The sound of footsteps, crunching slowly along the rocky paths echoed throughout the night in an almost continuous manner. They continued, only to stop abruptly once the sound of another step broke the rhythmic pattern. Dark brown eyes widened slightly, pupils constricting in a fear that someone had discovered her.

"So, sweetheart," a mans voice broke the complete and utter silence, the name laced with a tone that only created a hitch in her breathing.

Katniss stopped in her tracks, her fingers clenching tightly around her bow, brows furrowing as the voice was recognized, "Haymitch," she stated coldly in frustration of his interference.

"What do you think you're going to do?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow at the girl, a small smirk spreading onto his face.

"Take off?" he began, sarcasm dripping from his words, "live in the woods?" humour edged his voice.

Katniss nearly snarled, "We're leaving tonight. You can't stop me, you know."

"Oh, I know," Haymitch chuckled quietly, raising his hands in his defence, "I wouldn't dare interfere with your such," a pause, "well thought out decisions."

It was clear Haymitch's sarcasm had annoyed her. Katniss simply scoffed, shaking her head allowing a small smile to appear on her face.

"And what do you know Haymitch, hm?" she tilted her head to the side as she turned to face him, her arms crossing almost defiantly.

The brisk air hung heavily around the two, tension building.

"More than you would believe," he stated quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, his icy blue eyes nearly piercing hers.

"Enlighten me then," Katniss smiled in a forced happiness, "what's the worst they could possibly do?"

Katniss smirked, laughing quietly. She couldn't be mad at him and it was clear he knew that there was nothing he could say or do that would affect her decision.

"They'd kill you in an instant."

"Or worse, tear out my tongue," this time it was her that laced her voice in a sarcastic tone. "Live my life as Avox, slaved to the Capitol?"

This conversation was oh, too played out. Each time the topic was brought about, the same words were exchanged in an almost methodically manner.

"Haven't we been over this before?" he raised an eyebrow, "I feel like we have."

"Too many times," her statement was blatant.

"You know," Haymitch began looking up from the ground to stare into Katniss' eyes .

Katniss glanced up to face her mentor properly, waiting for him to continue, curiosity provoking her.

"I've only ever met one person to escape the cruelties of this District and live."

"And what happened to them?" she questioned her curiosity building. Haymitch knew someone to have left District12 and survive. She needed the information.

"They became enslaved to the Capitol."

Katniss frowned, "Haymitch, they won't arrest me."

"He was not arrested. He went to the Capitol willingly."

"Then why do you say he was enslaved?" Katniss was confused now. Hadn't Haymitch just said that he knew someone to escape District 12, and willingly go to the Capitol? How was it possible to be enslaved without being arrested?

"For one to leave a district such as the one we live in and go to a place like the Capitol, they have to be changed completely. Showing any tendencies you may have had would only lead to your own execution. They would easily figure out where you came from," Haymitch shook his head, a look of sadness shining in his eyes.

"Who was he?" Katniss asked quietly, avoiding his gaze.

"Seneca Crane."

Well, here is chapter one to this~ chapter two will be up relatively soon. It will take place in the past~