This is about 5 years before the 74th Hunger Games. This makes Cato about 13 and Katniss, 11. This time will only last for about two chapters.

The Hunger Games is property of Susanne Collins, not me! The credit goes to her!

The plotline of this story, however, is mostly my idea!


Chapter 1

Cato's POV

I'm Cato and I live in District 2 of a country called Panem. I have been eligible for The Hunger Games since I was 12 – one year ago. The academy in District 2 is to prepare us for the Hunger Games. This is technically illegal, but we provide so much for the Capitol, they tend to overlook this discrepancy.

I have been in the academy for a year already and I surpass all the others of my age. My trainer says that I was born to fight! He has even started private lessons so I can get even better.

One day, during training, the trainer calls for everyone's attention. "Can I have everyone's attention?" he shouts. Everyone stops and directs their attention to the trainer. "Thank you! There is a special trip planned for students who are excelling in their age group. We have received clearance to tour the districts of Panem: to gain knowledge and get experience of being somewhere other than District 2."

The crowd murmurs, "I bet it's actually so we can scope out our future competition." A boy next to me, that's in my year, says under his breath. I chuckle.

"This trip will be annual, so it's a reward of sorts. The tributes who will be attending this year are as follows: Siberio for the first years, Cato for the second years…"

I fist pump, everyone around me congratulates me and my friends give me high fives. The trainer call for quiet and we listen to the rest of the names.

"Ralina for the third years, Orvall for the fourth years, Christina for the fifth years…"

Christina is one of my best friends, so I'm glad she gets to go! She deserves it. She's been around since I was little. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Christina is three years older than me. We met when I was 10 and she was my age. She taught me some fighting and survival skills before I even entered the academy.

"… Dalis for the sixth years, and Reyene for the last years. Congratulations to all who are picked to attend! Now, you are dismissed; continue your training."

Everyone departs and continues their training. I walk up to Christina. "Congrats! Are you excited?"

She smiles. "Yeah. Glad to hear you're going! You must be getting pretty good, huh?"

I smirk, cockily, "Of course. You know who you're talking to, right?"

She laughs, "Whoa, slow down there buddy. I'm glad to see you're not too full of yourself." She says, sarcastically.

I scoff and she just laughs again.


Katniss' POV

"Bye, Dad!" I say as I throw my arms around his neck. I breathe in his scent; it smells like the woods and a faint smell of coal. My father works in the mines in District 12.

"I'll see you after I come up tonight, okay?" he says to me. I nod. He hugs my sister, Primrose, pushes her blonde to the side and kisses her on the forehead. He stands up and hugs and kisses my mother. "I'll be home tonight. I love you all." He sighs, opens the door and leaves.

My mother pushes my sister and me toward our room, "You both have to get ready for school!"

I huff, but don't resist. My sister, being only 7, needs my help to get ready and walk to school. I help her pick out an outfit of a gray shirt and skirt and I also brush her hair.

"Katniss," she says, as she smiles sweetly, "will you braid my hair?" I oblige and braid her hair. We finish getting ready and my mother gives us both a squeeze. She tells us to have a good day at school.

The first half of school passes by uneventfully, although I don't really have many friends. I usually sit alone at lunch, but sometimes the mayor's daughter, Madge, sits with me. She and I are very similar. We don't talk but enjoy each other's company. When there is only about an hour of school left, an alarm sounds. I start to panic because that's the alarm for the mine. I grab my stuff and dash to Prim's class. I grab her and we race out of school toward the mines, where we meet my mother. She says that there was a mine explosion.

Prim starts to cry and I try to comfort her, "Shh… Prim, its okay. Everything will be okay." I rub her back as she hugs back. We all wait as we see men coming up the elevator, each one we hope to see my father. It gets late in the day, past dinner time, when the elevator trips stop. They say that there is no one else left in the mine to help. My mother drops to her knees and she is wracked with sobs. Prim is right there by her side hugging her and crying as well. I, however, am frozen in place. I can't accept that my father is dead. When my mother stops crying, it's dark. I snap out of my trance and help her and Prim back to our house. My mother goes right to her room, lays down and silently cries. I try and cook something for dinner, but my mother doesn't want any so, Prim and I eat dinner alone. I tuck Prim into bed, "Katniss," she whimpers, "can you sing to me?"

I sigh, shakily, "Sure."

Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your eyes
And when they open, the sun will rise.

Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.

Prim begins to sing with me very softly.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when it's morning, they'll wash away.

Prim's eyes begin to close, as her breathing calms down. I stroke her blonde hair. It looks a lot like my mother's. I got my father's black hair. I continue singing:

Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.

When I finish, she's fast asleep. I kiss her forehead, how my father did just this morning. As I exit the room, I look back at Prim and a tear runs down my cheek. I wipe it away quickly and lay down in my bed. I don't get any sleep because I lay awake, listening to my mother cry.


Thanks so much to my betareader, patronusmockingjay!

She helped revise this. Love ya!