During the reaping:
Gale is huddled with a crowd of boys around eighteen. The chances of these boys being pulled is high. Gale himself having one of the best chances of being named tribute. He looks at the stage to see Madge in her white dress standing solemnly as her father introduces Effie. She looks as though she could be a statue with her poise and beauty. A breeze blows her pink ribbon and it dances across her face. As she raises her hand to sweep it from her eyes she catches Gale watching her. She smiles at him and mouths the words as Effie shouts them, "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Gale nods smiling and the moment is over as quickly as it had begun.
He scans the crowd to find Katniss. He spots her staring at Effie with a look of amusement on her face.
"Strange," Gale thinks aloud. While focusing on Madge he had missed what was so funny. His smile fades as he searches Katniss' face trying to discern what could possibly bring her such levity at a time like this.
Her brief happiness melts away as Gale frowns and turns back toward the stage.
His hairs stand on edge and his heart begins to beat as Effie pulls the white slip of paper from the glass ball. Something is wrong and Gale knows it. His innate hunting skills and ability to read the air has sent his senses reeling. No matter whose name was engraved on that paper he knew that life as he knew it was about to change.
He inhales softly and closes his eyes as Effie announces the female tribute: Primrose Everdeen.
Gale exhales slowly and fills his lungs once again with air. He knows what is coming next. He gathers all his strength and begins moving stealthily through the crowd toward Katniss. The unhappy murmurs and shifts in the crowd conceal his movements easily. He spies Katniss and his heart sinks. He has to reach her before the inevitable happens.
"Just a little further," he tells himself moving more quickly.
Suddenly the crowd parts in front of Katniss as she yells for Prim. Gale reaches for her arm as she pushes Prim behind her and says the words that shatter Gale's fast beating heart, "I volunteer as tribute!"
It's too late and Gale goes numb. The timid twelve year old he first met was gone. Here stood a strong, loving girl ready to face her own death in order to spare her sister. He wanted to be angry with her. Her wanted to shout at the world for being so cruel, but mostly he wanted to tell Katniss there was another way, there had to be. Her headstrong defiance had served her well enough in the past, but this was no time for her childish nonsense. If only her could have reached her in time. Surely his eyes could speak what he longed to say here in this horrible place.
As Prim clings desperately to Katniss she screams the words that echo In his mind, "No Katniss! No! You can't go!"
Suddenly Gale snaps back to reality. Whatever he feels is irrelevant now. He walks the few steps toward Prim and pulls her off Katniss and into his arms. She is kicking and hitting and crying at Gale, at the whole world. He maintains his composure as he extends an arm out to Katniss.
Their eyes meet for a moment as Gale manages to get out, "Up you go, Catnip."
She touches his hand and begins to climb the stairs to meet her fate. As soon as their connection breaks Gale walks towards the one person who can truly share in his sorrow, mom.