I wake up alarmed "Katniss!" I yell. It was only a dream I thought to myself, just a dream. I close my eyes again to try and fall asleep just a little longer. But I can't, not after what I just dreamed of, I don't think I can sleep again after that. So I just lie on our little rag I call my bed and look at my sleeping brothers on their small bed and think about my little sister and mother on their bed just next to our room. I turn over and try to ease my mind.

I get up to the sound of my sister crying. I get to her quickly before my mother can wake up. Knowing that when she does that's when she will tire herself out for the rest of the day just to help put food on the table. I always hated watching her work, just as much as I hated watching my younger brothers and sister always asking for more food. They know just as well as anyone else in the Seam that food is hard to get, were just lucky to have little game.

Once I get to my sister I tell her that everything is okay and to go back to sleep, she does not really understands what is happening today. She over hears my mom, Vick, Rory and myself talk about it. We always try to explain that everything is fine and it is going to be okay. But I know in my heart it won't be because I have no say in what goes on at the reaping. The reaping. One of the stupidest things the Capitol had created. I didn't understand the whole throw twenty-four kids from the ages twelve to eighteen so they can fight to the death. Yes, I know it's for the Capitol to show just how they own us, showing off their power. But I still think it's senseless, but really I think the whole government system is senseless and stupid.

My sister calms down a little so I make her some breakfast, which is really just a little piece of bread from our tesserae grain with some goat cheese that Katniss' sister, Prim had brought me. Just thinking about Katniss puts a little smile on my face. I remember the day we met like it was yesterday.
It was a warm October day much like any other. I was in the Meadow, which is on the other side of the chain-linked fence that surrounds district twelve; I was making snares to catch the small animals that roam around. When suddenly I heard footsteps, and in the meadow that's the last thing you hear. So of course I thought it was a rabbit and I went after it. When I got close enough I looked through the bushes and it was no rabbit that I saw, but a little girl around the age of twelve. Her hair a dark shade of brown, done up in a braid and her eyes a misty grey.

I followed her for a while when she came across one of my snares that had a rabbit hung on it. I could tell by her face that she was examining it, but at one moment it looked as if she were going to steel it. Just before she put her hands on the rabbit I came out from behind a tree.

"That's dangerous." I said. She jumped at my voice. Then her expression changes and mine does too because there was a faint recognition in her face that I just couldn't put my finger on. "What's your name?" I said. Maybe I have seen her at school.

Then in the tiniest of a whisper I heard her say, "Catnip."

"Well, Catnip, stealing's punishable by death or hadn't you heard?" I said to her.

She looks at me with a weird expression as if I was the one stealing from her. "Katniss," she said louder to me. "And I wasn't stealing it. I just wanted to look at your snare. Mine never catch anything."

I can tell that she was lying because she had a squirrel on her belt. I scowled at her and asked, "So where'd you get the squirrel?"

Reaching her arm over her should she pulls out a bow and shows it. "I shot it." she says.

I only ever saw a bow so many times in my life and I heard that they were great to hunt with. I have always wanted one just in case. I was so fascinated by the bow that I just had to touch it and see it up close. "Can I see that?"

She handed it to me and said, "Just remember stealing punishable by death."
I couldn't help but smile at her comical joke.

From then on we became hunting partners. I was no real agreement to it. It just happened. But it was easier having her with me. The game was easier to catch, we got more and the load was lighter. I actually never regretted having her as my partner. I taught her to snare and soon enough I got myself my own bow and arrows.

Coming back to reality I decide to do something nice for Katniss. I put my sister back to sleep and go out to the Meadow, even though it is still very dark out. Nobody is out yet except for some peacekeepers that don't see me go by. Walking to the Meadow I notice the bakery's lights are on, which is rare because it usually opens a little later. I make note of that for later.

I walk briefly pass the remaining houses in the Stem that I go by every time I go hunting, a smile creeping up on my face when I pass Katniss' house. I know she will be pissed at me for not getting her. I turn my head forward and keep waking. Once I reach the fence, I listen, no hum for the electricity. I go through the little niche in the fence and run into the Meadow. I breathe in and let my lungs fill with the sweet fresh air consuming me, and for a moment I forget everything that is going on, only focusing on the woods and Katniss.

In the Meadow I retrieve to my favourite spot, our spot. I look upon the land and see the mountains and the trees, and then for a moment my mind goes back to our district so poor and useless. It's the governments fault and everybody knows it. Then as quickly as that thought comes to mind I get up and have the urge to leave before I do something stupid and risk my family and the people I love. I go through the woods having a huge impulse to kill some game to get my mind off from everything going on including the dreaded reaping. At least this year is my last then I can work in the mines and forget it, except my siblings still have to part take in it and most of all Katniss still has few more years. And again I am forced to kill and keep my mind at ease and focused instead of thinking of the unthinkable.

As the sun comes up I look at my pelt and I have a pretty good start of two rabbits and a squirrel. I know for a fact that Katniss can get this herself so it won't be an enormous present to her. I think back to the bakery and remember that the light was on when I past it and suddenly I am running back to our spot with only one thing on my mind.