Hunger Games: Not a Pawn in their Games

First chapter of my Hunger Games OC story, part one of a series, hope you enjoy it, please give it a chance.

Just a note, the chapter titles are the names of the characters who is considered the POV character, the story is done in third person but with focus on one characters thoughts and through the filter of their views.

Disclaimer: Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins.

Kai

The forest was silent, save for the leaves rustling in the wind. However the wind was light, therefore, the rustling from the bushes did not come from the wind. A slight movement from the heavy grass responded to the bushes. Slowly the camouflaged figure lifted their head and looked out towards the bushes. The figure was male, lying prone but they slowly moved into a crouching position, still camouflaged. As the figure watched, from the bushes a hare emerged. Seeing his chance the young man took careful aim with his bow and fired; the arrow flew true and struck the hair, without damaging the pelt as it fell. Satisfied the figure left the heavy grass and approached the body. He carefully retrieved the arrow and examined the body carefully; satisfied he pulled out his skinning knife. He bowed his head and whispered.

"Nia:wen."

He then skinned the hare and took the pelt and meat, stashing it in his game bag. The figure then stood up, leaving the bones to be reclaimed by the forest. The young man was sixteen years old; out in the woods, wearing the improvised Ghillie suit he used as camouflage, he didn't really stand out, but back home, in District 12, he stood out more than anyone. In District 12 people had black hair and grey eyes if from the Seam or blonde hair and blue eyes if from the merchant side. Yet this young man had neither appearance, beneath the camouflage hat he wore, his hair was a tangled mane of silver while his eyes were lilac in colour. This appearance caused confusion and made people give him a wide berth, he was known as the freak of District 12, Kai Raithebone.

Kai sighed and shook his head; he had no time to think about his own problems, he had to deal with more important things than that. He lived alone with his mother in the Seam; the most poverty stricken part of the poorest district. They were at constant threat of dying of starvation; requiring Kai to put himself at further risk. At the age of twelve, Kai's name was written on a slip of paper and added to others, on Reaping Day, two names would be chosen, a boy and a girl, the two chosen would end up being forced to fight in the Hunger Games, a life or death struggle with a boy and girl from each district fighting to survive, there would only be one winner. Another slip with his name would be put in the pool on each of his birthday until he was either chosen, or he reached eighteen without being chosen, then all slips with his name on them would be taken out. However by taking out a tesserae Kai could get a meagre supply of items necessary for survival; in exchange for adding more slips with his name on them for each collection. At sixteen, taking only one tesserae a year Kai's name was in the pool ten times. However he soon found another way to provide for his family, still risky, but without the threat of the Games hanging over him. So, he started hunting in the woods outside the district for wild game.

He taught himself from scratch, using his seemingly innate gift for improvisation to make himself a bow, a quiver, several arrows, a skinning knife and his Ghillie suit. His hunting techniques he learned from a book about people who lived in what was now known as Panem, years ago. This was a confederacy of people known as the Iroquois; he taught and adapted himself to these techniques, this also taught him a strong respect for nature. He ensured his kills were clean, he took only what was needed and left the rest of the remains to be reclaimed by nature. He also thanked nature for each kill before skinning the carcass, using native Iroquois language. Once he claimed his kills he left the woods and moved through the District, selling his spare kills; usually for other necessities. He did most of his business at the Hob, a black market in the middle of the district. He had been fearful at first; as his hunting would be seen as poaching, a punishable offence, but the Peacekeepers, who also struggled to earn a living in District 12, turned a blind eye and even traded with Kai. Satisfied with the hare he claimed he noted the tracks that showed a lot of hares moved through here. So Kai set up some snares, hoping to catch more. He then continued hunting, searching for other game to hunt, skin and prepare. It did not take him long; he claimed a deer quickly followed by three foxes, another two deer, he claimed two more hares from his snares. His game bag was nearly full but it was getting late, it was Reaping Day, the Reaping was at two, he would need to head back, make his trades and get home in time to prepare, so he began to leave the woods.

However, as he was leaving he spotted some tracks and knelt down to examine them.

'A cougar…could be the one I heard the Head Peacekeeper talking about.' He thought to himself. 'I've got room for one more.'

He followed the tracks, wary, bow at the ready. He had followed the tracks for five minutes when he heard the growl. He instinctively ducked; the cougar sailed over his head and landed on its feet. Before it could recover Kai fired and killed it. He exhaled and hurried over, skinning it. Finally he returned to his stashing place and stored his weapons and Ghillie suit. He headed to the electric fence, inactive as usual. He ducked under it and headed back to the District, out on the forest, he felt alive, yet here he was nobody. This was the only time people treated him at least cordially. They usually ignored or ridiculed him about his unnatural appearance, or he heard them talk about him behind his back. When he had goods to trade however, that all changed. Sure enough he found himself doing his rounds and made good progress, getting what he needed. Once he was finished in the Hob, he only had one more stop before going home with what he didn't trade. The cougar he presented to the Head Peacekeeper, getting a decent reward for it. His last stop was the butcher shop; it was here he smiled, for he meant his only friend in District 12, Clay Langland. Clay was seventeen and from the merchant side of District 12.

He smiled when Kai stepped inside. "Hey Kai, how's it going?"

Kai shrugged. "Same old, same old."

He then stepped up to the counter.

It was then he saw the cuts of meat on the counter. Clay followed his gaze and smirked.

"Don't think about it Kai, you can't possibly afford those cuts." He remarked.

Kai laughed shortly. "Are you sure I can't convince you with a trade."

Clay waited while Kai made his offers; finally, after much haggling, they agreed on a price and made their exchanges. Finally Kai left and headed for home. After spending time hunting, breaking the law and spitting in the face of the Capitol, the tyrannical ruling city of Panem; he was now subject to their laws, the worst one of all, the death sentence, at least for the District 12 tributes, the Reaping.

End of chapter, introducing the main character, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.