"Primrose Everdeen."

Prim felt the colour drain from her face. Her worst nightmare was coming true. Shakily, petrified, she began moving towards the stage. She had no idea how she did it.
"Prim!" She heard Katniss' stangled cry and for a second panicked. Katniss wouldn't volunteer, would she? "Prim!"
Prim looked back, just for a moment, as Katniss yelled "I v-" ut Gale's hand slapped over her mouth, and Prim's mother was screaming her name too, and amongst it all no-one heard Katniss' aborted attempt.
Prim wanted to apologise, to hug Katniss, to never let go, but she couldn't. She imagined what Katniss would do in her place and she straightened. The tears on her face fell anyway, but she kept herself firm.
She walked up without stumbling, trying to seem a thousand times less scared than she was. Effie gave her that smile and continued in the accent that Katniss never stopped mocking.

Prim couldn't see Katniss anymore. She didn't know what gale did to keep Katniss quiet when they asked for volunteers, but she wasn't sure if she was grateful or not. It was what she'd asked for, after one of her nightmares. She'd dreamt of getting chosen and Katniss taking her place, and she'd begged Gale not to let Katniss do it.
Neither Gale or Katniss had really thought there was any possibility of Prim being chosen. She felt completely numb. One slip, she kept thinking. One slip among thousands.
She forced herself to look up as the male tribute was chosen. He was much older, about Katniss' age. The baker's son, she thought. He was looking at her as if he recognised her.
He swallowed. They shook hands, her tiny hand dwarfed by his. For some reason, Peeta – that was his name, she remembered now- didn't frighten her. He seemed more gentle, despite the fact that she was sure he did wrestling or some such thing.
She couldn't see Katniss anymore, lost among the crowd of people, so she fixated on her mother. She saluted them, using an old salute Katniss used. They were meant to applaud.
She exchanged a shocked glance with the boy tribute when they saluted her back, refusing to applaud as she and Peeta were paraded off the stage.
In the tribute building, Prim tried to compose herself. She was going to die. She was going to die in the games, probably at the Cornucopia. She always looked away from the screen at the bloodbath, too squeamish to want to watch other children murdered.
Now she was going to have to live it. She hoped Katniss would take care of Buttercup and Lady. And their mother. She still hadn't forgiven her for giving up when their dad died.

She'd tried to compose herself, but the instant Katniss walked through the door Prim was in her arms.
"I'm so sorry, prim, I tried to volunteer, gale knocked me out, I'm sorry, I love you." Prim was shocked. Katniss never cried, and yet tears were falling down her face now. Their mother enveloped Prim in a hug too.
Katniss drew away, wiping her eyes.
"Don't try and do anything at the Cornucopia. Leave, and hide. You're quick. You know how to find herbs to eat. Try to hide. I know you wouldn't…wouldn't want to –k-kill but maybe you could survive just by hiding. Just keep hidden. You're good with medicinal plants and things, too, you can hide."
Prim nodded, allowing her sister to pretend that she thought there was a chance. She didn't know what else to say. She hugged Katniss close.
"I love you Katniss. Take care of Buttercup and Lady for me? And mom?"
Katniss glanced at their mother as Prim whispered in her ear, but nodded.
"I promise."

All too soon, they were forced to leave. Katniss had to be physically prised off her.
Then Prim was left alone. The next visits confused her. The Baker of all people visited, handing over a bag of cookies and promising he'd try to take care of her family. Why? Wasn't she being sent into an arena in which his son was her mortal enemy?

Then she got it. He felt guilty, because he knew Peeta had more of a chance than her. She accepted the cookies as graciously as possible, even surprising the baker with a hug. He looked as if he was trying hard not to cry when he left.
The next visitor was Gale and his brothers. Prim could barely bring herself to say anything other than thanking him for stopping Katniss. Gale just nodded. He looked more tired than she had ever seen him.
"She'll never forgive me." He said, sounding as if the words were difficult. "Take care of yourself, Prim, okay?"
She nodded, and squeezed Gale's hand. "She'll forgive you eventually. You're all she has now." Prim couldn't stop her voice from shaking. Neither of them knew what else to say, so that was when she was left alone.

All too soon, there were no more visitors. It was time to start heading for the Capitol.

A/N – So, this is the first fanfiction I've written in a while. I haven't read any Hunger Games fics in a while either, so I have no idea if this has been done before. Still, I decided to try it. So here you go. Also, if you have any better suggestions for the title that would be awesome. I had none.

-tiamat100