Katniss's POV

I woke up to someone screaming like they were being killed. It was a sound I knew well.

Prim.

She'd been having nightmares about the reaping ever since we put her name in.

I ran to her, and cradled her in my arms.

"Shh, it's ok. It was just a dream."

"It was me. And Michelle." She sobbed.

"They're not going to pick you. Your names were only put in once."

I stroked her hair and sang to her until she calmed. Then I got myself dressed, and headed for the forest to meet up Celeste.

Celeste was my best and only friend in District 12. She, her mom and sister live next door to me. I met her one day when she was defending her little sister, Michelle (Michy), from a group of jerky boys. It really impressed me that she was being so tough. Now if you know Celeste like I do, then you'd know that she is the quietest and most sweet person you'll ever meet, but get on her bad side, and she'll snap you like a twig. She has dark skin, long hair that for some reason was naturally straight with a bang that swept over her eye, and the most kind brown eyes I'd ever seen.

Her little sister looks just like her, but smaller and with curly hair. She and Prim were best friends at first sight. They did almost everything together. Celeste and I are constantly teasing on how they are practically the same person. They even have the same birthday.

It is Prim and Michy's first year with there names entered in the reaping, so that gives them another thing to bond over because they are terrified. This year, the Capitol has decided to double the amount of tributes, so that means two girls from each district and two boys.

When I reach the gate, Celeste is there waiting for me.

"Took you long enough." She said.

"Prim had another nightmare."

"Michy, too."

Celeste gives me a worried look.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. Prim and Michy won't be reaped."

"I know, but I still worry."

"There's nothing to worry about. Now come on."

I squeeze through the small whole in the fence that separates the woods from the district, and go directly to the tree that holds my bow and quiver. Celeste follows and retrieves her dagger. Some of the people in our district secretly go into the woods to hunt or gather other things to sell. Even though it's illegal to do this we, don't worry about it because the Peacekeepers are one our best customers.

As we went deeper into the woods, we spotted a deer grazing. We followed it quietly for a few minutes, until we were sure that it couldn't see us. When hunting, Celeste and I usually take turns. She throws her knife to kill something, I shoot something else with an arrow. This time it was my turn. I aim my arrow at the deer silently counting in my head.

1... 2...

"So what are you gonna do with that when you kill it?" A guy's voice asks.

The deer runs, and Celeste throws her dagger to try and wound it, but misses.

"Dang it Gale!" She says punching him in the arm.

He smiles and re-asks his question, " What were you gonna do with a hundred pound deer when you killed it?"

"We were gonna sell it... To the Peacekeepers." I say.

Gale's expression hardens.

"Don't look at us like that. Like you don't sell to Peacekeepers." Celeste says.

"Not today." He says.

"It's not like we have much choice." I say, "Business has been because of reaping. We were hoping the deer would get us a little more then we've been getting."

Celeste retrieved her knife and started twirling it in her hand.

"Well you wouldn't have had time to sell it anyway, we've got to get ready for the reaping."

He grabbed us by the arms and pulled us to the fence.

When we to my house, Prim and Michy were already dressed.

"You both look beautiful!" Celeste exclaimed.

"But don't forget to tuck in that tail little duck." I told Prim.

She giggled and made a small quack sound.

"You guys had better hurry up it's almost time to go." Michy said.

We hurried into the back room and got into our reaping clothes. I wore one of my mother's nicest blue dresses with my hair braided and put up. Celeste wore her favorite white dress that she only wore o Reaping Day. I didn't really understand why she'd wear her favorite dress on a day like this, but I never thought it necessary to ask.

When we were finished, we walked together to where the reaping would be held.