Summary:

What if Katniss and Gale had left district 12 the day of the reaping? What if they escaped? Katniss never realised her fate was fixed. 'I had been found. I had lost. It was over. I was going to die. Katniss Everdeen. That was my name, my identity. Now it would be forgotten like ashes on the wind...'

Disclaimer:

Unfortunately I do not own Hunger Games, I wish I did but that is a dream never to come true.

Author Note:

I hope you like this story, it is my first Hunger Games fanfiction which I thought I wouls share. One thing which has amused me greatly is that Microsoft Word keeps on trying to change the word Katniss to Catnip.

Enjoy

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~Over and Out~

My breath came out in short gasps, I was running as fast as my legs would carry me. Prim and my mother stumbled some distance behind, tripping on the uneven surface. A surface I had grown used to. Earlier in the morning I had made a deal with Gale to meet me by the lake. From there we were to travel to District 13, or what we thought awaited us off in the countryside.

"Can we please stop!" Prim called, she sounded breathless and tired. When I turned to face my little sister I could see her cheeks were red and sweat dribbled down her forehead.

I came to a stop allowing Prim and my mother to catch up. "We can have a short break, five minutes maximum. I made a deal wit Gale, and I don't want to be in this woods after dark. Not with all those Peacekeeper's lurking."

Prim slumped to the ground but I couldn't bring herself to even think about settling down. I was on high alert, my ears peeled for the smallest sound.

I pulled the small bottle of water from my bag and took along gulp before passing it to Prim who promptly swallowed two mouth full's before passing it to our mother.

The snap of a twig to my left sent my mind racing, it was probably only an animal but I didn't want to take that chance. I dragged Prim to her feet. "We should keep moving."

Prim let out a heavy sigh. "I thought we had five minutes?"

"I know Prim, but we should keep moving." I argued knowing all too well that Prim was going to start whining.

"Your sister is right," My mother whispered. She had been silent since I had burst into the house and told her the news. It took a lot of persuading but eventually my mother caved in. "We should keep moving."

We reached the lake within an hour, Gale was already inside. The rest of his family were huddled around a small fire. I was hit with a wall of heat as I stepped inside. Relief filled me when my eyes landed on Gale. They had made it, we were safe for now.

Gale swept me into a hug and held me tight, I let myself relax in the familiarity of his arms. Once he had released me he addressed the room. "We should stay here for the night, until the reaping is over. It started an hour ago. I think we should leave at dawn, what do you think Katniss?"

I nodded and leant against the door. "Sounds good. I'll go shoot some squirrel for dinner before it gets dark."

"I should come with you." Gale insisted taking a step towards me.

I shook my head quickly. "What if I were to be captured? It would be better if I went alone, therefore if I was you would be able to set traps to keep us going with food."

I could tell from the look in Gale's eye that he didn't agree with my reasoning. Although my mother, Prim and Gale's mother nodded silently in agreement. After a few moments of silence he nodded. "You should be back within an hour or I'm coming for you."

I smiled at Gale and scooped Prim into a hug. "I'll be back soon." I placed a kiss ob her head and reached for my bow and arrow before stepping out into the cold evening air. It had already started to go dark, the sun hung low in the sky. I held the bow close to my chest as I walked slowly through the forest. It was completely silent except for the Mockingjay's and the rustles of leaves in the slight breeze. I didn't want to leave my family or Gale's behind but I knew Gale would protect them no matter what.

A scuttling to my left brought me to a stand still, I drew an arrow slowly from the pouch strapped securely to my back. There was a blur of movement up in the trees, I held my breath and tensed, keeping my eyes on the target as jumped from branch to branch. My moves were well practiced and I soon found myself crouched over the body of a dead squirrel. An arrow resting in it head.

I scooped it up and placed it in my bag before moving forwards further into the forest. I had never been to this part before because the summer's I spent with my father learning to swim in the lake did not allow me to travel certain distances from the edge of the clearing. Now I had crossed the line, probably a few metres back and in a sense it felt kind of liberating.

It was twilight when I decided to start heading back, I had seven squirrels tucked neatly into her bag. It was enough for dinner and breakfast, I would have Gale set a few traps before bed so we could cook some meat for the journey onwards. I carried my bow and arrows limply in my hands as I retraced my steps. I thought I would get back. I had let my guard down.

Before I could react I felt the heavy blow hit me square in the back. I spluttered as my knees gave way. I hit the ground with a thud. I rolled onto my back and stared into the mask of the unforgiving Peacekeeper.

"Katniss Everdeen?" It grunted.

I had been found. I had lost. It was over. I was going to die. Katniss Everdeen. That was my name, my identity. Now it would be forgotten like ashes on the wind. How could I have been so stupid? How did they know I was missing? Were the others okay? Had they fallen to the Peacekeeper's mercy?

I didn't reply as he shot a tazer at my chest and the world was enveloped in an inky blackness.