Prim's fingers brushed gently across my forehead, waking me, a smile spread across my face.

"she is so sweet." I thought as my eyes fluttered slowly open, to find a very discouraged looking girl staring into my eyes.

"what happened little duck?" I questioned as the smile vanished from my lips.

"I didn't want to wake you, you're so peaceful when your asleep, it's like you don't have the weight of the world on your shoulders anymore." she cooed shamefully.

"Don't worry about me, I was gonna get up soon anyway." I reassured her as I scanned the room.

The house was quiet, this is unusual compared to the rustle and bustle of the coal miners. The I remembered, this was the day of the Reaping.

Reaping is the most dreadful day of the year when the "winners" of each district are chosen to fight in a battle to the death on live television. All as a reminder that the Capitol and only Capitol will remain in control over us, and as punishment for the unsuccessful rebellion of the districts.

Great.

I raised my gaze again to my small sister and brushed the hair from her forehead before quietly singing notes of a lullaby in her ear and whispering a soft goodbye before crawling out of bed and dressing in my hunting gear and snatching my game bag.

I looked once more at a now snoring Prim and then pushed open door and began my forbidden journey to the woods. After creeping through the meadow I listened for the slight hum of electricity that confirmed that the thin wire was live, but thankfully heard only the chirp of cricket in the distance. I then swung myself quickly under the fence and made my way through the thicket of bushes and trees only stopping once to grab my bow and sheath of arrows and then drudged silently to the meeting place of my best friend and I where a rather thoughtful looking Gale sprawled comfortably on a bed of grass.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" I ponder, stepping toward my friend.

"Hey Catnip, just wondering why your so late!" Gale teases.

"It was so quiet this morning, I couldn't help but sleep in." I retort giving him a playful smack on the arm.

"The Capitol wants us to have a full nights rest, so we're prepared for our early demise." Gale replied.

"Guess so.. Well, why waste valuable hunting time." I say, trying to avoid another one of his rants.

He agrees, and we begin our voyage farther into the woods, to break the law and feed our families.