(Authors Note: I know this day is long over due! Im dearly sorry for the wait but since I began this journey my writing style has changed for the better and I am working on my own novel which will be self published and avalible on Etsy hopefully by the end of the summer. Anyways on to the main event! Ill try my best to keep this updated weekly; not going to lie reviews do help a lot. If it went for the last two on the old copy this day wouldn't be today. :D To those who have supported me this far; I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Maybe ill finish this story before the end of the last movie!)

(Drum roll if you will!)

Gale's Promise 2.0

Chapter One

Gale's Point of View

A rock presses against my back as I watch the sun rise over the dense forest. Footsteps bring me back as I watch Katniss trek into the woods from the head point of the trail. It's hard to believe how long I've been watching out for her just as I promised her father all those years ago. I sigh welcoming the memory of a happier time in my life, back when dad was alive and mom was happy.

Flash Back

The sun beat down on the hob as I stood outside waiting for dad to come back, he left me with one of his friends from the seam who had daughters a little younger then I was. As dad left out of sight the man turned to me getting down on his knee. I watch him as his serious faces firms into a thin line; like he was thinking hard about something. Dad had been wearing this look when mom wasn't looking.

"Gale" he says firmly, looking me in the eye. "Can you do me a favor?" I nod not looking away from his eager eyes. "I need you to look after Katniss for me, in case any thing were to happen" He added at last second, his hands grip my shoulders tightly. "I need you to promise, if anything were to happen to me, I need you to promise you will watch after her and keep her safe. She will do anything for her sister, but im worried there will be nobody for her" Why was he saying this? What was happening? Where would he be in the future? Did dad know? My eyes gaze over to the hob door finding it empty of light and souls. I look back to mister Everdeen. "Promise me son?"

"I promise" I whisper, unknowingly signing up for the change of my life.

End of Flash Back

Her footsteps pull me out of the past as I watch her eyes search for mine. I've come to know everything about her from the way she moves to the sound of her heart beating as she's waiting for prey. The edges of her eyes calm as our eyes lock, I see her breathing slow even though she's climbing up to my level tucked behind the manzinta bush hiding us from the sky. A year or two after I made her father that promise I found her out here in the woods, eyeing on of my snares. And after making a lame joke about stealing being illegal she and I became pretty close.

"Hey" she greets sitting down inches from me and laying her bow by her feet carefully. She had recently switched to her father's bow since it was more comfortable for her size and weight. "Look what prim saved us" She opened the cloth in her jacket to reveal a small square of goat cheese wrapped in basil leaves.

"That's perfect" I had nearly forgotten about my adventure this morning. I pull out the arrow from my back holding the bread the baker gave me for just a squirrel. It wasn't even that great of a shot. She gasps as soon as she sees it pulling it off the shaft and up to her nose inhaling the scent of fresh baked bread. I had done the same thing heading back here completely surprised by how different it smells from our bread we make from rations given out by the Capitol. I watch as her eyes close as the smell over takes her senses, when her eyes finally open she finds mine and a small smile perks up on her lips forcing all the air out of my lungs like it always does. As I learn to breathe again she tears the bread in two and smothers each half in goat cheese and basil leaves. Half of me feels guilty for eat this all to myself but it might be my last meal here. I think back to how many times my name is in the pot today and shiver. I do what I have to, to provide for my family. But it's not a smart move if im gone there's nobody here to protect her or them. But there's also no way im letting my siblings take on that, they don't need to live with their names in that many times. Just the required amount is fine with me and it will have to be fine with them. I glance over to Katniss seeing her in the same trance I was just in and sigh.

"You'll be fine" I whisper taking her hand between mine to reassure her.

"Im not worried about me" She whispers not meeting my glance. I sigh again, of course she never worries about herself I force the smile away as the memory comes back again. The reaping days were always the days that brought back these kinds of memories. Like why were they so worried about if anything were to happen? "How many times is your name in" She asks I don't look at her this time, and just look out to the lake you can barely see if you know what youre looking for and where it is.

"Let's go pick some berries" I suggest getting to my feet and scouting the area for any peacekeepers or planes. We're extra careful now out here since that day a man and women with red hair got snatched up by the Capitol. She puts her bow into the bush with mine and follows me down the backside of the rock and into the brush. The animals don't seem to mind us today as we creep through the woods to the berry patch we found a few years back, keeping it safe from deer with nets. They must sense there is something in the air from the district.

"You know we could make it out here" She says suddenly, I look up almost dropping my handful of berries, she doesn't look back at me though.

"What with all the kids?" I ask, not even knowing why. I didn't want to start an argument but the idea of leaving is deadly; did she not remember those people what happened to them.

"We could do it, it would be easier then sneaking in and out." I don't answer, I don't want to think about it. I put my berries into the hunting sack and move to the other side of the bush hoping to stifle the conversation. Which it does. "We should be getting back" I look up to the sun and then back at her squinting. She picks up the bag and heads back for the bows, I follow quietly behind taking the bows from her as we reach the rock and head back towards the fence.

"Even if we could survive out here, the Capitol will find us"

"Why so we can have children and play the reaping game the rest of our lives? I don't want kids for that reason" She snaps, where was all this coming from?

"Kids wouldn't be so bad"

"Yeah maybe away from that life" I don't argue back, she's in a feisty mood today and that's dangerous enough without encouraging an argument. She stops just passed the log and waits for me as I put away our bows, at least I know she's not mad at me enough to leave me in the woods alone. I hurt to catch up and help her slip under the non-electrified electric fence that's supposed to keep dangerous animals out or us in.

"See you at the reaping" I say as I walk her to her house, we stand their awkwardly for a moment before she turns on her heel and heads inside. I duck under her mom's laundry line and head the back away to my house slipping into the door just as mom is pouring more hot water into the tub.

"Right on time, hurry up and get washed and clothed." I strip down as soon as she's out of the room and get into the semi warm tub scrubbing myself as clean as I can get with the old worn down back scrubber that the handle broke off long before dad died. The bristles were worn down on one end and the other side was damn near close to being bald as well. After my body is washed and my hair is clean I get out and dry off slipping on dads old dress shirt and pants, holding them up with a belt and putting my hunting boots back on. I find mom in the kitchen with the boys cutting their hair down to less wild state. She knows I won't cut mine so she just hands me a brush.

"Mom my shoes don't fit" Rory announces walking into the room holding up his shoes distraught.

"Give them to Vick im sure Gale has his old shoes you can have somewhere" She gives me a look and I sigh heading to my bed and grab my shoes from the back under a blankets. I never liked wearing these, dress shoes are the most uncomfortable type of shoe. But for some reason we all had to look nice to be auctioned off to the games. I guess in some districts it's an honor to go, and they actually train to go even though that is pretty much illegal they aren't stopped because they're a high class district. I will have to wear my hunting boots; lucky enough. Mom gives me a look as I pluck them from the front door; she knows we don't have the money for new shoes but she would prefer I look better.

"It's my last year" I laugh. "Might as well look my best!" Sarcasm rips through my words like a forest fire, making the edge in the room vanish: Everyone breaks out in giggle.

"It's time to go" Mom pushes us out the door as the bell rings in the square. I look back at my home one last time just in case.