* I do not own the Hunger Games*

I opened the gate of the next stall as the sun crashed into my eyes. Quickly, I covered them as I gazed out the open window of the barn. The sun was shining harshly on the open field as it set. The golden hour was finally upon us. It was my favorite time of day – for two reasons.

For one, it was finally time to clean up and head in from the long day of mucking and milking cows. The other, I was able to stare at the sky in wonder as the sun waved good bye to the world for the night. I was a sucker for sunsets. Every single one of them. The cloudless sunsets were often a soft ombré that let the daylight fade. Or the thin clouds often reflected the golden sun and lit up the world a bit longer. But my absolute favorite sunsets were filled with clouds and the harsh warms colors of orange and magenta; they took my breath away.

The sun I was staring into now was bouncing off the clouds, creating a final warm glow as summer was finally upon us. I sighed, dreaming of my younger days when I was able to run around barefoot in the fields with the dry grass scratching my ankles while the hot sun warmed my skin.

"Muuuuuuuuurrr!"

A soft mooing crashed me back into the present.

"Oh! Hey you, quit!" I said as I rubbed Tiddly's black back, "I told you the other day to let me enjoy my golden hour!"

I grabbed the stool and the pail off the wall, setting them down next to her. I placed my hand on the top of her back, rubbing it along as I hummed softly. Finally making my way towards her head, I giggled. Tiddly was the calmest animal I've ever had to take care – and that's saying a lot! I have worked with my fair share of chickens, hogs, and cattle, young and old. I've been taking care of Tiddly since she had her first calf, Tabs, 4 years ago. I would hand-milk her like the rest in the Platsber Barn, but she seemed to warm up easily to me. I had been hand-milking dairy cows for 6 years. By the time I got to Tiddly, I was well trained by my mentor, Addy.

The Dunsley Ranch likes to work the youth in the district. They begin hiring as young as 8 year olds to start training them for the tougher jobs. I was hired right at 8 years old myself, and I had been working odd jobs until I was 12. Then, I was asked by Mr. Platsber to work as a milk maiden in his barn. I can still remember the day he had asked me.

"Aveena! A moment, please?" Mr. Platsber had called to me. I had just finished mucking a stall. Beads of sweat were pouring down my brow when the gruff old man in overalls was leaning against the gate, scratching his graying beard. "I just wanted to say that I've seen your diligent work these last few years. You're not afraid to take the time to get to know each animal. It can show that you really care for these creatures. That's what I'm lookin' for as a maiden in my barn." His hoarse voice paused in thought. "I need a young lady who's got heart. You don't sit. Heck, you show some of them boys up!"

I laughed with him as we thought of a few like Trevor who often had a scowl on his face as he would mutter and complain.

"So, I want you to think about taking up a spot as a milk maiden. I'll let you sleep on it, but you let me know what you're thinkin' tomorrow." He winked, tipped his cowboy hat at me, and wandered away.

Our conversation had been a real touching moment in my life. It wasn't often that people complimented me on what I did on a daily basis. It was the first time I felt that someone had noticed me, and it warmed my soul. Of all people, Mr. Platsber! I went to him the next day like he asked and accepted the position. By the end of the week, I started shadowing Addy around. At the time, Addy was 18 years old and she was on her last year as a milk maiden. Traditionally, the 18 year olds mentor the 12 year olds. I still remember her long dark brown hair in braids and her honey-tanned skinned glowing as she ushered me along the stalls. We had bonded that year, as most of the milk maiden mentors do with the firsties.

I patted Tiddly on her brow and hummed. She blinked back, pushing her white-spotted head into my hand.

"Another long day, huh?" A big huffy breath was her response.

"Okay! Okay! I'm goin'!" I rolled my eyes at her exasperation and walked back to the stool. I sat down and got to work. I checked her udder and teats and then began stripping them. Once I was satisfied, I cleaned her up and started milking.

"Vee!" I heard a distant call. "Vee!"

That would be Joles, my firstie, calling for me to end my day.

"Hey, Joles, give me 10!" I yelled as I continued milking out Tiddly.

