Just a quick note as some have asked this story will not follow the books storyline. Some characters will even seem out of character but then again it is not the exact storyline. In this story Katniss will be just about 16. She will be 16 by the time the 70th hunger games start.
Gloss POV-
It was the start of my Victory Tour for the 69th hunger games and we are in district 12. There is no wonder why district 12 never gets past he bloodbath. All there is inside the fence is dirt and shacks. Every person that stands here is in the finest clothes, which is not saying much. I make my speech that someone else wrote for me. I have to be the ruthless killer from District 1 happy to have won the games. It is just one more thing I have no choice over. During the feast, I decided that I need a minute to breathe. I knew winning would not be a walk in the park. I have seen the changes in my sister Cashmere ever since her win last year. I could not tolerate the thought of making her go through this life by herself for the rest of her life. I will always try to protect her from life. Even though there is one person I cannot protect her from and that is President Snow. He can hardly be called a man; He is so vile the thought of him disgusts me. He does what he wants he uses people to his own will. I knew the man was powerful but I would have never thought he has this much power. I found out the true type of power he has over people when Cashmere told me what she has endured since her victory. She only told me the truth after I volunteered and on my way to the Capitol. Ever since Cash won she has always tried to make me promise her that I would not to volunteer. I never promised her though I knew I was going to do it no matter the cost. On the train to the capital, she was so mad at me for what I had done she did not want to see me lose myself as she has. That is when I found out the games were only part of the problem Snow had decided that my sister would need to repay her supporters. I could kill the man when I found out that he was selling my 16-year-old sister to anyone willing to pay. After that, I knew that I had no choice I was going to win the games for her and do what I could. She told me what would happen if I won at the time I did not care if it meant her not being alone then I would do anything. I knew I needed to protect her and be there for her. I just did not understand the overwhelming guilty of killing someone. How they haunt you in your dreams and change you. I thought I would be able to kill them without a problem, little did I known that training and actually doing are two different things.
We will be staying the night in district 12 in one of their many empty Victor houses. There was only one person living in them that is Haymitch who is a drunk. I tried to sleep that night but once again, I could not keep the arena out of my dreams. I kept on watching myself with my dagger killing the boy from 4 in the finally. I had enough and decided to go for a walk and clear my head. I came across a gap in the fence where it looks like someone has gone in and out. I listen and hear nothing I then look around and see no one. I am going to go under the fence it has called to me since I got to this place. The woods are the only thing that makes this district stands out and it is forbidden. I start walking and in the distance I see movement going through the trees. I do not think it is an animal, as I cannot hear anything. Like always, I have one of my daggers on me, once you are a victor you learn you never leave survivor mode. I quietly get closer and that is when I notice it is a girl and not just any girl but a beautiful hunter. At this point it is dawn and I know I have to get back otherwise I may be caught but all I want to do is watch this girl. As I am watching, she takes her stance and lifts up her bow and with perfect aim hits the rabbit in the eye. She collects her hunt and then heads back to the fence. I try to stay quite but of course, I am not that great at it and step on a branch, which alerts the huntress in front of me. The first thing she does is turns around with her bow already armed and ready to release.
"What are you doing out here."
I look at her grey eyes and decided not to lie to her ever. I will tell her anything she wants to know. I tell her the truth, "I could not sleep and I wanted to see what was beyond the fence."
She says "you know you can be punished for that if you are caught."
What more can they do to me I already survived their arena. She stays quite as if she is not quite sure what's to say but you can tell she is thinking.
"You are like other victors; I can tell you are telling me the truth now. However, you also know that the games never end. Do they?"
I am a little taken back by this she has never been in the games she should not know this. She then starts to walk away without another world. I can tell a lot about her in that brief conversation. For one she is a fighter otherwise she would never be in these woods. I am not sure why she is but there must be a reason. At this point, I want to know more about the beautiful huntress. I decided I am going to ask Haymitch, he has to know who she is.
