Hey guys, starting this new Gadge fic. Love them so much. Alternating POVS for this one

Don't own anything I hope you like it.

Prologue

Gale's POV

Grey, that was what District 13 is to me. Just a world filled with grey walls, grey uniforms, and grey everything. This was a place where people just did as they are told by their leaders, too tired to even do their own thinking; here the people are so filled with hatred, that it seems as if they've forgotten about the love and humanity that they had started off fighting for.

It has been two days since we've arrived here, five since they bombing. These five days were a blur to me, and I still have trouble not denying it to be a dream.

Every time I close my eyes, I see fire, raining down from the sky as people screamed and scrambled around me. I had tried to help as many as I can, I knew just what to do because Haymitch had warned me before taking off for the games, I was prepared.

I got to as many people as I could, my family and the Everdeens were my main priority, but everybody else mattered just as much. I went through the seam first, seeing as it was the closest to me. I had been too late by the time I reached the town, walls of fire fell down faster than before, and I had to get myself out just in time, in order to lead the others to safety.

The Mellarks, the Cartrights, the Undersee. I didn't get to any of those houses, I had tried to, but I failed. I prayed that they were able to get out, Thom had been in on this as well, he promised me that he would get people out himself, and I could only hope that he got to the ones that I had missed.

New survivors are arriving at 13 everyday, smaller and smaller groups each time, as scattered souls managed to find their ways to reunite with the bigger group.

I scanned the crowds everyday, hoping to pick up familiar faces.

I got lucky a couple of times, but after a full week, less and less people began to show until finally, they stopped.

There were still so many people who didn't make it, so many lives that have probably ended for no reason at all.

I slowly settled into the district 13 ways of life. I was a hero now, having saved all these lives, and I no longer needed to hunt for survival; but I would trade anything in the world to go back to my old life in the seam, to feel the freedom of the forest again, to go trade at the Hob, everything.

Now, I got up early along with everyone else, I get my schedule stamped onto my hand, usually I go for training, look at designs with Beetee, go for strategy sessions with the officials and past victors, eat my three meals at the exact same time everyday, and go to sleep to start everything all over again the next day. Occasionally I help shoot propos with Katniss, but that's pretty much it.

Things between me and Katniss are tense, it might have to do with Mellark, or just everythings that's been happening, but our friendship is definitely not what it was before. I don't try and talk to her about anything, because she probably wouldn't understand, plus her mind is already preoccupied with bigger problems.

Before I know it weeks have passed, I had managed to input the techniques of my snares into more than 10 of Beetee's weapon designs, and I've "starred" in 5 propos. I was kept busy and occupied, but it wasn't enough to keep my mind from the images of my district that still haunt me everytime my eyes close. What I wanted was to have some time to myself, to go to the woods or hang out with my family, anything to let me feel again, to let me know that I'm still Gale and not a machines created by the capitol.

The team finally decided on a plan to save Mellark, they needed him to join our side of the war, they deemed him worthy of their help. They didn't let me join the rescue team, despite my protests they made me stay with Katniss, fearing that she will do something reckless as her anxiety for the boy gets to her.

I do as they ordered, I was doubtful and nervous at first but then I'm glad I eventually went. I hadn't gotten a chance to be alone with Katniss due to both of our crammed schedules; but now we were and it gave us a chance to talk. The conversation started out slow and awkward, but I was still glad to talk to my best friend and attempt to dissolve the thick tension between us, if not only by a little.

She won't stop pacing though, everytime I manage to calm her down she thinks of new reasons to worry. At last after hours we hear commotion outside, and she beats me to the front of the crowd. The mission was successful, I can already see Mellark being pulled out of the hovercraft on stretchers.

Seeing as he was now safe and sound, I turn to leave, but then my eyes catch onto a second stretcher following close behind. I narrowed my eyes, confused at who else they might have found in the same prison as Peeta Mellark. Must be someone important or else the capitol never would have bothered...

"Madge!" I hear Katniss gasp, and my eyes widen, making out the features of the blond girl who I had made myself despise. I'm not sure why but my stomach did a flip and I felt an unexpected rush of relief. Maybe it was just knowing that another person from my past has made it, or that someone I thought to be dead was actually alive. Whatever it is I was happy that Undersee alive, and it was that same happiness that made me head on over to the hospital wing later that night.

This was short, and I'm not sure how much I like it, please give me some input on how you like it and suggestions.

I promise the story will get better once we get into it.

sweetmelodies021