A Basic disclaimer applies to this story. I can only claim credit for the characters of Rowan Everdeen and Jessica Wells, the rest of the characters and the story can be credited to Suzanne Collins and the wonderful Hunger Games universe that she created. There are also a handful of situations where dialogue is either very similar or exactly the same as in Suzanne Collins work.

Chapter 1

The sound of a light breeze meets my ear as I steady my left arm. The rabbit in my sights suddenly looks in my direction and our eyes meet. It tries to run but it's too late, the arrow has already left my bow and one second later it has pierced the animal's throat.

"Nice shot Rowan, you may be able to challenge me for the title of best archer in district 12 yet!"

My older sister Katniss is just returning from checking our snares and must have witnessed the whole thing.

"Well I did get taught by the best, sis. Good haul from the snares?" I ask.

"Pretty good, three squirrels and two rabbits. I picked up some strawberries from the patch as well, we should go and see if Madge will trade for some" suggests Katniss.

Madge Undersee is the daughter of the District mayor and is Katniss' best friend. Ever since we found out that strawberries are her favourite we've been taking some to her to trade as often as we can, and as today is reaping day it only seems fitting.

We walk through the woods, back to the fence that surrounds district 12 – careful to listen for any sign of an electric current – and scoot under as quickly as we can, lest a peacekeeper be wandering close by. Heading through the meadow, Katniss stops to pick a dandelion before we continue on through the seam towards town.

"You know, father always loved dandelions. He always said that they were the first sign of the seasons turning and gave hope to those that were starving." I comment.

Katniss gets an odd expression on her face, almost serene. It's nice, almost as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders, but her signature scowl returns quickly. Ever since father died in the mine explosion seven years ago, Katniss has been very guarded and rarely lets herself do anything fun. I suppose that it's rubbed off on me slightly as people often say I don't smile enough. My sister and I just have different priorities than those people.

We arrive at the mayor's house and knock twice on the front door. I can hear piano music drifting through the house, but it stops abruptly and is replaced by rapid footsteps. Madge appears at the door slightly flustered with her curly blonde hair loose down to her shoulders. She's wearing a white dress that is clearly Capitol made and I noticed a golden pin attached at the breast. She looks pretty.

"Oh! Hello Katniss, Rowan. What can I do for you?" asks Madge.

"We brought some strawberries, we thought you'd appreciate them considering it's reaping day and all" I say.

"You know I would appreciate strawberries any day of the year Rowan" replies Madge with a smile. "Let me go and get something to trade. Come in and sit down if you'd like."

Katniss and I walk in and sit down on the sofa while Madge goes to find some coins I presume. It's the first time I've been inside, the house is much larger than most in the district and is full of paintings and ornaments. One painting in particular catches my eye, it's of the meadow that I walk through almost every day to get to the woods. The detail is incredible.

"That painting is amazing" I say to Katniss, pointing it out. "I bet the Undersees had to pay a fortune to get that commissioned at the Capitol".

"Oh, that one of the meadow? I don't think so, Peeta Mellark did that painting so they probably didn't have to pay an awful lot for it" mentions Katniss.

Peeta Mellark is the son of the district baker and is in the same year as Katniss at school. I don't really know him, but he seems friendly with pretty much the entire district. We sometimes trade with him when we go to the bakery if his father is busy with something else. He's just got one of those infectious personalities I suppose.

I'm surprised that Katniss knows that Peeta did this painting. She never seemed particularly friendly with him, but I'm sure he would be thrilled to know that Katniss had admired his artwork. I've seen the looks that he gives her and I can't say I'm entirely thrilled by them.

"Really? Wow, he's got some talent. Maybe he should give up baking and paint for a living" I say sarcastically. You'd never survive off the back of selling paintings in district 12.

Katniss gives a half-hearted scoff as Madge returns. She drops three coins into Katniss' hands which she thanks her for, and we leave after wishing each other luck for the reaping. Katniss goes off toward the bakery with two squirrels and gives the rest of the game to me to trade at the hob. The hob is the black market of district 12, and being located on the outskirts of the seam, is largely ignored by peacekeepers.

