I'm back! Hello once again! Ok, so here's my new story. What if Katniss' and Gale's dads never died, and Katniss never got reaped? Katniss and Gale would have never met, and the bread incident never would have happened. Well, in this Katniss and Gale eventually do meet. Read on to find out how. Oh, and Katniss and Gale are both 16.
I am not the amazing Suzanne Collins; I do not own The Hunger Games, or any of its characters
The Boy From the Woods.
Katniss' POV
"Beautiful shot, Katniss." My father says carefully pulling out the arrow from the squirrel's eye. He cleans off the arrow head with the bottom of his tattered shirt, and then hands it to me.
"Thanks," I say looking around the woods. The woods are my favorite place. Much more peaceful then District twelve.
"I was thinking about taking Prim into the woods next time I come out or you can next time you do." He says as he sits on a rock and begins skinning the game. I laugh,
"Prim? In the woods? I don't think so; she wouldn't shoot anything and I can I don't need help picking herbs."
"There's nothing wrong with a little help, Katniss. Remember that," He says seriously.
"I know… I just… If she doesn't need to, she shouldn't." If he has something to say, he doesn't.
"Do you want help?" I ask sitting next to him.
"No, but can you go pick some herbs for your mother?" he asks, handing me the list my mother must have gave him. I nod and get up to start picking. After I pick a couple of things I begin to notice something. There are snares all over the place. Yes, my father and I set snares, but not in this part of the woods.
"Dad, did you set some snares over by the lake?" I ask when I return.
"What? What are you talking about?" he asks me while getting up.
"There are snares. By the lake, and I was wondering if you set them, because I know I didn't it." He just shrugs and says casually while throwing his game bag over his shoulder,
"I probably did, and just don't remember. That's what age does to you; it makes you forget some things." He taps my temple with his index finger which makes me smile. I pick up my game bag and follow him.
"Now, let's go to the Hob. We've had a good haul today." He says as we walk together, but as we walk I keep thinking about something.
Are there other people hunting in the woods?
"Hello, dear," my mother says greeting my father.
"Great haul today. Katniss is a fantastic shot. Hey there little duck," he says giving Prim a hug.
"How was work?" my mother asks preparing a stew to put the squirrel into.
"Fine, but I forgot to tell you, Katniss. I can't come with you tomorrow. My squad and I have been put on longer shifts." He says while taking his boots off.
"What? They'll work you to death!" I exclaim, cutting Prim off as she was telling me a story about school.
"Oh, calm down, Katniss. There's nothing we can do. What are you going to do? Start a rebellion?" he asks shaking his head.
"Will! Don't talk like that." My mother hisses at him.
"Sorry, but unfortunately it's true." he states.
"It's just not fair," I say as I slide down into one of our old wooden chairs.
"You're right, it's not fair, but its how things work in this society. President Snow is completely corrupt, and he doesn't care if people in the districts are starving as long as his precio-"
"Will!" my mother says with more force; cutting him off before he can go into one of his rants.
"I'm sorry." He says shaking his head.
"Let's just forget about it. Katniss, you'll go tomorrow, yes?" my mother asks.
I just nod and say,
"Of course."
Sometimes being in the woods alone is better than being in them with my father. I usually enjoy the company, but sometimes I just like to think without any interruptions.
After I shoot three rabbits and a turkey then I decide to take a break. I lean against a rock and press a few mint leaves on my tongue and close my eyes. I rarely get to relax what with school and hunting, I don't get much time to myself. I open my eyes for a split second and something catches my eye.
It's a snare, but I don't recognize it. My father never uses it, and neither do I, but it must be effective because it has a big fat rabbit hanging from its foot. I pick up my bow and an arrow (I'm a good shot. I only need one if someone approaches me.) And walk over to it. I reach out to touch the line when I hear a voice.
"Watch it," I jump back and raise my bow in the direction of where the voice came from. A figure emerges from behind a tree, and I immediately know who it is.
Gale Hawthorne.
"Stealing is punishable by death, or haven't you heard? Would you lower that, I'm not going to hurt you." He says, slowly walking toward me. I cautiously lower my bow. I've never actually talked to him, but all the girls at school talk about him all the time.
"What are you doing here?" I demand.
"Can I ask you the same thing?" he asks raising his eyebrows. I scowl.
"What's your name, anyway?" he asks.
"Katniss," I mutter. I don't know why I'm still talking to him. I should've just walked away when I realized who it was.
"Catnip? Well, Catnip you don't need to steal from me when you have a perfectly fine bow there." He says while unhooking the rabbit and resetting the snare.
"Katniss," I say louder this time, "and I wasn't stealing. I just haven't seen a snare like that before… Did you set it?"
"I didn't just set it, I designed it. Where'd you get the bow from?" he asks leaning against the tree.
"My father made it." I answer crossing my arms. He seems cocky.
"And what are you doing wandering the woods alone?"
"Oh, you know, feeding my family. How about you?" I ask impatiently.
"Same… Can I see that?" he asks motioning to my bow.
"Fine, but remember, stealing is punishable by death." I say handing it over. He smiles for the first time since we ran into each other. It transforms him from someone menacing, to someone I wish I knew. I almost want to return the smile, but I don't I just look at my feet instead.
"Would you give me one of these for a trade?" he asks after a moment of examining it. I contemplate this for a minute. We have 5 bows. My fathers, mine, the small one I used to use, and two extras. I don't need food, and there really isn't anything else I need enough to just go and trade one of our precious bows. I take the bow from him and begin to walk away,
"No," I say, slinging my game bag over my shoulder and starting to walk back to the fence. He follows me and insists,
"Not food. You're obviously doing fine with that. I'm talking about knowledge." This catches my attention.
"What do you mean?" I ask curiously.
"I mean, that I'll teach you some snares and in return you give me a bow." He says taking a step in front of me. More snares means more food. It honestly isn't such a bad idea, and even though I'm not very fond of Gale, it's still a good idea. I hesitate before saying,
"Deal."
There it is chapter 1. I hoped you liked it so far! The next chapter should be up soon, probably next week. Remember I can take constructive criticism so feel free to review. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!