rooms in the bakery.
Tobias looked at me for a moment with his startling green eyes and nodded "I hope your day was one full of joy young Peeta" he said in his slightly French accent.
I nod and then turn to my father who just stepped forward and pulled me into a tight hug that I had been wanting to be held in since Oclan first settled "Everything is going to be alright son…you're going to be fine"
If any of you need me to explain the settling age rule i will do so at the beginning of the next chapter if u review and ask me to.
Thoughts are appreciated.
Next Chapter: The Reapings.