Before you get to the beginning of my story, i'd like to say a few things...
1) I want to thank my friends (and editors) Athena and Kiki, that helped me so much with the story (so if it sucks you can blame them too :P )
2) I would appreciate it if you can avoid any racistic comments towards the Germans. The story involves the Nazi's, who were defeated 75 years ago, no need to take it out on their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
3) Please forgive any mistakes that you might notice in the text, English is not my first language (or my friends' for that matter)
4) I hope you enjoy it. I won't be mad if you don't. no matter how you feel about the story, i'm always interested in your comments.
Prologue
I am in the woods. I look around me. I am surrounded by my favorite trees, protected from the burning sun by their green leaves. I stretch my neck, allowing the cool breeze to ruffle my hair. I take a few steps forward, careful not to step on any edible plants that will be of my use later, my bow and arrow at hand, alert for any sign that prey is nearby. I am considering going by my pond later to gather some roots, fish, maybe even swim if I have the time. My mother doesn't like it when I go home after dark.
She's not very strict, really, just a little old-fashioned I guess. She's not very fond of the fact that I go into the woods alone, even though I'm usually closer to the house when in the woods that I would have been if I was in the central square of the town. She believes that a young woman like me would not be able to protect herself in a dangerous situation, and she shouldn't anyway; that is what men are for. She does know my father well, though, so she can trust the fact that he's trained me well. Now all she has to put up with is my refusal to wear a dress or a skirt in there; I am allowed to have exactly one pair of pants.
My father doesn't share her ideas, but he rarely objects when she lectures me or my younger sister. He realizes that this is her way of trying to keep us safe, and if there is anyone in this town that values safety it's him; he's a coal miner. He's been in an accident twice, trapped under the surface of the earth for hours without water or food, or oxygen for that matter. I can't even imagine how horrible that must have been for him; once I overheard him telling my mother that the second time, if it weren't for me and my sister he would have killed himself.
Until then, I was taking the freedom I felt every time I came to the forest for granted. I take a deep breath and repeat my little prayer, in order to thank God for that privilege whenever I am out here. I check the goods I've filled my bag with and decide it's enough for today. It's time to return home. As I cross the beautiful meadow between the forest and my house, I hear my father's song greeting me before I can see him. He has an amazing voice. Soon enough I spot him working on our small garden, in the back of our house. He likes to grow plants that my mother can use to make medical remedies. She is a nurse, after all.
"Katniss!" I hear Prim calling me. "Katniss, wake up!"
I open my eyes, blinded by the morning light and confused by my little sister's worried voice.
"What happened?" I ask, realizing that I'm freezing.
"I think you were having a bad dream…" she says hesitantly.
And then it hits me. The woods don't exist anymore. The meadow has been destroyed. My parents are dead. And my country is not free anymore.