A/N: Hey you there! This is not my first fic but I haven't written in ages, so please bear with me. As you can see this fic is tagged with the "Other Tributes" and the "Katniss E." labels. This is because even if my story is about original characters and set 5 years before the events in THG I plan to take the story through the books but with my characters POVs. And who knows what will happen? They'll surely meet Katniss and other victors in the future (:

The "M" rating is for adult issues, some foul mouthed characters, deaths and it might be possible that I'd give a try to writting sexual scenes, but I'm not entirely sure now. We'll see.

Another thing you must know is that sadly English is not my language. So if you find any mistakes please let me know and I'll correct them.

I encourage you to tell me what you think about the story. If you don't like it tell me, just be nice and do it in a polite and respectful way.

…(Cock-a-doodle-doo)… (Cock-a-doodle-doo)…

…(Cock-a-doodle-doo)…

I turn around in bed for the hundredth time in the last hour. Damn rooster! Why does it have to start singing this early? And in Thursday! Seriously, can't it wait until Sunday? I bet there's still an hour left until sunshine. Today is the day I'll finally snap its neck and feast a well deserved chicken soup. I picture myself getting out of bed and walking silently to the small backyard and giving that feathered bastard what it has been asking for since I brought it home. No, who am I kidding? I know really well that I would never hurt a single hair or feather of my animals, let alone that poor excuse of a rooster. I mean, they're like family!

I finally give up and get out of bed. Better start the day early. I quickly change into my everyday clothes and go straight to milk the cows. One thing I love about my district is the animals. I live with my father in district 10, the "livestock" district. My mom died in childbirth when I was four and I barely remember her. I remember she was pretty and lively, with a big pair of haunting hazel eyes and long curly auburn hair like mine. Dad says I resemble her a lot, except in the eyes, mine are blue like dad's. I know he loved her a lot, I think he still does. He said he wanted to name me after her when I was born. Thank god my mom decided to name me Alondra instead of Irina, her name. It would be harder for dad to call me by her name and see her through me every single day.

I finally reach the small cottage where we keep the animals. It is small but cozy and you can see that a long time ago a bright layer of red and white painting decorated the construction. I grab a clean bucket to collect the milk, set my stool in a comfortable position and start with my morning chores. Only one of the cows is producing milk so I finish really quickly. We provide the Capitol and other districts with meat and dairy products. And by "we" I mean the big slaughterhouses and dairy farms. Most of the citizens in 10 work for the owners of the big establishments. My dad and I work in the biggest slaughterhouse in the district, but we are lucky to possess a few animals that provide us with the basic to live. My mom was the former mayor's niece and when she married my dad he gifted her four cows. Over the years we were able to sell, buy, trade and breed more animals. We currently own three cows, a goat, an old horse, half a dozen chickens and the oh-so-famous rooster. According to my father, the horse and the rooster are a bad business. They're constantly eating without providing us with anything but I don't have the heart to sell them as meat. Not yet anyway.

After milking the cow I head to the kitchen and find my dad packing the goat cheeses we made yesterday.

"Hi Al, I didn't know you were already awake". He says with a big smile. I'm not a morning person, so it's kind of amusing to see my dad always happy as soon as he gets his feet out of the bed.

"Blame the rooster". I shrug while pouring the milk into the big container we use to boil it.

"I keep telling you to get rid of it but you never listen". He sighs. "Anyway, it's still early, would you mind to stop by at the market on your way to school and try to sell the cheeses?"

"Sure dad, I better be going then" I said picking up the package. "See you at dinner". I lean down and kiss him on the cheek before leaving the house.

"Bye dear"

"Bye dad"


The district market is really big and you can find almost anything there. Of course, only if you have enough to trade or enough coin to buy. I cross the small valley where our house, among hundredths, is located and start my way to town. I pass the slaughterhouse where I work and give a small nod to Ned, the supervisor.

"Good morning Miss Faye"

"Good morning Ned"

I really hate to work here; I only work half shift but still... Let's just say it's not pretty. My work there is to clean the carcasses and get them ready for the butcher. Occasionally I get picked to help to cut the meat or kill the animals. The latter is the worst, and despite being a girl, apparently I do a very decent job and get picked to help there often. I walk for another block and I finally see the old and nearly collapsed building that serves as the district market. I enter the huge warehouse and almost immediately feel someone's hands over my eyes and a fake raspy voice beside my left ear:

"I knew you'd come"

I laugh at the futile attempt to scare me and remove my attacker's hands before turning around and face my best friend, Diane Toney.

"I can't imagine how you do it Diane! It's not like I come here every day to sell milk and cheeses!"

"Shut up grumpy". She says smiling. "I already finished selling the eggs, would you like some help? It'll be quicker and I won't have to walk alone to school".

"Yes please!" I take half the cheeses and hand them to Diane.

"Ok I'll meet you here when I finish"

"Thank you Di". I turn and start walking towards a group of potential buyers when the sound of my name makes me stop.

"Hey Alondra, what would I get if I sell my part of the cheeses faster than you?"

Great, what happened with the unselfish concept of friendship Diane?

"Simple, I'll walk with you to school". I answer her with a mocking grin.

"You're such a funny little thing". Her voice full of sarcasm.