"I figured you'd be here!" Her soft voice reasoned behind me. "You always end with this girl."

I laughed, "What can I say, Joles? Tiddly and I go way back to her first calf. She knows me!"

"You say that about all of them!" She giggled and sat on the ground next to me and started milking. "Can you believe it's almost been a year since I started working with you?"

I glance over at her. Her face is a bit red from the day's work, but her freckles still stood out with her light brown hair. Her brown eyes peaked up from her work.

"What?" She wonders as she fully faces me now. "It really has been a year!"

"I know that!" I reply with a sigh. My time was almost up as a milk maiden. Soon I would be 19, and Samirah would be the next mentor training the next firstie Mr. Platsber found. It was a tradition that went on and on. I wasn't ready to give up my spot as a milk maiden. I loved the girls. We each had the opportunity to grow up in this barn, milking cows, starting at the age of 12. We would be a firstie for a year and then we would be a seasoned worker by the time we turned 13. As we got older, we became more comfortable with our dairy cows. I've known Tiddly her entire lifetime. And yet, it saddened me that she only has another year or two left and I won't be there for them.

"So why are you so down? You're almost free!" She gives me a shocked look. I only shake my head at her.

Free? I loved this place! Yes, it was hard work, but I loved working with the animals. I got to watch some of them grow up. It takes time to really get to know what calms them or what makes them nervous.

"I'm just gonna miss this place Joles. It's been a little haven for me in District 10." I shrugged, wiping my cheek on my shoulder.

It really had been. The Dunsley Ranch had done its best to shield the youth from the harsh reality of living in Panem. The older I've gotten, the more I've realized it. Addy had been so crushed to leave. I hadn't heard from her after she left for a long while. About 3 years ago, I saw her in square for the Reapings as her little brother was called. I remember hearing the last name and immediately searching the crowd for her. When I spotted her kneeling over and sobbing, I had noticed that she had lost a ton of weight since her time at the ranch. Thin arms, hollow cheeks. That had been a hard Hunger Games to watch, knowing that Addy was in so much pain. We all had watch little Javie be pulverized by an older tribute.

"This place gives us a warm bed at night. We get fed every day. And they even prepare us for the work force!"

This was also true. Once a week, a milk maiden would have a day off of milking. We had the opportunity to build up skills in another area at the ranch. My favorite place to go on my off day was the ropes in Duppert Shed. When I was younger, the guys taught me how to tie all sorts of knots. As I got older, they taught me how to lasso too! One day, when I was 15, Hezeck took me to the field and had me practice on the cows.

"You gotta practice if ya wanna get to the bull."Hezeck lectured as he led me to a lone cow in the field.

I gasped loudly, "Who says I want to get to Tuck?! I just find this fascinatin', that's all!"

He chuckled back, "Yeah, ok. Whatever you say, Aveena." He handed over the rope and added, "Everyone wants to get a chance to work on Tuck."

"Not me! He's a meanie!" I cringed at the thought of the big horned bull, picturing his nostrils flaring at me.

"Did you just call an animal a meanie? HA!" His shoulders were shaking as he bent down, holding cowboy hat and his stomach as he laughed. "Veena finally bad mouthed an animal!"

"DID NOT!" I gaped at him. This made him laugh harder.

"You maidens are soft. Especially you." He nudged me forward. "Alright. Show me what ya got."

I actually was successful on my first throw. Hezeck looked a little dumbfounded at first, but then gave me a tough pat on the back to congratulate me. Since then, I've had more practice with a lasso than I ever thought possible.

"Vee, I'm not saying I hate this place." Joles exasperated as she pulled at Tiddly. "You don't feel cooped up?"

"Hey, easy there!" I patted her hand. "Don't take it out on Tiddly." She murmured an apology and I continued, "I get where you're comin' from, Joles. I've just grown up here. This has been my life. I didn't really have one before I came here."

My parents had died when I was younger. I came home from school when I was 6 and they never came back from work. The ranch they had worked in had caught on fire. Several employees had died. That first year without them was tough. I just remember a few of my parents coworkers took me in until I turned 8. Then they dropped me off at the gate of Dunsley Ranch. Someone saw a child and brought them in immediately.

