Just a quick warning before reading: both Prim and Cato will be slightly OoC in this, but the Story will explain, as to why, exactly, that is. Also this Story contains mature and sensitive themes, so don't read if you're not comfortable with this!

And please leave me some Feedback and thoughts on this! :)


~ Prim ~

"My advice: don't ignore the survival skills", the capitol woman tells us with a serious look. Most of the careers just frown at this, but I think that she is right. There are always quite some tributes that freeze to death or die from starvation.

The careers smirk arrogantly at this, like they are above such trivial matters as survival skills. And I guess that they really are. They've trained their whole live for this. Unlike most of us, unlike me. I guess there's only one thing that the careers and I have in common: most of them volunteered for the Games, as did I.

But I'm pretty sure that I volunteered for very different reasons. I volunteered because my older sister, Katniss was reaped. She's eighteen so this was the last year she could be reaped. I am only 15 years old and I also don't have the tessera stones – because Katniss forbid me to register my name to get them.

However, Katniss' name was way more often in there than mine. And she indeed got reaped. But I just couldn't bear the thought of her dying in the Hunger Games. She was the last chance our mother and my – our little sister had at surviving. And her life was worth more than mine, anyways. So I volunteered. Katniss tried to stop me, but once I stepped up und signed them that I wanted to volunteer there was no stopping it.

Effie was already then at a loss for words, because neve before had District 12 seen one volunteer – but we wouldn't just get one volunteer, we would get two. After the fuss had died down a bit Effie reaped Peeta Mellark for the boys. Almost immediately after saying his name, Gale Hawthorn, Katniss' best friend volunteered. To protect me. Peeta tried to protest, but the rules are clear: once someone volunteers, then there's no stopping it.

And so here we are, Gale and I. Participants and volunteers from District 12 for the 74th annual Hunger Games.

When the woman is finished with her introductions I immediately scoot over to Gale.

"Where do you want to start?", he asks me and I nod over to one of the survival skills stations – knot tying. He sighs and shoots me a long look but walks over with me to the station. The woman at the station is happy to have someone interested in knot tying.

But Gale is constantly sighing. He already knows these things, because he is very skilled hunter. Indeed, he and Katniss are the reason our families are still alive.

I used to be scared of hunting and killing innocent animals, so Katniss stopped taking me to their hunting trips after I've always tried to heal and help the animals she and Gale had gotten. But that changed in the last year.

I wouldn't say that I am as good as them – in my heart I'm still a healer and always will be – but I've gotten very good at knife and spear throwing. I don't want to think about the causes of this.

"Really, Prim?", Gale asks annoyed after I've managed another perfect knot in a row.

"Shouldn't we be looking for allies or something?" At this I just shrug. Yes, allies sound good, but – who? The Careers? No way. They would kill us without even hesitating after they've hunted down all the other tributes. If they would let us take part in the alliance.

And as for the other tributes – I don't really know them. I'm sure I wouldn't trust them, not after everything that's happened over the last years. Well, maybe even the young girl from eleven but I wouldn't be of really good use to her. Maybe I could hunt and keep us alive for a few days, but if it would come to the point of fighting against the careers then I'm sure I couldn't protect either of us.

I couldn't even protect myself. Not when it really mattered.

No, I'm pretty sure that everyone would be better off, if Gale goes around and finds allies whereas I die as soon as possible anyways. I'm no good to anyone, anymore, really. And at least choosing this quick death would be my choice.

"Prim?", Gale sounds seriously annoyed with me now. I want to shout at him that he should just go and look for his damn allies, if he's so eager in finding them, if that is what he wills. But I don't.

I try to sign to him that he can go if he wants to and he sighs yet again. He seems to have understood me because he says:

"Alright then, I'll go and talk to some of the other tributes. You try out some of the other stuff, maybe things you're not trained at, like archery or sword fighting. Just don't show off your real skills, alright?"

Before I can nod he's already turned away and walking towards a little group of tributes from 7 and 9 at the archery station.

