Chapter 1
A/N This is my first Hunger Games fanfiction, so if I do something wrong, or forget something. Just tell me and I will try to fix it.
Katniss's POV
I feel the bed sag beside me. I search for Prim's hand, only to find a hand two times her hand size. The person squeezes my hand back.
"Wake up, Kat."
I know that voice…I remember hearing him scream, or at least I think it was him. But how is Dad alive, he is dead…right?
I gasp, sucking in air while I sit up.
It was just a dream, like always.
I let a single tear slip down my face. Prim must have slept with mother. I guess it is only natural, it is the day of the reaping.
I sit up and look at mother and Prim. They look so peaceful. There are moments like these I wish I was just a normal teenage girl, with a normal family, in a world without hunger and the games.
I better get up if I want Prim to eat anything.
I pull on my trousers, a shirt, and my hunting boots. My dad's hunting jacket is the last thing I need, before I leave.
I live in the Seam, the poor part of district 12, in the poor part of Panem. You bet it right, I'm broke.
I listen for the hum of the electric fence. Which is non-existent, which it normally is. Peacekeepers have to keep people in and wild animals out. It doesn't really work, because Gale and I go into the woods every other day.
I go to the tree where my bow is hidden. It is my most treasured item, since my dad made it. So, it is kind of a big thing. Once, I get my bow and quiver of handmade arrows. Go into the woods. Where the only person I can be myself with, is. Where Gale is…
"Dammit Gale! It's been almost an hour!"
Our rock is empty so I just look for game to catch. Remembering when Gale and I first met is like a love story, but the best friends stay best friends.
We met once but didn't talk to each other. It was when, our dads died in the accident, and we got an award. We didn't really talk much after the awarding. Until, we finally did.
I was selling some of Prim's baby clothes and blankets in the Hob. Not a place you would find an 11 year old girl. It was raining and nobody bought anything. I tripped on some trash and the baby clothes went into a mud puddle. I wanted to just sink in the puddle myself, but I couldn't just leave Prim with mother.
They will just put her in child services, which isn't heaven.
So, I made my way to the bakery. The husband is nice he always buys squirrels from me, now. When his bitch of a wife isn't there. I noticed that there trash can was open, so I decided to take a peek. When I got caught. I knocked over the trash bin trying to get away but I had no strength. After, a while yelling started from inside.
"What is wrong with you!? You burned the bread! Feed it to the pigs we can't sell that, idiot!" Mrs. Mellark screams at him while hitting him in the head. The boy goes outside and breaks off a half of the first bread, and throws it to the pigs. He turns toward me and throws the rest of the bread my way.
It was around then when I started hunting, providing for my family. I didn't catch anything that day, until I came across a trap, with a rabbit caught in it. My fingers just grazed over the handiwork of the trap.
"You know stealing is punishable by death?"
I stopped right before my fingers touched the rabbit, and slowly turned around.
It wasn't a peacekeeper only a teenage boy who looked, very scrawny.
Since, then we ran into each other more often. Then, we evolved into friends. I smile at the memories, when I notice a deer.
It is a clean shot when…
"Look what I caught!"
I missed it. Dinner is gone.
"Really, Gale, I almost had it too?"
I look up and he has a piece bread with an arrow through it.
"What would you do with it anyway?"
I think about and come up empty-handed. We exchange the bread that he got with some berries I found on the way, along with the cheese that Prims' goat made.
We talk about everything avoiding the Capitol and the reaping. After, a long time of silence he speaks.
"We could do it you know."
"Do what…"
"Get married, me and you. I mean me and you, together as one."
I look at him to see if he is serious or not. He can't be. Just to throw our friendship away like that.
"Chill, Catnip, I was just joking. Let's just get this over with and have our big celebration. Okay?"
For some reason, it hurts inside when he said he was joking. I know that even if he did get a wife he wouldn't forget me. So, why am I feeling this way?
*Time Skip*
By the time I make it back home. Prim is already dressed and ready to go.
"Mom has your clothes laid out for you on the bed. The tub has water in it."
"Ok, tuck in your tail, little duck." I ruffle her hair, and tuck it in for her.
As Prim said clothes are laid out for me. I take off my hunting clothes, undo my braid. And, slip into the tub. The tub is cold now, not that I would have warm water over Prim. It could have been warmer.
I wash off quickly, then dry myself off. Once, my clothes are on mother steps into the room.
"They were mine. When I was younger, since it your old enough I thought you should wear it."
She is about to close the door, when I finally speak up.
"Mom, thanks for coming back, for us."
She looks as if just said I hate her. Well, in a way I did.
"Anything, for you girls."
I finally finish braiding my hair.
Mother, Prim, and I walk to the Reaping in silence. Until, me and Prim have go to our age groups. Prim starts to freak out. I try to calm her down.
"Prim, it'll be over soon we just…wait."
Prim hugs me before going with the other twelve year old girls, in the front. I head to the back with the other 16 year olds.
The ceremony begins with the video of the revolution and bombing of District 13, as always. Instead of watching it I search for Gale, which isn't hard since he was already staring at me.
We just make faces, during the video.
After, forever Effie Trinket, District 12's escort is about to read the names.
"Okay, ladies first."
She twirls her hand in the ladies' bowl, she gets one slip. I just hope it isn't Prim or me.
"For the ladies, Primrose Everdeen!"
My world is gone. My brain doesn't think, just my voice. As Prim moves quietly to the stage. I try to get to Prim quickly and protect her from this, world.
"No! No, Prim! I VOLUNTEER! I volunteer as tribute!" I say more firmly. Prim is screaming, but it isn't her decision.
Gale pulls Prim off of me.
"Wow, what a surprise. Now, I do believe that you are District 12's first tribute…What is your name, dear?"
How sick and twisted is she? To be happy about a volunteer.
"Katniss. Katniss Everdeen."
"Well, I bet my buttons that was your sister?"
"I guess you'll have to give me your buttons, then."
Then, our drunk mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, gets up from his seat.
"I like her, she's feisty."
Then passes out, in front of all Panem.
"Okay, time for the men."
Effie does the same thing she did for the girls, for the boys.
"For men…Peeta Mellark. Come on up."
I see him, then remember him, the boy with the bread. He doesn't get far before Gale volunteers.