Hello fellow fanfictioners! So, this will be my first Hunger Games fanfiction one of which I think my dear friends would hopefully approve of. This story is about if Gale had actually volunteered as the male tribute for District 12. Anyway, here's the first bit, I do hope you enjoy. Oh, just to clarify, this is Gale's POV unless mentioned otherwise.

Preface:

It was the rusty tasting liquid that coated my taste buds that first caught me when I began to stir. It was, as I could tell without even looking, blood, my blood to be exact. Groaning, my tongue probed around the inside of my mouth causing a searing pain as if my nerves themselves were on fire when it hit my left molar, or what was left of it that is. I tried to get up, to move, to do something.

My ears rang as I finally found the strength to force my eyes open only to finally take in what was happening. I, from what it seemed, was laying on what was now bare ground surrounded by bits of smoking and in some cases, flaming, matter. The mines. That's what had happened, I closed my eyes as I strained to remember exactly what happened. There had been the Career's camp… Yes… That was right, and we, whoever I was with that is, I couldn't recall at the moment, had decided to obliterate their storage of supplies, to weaken them so that we would hopefully be able to achieve some sort of advantage over them.

My head ached as I tried to recall who exactly I had been with, the only thing that filled my head now was that god awful ringing sound and the pain, that horrid, throbbing pain as if someone, and maybe they had, had taken a mallet and bludgeoned my temples over and over again. I grunted softly attempting to push myself up into a seated position as I continued to focus on my thoughts, trying to retrieve the bits and pieces of information that I was beginning to think the mines had blown away.

Rose…No, that wasn't it. Did it even begin with an 'R'? It had to of have… It was a plant, I'm pretty sure of that much. Now, to remember, think back, hunting in the woods, the fields, what plants had R names… Ah, Rue! There you go, Gale, old boy, it was Rue… And there was another, I'm sure of it... Rue, the small girl from District 11 had gone to set up a few diversions in the woods leaving me and… Oh god, why can't I remember who I was with? Think, Gale, think… Rue and… It'll come eventually.

I blinked as warm blood oozed down my forehead and over my eyes causing me to temporally to lose my vision. The muscles in my hand twitch as I try to reach up and wipe my eyes. I know that it's not safe to just lay here on the ground, out in the open, a target just waiting to be taken by the Careers. I strain, craning my neck towards where I think the woods are wondering if Rue is alright and if Katniss- Oh god, Katniss!

As her name comes to my mind it also escapes my lips. I feel a sudden burst of adrenaline come from inside me as force myself up more, my head turning every which way, ignoring the agonizing pain as I search for her. How could I have forgotten her? She had been the reason I had volunteered as tribute in the first place, the reason that I had left my family back in District 12 to go fight and probably lose my life for her, and her name wasn't the first thing that had come to my mind?

I could feel Haymitch cursing me right now, a bottle in his fist, his brow furrowed as he growled, telling me to get up and run. Perhaps he thought now it was better if one of his pupils stayed alive rather than losing both even if it did end up costing several sponsors now that the star-crossed lovers were split up. But at the moment Haymitch was not my priority, Katniss was, and if she was gone, if I had let her die, then perhaps the Careers would be merciful when they found me and end my life quickly for without her, why do I have a reason to continue? There was no deception in what I said to Caesar during the interviews back at the Capitol, I had meant ever word. I wonder if Haymitch realized it early on and that was why he had chosen that storyline for us to follow.

It was at that moment my eyes fell upon a still figure lying at least twenty five feet away from me. My heart began to pound against the walls of my chest as I try to call out to her.

"Katniss!"

Barely any sound escapes my lips as I suck in another sharp breath trying again.

"Katniss!"

A little louder this time but it doesn't seem to do any good. I now lay on my stomach as I try to pull myself towards her, each inch I move causes my limbs to scream in agony. I barely make it three feet when I can go no further; my strength that I had acquired from my adrenaline rush is gone. I can only watch her from afar hoping, praying, by some miracle, by some chance, she'll sit up and smile at me, let me know she's alright.

I feel myself slipping in and out of unconsciousness as the sound of something going off fills my ears. Did I hear that right? Was there actually a noise? Another mine maybe? What if it was a cannon? Who had died? Was it for Katniss? My eyes begin to close as I try to focus on Katniss, to see if her body is lifted into the air. But I am so tired, maybe…maybe if I close my eyes everything will be alright. Maybe it's just a dream. Maybe if I just close my eyes…

I hope you liked the preface. I'm working on chapter one at the moment and hopefully that will be up soon. Thank you for reading.-Jen