Hello Hunger Games Fans. Well this chapter doesn't have Cato in it and he won't really make a real appearance for the next few chapters but i promise you that he will be here. This is a fic for everyone who loves the Career tributes and will work in their favor. It is an AU fic so the characters will be a little OOC but eh. My Authors notes will come later once i have some reviews, hope you enjoy it.
Peeta's P.O.V
Like clockwork as soon as the first rays of dawn began to peak above the horizon and lighten the still dark sky my eyes flew open and I was out of bed and pulling on my hunting boots in a haze that was quieter than it could have been a few months ago. Since the district 12's resident huntress Katniss Everdeen had taken on her mother's trade of healing because of the sheer number of patients they had in the seam, he had taken on hunting with Gale Hawthorne so that the people of the poorest section of the 12th district of Panem didn't starve. It was strange that he of all people had taken Katniss's spot as Gale's hunting partner but when the eighteen year old had come to his families bakery a year and a half ago with the news that he might not be able to get as much game as normal his heart had lurched and he had chased Gale down and offered his help.
Sure it hadn't been pretty at first, Gale was so much better than him, what with him having been hunting for years before that day and him being the son of the town baker and knowing absolutely nothing about hunting period. But once the two of us had gotten over our main differences and got tired of fighting on another things began to fall into place, especially when the two of them found out how strong I was and how fast I was able to run why still wielding a knife with deadly accuracy. Silently striding through the bakery and into the store room I quickly wrap up two loaves of bread and a couple of rolls for my trip to the Seam.
Being the youngest of three sons of the baker meant that he never went hungry like the other kids in district 12-sure he had been forced to take out tressare for grain for the bread, making sure that his brothers never had to because his mother was adamant that he would never be reaps for the games because that just didn't happen-but being friends with the Hawthorne's meant that he was able to help them out in any way he could which meant that every week he made sure to give them a loaf of bread which would help them survive. The other loaf went to the Everdeen's because the last time he had seen Primrose the youngest of the Everdeen siblings his heart had almost broke at her thin frame.
Packing his parcel away he was sure to quickly put the bread he had prepared the night before in the oven while sheathing his hunting knifes in the halter Prim had made him with the leather she and some the other grateful Seam members had made him and Gale after they had taken down a large buck last spring. After checking the temperature controls for the oven I spin around ready to run out of the house only to freeze when I saw my father standing in front of me with a sad look in his eyes almost as if he was scared for my.
"Peeta…what are you doing?" my father asked his eyes looking over his features as if it held all the answers to all his questions.
For once I was extremely glad that I was a good actor, it was strange how good a liar I was considering that no one else in my family could lie to save their lives. "I ah…was going for a run" I said wanting to wince for lying to my father.
I love my father but I don't think he needs to know that I go hunting every morning before I start my bakery shift he doesn't need that added stress of trying to keep my mother under wraps considering she has been getting more and more volatile with him, beating him over the stupidest things. But deep down, I can see that Aurion Mellark actually knows that his youngest son does something against the law.
My father smiles sadly and then nodded in understanding "Okay well then have fun on your run…and if you happen to run across Gale Hawthorne you think you can bring back some game?" he asked arching an eyebrow in questioning.
Nodding slowly I walk pass my father and out of the bakery where I will return in several hours to get ready for the Reaping orders that parents got ready for the celebrations they held for when their children didn't get reaped. Our family had a lot to celebrate if Rye didn't get reaped that afternoon, considering he was eighteen this was the final year he was eligible of reaping and with my oldest brother Levi twenty year old and free from the threat of reaping for several years already it meant that I was the only one still in danger, and I was in a lot more danger than either of my brothers were. Considering I would have had five in this year normally my thirty three name tags was a lot to swallow. But then again I had taken tressace for my family once when winter was lean a year ago and then the time I took it for Gale's family so that my hunting partner didn't get his name put in the reaping bowl any more than the twenty seven times it already was.
