So, I've seen The Hunger Games twice now and started to realize that the Careers are human too. I think it was a little hard to grasp some of that in the book, so here's my attempt to help humanize at least one career (my 2nd favorite), Cato.

I'm honestly not so sure how good this is, but I'm giving it a try... Hope you like it! And R&R!

~Cali


Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games. The only characters I own at the moment are ones that aren't mentioned in the book. IE-Nassir, Cormac, and my (currently) un-introduced protagonist.


Chapter One: Reaping

I glanced at the clump of boys directly to my left—the 16 year old boys—and was greeted with impish grins from several of them. But one in particular stood out to me because I'd seen it a million times. Because the blue eyes that twinkled mischievously mattered to me. Because I was used to the feeling of those thickly muscled arms brushing against mine as we fought off other Academy kids.

"And for the boys…"

There was a slight, knowing pause as Nassir reached into the bowl full of names. Everyone knew that realistically, it didn't matter who was actually picked because this, this was Cato's year.

"Cormac Huntington."

"I volunteer!" He strode forward, a self-assured smirk proud on his lips. Cormac (who the cameras had found quickly, despite the obvious struggle at hand) hadn't moved anyway, most probably because he was thirteen, and thereby, too young to fight Cato for a place in the Games. Even if he had fought, he would have lost. Cato was bound and determined.

And so Cato joined Clove on the stage, his stature and blonde hair setting him apart from her, though the crowd knew Clove could handle her knives just as well as Cato could his sword. The slim, dark haired girl was a force to be reckoned with, and she would likely be neck-in-neck with Cato until someone else took one of them out.

I winced at the thought, trying to ignore the tremors in my hands as Nassir told the two tributes to shake hands. They did, both smirking at the cameras, as if daring the other tributes to try to cross them.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of District 2," even Nassir's face held a smile then, because he was the escort for District 2 and that always meant good things. "May I present to you, your tributes for the 74th Annual Hunger Games—Cato and Clove!"

The people of my district broke into uproarious applause, screaming and cat-calling. I pushed my shaking hands to my sides and cried out along with the rest of them, cheering Cato on. I screamed for him, trash-talking the other districts and feigning confidence as I was expected to.

Cato smiled proudly, electric blue eyes scanning the crowd. His fingers twitched excitedly, as if he couldn't wait to get his hands wrapped around a long knife or sword and start hacking away at the dummies and tributes, which I'm sure was the case, anyway.

He was finally getting what he wanted. Violence. Blood-shed. Adrenaline and wounds and the unpredictability of the gamemakers. His blood-lust would finally be quenched.

So long as he made it out alive.


So... what did you think?

I honestly hope you liked it, because I'm kind of enjoying where this is going... And I promise you'll get the protagonist's name in the next chapter! But this chapter was much more about defining her and her perception/knowledge of Cato than anything else. Her name, as of this point in the story, is rather irrelivant. But you'll get it next chapter (which I'm currently in the middle of writing.)

Anyway, please review!

Much love,

~Cali