"I- I'm sorry." Joles sighed. "I didn't- ugh. I-" She stopped milking wiped her brow. Then looking up at me, she said, "I remember you telling me the story. I'm sorry, Vee. I often forget what you went through."

I elbowed her, "Hey, it was a long time ago. It's not like I'm the only orphan that works here."

Joles cringed as she wiped her hands on her shoulder rag. "I'm a pig. I forget where I come from all the dang time."

"Now, you stop that! Keep talkin' like that and I'll take you to the Slops." I glared down at her. Joles cringed. I know she was thinking of the pig pen. We may work with cows on a daily, but the smell of the pigs is a world of its own.

I finished the last of Tiddly and cleaned her, moving the pail out from under her. Joles collected the stool as I stood. I rubbed Tiddly's back once more, wishing her farewell. I untied her for the night, hooking the rope up along the wall, next to the stool. Joles brought her youngest calf, Taddle, back in. After locking them in, we made our way to the southern exit and I poured the milk into the mega canteen. Once it was full of milk, it would be inspected and processed. Then, it would be sent to the Capitol.

We walked down the path to the dorms where everyone stayed. We both needed to clean up before dinner started. The sun was still shifting downward, but some of the boys started lighting the lanterns around the girls' dorms. They always looked out for the girls.

As much as this place was a haven, they also had strict rules between boys and girls. The Dunsley Ranch had no problem kicking kids out that didn't follow their conservative ways. To those that truly appreciated this place; we had no problem accepting all guidelines. I had seen plenty of kids get kicked out over the years. To let us truly know that they were serious, they never let any of them come back. No way was I going to ruin my life. If you want to survive, you at least have to use your brain.

"Aveena?" Joles asked as we got closer to the dorms. I noticed she stopped walking. I turned, looking at her curiously. She was looking over her shoulder, fiddling with the straps of her brown overalls. I waited another moment, watching her bite her lip.

"Wha-?"

"What do you think of that Quarter Quell announcement?" Her sudden question seemed to have flown out of her mouth and we both were taken aback. I scratched the top of my head as I looked toward the dimming sunset behind us. I thought back on that haunting announcement several months ago.

President Snow stood on his balcony as he opened the yellow envelope labeled 75. He looked up and smiled, his white sharp teeth matching his hair and beard, glowing as everything did in the Capitol. Looking back to the read the card, his voice boomed, "Now we honor our Third Quarter Quell. On the 75th anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the weakest were harmed amongst us, the male and female tributes will be reaped from the pool of the youngest eligible. As a reminder to the rebels that they thought they could pull apart Panem, the oldest eligible tributes may have a chance to take their place."

At first, we were all taken by surprise. We knew a Quarter Quell would be despicable, but that second announcement had everyone mulling over the words. I looked back at Joles as she started tugging on her braid with her hand. She couldn't even look at me.

"Joles. C'mon. You aren't going to be reaped." I sighed, stepping toward her. I've only seen her act like this twice and it was when she first came to the Platsber Barn as a maiden.

"You don't know that!" she snapped. She had never snapped like that at me before. "Vee," She whispered, "He said 'reaped from the pool of the youngest eligible.' Everyone knows that he means the 12 year olds!"

I sighed again, closing my eyes. Joles needs me right now. I can't just push this aside. "Joles," I say softly, taking a step toward her. "I know you're scared. I'd be lyin' if I was sayin' that I wasn't scared for every Reapin'. I was terrified they would call my name." I was finally close enough to wrap her in a hug. "There are so many people in this district though. You don't know who they'll pick."

I can feel her shaking as I hold her. Her smaller frame leans into me. I whisper this time, "You just gotta see each day as beautiful and not let the unknown future get to you. They will not take you. I won't give them my firstie!" I added that last part with a chuckle. She lets out a laugh but it sounds more like a sob.

"C'mon." I pull her towards the dorm with my arm around her shoulder. "Let's get cleaned up and eat. We gotta few more days until we worry about that!"

Hey guys! This is the first FanFiction story I have every created. Please leave a comment or a review and let me know what you think!