Shaking my head out of the dangerously thoughts that were clouding my mind I set off at a firm jog towards the Seam where the kids called but to me and said hello already awoken because of the early rising that takes place in the poorer section of District 12. Ever since I had begun hunting for Gale and the other families of the Seam the people had taken him in like one of their own despite the differences between my own merchant features and their Seam native ones. It took ten minutes for me to run to Gale's house and without knocking I walk in and smile at Rory who was seated at the kitchen table half asleep due to his early wake up tat Gale forced him to endure.
"Morning Rory, fine day ain't it" I say smiling at the little boy who had become just like my own younger brother.
Being twelve years old this year Rory was going for his first reaping that afternoon along with Katniss's sister Prim and I knew that deep down both of them were terrified just like every other child was on the day of the reapings. It was a feeling that never left ones person not until your eighteenth year had passed and you were free from the Games. The younger Hawthorne brother glanced up and smiled at him timidly which was such a far cry from his usual cheery grin that I almost felt like crying.
"Morning Peeta" Rory greeted standing up from the table and stretching his tired bones "Gale'll be out in sec, he was just helping ma put Posy to bed" he said rubbing his stomach that I knew was probably hungry as hell.
Grinning at the nervous twelve year old I reach into the pack I take on all of my hunts now so that I can store our supplies I get out the roll I had been intending to eat for lunch and threw it to him. "Eat up, it's an important day" I say my voice light and happy but tinged with seriousness.
I could still remember the day of my first reaping, I had refused to eat anything and once I was declared safe when the fourteen year old tribute was selected that year I had felt so sick at the idea of him dying so me and the other kids in the district could live, I had dry heaved for hours afterwards. Rory stared at the roll in his hands with a mixture of shock, awe and downright disbelief that it was hard not to laugh, it always shocked me how much the Hawthorne's liked the bread I made which according to my mother was second class and not good enough-but defiantly better than my brothers who could bake to save their lives.
"Peeta…is this a cheese bun?" Rory whispered softly as he inhaled the fresh bread I had made the previous night.
Nodding I walk over and ruffle his hair causing him to grin up at me impishly and more Rory like "Sure is, I know that you like them and I kept this one just for you" I said kindly, I had always wanted younger siblings which was why I had taken to Prim and Rory so quickly.
"Thanks Peeta!" the younger male Hawthorne exclaimed before taking a huge bite into the bun and groaning at the heavenly taste on his tongue "It tastes awesome" he said through a mouthful of food.
I was about to reprimand him when a large hand swatted him on the back of the head making me laugh at Rory's startled expression. Looking up I see Gale and Hazelle standing in the door way looking highly amused. "Don't talk with your mouthful squirt" Gale said before walking over and giving me a big hug.
The first time Gale ever did that to me was earlier last year when we had taken down a bear together-which had helped both the Everdeen's and the Hawthorne's through the rough winter they had been forced to live through. It was at the time when our friendship was still really shaking and I wasn't sure where I stood with the taller boy at that point, but it hadn't matter to Gale because when I jumped on the large animals back and killed it in one shot with my knife he had just bundled me up in the largest bear hug I had ever experienced. Then he went on to explain that why Katniss was a great best friend she had been uncomfortable with displays of affection like that unlike myself who was more than open to them probably due to my hateful mother.
"Morning Peet" he said stepping back "You ready for today: I have a good feeling about what we'll get" he said excitement brimming through his tone.
I grin back unable to contain my own excitement at my friends excitement but the heaviness of my back brings be back to reality. So I hold one finger up and then reach into my bag once more and bring out a perfect loaf of white bread which I then present to Hazelle who was brimming with grateful tears just like every other time I bring them bread despite the fact I've been doing this for several months now almost a full year. "Here you go Hazelle, fresh from the storage heaters" I say proudly.
