My 13th birthday was not celebrated like those in the capitol would do. Instead, my family just presented me with a few small gifts to show me they cared, but not too grand that they spent most of the money they had earned on me. District 10 isn't big about celebrations, but in three days time, the capitol will force us to celebrate after the reaping and watch the 125th annual Hunger Games that take place in a week. Another horrific part is that it's a quarter quell. President Donair will be making the announcement about what sick twist they'll add this year to mark the 125th anniversary of when the games first started.
I've been so filled with anxiety for the past few days because of this that I haven't been able to help care for my family's cattle herd. We have only four total, but my mother insists on calling it a herd. The only reason I'm disappointed about staying home though is that it keeps me from seeing my beloved horse. My brother always calls me the horse whisperer because of how Jade used to react when I entered her small pasture during her days of solitary grazing. Prancing , galloping, whinnying and nuzzling me was the only greeting she ever gave me when I was finally in sight and opening the pasture gate. This was always normal until the week of the reaping. When I did find the time to see Jade, I noticed that her behavior changed along with mine. Her leaps of happiness switched to neighs of distress. I couldn't bare to see her like that, so I had to stop the visits completely.
As I lie down to rest my mind, I hear Jade calling out for me from her paddock. Her panicked cries of wondering where I was echoed in my head and finally took their toll on my emotions. I sob into my pillow for easily a half an hour until I fall unconscious into a restless sleep with my face streaked with fresh tears.
When I finally come to, my mother is calling me to dinner. I rise into a sitting position on the side of my bed and slowly rub the soreness from my eyes. It was now that I notice the sticky feeling covering my face. The remnants of my breakdown left sticky tears on my cheeks. I rush to the bathroom to wipe the last bits of grief from my face.
The cold tap feels soothing on my swollen eyes. I somehow find the strength to look at myself in the mirror. My hazel eyes have become bloodshot and sore, and my cheeks are red. Adding to my awful appearance is my dark brown hair tangled in one big knot over my head.
Once my face has been rid of what is left of the tears and my hair is brushed out, I make my way to the kitchen and take my seat at the table next to my mom and brother. My mother's been cleaning the house all day and taking care of me while my father and brother tend to Jade and the cattle. My brother has definitely become a lot happier and more social since his 19th birthday. Anyone with a brain knows why. He's no longer in the boys' reaping ball. I on the other hand have to endure the anxiety of six more reapings until I turn 19. My family is lucky enough to have two dairy cows though, so I don't sign up for much oil and tesserae.
My parents dish out food onto everyone's plates. The moment the potatoes and ham hit the ceramic, we all dig in. it takes only minutes for us to finish dinner and scrape our dishes clean. We remain at the table for about five minutes after everyone's done though, probably to enjoy one of our last dinners as a family just in case I'm selected as District 10's girl tribute this year.
After the silence is over, everyone clears out except for me. My mom knows me well enough to know that despite the horrible mental state I'm in, I have enough energy to do the dishes. It doesn't take long though considering our plates have each been rid of anything solid during dinner.
As I put the dishes and utensils away in their drawers and cabinets, I hear through the clanking of ceramic and wood the frantic whinnies of a horse. That has to be Jade. I think to myself as I reach the back door that faces her pasture. Sure enough there she is pacing the fence. It's easy to see her moving around, but in the dark, it's very hard to spot her pure black coat.
I'm just reaching out to twist the doorknob when a hand comes from behind and grabs my shoulder. I jolt around to see my brother standing there shaking his head.
"What?" I ask. I don't even attempt to hide the anger in my voice.
"You can't go out there at night Rose, remember when-" He attempts to say, but I prevent him from continuing.
"I don't care Jordan! That was a while back, it won't happen again. Quit babying me!" I snap at him.
I twist the knob and force the door open. The evening spring breeze blows the hair out of my face as I close the door behind me and walk into the darkness toward the pasture. Jade seems to notice me because I can see her dark figure stopped at the fence and nods her head at me. I smile as I see my horse's mood change from panic to joy when I open the gate and enter the field of trodden grass and dirt. She greets me as if the panicked version of her never existed, rearing up and whinnying happily. For about an hour, I ride her around the pasture bareback until something catches both of our attentions. The shrubbery separating the cattle's pasture and Jade's begins to shudder. I'm not quite sure, but through the frantic whinnies of Jade, I think something hisses as she spooks and rears all the way up onto her hind legs tossing me to the ground. The attempt I make to get up is pointless and painful. I've broken my fall, but broken my arm as well. I can't move it, and in the dim moonlight, I can see blood coating my left forearm. I have just enough time to scream once for help before the lynx pounces on my throat, cutting off my air.
