My new story that will probably take a while to complete! It is another version of Mockingjay but the start to the end, so effectively I am re-writing but it is completely different. After the destruction of 12, the refugees were taken to the Capitol and a war has not broken out between The rebels and the Capitol yet. It focuses around Leda, a 17 year old who originated from District 12, in a neighbouring town called The Grange. Her family was killed apart from her brother and they were pushed into the Capitol whilst rapid negotiation between the two sides. This begins at the announcement of the proposition made by both sides.

The swan, however beautiful, holds with it a deadly bite.

The Swan.

Chapter 1: The announcement.

We were pushed, right and left by the surging crowd behind us. My hand never broke from Eros'. I looked over at him, his face pallid and pasty, an unnatural colour for my brother to have. He did not smile or make any attempt to lighten the atmosphere. There would have been no point. The only memories were held were of death and destruction. He, my elder by three years, would've known that not even one of his witty comments could've jerked a smile from my mouth. There were a few moans, a few whimpers from behind us but we did not dare to look. The sight of any more suffering might send either one of us off the edge. Mother always said we both were such hot-heads.

My face flooded with unwanted colour as the thought of my mother poured into my mind. I squeezed Eros' hand tighter and tighter as we approached the enormous square. How similar that moment was to every reaping we had gone through was startling. The mournful faces on mothers and fathers. The terrified expressions on children. Everything. It was like being back in the square.

We stopped walking as everyone around us did. In front of us, the stage loomed with fluorescent lighting, none of which impressed us anymore. But clearly, the Capitol wanted to put on a show. Eros hugged me into him but I did not allow myself to settle on him. Whatever was coming next would be big and I needed to be ready for it. Ready for a fight or ready to start again.

There was a long pause as two huge television screens were placed in front of us on the stage and everywhere around us there was a sound of inhalation. I balled my hands into fists.

The first screen filled with colour and light and the unnatural glow that President Snow's face held was not greeted well. Around us, shouts and roars rose from the crowd and I realised at that moment that all these people in the square were not from District 12 surely. The other Districts...surely not. They couldn't have destroyed all of them or so I thought. A rock was thrown from somewhere in the crowd and a shout of indignation was brought from one of the guards. Several of them raised their guns and barked orders at the nearest civilians. Eros did not say a word.

"Good Evening, Panem. I shall not mince words. We as a people have reached a disagreement. Both sides have agreed that a war cannot be tolerated. We cannot risk the future of our country like this..."

"Future? What future?" An angry cry came from my far right. Another guard shouted and raised his gun. Snow continued.

" It has been decided that instead of a war, we must use fairness and tolerance."

The words sounded like poison from his mouth. The other screen flooded. Plutarch Heavensbee.

"Indeed. A compromise has been reached. My good people, you are here from all over Panem. Every single one of your Districts have been destroyed. You now represent not your District but your country and you must not turn on each other for the sake of war!"

There was silence from the square. Not even a baby stirred as the people stiffened. I felt Eros swallow against my head.

Snow's face became serious again.

" Twelve children shall stand in front of us here to volunteer to save our country. Twelve children will hold the key to our salvation. One of these twelve will decide our future. The Capitol nor the Rebels will have no choice in the matter of choosing, only the instructions of where this final Games shall be held and the control over such a place. No control will be placed over these children. Once the eleven weakest have been slain, the strongest shall rise and lead us to freedom!"

The silence was broken as the crowd dipped into the depths of despair. The cries of pain were torturous and I turned to my brother in horror.

"Another Games! They can't!" My face flooded with sudden relief, "You're safe." I breathed.

"You're not. Get down!" He ordered me and pushed my hood up over my head, tucking my brown hair into the hood.

"Look down. They might not notice you." The worrisome tone he kept made me anxious.

"Do we have any volunteers?" Snow's voice boomed over the square. I looked down and prayed silently as I saw the guards move through the crowd, demanding anyone who looked under eighteen's age.

There was a scream of panic beside us as one boy, not nearly fourteen was snatched from his mother.

"Excellent," Snow mused, "We have our first savior!"

My heart missed a beat as the guard passed by. His pace slowed as he reached Eros.

"Age!"

Eros' grip tightened around me.

"I am twenty years of age. My sister is nineteen."

I looked the guard square in the face as he sneered at me.

"Nineteen?"

"Yes." I managed. I could've passed for nineteen. I wasn't exactly small for my age but then again I wasn't exactly tall. Standing against Eros who was a full head taller than me was probably part of my downfall.

There was a sickening pause as the guard looked around. I inhaled. The guard was barely taking a step away when there came a cry from behind us.

"I know her! I know her! She ain't nineteen!" The woman behind me clutched at a little girl who was clearly eligible for the role. The guard turned back.

"She's nineteen, I swear!" Eros gripped my shoulder, clearly showing that he wasn't going to let go.

"She ain't! She's from the Grange! I knew 'er mother! She's seventeen!"

All of a sudden, I was pushed forward, dragged by the guard as my brother struggled to keep a hold of me.

"She's lying to protect her own scum!" Eros shouted, pulling me back.

" But, my dear boy, this is about protection! This is about the protection of our country!" Snow glared down at us as the crowd around us pushed out, making us clearly visible.

"Not my sister! Let me!"

Snow narrowed his eyes.

"I'm afraid we cannot afford another martyr. Not after the trouble the last one caused."

Eros was dragged away from me and I kicked at the guard to let me free. He put his arms around my waist and dragged me kicking and screaming to the podium.

"Eros!" I screamed again and again.

"Leda!" he cried back and I heard him scream in pain.

"Snow! Stop them!" A female voice filled the air, one the people had heard on many an occasion. Katniss Everdeen filled Plutarch Heavensbee's recently vacant screen as she glared at Snow I saw nothing but hatred.

"Stop the guards! We ordered that no civilian be hurt in this ordeal!"

The guard released my brother at her command but I was shoved onto the stage. Everdeen glanced at me for a second.

"Introductions." Snow spoke almost amiably, but everyone in the square knew that there was nothing amiable about that man.

"Speak, girl." He pressed.

I pulled my hood down, revealing a mop of brown hair.

" Leda, District 12."

The already chosen boy stood beside me. We stood in silence as the next people were chosen. Five more girls, two older than me and stronger, a lot stronger. Five boy took to the stage and one stared at me through the entire introduction until, it came to his turn.

"Zeus, District One."

Okay, first chapter, kind of weird but I'm developing it. Please review. Rated M for later scenes.

LF xoxo