The Matriarch of the Hawthorne clan smiled at me thankfully and then pulls me into a hug that only a moth could give, a hug he had never received from his own mother "Thank you Peeta, I don't know what we'd do without you" she said before pulling back and smoothing down the hunting jacket she had given him a few months ago. "Now you better get going, you still have to stop off with Katniss and her family before you head to the forest" she said pushing both me and Gale to the doors.
Laughing happily Gale threw his arm over my shoulders and waved goodbye to his mom who was screaming at us to stay safe while we headed to the Everdeen residence that was only a five minute walk from Gales. People called out at them and children ran around us before following us as far as they were allowed before their parents called them back. It bought a smile to my face as I saw how happy the kids were to see me even if I was a merchant kid. I think I was the only merchant kid that the Seam kids tolerated mostly because he helped feed them and actually cared about them which was more than he could say for the other kids who lived around his bakery.
Once they reached Katniss's house I happily bounced in and found Prim standing by the bedside of a sick mine worker talking about her goat, it always amazed me that while Katniss was the one who helped her mother heal the patients it was Prim who helped keep their spirits up. "Good morning Prim…Alexander how are you feeling this morning" I greet both the young healer in trainer and the nineteen year old miner who had been at the Everdeen's for a few weeks now.
Both of their heads shot up and I was happy to see that Prim was still able to smile so brightly considering that today was her first Reaping. "Peeta! You're here" she said bouncing over to my side and taking my hand and pulling me over to Alexander who I'd gotten to know quite well over the last few days considering how much time I had been spending delivering Mrs Everdeen her berries and herbs she asked me and Gale to gather while we're out.
Alex sat up on the bed and gave me a smile, despite the fact that he was pale skinned and slightly green tinged the miner looked quite healthy his eyes dancing with a light that hadn't been there the last couple of times. "Hello Peeta, Gale it's great to see you again" he said his voice happily.
Gale smirked and walked over to clasp his soon to be fellow miner's hands, considering he would be heading to the mines as soon as he turned eighteen. "Hey Alex, Catnip and Prim treating you right?" he asked cheekily giving Prim a wink which made her giggle.
"You know it, little Prim here was telling me about the buck Peeta has been tracking for the last week" he said happily glancing over to me making me shift uncomfortably, I've never liked being under the microscope when it came to my hunting. "You gonna try to get it for the spit tonight" he asked.
I smile and nod happily, the Spit was the one thing I was glad I could help out for, considering that it was the one time of the year that everyone in the Seam could eat happily, even if it was a celebration for everyone who wasn't Reaped. "Yeah hopefully we'll all be eating well tonight" I said eagerly just as excited for the spit as any seam kid would be.
"Considering it's you and Gale hunting the buck down I'm not too worried about it" Katniss said from the door way leaning against the wood with a bowl in her hand that I was positive head some kind of brother for Alex, and if the way Alex grimaced was anything to go by the he knew it as well.
"Morning Catnip, how are you" Gale asked sincerely making me want to roll my eyes.
I may have loved Katniss a year ago but after hanging around Gale and her for the past year I kinda fell outta love with her and more into sisterly affection with her. As a person I thought she was awesome like the big brother who was always around for advice and blunt honesty but there was no way in hell that I loved her as much as Gale did, it was actually funny how much my hunting partner. But I may have come to this conclusion but that didn't mean I wanted to see both Gale and Katniss awkwardly flit with one another and by the way Prim was glancing at me she felt the same way.
Katniss shrugged and then handed Alex the brother before turning back to us "I'm okay, worried like I always am on the day of the reaping but other than that I'm just tired" she said running a hand through her hair messing up her braid a little giving her a frazzled and stressed look.
Quickly pulling out the loaf of bread I made for Katniss and her family I smile warmly and present it to her happily "Here you go, you're set for a week" I said proudly making Katniss give me a small smile as she took it from my hands. "I know it's not much but I can't think of anything to do for you" I said weakly.
The ex-huntress shook her head and put the bread on the nearby table "Don't worry about it Peeta, you do more than enough for us" she said tiredly before turning back to Alex who began coughing harshly making me wince at the sick sound. "Prim gets the inhaler" she demanded sending the twelve year old scurrying off for the medical supplies.
