The Tribute:

I listen to the soft melodies of the birds drifting through the trees, each one with its own distinct tune. That's what I do in the morning, I sit perched up in a tree watching the sun rise, listen to the birds, and begin to prepare myself mentally for the day to come. Some days are hard to get through since you know the Capitol could be planning anything at any time.

And yes I know what you're thinking, 'The Capitol was defeated!' or 'The rebellion won with Katniss running it!' But actually, it didn't end, the Capitol had been secretly growing stronger and then one day they just came out of nowhere announcing the next Hunger Games. A lot of people have been upset with me for letting the Capitol come back, since I'm the main decedent of Katniss and Peeta. To be honest though, it isn't fair. I'm only 14 and having all this responsibility of taking over Katniss's role of being Mockingjay, again.

Anyway, I finally decided to leave my spot in the tree and go back to my house in the Victors Village. I jump down from the branch in the tree and land on the ground with a light and practically unnoticeable thud. Swiftly I begin to run back to the fence, or what's left of it, that surrounds District 12. When I reach it I gracefully climb under it. Then I begin walking at a fast pace. Eventually arriving back at the house I slowly walk in. As I enter my dad hurries over and throws his arms around me embracing me in a hug. The warmth of his apron engulfs me and I sigh. I look him up and down, obviously he had been baking today for his blonde hair now had white particles in random places, and he wore his favorite apron. It was the one my brother and my mom had picked out together.

After he lets go of me, he smiles picture perfectly at me. I really wish that I got all the charm, but sadly my brother did. I got my mom's looks, and her personality.

"Finally back I see," he jokes. "Your just like your mother, you seem to always be in the woods."

I laugh, "Yes, the woods seems to be like a second home to me!"

Really that is the truth, the woods ARE my home, I feel alive there, and when I'm hunting the world seems to disappear. I wonder if my mom ever feels like this…

He laughs, "You're just like your mother,"

I smile at that comment, I love my mother and I'm glad I can be like her.

"Hey, I'm going to go to my room for a while okay?" I ask.

"Sure, just remember that dinner is almost ready," he replies.

"Okay!" I say.

Slowly I maneuver my way around my father, go up the stairs and enter the second door on the left. The door, which I quickly shut behind me, leads me into my room. Then I grab a brown leather book, which sits on a secret part of my shelf, and open it. Inside are all of these drawings of the woods, the sunset, basically anything that was or related to nature. Scanning the recent drawings I suddenly get a new inspiration. Hurrying to my desk I grab a pencil and flip to an open page and begin to draw a new setting. This one is of a girl running through the woods away from certain danger with a bow in her hand and a sheath of arrows strung across her back with her long dark brown hair that is carefully braided flying out behind her. The girl is my mother.

-oOo-

I was so consumed in my sketch that I didn't hear my dad call me down for dinner. Apparently he had called multiple times before sending my mother in to get me. She walked in with no warning, so I freaked out and the next thing I knew my drawing book was in the air.

"EEEP!" I screamed as the book hit the floor. I quickly scrambled to grab it.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you, but dinner's ready," My mother said. She looked amazing even when she was tired. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a braid, like always, and she wore grey sweatpants with a black tank top.

"No, problem… I was just finishing up my drawing," I explain.

She leans over and takes my book. She shifts her weight from her right leg to her left and begins scanning the pages. Every so often she'll murmur something that I couldn't understand. Finally she gets to the last drawing. When she sees it she looks up at me and smiles.

"This is me isn't it?" she asks.

"Yea…" I mutter.

She smiles and hugs me reassuringly. "Don't worry, I highly doubt the Capitol is actually going to start the Hunger Games again."

All I can do is nod. Finally after a brief silence we head downstairs to eat. When we arrive my dad and my brother are just sitting there waiting.

"What took you guys so long?" my dad questions.

"Our daughter was just drawing," my mother says.

"Well, alright then, she just keeps getting more like me every day! Well let's eat!" my dad says happily.

My mother and I both take a seat. I sit next to my dad and my mother sits next to my brother. I look at the feast my dad has prepared. There was a basket of freshly made bread in the center, and a pot of stew on both sides of the table, a big plate of ham next to the bread, and a huge jar of honey. It all looked amazing.

Right after my dad said we could eat, I reached quickly for the ham and honey. It all tasted spectacular. Finally after dinner was over we all gathered on the couch to check the announcements. Right when we turned on the T.V. President Carter's face appeared.

"Hello, I'm President Carter, and I'm here to announce that the next Hunger Games is upon us!" the man on the T.V. said. "This year is going to be VERY interesting! We've decided that this is going to be the 100th Hunger Games! The fourth Quarter Quell! It's going to be an interesting game, because like any other Quarter Quell there's a twist!"

"You've got to be kidding me!" my mom screamed.

"You will be finding out more about the Quarter Quell tomorrow night! So don't forget to tune in tomorrow!" President Carter concluded.

I looked over at my mother, her face was strained like she wanted to say something but couldn't. My dad's face looked grief stricken. My brother showed no emotion what so ever.

"Mom, dad?" my voice quivered. "What's going to happen?"

My mother's face showed no emotion now, and she refused to talk. This is when the harsh reality set on me that somebody from our family is going back in the arena. My mother and father are both too old, my brother is too young, and so the only age eligible candidate in our family is me.