Yes, this looks bad. This looks like I'm starting another story. I'm not. I am rewriting a story I previously wrote. I think the story was a good idea at the time, but I'm not happy with that story anymore, so I am rewriting it so it has a better plot line, better characters, more realistic and is less cheesy. The story was called Run Away, written back in 2012. If you want to see how I have grown or see the differences (because, believe me, this is pretty much not the same story anymore) then go check it out! Thanks so much to MikeyJacquez for doing the cover photo for this story! Without further ado... Here you go!
Chapter 1- Run Away
So that's what we did. We ran away into the forest, away from where anybody could see us. Prim is grown. She doesn't need me any more. She can take care of our mother and herself. She can sell cheese from her goat. With me gone, there will be one less mouth to feed. Gale thought similarly. Rory could make snares. He wasn't as good as Gale, but he had a basic understanding. He could teach himself. He would make sure Prim and my mom didn't starve. It was a service to them, and a statement to the Capital.
We didn't dare go back for anything. We just needed the clothes on our backs and the weapons on ourselves. We could survive. In a way, this was a twisted version of the Hunger Games, but no one was trying to kill us. That's a lie. If we were caught, we would be dead. At the very least, they would cut out our tongues. "Where are we running to?"
Districts 10 and 11 would seem the obvious choice. They were the closest and couldn't be that different from us culturally. I feel like Gale would say 10 so he could have an easier time hunting without sneaking off. I then remember watching previous games. District 11 had dark skin, even darker than the olive complexion Gale and I had. District 10 had our complexion, but their hair and eyes were brown. Our black hair and gray eyes would set us apart. After a moment of thinking Gale says his thoughts. "We're going to District 4."
I feel shock surge through me. District 4? The only other place that seemed less likely than District 4 was District 1. "Why there?"
"Hunting, looks, everything. I mean, not very many places would we be able to blend in looks wise. District 4 has the widest variety of looks. Haven't you noticed the difference in the looks of all the tributes? Dark hair and light hair, dark and light skin, green, blue and even brown eyes, we could make it there, Catnip! Then there would be an ocean. We could learn to fish and get food like that. I'm sure they have other animals we could hunt there as well. We'll get fake ID's and make ourselves above the reaping age." Gale looks around the forest, his eyes scanning our surroundings for game and enemies, but his voice betrays that his mind is somewhere else.
"Where would we live? With Finnick Odair?" I pretend to fan myself and act like one of the silly Capital citizens that would throw all their money away just to spend one night with the god-like victor.
Gale laughs and his guard is let down for just a moment while we banter. "I was thinking we would live with the old lady that no one understands."
I felt another laugh coming on but held it in. We both heard the sound of leaves rustling on the forest floor. I bring out my bow, as does Gale. The arrow goes onto the string of my bow and I pull back, ready to fire at a moment's notice. Gale puts his bow back on his shoulder and grabs a rock from the ground. He threw it in the general direction of the sound. When it hit, it causes a squirrel to come running out. I release my arrow and hit the squirrel in the eye. We both let out a breath we didn't realize we were holding. This is what hunting is supposed to be like. Gale goes to pick up the squirrel and passes me back my arrow. "Good job." He pulled out a knife and skinned the creature as we walked. "The reapings, do you think they're over?"
I shrug. "What if we were reaped?"
A small smile flashes across his face. "Then the Capitol would be in a riot. Effie Trinket would be a sight to see." The pelt of the squirrel goes into one of our hunting bags and the meat goes into another. We walk for another hour before we decide to eat. Gale starts a small fire, not big enough to be seen beyond the trees, but hot enough to cook our dinner, while I prepare the squirrel to be eaten.
"We're going to need more water, soon." I tell him, as I take a drink from my water and finish the last of my squirrel.
"I saw a stream while I was gathering firewood. It looked clean enough." We decide to make camp here for the night. We use our hunting bags as pillows and my father's jacket becomes my blanket. Still, it's cold without anything else to protect me from the bitter cold of the night forest. It isn't long before I am shivering. "You cold Catnip?"
"Yeah, but it's nothing. We need to get up early tomorrow. Get some sleep." He does, but not until after coming closer to me and draping his arm over my body. I am tense. I'm not used to being this close to Gale, but then I allow myself to relax into him. If we want to survive, I need to allow him to help me. I've been allowing him to help for the past four years. One more night cannot hurt anything.
I don't notice Gale is asleep until I hear a light snore come from him. I didn't know he snored. It's not a heavy sound or one that would keep me awake. I doubt it would even attract people to find us. It is just Gale. The sound fits him. I didn't know he snored. What else do I not know about my hunting partner and best friend? Whatever I don't know, maybe I'll find out.
I fall asleep, allowing myself to share is warmth. Yet as I drift into the comforting blackness of sleep, I cannot help but feel despair. What is Prim doing right now? Does she suspect I'm gone forever? I wish I brought her with us, but Prim couldn't survive out here. Not in the way Gale and I can.
Prim
I put on my shirt and skirt, the same ones Katniss wore to her first reaping and put my blonde hair into braids. Katniss isn't back yet. Buttercup comes up to me and rubs his head across my leg. "Don't worry. She'll be back. She always is." She doesn't come back, though. I walk to the space where twelve year olds are held with Rory Hawthorne. Gale hasn't come back either. At least they're together. I try to calm myself down. Gale won't let anything happen to Katniss.
The woman that comes on stage after the mayors speech and the video is funny. She has bright pink hair and a matching dress. Bizarre is the only word I can think of. I might laugh, if the circumstances weren't so grim. "Ladies first!" She reaches one hand into the bowl, plunging into the middle of all the names. Katniss has her name in there several times. It could be her. Please don't be her. She has to be with the other sixteen year olds. It isn't Katniss. "Primrose Everdeen!" It's me.
I don't think about it right away. The words are fallen. Then the girls look at me and part ways for me. I gulp and start to walk forward. I look to my right when I pass the sixteen year old section. Katniss isn't there. I look to my left at the eighteen year old section. Gale isn't there. Maybe they are in the back where I cannot see. Effie calls for volunteers but we both know none will come. She then draws another name. "Peeta Mellark!" The boy that comes forward looks stunned. He is my sister's age. The name sounds familiar too. He works at the bakery and might help with all the pretty cakes! Now is not the time to be thinking of cakes, though. We are probably about to die.
I am escorted to a room where I am going to say my goodbyes. Some girls from school show up. They cry and say they are sorry it was me. Then they leave. The Hawthornes, without Gale come next. "He isn't back?" They shake their heads grimly. "Katniss isn't either, I guess." I don't have to wait long for my answer. My next visitor is my mother. She says Katniss hasn't returned. That is the only thing she says. The rest of the three short minutes, we are hugging.
Time to leave comes far too soon. Hot sticky tears roll down my face. Photographers get lots of pictures of me, until Peeta comes and puts a hand on my shoulder. In this touch I can sense a promise. Peeta will protect me as long as he can. I'll do the same for him. I can try to heal him, if he gets hurt. He is strong, I'll bet. Maybe he can fight. When we are loaded onto the train and the pictures finally stop, the tears fall harder and faster. Peeta hugs me. I can tell he wants to break down, but he is trying to be strong for me. "It's alright. I'll get you back home to your sister."
I shake my head. "Katniss never came back. She's gone!"
Well I hope you guys liked the first chapter! Please leave a review and tell me how it is. The second chapter is already about halfway done, so it'll probably be up within the next couple of days! See you guys then!
-Juliet