Gale and I traded quick looks and then with a soft voice he quickly bid the healer goodbye and then as one the two of them walked towards the fence that the two of them knew wasn't active just yet and then with the grace and fluidity that spoke of experience and talent they slipped through the wire and into the forest beyond. Stopping only to allow Gale to gather his bow and quiver the two of us began to follow the dear tracks that we had been covering the last few days and then fell silent when we finally found the great buck standing there with his seven point antlers proud and beautiful. Signalling a cage in I slowly moved around the dear in the forest making little to no sound.
It was strange to be able to walk through the forest now without sound considering when I had first started all that time ago I had been just as bad as walking on glass with steel tip boots. But now I walked with enough to not make a single sound and that was one of my favorite skills I had acquired, almost as much as knife work and I really liked working with my knife. Spotting the branch that was directly above the stage I easily climb it and then begin to walk across the branch until I was perched above it, locking eyes with Gale for a second I give a small nod and then with a precision that they two of us had created over the past year Gale let an arrow fly hitting the stag in the fore quarter while I dropped down and embedded by knife into the stag's skull killing it instantly.
Gale let out a whoop of excitement making me grin at his childish move, because of his father's untimely death when he was just fourteen Gale had been forced to grow up to early and it took so much to get the other boy to loosen up and act like a kid again but I found that when things went right my hunting partner was able to be the young man he really was instead of the man of the house. "Yeah looks like we're eating venison tonight" he said happily as he raced over to help me off the carcass.
I nod distractedly as I wiped my hunting knife of the grass trying to clean it of the blood that caked the blade, sometimes I hated giving the fatal blow with my knife mainly because I don't want to rust it with blood, but I couldn't stop and control what happened on a hunt any more than Gale could. "Let's get it back to your house before the Peacekeepers start patrolling" I say slipping my knife back into it's sheath.
One of the best things about being the successful hunters we were was that Gale and I could offer some of our game up to the peacekeepers because they had it just as hard as some of the poorer merchants did but this buck wasn't for them today. On this afternoon everyone in district 12 turned their backs on them and they turned into the puppets of the capitol who would happily give out lashings if ordered. Gale nodded and then helped me arrange the stag on the shoulders watching me enviously for the strength that I so easily possessed.
Sometimes I had to thank my mom for making me carry the huge bags of flour across town from such a young age because after all this time I've gained enough strength to easily carry the stage by myself, and that was still light to me. I know that Gale would love my strength because while I was taught how to be swift and silent I couldn't teach him to be strong like me simple because there was nothing that weighed over 100 pounds in the seam unlike the bags of flour I had been carting around since I was twelve. Nodding at my partner in thanks he and I began our trek back through the forest after our quick hunt.
Normally the two of us would be out here for so much longer than the forty minutes we had spent tracking the stag but with the huge buck slung over my shoulders and the reaping that afternoon neither one of us wanted to push our luck. Once Gale had hidden his bow and arrows once more he helped hold open the fence enough for me to get the deer through before closing it with enough time to get away before it turned live. Thankfully Gale's house is close to the boarder and we were able to get the stage back to an excited Hazelle without any problem, I was going to stay and help with the cleaning of the animal but I was due to start at the bakery in only an hour and I had to change and wash the blood off me before I could begin my shift. So I quickly bid the Hawthorne's goodbye and began running back towards town avoiding the peacekeepers that were still half alert from being awoken by their alarms.
Arriving at the bakery in record time I quickly scurried through the building until I got into the bathroom and slammed the door shut before jumping into the cold spray. I could still remember washing up the first time after a hunt, the hot water I had used had done nothing to help get rid of the stench of the forest and animal blood that caked him but the cold water washed it away like magic so he had quickly gotten used to the fringed temperature of the water, his brothers were always happy with me because I never used all the hot water in the mornings. Scrubbing the bar of soap through his sweaty hair I tried to think about the kill I had just made and knew that Gale and I would have to ration it out so that it lasted for longer than the rest of the kills me and Gale had made during the last seasons mostly because Deer were so hard to come by even more so a stag.
