Authors note: Had this idea in my head for a long time and after writing a significant amount, I'm posting it on here and updating it weekly. Hope you like it as much as I have been writing it!


They sat together, squeezed only slightly on the large stone that overlooked the large lake that was shimmering like diamonds from the sun. Not that they would know what diamonds looked like, but they enjoyed the effect never the less. The lake being their own secret place away from their district, somewhere where they could forget the starvation and desperation and just be.

They had crossed paths whilst hunting in the prohibited woods, both forced out by devastation of losing their fathers from a mining accident and from there on they were inseparable. They became allies, hunting partners, friends then something even more.

"Do you get scared?" She asked picking at the long grass in front of her, knowing they would have to get back soon. Get bathed and ready for the reaping, it was a big day and her mother would be fretting.

"I used to, of course I did. Now, I don't know. I can't change anything can I? I guess I'm just waiting for it to happen, always waiting." He muttered, his handsome face turning stony, she admired his face for a long moment. They were extremely similar in looks, with their olive complexion, dark eyes and hair. People often joked that they were really siblings, and one of their parents had a lot of explaining to do.

"It's your last year." She finally quipped with a small smile.

"I'll still be waiting; it'll be Rory's first year next year. You still have two years Catnip." He said with a sigh.

"Thanks for reminding me." Katniss said wryly rolling her eyes. "You won't be called."

"Don't be so certain."

"How many times is your name put in?" She asked gently, waited as he shook his head. "Gale." She persisted.

"Forty two times." Gale murmured as she winced. "Here." He said, pulling out a small roll of bread.

"Oh!" Katniss breathed out, watching with a watering mouth as he pulled the bread apart. She took the piece he handed to her and put it to her nose, breathing deeply.

"Thank you." She murmured feeling only a little guilty that she wasn't sharing the bread with her mother and prim but looked to the nearly bursting game bag and felt better.

"Happy hunger games." Gale said raising his bread in salute.

"And may the odds be ever in your favour." She finished off in a lilting voice bumping her shoulder into his with a laugh.

It was painful having to try and console Prim once she had made it home. Her poor little sister was terrified, after all it was her first year. Even now after all of these years, it was difficult for herself too. Her mother also was stressed and immediately pushed her to the cloudy bath and helped her scrub the dirt and coal that seemed to lie on everything, from her skin

Time passed in a blur, like it always did and the young population of District twelve were gathered in front of the made up stage in the unusual sweltering early summer heat as the woman in bright garish colours warbled on about the deep meanings of the games and what a privilege it is to be a part of history.

Katniss looked to the male side and immediately found Gale, watched as he put a hand to his heart in mock gratitude before rolling his eyes.

"Lets begin!" The woman who introduced herself as Effie Trinket stated clapping her gloved hands. "Ladies first!"

All humour left her body in that instant and she watched with baited breathe as the woman tantalisingly waved her hand on top of the bowl before picking out the name. It was like everything was running in slow motion as the woman unfolded the small piece of paper and walked to the microphone.

"Primrose Everdeen." It was like being punched in the stomach. It was a thousand times worse than having her own name read out. She doubled over from the shock, her heart thundering in her chest. Little Prim, who couldn't and wouldn't hurt a fly. Katniss shook her head, she couldn't let it happen. Her eyes landed on Gale, saw the shock and the slow hot anger burn on his face, before little Prim walked down the aisle between them, her trembling hands flattening out the wrinkles from her shirt.

"No!" She screamed louder than she intended throwing herself in front of her little sister and pushing her backwards and away from the stage.

"I volunteer as tribute." She didn't know how, but she managed to get some control over her emotions, jutting her chin out defiantly as the woman stood shocked on the stage before beckoning her forward.

Prim screamed and cried, and it tore at her every being not being able to turn and go back to her, to comfort her. It would be okay though, she would live. Gale would help them survive, he'd trade her goats milk for food, bring them meat from the forest.

"Well, well, well. A volunteer! And what is your name young lady?" Effie asked with a bright smile.

"Katniss Everdeen." She said numbly, still hearing her sister's sobs.

"I bet my socks that was your sister, wasn't it?" She asked as Katniss nodded her head.

"Well how lovely! Well done to you!" Effie said earnestly clapping her hands, looking out to the crowd with a slow drooping smile, as no one else clapped. Instead everyone lifted their three fingers in salute, something that wasn't commonly done and Katniss felt her chest tighten at the gesture. Effie coughed lightly, not understanding the small district in front of her before sauntering over to the other bowl, making a real show over what slip of paper she would choose. It didn't matter to Katniss; she was slowly slinking into terror.

"Peeta Mellark!" The woman called out, and Katniss was sure that the world had something against her. She didn't know the boy, not well enough. But she owed him her life back when her father had died. He had given her bread; still warm from the oven no less. She looked to the crowed, saw the poor boys pale face – he was just a merchant boy after all, well fed with no experience of survival. There would be no winner from district twelve this year. Katniss watched as Peeta began walking toward the stage, his face full of fear.

"Stop!" Gale shouted out, a murmur rising from the crowds. Katniss too was shocked at the turn of events; Gale didn't know this merchant boy, not enough to stop the show. "I volunteer as tribute."

Just like that, when Katniss thought that nothing could get any worse. Everything did.