The Hunger Games
I watch silently from my perch in the ancient maple as the two hunters pull in their latest catch from the slow- moving stream. My stomach growls eagerly as the fat salmon flops onto the bank. I could take it, I could run in there, grab it, and be gone before they had the time to react. But they would recognise me; find me when we got back to the district. Starving people don't let thievery go very easily. Also, I want, no I need, their help. One fish isn't worth losing what might be your only chance at survival. The girl brushes a bit of hair out of her face as the boy butchers the fish, tucking it back into her long braid. He has the same straight hair and grey eyes as she does, and resembles her enough to be her brother. But then again, so do I. Everyone in the seam has a similar look.
The girl tries to reset the net, moving with awkwardness that bespeaks her unfamiliarity. She'd done this many times, but she'd never quite gotten it right. The boy gives an exasperated sigh and takes it from her, manipulating it in ways that defy my comprehension. "Like this, catnip." "Maybe I should leave the trapping to you." Says the girl. "What, so you get to shoot all the game?" Counters the boy. "Not a chance." I almost giggle. The two of them were so different in here than in district 12. More open. More like real people and less like emotionless, starved creatures.
I lean back in my tree, trying to solve the question I've been asking for weeks. How can I possibly introduce myself to these two suspicious hunters? I've seen them at school, Katniss, the girl with absolutely no personality, and Gale, possibly the most desired boy in all of district 12. But out here in the woods, everything is different. They're different. What can I do?
My foot brushes a branch and sends it tumbling to the ground, causing the two hunters to freeze. I slowly back up, hoping to get to a higher branch and out of sight, but Katniss is under the tree in a flash, bow in hand, arrow nocked. Gale peers up into the tree, and I'm suddenly thankful for the thick foliage. It's the only thing protecting me from an arrow in the heart. "What is it?" asks Gale. "I don't know…" says Katniss warily. "It looks like," Before she can finish her sentence, the branch I'm seated on gives a crack like a gunshot and breaks off underneath me, sending me tumbling to the ground. I fall for one unending second, then land with a jarring impact, setting my breath free from my lungs. Both Gale and Katniss jump back, obviously startled by my sudden appearance.
"Who the heck is that?" demands Gale. I struggle to get enough air to reply, but Katniss beats me to it. "It's Sonali!" she exclaimed. "She's in my class!" My wind has returned enough for me to sit up. "Hi, Katniss." I say. Katniss glares at me. "What are you doing here?" she demands. I can tell she's trying not to be too brusque; after all, I have caught them doing something highly illegal. "Isn't it obvious?" Demands Gale before I have a chance to respond, "She's been spying on us!" "No I haven't!" I exclaim. Then I relent. "Not really. I've been trying to figure out how to introduce myself without getting shot!"
Katniss and Gale exchange a dubious look, and I can feel my chances of becoming their hunting partner slipping away. Okay. I tell myself. Time to put out the pity plea. "Just listen for a minute." I say, trying to put on a persuasive look. I can tell by the suspicion in Katniss's face that I'm not doing very well. "My family's starving. I can hunt just a little, but I can't bring in enough meat to support anyone except myself. I need your help!"