Once I washed all the soap from my body I quickly dressed in my baking clothes and got to work on the cookies that my father liked to give out after the reaping for a quarter of the price, it was easy work and helped sooth the worries I was feeling. I had dodged reaping for several years now but I knew that this year was different, I had my name in there so many times and I was scared, I would never go back and make Gale or even Rory for that matter take the brunt of tressace but it was more the fact that I didn't want my name to be called. When I heard the door to the baking room open I glance up in time to see my father walk through once more his face a mask of confusion when he saw me baking the chocolate chip cookies for the reaping.
"Peeta…you're back" he said in surprise making me laugh.
I nod and then go back to what I was doing while he began to get the breakfast ready for Rye, Levi and mother: I wouldn't eat today simply because I had too much to do, but that was okay because I knew that I could eat afterwards so instead I focused on making the cookies perfectly and then once they were in the oven I began frosting the cake I had made the other night with all the care in the world. I love decorating the cakes almost as much as I love baking them, it was also the only thing I could do that my mother didn't completely disregard me for, she never praised my work or told me good job but she never told me to re do it.
Moments after I had started decorating the cake my mother finally walked down into the kitchen with a sleepy Rye behind her looking like he would be much rather sleeping in that moment, which I couldn't blame him, he was eighteen which meant next year he wouldn't have to get up early so that he was prepared for the reaping by midday like mother expected. When she spotted me working my mother didn't say god morning or thank you for working she just checked the bread oven to make sure the first batch was almost done and then the cookies before heading back into the dining room.
"Hey thanks for starting mate" Rye whispered to me as he passed making me grin and nod but never take my eyes off my work.
The relationship I had with my older brother was very strange, he and I worked off one another, sometimes I felt like the elder brother mostly because I was always covering for him, I made sure if he was going to be late to do double to work so he didn't get in trouble and if he wanted to go on a date with his girlfriend I always took care of the supplies without him. In turn he made sure to keep ma away from me if I had messed up so I had enough time to clean it up and then there was that one time he covered for me, but most of the time it was just be taking care of him.
I finished with the cake just in time for the cookies to be done and the bread to finish, like a well-oiled machine I turned and took the cookies out of the oven to cool before removing the bread and putting the next batch my father prepared after my departure early that morning before beginning the next cake. Sometimes when I got so into my work I lost track of time which was what had happen to me that day because once I was finished with Madge's birthday cake that the Mayor had ordered him to decorate earlier that week my father tapped me on the shoulder with a sad smile and handed me my reaping clothes.
Grimacing at the dress shirt and pants I nod and then hang my apron up before heading up to my room to change, suddenly the sick feeling I had been plagued with all morning about to oncoming reaping filled my entire body once again as I slicked my hair back. Sometimes I wanted to just go in my bakers clothes to stick it to the Capitol but then I would remember what would happen if I did and I reign in my attitude. But that day all I wanted to do was stay hidden in my reaping clothes and hide under my bed, taking a quick glance at my reflection I sigh at the smart like picture I made and then quietly walked down the stairs, to see my mother fussing over Rye as Levi watched happily, all of them were so proud Rye had made it to eighteen with no added names in the bowl, I on the other hand had a much larger chance of being picked so I wanted no fussing nor primping not that I would ever get it.
"You ready son?" I hear my father ask me and I feel myself nod.
Why people ask you that was beyond me, no one is ready for a reaping, ever, not even the careers from the richer districts could say that they were ready. They boasted they were but I knew that they weren't, you could see it in their eyes, they were just as afraid to leave their friends and family as any other reaped child was. Taking a deep breath I stuff my hands into my pockets and follow my family out of the bakery and down to the justice building where everything had been set up for the reaping, I lined up for sign in and when they pricked my finger for id I didn't even blink, I couldn't I had just turned numb because my eyes had settled on the bowl holding the boy's names up on stage, the same bowl that held thirty three slips that had my name on them.