We both know that he's not really here for me, he's here for Katniss. He thinks that if he can show her that he's willing to go to such lengths to protect her little sister, then maybe she will finally give in to him. I don't really see the appeal in this plan, though. Everyone can tell that I won't survive long – not if a wonder happens and I'm taken in the alliance or something along the lines.

I don't even want to survive.

Ignoring Gale's words that I shouldn't show off my real skills, I walk over to the spear throwing station. Who is he to tell me what to do anyways?

And in doing this – ignoring his suggestion – I can make another choice for myself. It may be a small one at that, but it is a choice nonetheless. I'm sick of all choices being taken away from me.

I grab one of the spears and throw it at the dummie with all my strength. It sticks in his chest, although not in his heart, which I had aimed for.

"Not bad. At least for someone like you and especially for someone from your district", someone next to me suddenly says. I jump out of surprise and find myself next to one of the careers. Cato from District 2, if I remember correctly.

His hazel eyes are capturing mine and he takes a step closer. I immediately scoot back. He's a good few inches taller than me, I barely reach over his chest. His blonde hair looks messy, indicating that he's already showed off his fighting skills. He also looks sweaty, which confirms my theory.

He smirks as he notices my stepping back and comes even closer. Our bodies are nearly touching and I can feel his warm breath on my skin. I flinch and scoot back even more.

"You're the one from 12, that volunteer. Primrose Everdeen, right?", he asks and finally stops coming closer. I try to block out how close he is to me – how he could just reach out with one hand and snap my neck. I kind of wish he would.

I just nod as an answer and he shoots me a confused look.

"So how come you're that good at throwing a spear?", he asks. I think of ways to answer him, but I'm sure that I couldn't possibly sign it all to him, he wouldn't understand all the different signs I'm making. I could try and ask for pen and paper though.

So I sign him the symbols for paper and pen but he just shoots me a confused look.

"Are you an Avox?", he asks, quite insensitive. I shake my head and he looks even more bewildered. He crosses his arms over his chest and studies me a few moments before saying more. The look he gives me is captivating. It betrays no emotion what so ever.

First his eyes rake appreciatively over my body – I almost make a run for it, then. I know those kind of looks. I know what follows them. But before I can even take a step, his eyes find mine.

They're wide and dark with something I can't quite place. Lust or infatuation maybe? But then it's like I can't tear my gaze away from him, because something in his eyes tells me that he won't hurt me. Not yet at least.

"So why are you not speaking?", he finally asks irritated. At that I can't help myself but roll my eyes – how does he expect an answer, when I'm not talking to him? He glares at me and this reminds again that he could easily get rid of me. I'd do better to stay on his good side.

He motions for a peacekeeper and tells her to bring us a pen and some paper and when she returns he hands it to me. I flinch at the touch and instantly free my hand out of his touch. He frowns and tries to look at me, but I don't meet his gaze.

I've done it, I've upset him. I know what follows now. The only thing I can do is try to keep him distracted as long as possible. So I grab the pen and scribble the words down.

I'm not really talking to anyone at the moment.

"Yeah no shit, I can see that", he replies sarcastically. He gives me another observing look, before asking: "Why?" His voice betrays no emotion whatsoever. Not even a hint of curiosity. He sounds almost bored, as if he's talking about the weather or other matters such as trivial as this.

It's complicated.

I won't give him more than that, I refuse to. Even Katniss doesn't know the whole story so why should I tell Cato – a complete stranger – anything? I know that it's dangerous making that kind of choice but I find that I don't care.

At that Cato shoots me another stern look.

"Well, if you don't want to talk, then fine, I don't care. But you might want to consider training with me." At that I am the one to shoot him an irritated look. He looks annoyed and sighs.

"The others have decided that they want you in the alliance, for the time being at least. Because you're a healer and having one on the team couldn't hurt. And it seems like you're quite capable of defending yourself, too."

How very wrong he is.

And how very obvious it is that he hates the idea of me being part of the alliance.


So please tell me your thoughts about this! Any suggestions as to what happened to Prim or why Cato doesn't want her in the alliance?