I've never been an emotional person. I don't know if I am the way I am because of my circumstances or if I was just born this way. I don't think that an infant

could be born cold, but my mother told me that I never cried, not even at my birth. She told me that I didn't cry when I was 6 and my father came home with

streaks down his coal-blackened cheeks, cradling his dead brother's mining helmet in his hands. I don't remember ever crying—not at skinned knees or nightmares

or the hunger pangs that tugged persistently at my belly. Prim never cried either, but it was obvious that she felt. She instinctively knew how to show her love and

sadness and fear. There was always a little voice in the back of my head reminding me of our differences. District 12 is perpetually cold and crowded with soot-grey

buildings, giving the appearance of a crooked smile. Whenever I crossed through the fence into the surrounding forest, I was reminded that Prim was the forest:

vibrant, thriving, full of life—but next to her, I was only District 12. When she was born and I looked into her already-clever blue eyes for the first time, I knew that

I was born to protect her.

From the moment I volunteered to take my sister's place as tribute, I felt nothing. When I heard Effie Trinket call her name, I felt a rush of terror, of panic, of

overwhelming despair. My world stopped spinning and, for me, those few seconds stretched to hours. My body stood rigid while my mind took flight faster than a

mockingjay. A flurry of images flitted before my eyes: my mother braiding Prim's hair, Prim sitting on our bed with her feet tucked neatly underneath her and

Buttercup curled up purring on her lap, Lady running excitedly beside the house to meet Prim, Prim reading and silently mouthing the words, Prim sleeping nestled

up next to me, Prim, Prim, Prim-and the decision to take Prim's place was the easiest choice I've ever made.

This is just a preview! What you just read is the first paragraph of my first chapter. The first chapter is almost done, but I'm very critical of my work, so I'm running it through the metaphorical woodchipper a few times before I show it to you. This will be the first fanfiction I've written in about 2 years (I believe), and I'm really excited to be back at it again.

FYI rated M for future sex. If you aren't into that, you might want to get out while you still can.

This is written in an AU Hunger Games where Katniss & Cato are 18. I won't write sexual fan fiction about people who are underage. Nope.

Please review and come back soon for the full chapter! It should be up by Friday at the absolute latest.

I love all reviews, including constructive criticism.

3 THANK YOU FOR READING 3