Taking a deep breath I moved over to the sixteen year olds and ignored the looks from the other merchant kids that I knew and should be friends with but had been ignoring for the last year. The seam teens gave me shy smiles not really knowing how to act around the boy who got them a huge stag for their evening meal after the reaping but it made me feel happy to know they were at least trying. I glance over to the girls and saw Prim take her place with the twelve years old making my heart lurch at the sight of her, she was so young, my eyes then traveled to fine Rory in the crowd of twelve year old boys who was almost shaking. Glancing over to the row of girls on the other side of the rope beside my own group I catch Katniss's worried gaze and smile sadly, this event was hard on all of us.
Turning my attention back to the stage I had to stifle a chuckle that threaten to rise when I caught sight of Effie strut across stage in her bright pink outfit and light pink hair adorned with large purple flower. Most of the time I thought the escort form the Capitol couldn't get more outrageous but each year she proves me wrong. Although when District's 12's lone victor Haymitch Abernathy was announced and he staggered on stag much to the escort's disgust I really couldn't stop the grin that broke out on my face. Most people thought the old victor was disgusting and a disgrace but I liked him and in all the time I had spoken to him I felt a connection to him.
Once Effie had made sure Haymitch was slumped in a seat and wasn't going anywhere soon she turned back to us and beamed happily. "Hello there Ladies, gentlemen" she said cheerily like the reaping was a great event-although for her it probably was.
"Happy hunger games" she said excitedly as she began to ramble about the tradition of the killing contest making my unease grow by the second. "And may the odds be ever in your favor" she said in her accent. "Now shall we choose our tributes…ladies first this year I think" she said walking over to the bowl that was in front of the group of girls.
With a flourish she reached in and pulled out a name, the only thing going through my mind was to not let it be Prim because no one deserved to be reaped on their first reaping and Prim didn't deserve to be reaped at all. Effie cleared her throat and then in a clear voice called out the name that made my heart stop in shock. "Katniss Everdeen"
Everyone gasped and I swear I heard Prim let out a heart broken sob, Katniss was one of the best healers in the district now, and she hadn't hunted in months what if she had lost her edge? Bu to her credit Katniss walked up onto stage and wiped away the tear that was rebelliously sliding down her face staring ahead numbly. Of course as soon as Prim scream out no that changed and her face crumpled like it was in pain.
"Katniss No!" she screamed racing forward, but it seemed as if Gale had been expecting it because he was by her side in seconds and was lifting her up and taking her back to a pale and shaken Mrs Everdeen who was saying no over and over again.
The ex-huntress swallowed nervously and wrapped her arms around her stomach refusing to say a word, and when no volunteers stepped forward-that wasn't strange for district 12-I felt my heart break, Katniss wasn't the same strong girl from a year ago, and deep down I don't think she's gonna make it. Effie smiled happily at Katniss before turning back to the microphone "Well wasn't that exciting" she said bubbly "But we need a second tribute so onto the boys"
I felt sick flood my stomach and I prayed Gale's name wouldn't be called; he was eighteen he didn't need to go to the games, especially if Katniss was partaking in them. But then she had a name and I held my breath waiting for the results. "Rory Hawthorne" I felt my heart stop and saw the young twelve year old begin to shake on his unsteady legs.
Turning to see Gale I notice him clenching his jaw, and in that moment I notice that he is about to volunteer, but I can't let that happen, he has to stay here and take care of his family, I may like him acting as a kid now and again but he's not a kid, he'd the man of his family. Without over thinking what I'm about to do I rush pass the other sixteen year olds and push pass the peacekeepers before yelling out in my loudest voice.
"I Volunteer! I volunteer and Tribute!"
So What do you think: want the next chapter to find out what happens?