"Dad!" I scream at my father. "Why can't you tell me anything!" For my whole life I have wanted to know what our families history was. Neither of my parents have ever told me. Well, the only thing they have told me is that my brother, sister and I are named after people my parents knew.
"Because your mother doesn't think you're ready yet!" My father grasps my shoulders and leans down. "You're only 11 and today was the reaping! Tomorrow, when you're 12, you will get to know!" He stands up and walks away, brushing his fingers through his hair. He walks back to the kitchen and continues making dinner. I stare at him with tears falling from my eyes.
"I am practically 12, though." I say as I whip around towards the stair case. My feet create a loud thumping sound as I run up the stairs and into my bed room. When I reach the door to my room, I push it open and gasp. My older 17 year old brother, Finnick, sits quietly on my bed. "Why won't they tell us!" I yell, jumping onto the bed beside him. He fiddles with a rope, creating knots.
"Because they don't think we can handle it, Prim." He drops the rope and let's his hand fall on my back. "We will all know tomorrow. Everyone. You, me and Rue." Rue is our younger sister, she is only 9. He wraps his arms around me and squeezes me. I sigh, and a small wimper comes out.
Just then, my father bursts through the door. His blonde hair whips in front of his face.
"Primrose! Rory is waiting for you outside. Today is your hunting day, remember?" I sit up in shock and bolt out of the room. When I reach the front door, Rory stands in the door way. He waves at me, and I wave back as I puts my hunting jacket on that my mother got me when I was 6. That was when she first taught me how to hunt. My siblings and I each have special talents. I can hunt, Finnick is amazing with knots and he can swim, and Rue, well, she is the best Hide and Go Seek player in District 4.
Once I have my boots, coat and scarf on, I run out the door to Rory.
"Hey, Prim!" He says as we head to the forest near the lake. "What've you been up to?" He smiles as we jump across the small creek. We call it Howlers Creek, because the first time my mother took us here, we saw a wolf howling beside it.
"Oh, nothing." I reply.
"Your mom came for breakfast this morning. My dad invited her." So that's why I didn't see her this morning!
We reach a clearing near the lake. The scales of the fish reflect the day light, putting the rising sun to shame.
"Shhhhh! Look!" Rory whispers to me. I look across the lake and to the beach. The white sand is beautiful against the blue waters. The small lily pads float carelessly around with the small waves. But I see something even more interesting. Finnick is knee deep in the water, but someone stands beside him. A girl. She has light brown hair, the opposite of mine. My hair is dark brown, like my mothers.
Finnick and the girl laugh and laugh. They seem to be speaking about something, but it is hard to hear.
"Let's get closer." I whisper with a smile. "I want to know what they're talking about." I jump over broken sticks as Rory follows me through the forest. We reach the edge of the forest near the beach. Now we are not even a few meters from Finnick and the girl.
"So, Jupiter Snow, how did you get here from the Capitol?" So the girls name is Jupiter.
"Well," her voice is sweet and soft. Like Rue's. "My mother moved here before I was born, when my great-grandfather died." The smile she wore now fades to her closing her eyes. She holds her blue dress just above her knees so she can walk with Finnick in the water.
"I'm sorry about that." Finnick says, placing his hand on her back. She looks up at him and smiles. He smiles back. Finally! He has someone that he loves! I think?
I look back to Rory.
"Let's keep going." We begin to walk through the forest again, until we reach a small clearing. Rory steps forward and gasps. He kneels down and releases something from his snare.
"We've got some food for dinner! And it seems to be freshly caught." He stands and shows me a plump rabbit, about the size of my head.
"Maybe enough for your family, but not for mine. I'll go get my stuff and get us more meat. Stay here." I laugh as I jog into the forest again. It is thicker here, but familiar. I reach into an old stump and pull out my mothers hunting bow and arrows. They are nicely organized in their quiver. I sling the strap over my shoulder and load the bow with and arrow. I point it up into a large tree and smile. A large bird flies over top of me. My arrow pointing straight towards it. The bird it large and plump. It has a small beak and large grey eyes. It spreads it's wings and begins to create a sound. But not just any bird sound, someone is speaking.
"Primrose Everdeen. Killed by President of Panem, Coriolanus Snow." It pauses as I lower my bow, pointing it to the ground. Why is it saying my name? Birds don't speak! "You are Primrose Mellark, daughter of the Mockingjay. The Capitol seeks you. Find the rightful ruler of Panem and they will tell you what to do." The bird flies away and I cannot see it anymore. I stand in shock. Who is the rightful ruler of Panem? And why do I need to find them?