Katniss POV-
I woke up early this morning to get in a good haul for the day I know Haymitch will be having company this morning. The new Victor from One is here with his Sister and Mentor also my friend. They will be staying in one of the empty victor homes in the Victor Village since there are plenty of empty houses. However, what do you expect when you have a district of starving citizens. One of the only reasons my family is doing ok is because I take the risk and hunt as my father did. My father died when I was 12 and my mom left me to pick up the pieces. My mom fell into a deep depression and would not do anything at all. Therefore, at 12 I took over as head of our house and provided for my sister Prim and I. My father was my everything he is the one how taught me how to use a bow and arrow he would take me hunting with him. We would also meet Haymitch, Alec and Gale Hawthorn out in the woods. It was in those woods that three adult men taught Gale and me how to be fighters not just in physical strength but also in life. My father and Gale's father died in the same mine explosion. Haymitch was then sent to the capital right after it happened and he did not come back for a few months I still never found out what happened to Haymitch during that time. That is when Gale and I became hunting partners to do what our fathers and Haymitch taught us.
When Haymitch came back he was different I knew something had happened at the Capitol since he refused to see or speak to either Gale or myself. Until early one morning, I was hunting and Haymitch was waiting for me. He told me that he needed me in his life even though it was selfish. He knows his house is bugged so he cannot ever say my name in his house otherwise he cannot protect me. As much as it hurts he has to let Gale go to protect him and his family. Haymitch tells me the only way that he can make this work and help me out is for everyone to think I am his maid and has no connection to me. He starts calling me Sweetheart all the time even when he introduces me to someone he uses it as well. I agreed to this as well since even though he says he is selfish I am too. I would do anything for him he is like a father to me always has been even when my father was alive.
Once I decide I have a good haul; it should feed everyone plus some. I start to head back to the Victors Village when I hear a noise behind me. I turn around ready to release an arrow and that is when I realize that it is Gloss Luxes the 69th Hunger Game Victor. Thank God, I took the extra second to check to make sure it was not Gale otherwise I would have shot him. I wonder what he is doing out here. He does not look like your ruthless killer right now, right now he looks like a sacred 17-year-old boy not sure what to do. See the fact is I know he is not happy about winning, I know he is not ruthless, and I know what he will have to do for Snow now that he won. I ask him what he is doing out here. I know he is not lying to me I can see it in his eyes that is telling be the truth when he tells me
"I could not sleep and I wanted to see what was beyond the fence."
When I say the only thing I know to say that I can "the games are never over are they."
He just stares at me, as I am crazy. I now know that he does not know who I am he must not have seen me near Haymitch. I know a few of the Victors horror stories. I take care of Haymitch for starters. Finnick is a good friend of mine that I talk to on the phone granted it's in code some time and Haymitch will give him letters for me. Then there is Gloss' sister Cashmere I met her last year and we started talking. Those are just a couple I also know Brutus not well but I have met him as well. I know what a victor's life is really; I have been around enough of them to know the true stories. They all have their secrets and they all have one thing in common they hate Snow. I do not say anything thing else he will find out soon enough and I walk away back to Haymitch's house.
Gloss POV-
I go straight back to Haymitch to see if he know who this girl is. When I walk into the kitchen there is my sister and my mystery girl. I look between the two of them as they sit there talking back and forth and that is when it hits me this must be the one she has been talking to since her victory tour. I just am standing there when Haymitch walks in the room they both look up and for the first time notice me standing there. I look at the Girl
"I did not think I would see you so soon. I see you made it back with no trouble." Haymitch gives me a look that could kill
"When did the two of you meet and where did you meet?"
That is when she gives him a look that says back off. Haymitch just looks back and says "never mind I do not want to know."
I can tell right then that this girl is not someone to mess with she stands up and walks over to start breakfast. I want to talk to her and get to know her. Right now I am trapped in my head I can't get the images and the conversation with Snow out of my head. As we guessed, I would be following Cashmere's footsteps to protect her and our family. I can't be in this room any longer; I stand up and without a word I leave. I notice all three heads look up and watch me leave the room. I start to walk back to the other house when I notice a soft touch to the shoulder and a whisper
"It's ok"
My hand is already on my dagger just in case I need it. I normally keep at least two on me at all times. I turn around and there she is its then I realize I still do not know her name. I say the first thing that comes out of my mouth "how do you know what it's like to be a victor?"
She looks at me, says "when you are around Haymitch as much as I am you just know, and then there is Finnick and Cashmere. If you ever need, someone to talk Cashmere knows how to get in touch with me"
Once again, she walks away without another word. I get back to the house and my stylist gets me ready to depart District 12 and go on to District 11.
I hope everyone enjoys this story. Thank You.