"I don't know; let's leave the decision to the winner"

"I'll beat your ass Faye"

"I'm dying to see you try Toney"

Diane and I have been friends for years; I met her here in the market when we were 10. We both used to come here with our dads to sell some goods. Diane's family has a considerably big amount of chickens and is wealthy enough for her to not be working like me. What I like about her the most is that she never makes a big deal about her social status. No, thinking better about it, what I like more about her is simply her.


Half an hour later I'm resting against a wall waiting for a costumer to return with my money. I sigh and rub my tired eyes with the heels of my hands. I think Diane will indeed beat my ass. I only have one cheese left but what does it matter if I get stood up here? I search the place for Jared, my unpunctual buyer and my father's personal friend. My eyes land in the perfectly shaped back of a man who is chatting with Garrett, the furrier. The proud owner of such an amazing piece of work and living proof that Mother Nature is generous, is non-other than the handsome and youngest victor in district 10, Clayton Dover. He won the 58th games and instantly became a capitol playboy. He must hate Finnick Odair, who won 4 years ago and took his place. I mean, he still spends a lot of time in the capitol, but his popularity surely went down. For many women Finnick might seem more handsome, but I totally disagree. Finnick has youth on his side but it's not like Mr. Dover is that old. Even if he won his games at 18, a fact that I'm not sure about, he cannot be over 30. Besides, he has this chocolate brown hair that looks so soft and a beautiful skin tone that always seems to be tanned, but I know thank to the footage of his games that it's his natural tone. I really must be staring at him because a moment later he senses he's being watched and turns around. Our eyes lock for a tiny fraction of time before I look away. I think I'm blushing furiously because I can feel my face on fire. I drive away the stupid thought of how beautiful the green of his eyes really is. Damn! He will think you are an idiot now! No, wait, why would he think I'm an idiot if he doesn't even know me? I calm myself down a little. Breathe Alondra. In and out. In and out. You'll see he's not looking towards here now. I raise my head and look his way only to find his intense green eyes studying me. Oh god he is still looking at here! I think I'll panic. But right at this instant and thank to the hidden forces of nature, Jared steps in front of me blocking Mr. Dover's disturbing sight.

I must confess that I'm deeply relieved with his arrival. I think I would even kiss him right now.

"Sorry for taking so long Al, Rudy wasn't in the house and you know how much my wife enjoys managing the economic issues in our house. I wasn't able to remember where we keep the money until she came home". He explains.

"It's not like she enjoys it, she probably doesn't trust your judgment". I smile at his scowl and stretch my hand to take the money.

"Not being nice this morning, are we? How's your dad?"

His sudden question fills me with fear and concern. Four months ago, dad suffered a mild heart attack and came back to work just last week. These past months were a total hell for us. He couldn't work and I had to support both of us and the animals with my ridiculous half shift salary. I also had to take tesserae again. It was a low blow to dad's pride because his biggest goal during the last years has been to spare me that necessity. I've only taken tesserae 3 times, but that means my name is 11 times in the reaping bowl now. It's a scary fact and a constant source of stress and dread for me. It is also the last thought I get almost every night before falling asleep. What would happen to dad if I get reaped? Would he starve? Would the sadness kill him or another heart attack would do the honors? The ugly feeling only intensifies with the reaping two days from now.

"He's doing better". I say as if it's nothing. Truth is, I try to avoid the thought of dad getting sick again. I know it's childish, but somehow I think that if I deny the possibility, the trouble will go away.

"Here, take the cheese I'm already late for school". I say in a hurry wanting to get out of here as soon as I can.

"Ok Al, see you later". He says as I turn and leave.

"Bye Jared". I say over my shoulder and wave at him a last time before leaving the market.

I'm already out of the market, looking for Diane, when I catch a glimpse of Mr. Dover leaving as well. His calculating and misterious gaze falls on me for a second and I see the almost imperceptible hint of a knowing smile delicately touching the corners of his mouth. He is gone in half a beat, but it's enough to instantly nail me to the ground. It's unnerving, but I quickly shake the feeling and keep looking for my friend.


As I suspected, Diane finished with her part of the cheeses before I did. On our way to school we met with Astor, Diane's long life crush, which gives me a hunch that I'm going to pay for my defeat rather sooner than later. Before entering the classroom Diane stops me and whispers to me.

"Hey, I wanted to ask you a favor". Here it comes, the payment for the bet.

"Shoot". I say flatly.

"Astor asked me out this Saturday after the reaping". She says barely containing her smile.

"And I'm guessing you want me to cover for you guys and say you're hanging out with me".

"Would you do it please?" she pouts.

"Yeah I will"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you". I make her a mocking grimace and we both laugh as we take our sits in the classroom.

I spent the rest of the day with an odd calmness. It is kind of comforting, this sense of security and normality. Just being in the school with Diane and Astor or in the house knowing dad's ok. But as soon as I go to sleep, I replay in my head my short conversation with Jared and come back to reality. It's just too much to think about right now. I finally give in and start drifting to unconsciousness. The instant and unexpected memory of a pair of eyes as green as the fine layer of grass that covers our valley in early spring fills my dreams. Everything will be fine by Saturday afternoon, when this year's reaping is finally over. Or at least that's what I tell myself.

A/N: Thank you for reading! I really hope you like it. Please tell me what you think. :)