Hi! Just so you know, I LOVE Gale and Posy stories, so I made one up! I hope you like it! This is during the 74th Hunger Games.
"Gale? What's wrong?" I didn't answer the little girl, only buried my head in my hands. I fought the tears. I felt a small hand on my shoulder.
"Why are you crying?" the little girl asked, crouching down on the ground so that she could look up at me. Her eyes, Seam grey with streaks of blue, like mine, held question and concern. I knew that she didn't understand what could have upset me this much. I didn't let my emotions show. The little girl hadn't so much as seen me cry.
"I'm not crying," I told her. I was proud that I wasn't. I couldn't let her see me showing vulnerability. Not now, when she needed me so much.
"You would have if I hadn't come out here," she said, gently but matter-of-factly. A shot of anger ran through me.
"I would not have, Posy. Now get inside." She had backed away at my outburst, and I was suddenly aware of how harsh my voice had sounded, even to me. I gentled, overcome by sadness and fatigue. "I'm sorry, Posy," I apologized. "I didn't mean to be angry at you. Forgive me?" She ran over and wrapped her arms about my waist.
"Always."
"Gale. Gale!" I was being shaken awake by my mother, Hazelle, who had a worried expression on her face. My brow knit in concern.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"It's Posy. She's asleep, but she's calling for you, and I'm afraid she's having another nightmare." Another? I thought. I wasn't aware she was having any. I got out of bed, fully dressed because I had just fallen asleep without changing, and went from my bedroom, which I shared with my younger brothers, Rory and Vick, to my mother's room, where Posy's bed was. She was tossing and turning, the calm, peaceful expression that she assumed while she slept changed to one of fear. I went to her, calling her name and stroking her blonde hair that was damp with sweat.
"Posy! Posy, wake up. It's Gale." Her eyes opened, searching for something to land their gaze upon. When she found me, she started to sob and threw her arms around my neck.
"Keep them away, Gale! Please!" she cried. I searched my mind and replayed last night's Hunger Games events to see what could have gotten her so upset.
"Keep what away, Posy?" I asked, holding her shaking form.
"The – the tracker jackers." She cringed at the memory the name brought her and cowered closer to my chest.
"What are you talking about?" I asked. I didn't remember any tracker-jackers in yesterday's viewing.
"It was when you were hunting yesterday," mother said. "I'm sorry I didn't think to tell you." I looked back at Posy.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. She looked up sheepishly.
"Well... I-I forgot, that's all," she stammered. I could tell that either she wasn't telling me the whole truth or just flat-out lying to me, something I couldn't comprehend, because in Posy's mind, truth was always of the utmost importance, and she had always been matter-of-fact in a sweet and loving way. So why wasn't she telling me the truth this time?
"Ok," I said. "But if something happens like that again, you tell me as soon as I get home, alright?" She nodded.
"Good," I said, getting up. "Now, I have to go. Are you going to be ok?"
"Are you going to hunt?" mother asked. Before I could answer her, Posy was on her feet.
"Oh, please, Gale, pretty please can I go with you?" I sighed. Posy would scare off game and get my balance off-kilter, but I got a good haul yesterday.
"If mom says so," I said. Posy looked up at mom, who, knowing I had probably weighed the pros against the cons, gave her consent. I frowned at Posy in mock sternness.
"You better get dressed and ready, little girl, if you want to leave with me." She jumped off the bed and she and mother got her ready as I left the room to get my game back and jacket from the kitchen.
End of Chapter 1. Should I continue? Please review!