The Hawthorne Games - Chapter One

(Authors Note)

Okay, Hi, thanks for reading and all that. Important information that you need to know:
- The Hunger Games tributes can be the same gender, the reaping is random for all
-This is going to feature some slash at some point,
-This will go over Hunger Games and Catching fire atleast
-All information is based on the books not the films.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy. A short first chapter, but Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour.
Kung Thomas den Trettonde

Today is the day of the reaping. I fear this day every year, for I am forced to leave my mother, my brothers and potentially never see them again. Today is the reaping of the 74th Hunger Games, my last reaping before adulthood, and I am determined to come back from that reaping with a smile on my face.

'You ready Catnip?' I ask Katniss, as we walk towards the justice building. Prim is walking with us. Her fear is evident.
'As ready as I'll ever be Gale, how many times is your name in?' replies Katniss.
'64'
'48 for me.'
'Prim, just once for you right?'
'Yeah' Prim says very nervously, 'your brother is the same isn't he'
It was Jon's first games as well, and I was very strict that he didn't take tessare.
'Good. Well, I've got to join the boys queue, see you afterwards'

I walk into the line of boys. Looking in front of me, I see roughly 90 other guys. One, maybe two of them will be competing this year, and will most likely die.

I sign in before walking into the crowd amidst those my age. Looking over, I see Katniss. We make brief eye contact before both looking forward.

A tap on the microphone.
'Welcome, welcome all, to the reaping of District Twelve for the 74th Hunger Games' says the escort, up there in her capitol finest. 'Now, we are going to watch a film, brought to us especially from the Capitol'

I roll my eyes, the film we see every year. I don't look or listen as it plays. It's all propaganda, all complete bullshit.'

'And now' says the escort in her prissy tone. Effie, that's her name, Effie Trinket, for the tributes. The first tribute representing District Twelve is,' a pause' Peeta Mellark.'

The bakers son, that boy. I turn to look for him. I know him by sight, as he was in the year below me at school, and we all used to trade him things for the day old cakes and buns. He's a good, handsome lad.

He walks up to the stage. I don't hear the usual sobs from the back. His mother must not be here, or she's being very quiet.

'The second tribute for District Twelve is,' Effie pauses as she unravels the paper strip.

'Jon Hawthorne'

My breath catches in my throat. No, not Jon, his name was only in once. I begin to move through the crowd towards my brother, who is being sheparded out. Standing in the gap between the boys and girls, I run to my brother.
'Gale you can't'
'Jon, I made a promise'

Standing up, I move in front of Jon, and loudly say: 'I am Gale Hawthorne, and I volunteer as tribute'

Okay, it's fairly canon at this point. It will become, less canon as we move on. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.

NEXT TIME ON THE HAWTHORNE GAMES

'So who do you think will last longest?' Peeta asks me
'The boy from Four, Reef and the girl from Two, Clove.'
'I'd put one more up there, a boy called Gale Hawthorne'

'Haymitch Abernathy, please put down the fucking whiskey and tell us what the hell we have to do to survive this bullshit!'

The Capitol. I never thought that such a place would make me so sick.