I manage to get a large canister of soup from greasy Sae and some medicinal herbs for my mother and Prim's stock. Primrose is my younger sister and is probably the sweetest girl in the district. At fourteen, she is only two years younger than me, but I always worry so much for her on reaping day. I expect that she's curled up with mother or our cat buttercup right now. At sixteen, I have faced four reapings already, but it never gets any easier seeing Prim walk up to sign in and stand, waiting for a name to be read out.

I finally get back to our house in the seam and find that Katniss has already returned with two loaves of bread and six cheese buns.

"Baker feeling generous today?" I ask her.

"I traded with Peeta actually, and it's reaping day so everyone is feeling sentimental" says Katniss.

"I'm sure that's it" I respond sarcastically. I get a scowl from Katniss and Prim lets out a giggle from behind me. I turn around just in time to see a blur of blonde hair and blue eyes running towards me. I pick her up into a tight hug.

"Hey little sis, how're you doing today? I got you and mum some herbs at the hob" I tell her.

"Thanks Rowan, they'll come in handy! I'm feeling scared though, what if they pick me?" whispers Prim.

"Don't worry about that little duck, your names only in the bowl three times it won't be you. I won't let them pick you" states Katniss. I get the meaning behind her words and nod in agreement.

Prim lets out a small sigh and tells me that I need to go and get ready for the reaping. When I get to my room, I find that mother has chosen a shirt for me and laid it out on my bed. I get changed quickly and then try to flatten my hair out but it's useless. My scruffy short brown hair just won't stay in place. Mother says I get it from father.

It's half passed one by the time we all leave for the town square. Mother joins Katniss, Prim and I and we walk side by side; the Everdeen family. It takes us fifteen minutes to get there and we queue up to sign in. I notice my friend Jack in front of me, but he's so nervous he doesn't even see me.

I get my blood sample taken and walk over to the boy's side of the square. Katniss and Prim go over to the girl's side and I feel relief that Prim at least has Katniss to comfort her at this time. I take my place and wait for the inevitable circus that is Effie Trinket. She's our district escort and is a stereotypical Capitol resident with outrageous fashion and a hysterical accent.

Right on cue, Effie exits the Justice Hall and walks towards the microphone on the stage.

"Welcome, welcome! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour!" spouts Effie. She says this every year. Next up is the treaty of treason that explains the rules of the Hunger Games:

""In penance for their uprising, each district shall offer up a male and a female between the ages of 12 and 18 at a public "reaping". These tributes shall be delivered to the custody of the Capitol. And then transferred to a public arena, where they will fight to the death until a lone victor remains. Henceforth and forevermore this pageant shall be known as The Hunger Games."

That is the hunger games. Every year, two children from each district – a boy and a girl - are reaped and sent to fight to the death. That is how sick the Capitol is. At eighteen years old, this is Katniss' last reaping. I say a silent prayer for my family and friends before Effie continues.

"As usual, ladies first" says Effie. She walks over to the bowl that is full of girl's names and struggles to pull a piece of paper out. Once she does, she walks back to the microphone and unfolds the paper.

"Jessica Wells!" shouts Effie

Relief immediately washes over me. It's not Katniss or Prim. Katniss is safe forever! I see Jessica walking up towards the stage. She's the year above me in school and is the butcher's daughter. She looks absolutely terrified. Considering that she's only about 5'3" with a skinny frame, I can't imagine she thinks that she'll have much of a chance. She has her blonde hair up in a bun and tries to look strong as she climbs the steps. That's probably smart.

"Excellent! Congratulations Jessica on becoming the latest female tribute for district 12. I'm sure everyone here in this crowd will be routing for you" Effie thinks aloud. "Okay, now for the boys."

Effie walks over to the boy's bowl and quickly picks up a slip of paper. As she walks back over to the microphone, silence falls over the crowd. Effie unfolds the slip and reads the name.

"Rowan Everdeen" announces Effie.