Chapter 1

I clutch my bow tightly as I walk, my footsteps next to silent under my boots. There are no words to express how it feels to be back in my woods again, hunting like the old days before this whole nightmare began. But it isn't really like the old days. Not exactly. Gale, my old hunting partner and closest friend, has finally gone to work in the mine that District 12 is famous for. He can only join me on Sundays now. Even when he is here, things are different somehow. We still talk like we used to, but it just doesn't feel the same. I suppose it probably never will. How could it? So much has happened in the last year. No matter how hard I try to forget, I still awake screaming from my nightmares. It probably doesn't help that Gale had to watch me make out with Peeta, my fellow District 12 tribute, all over a television screen.

Of course, Peeta and I have barely spoken since our return. Our romance was supposed to be fake. A show to be put on for the rich members of the capitol who live for that sort of drama. But somewhere along the line, I guess Peeta stopped faking. Or maybe he never was. I don't know. I'm not even sure about my own feelings, but I was much too preoccupied with staying alive than sorting out whatever I felt toward Peeta Mellark. We definitely got a lot closer over the course of our nightmarish experience together. But closer in what way, I'm not really sure. It doesn't really matter now anyway, the way things are between us at the moment. Peeeta is being completely unfair in my opinion. But for some reason, my opinion doesn't seem to keep me from feeling guilty. I still don't know how the hunger games has suddenly turned the girl who's never been on a date in her life into the girl with all of the romantic issues.

I sigh silently after taking a glimpse of the sky through a gap in the trees. The position of the sun tells me my morning is ticking away. There's enough time to check the snares, expertly set up by Gale, before heading back to the gap in the fence. I add the few rabbits and the squirrel to my game bag and set off. After hiding my bow and arrows in a hollow tree, I approach the fence. As always, I listen closely for the hum that means the electric fence, that supposedly protects our district from the woods, was on. As usual, it wasn't. I shimmy under the fence with my game bag and make my way to Gale's house. I know Gale is off working in the mines at the moment, which is precisely why I chose to go now. He would be upset if he found out that I was sneaking game over to his mother, but I know he would do the same for me. Gale just doesn't like to think that he can't take care of his family.

Of course, even Gale can't pretend that he can provide for the Hawthorne family all on his own. His mother's laundry-washing business only pays so much, and mining won't get you very far either. Now that he has to work during the time he would normally spend hunting, money is even tighter than usual. And that's saying something when it comes to any of the families living in the Seam. During the 74th Hunger Games, he didn't have me to help out. Plus, he didn't want his brother to have to take out tesserae, which would result in his name being added to the reaping extra times. As a result, he began training Rory, the eldest of his younger siblings, to hunt. He's about a year older than my sister, Prim, so he's old enough to begin learning the ways of the woods now. Actually, he's the same age Gale was when I met him in the woods a lifetime ago. I've been continuing Rory's training some because Gale is so busy. I thought it would be weird at first, but it really isn't. Considering my closeness with Gale, Rory is a bit like a brother to me. It's been nice to spend a little more time with him. Besides, it's amazing to watch how he's taken to the woods so quickly. He's a natural like his brother.

I reach the Hawthorne home and knock on the door with my knuckles. I can hear a faint shuffling coming from inside the little house before the door swings back to reveal my little hunting apprentice, Rory. Well okay, maybe he's not so little. Like many teenage boys, Rory has hit quite the growth spurt recently. He's nearly 6 feet tall, if he isn't there already. Although he still has the Seam's characteristic dark hair, olive skin, and grey eyes, he looks so different than the little Rory I remember from several years ago. I guess Gale and I have been looking out for our families for so long that I didn't notice when our younger siblings started to grow up. Now, standing in front of Rory, I can see how much he's matured. He's grown some good-sized muscles, his childish physique disappearing. And I swear, he looks more and more like Gale every day.

"Hey, Katniss! You got another load of laundry for Mom?" Rory asks. 'Laundry' is actually code for the fresh game I've been bringing them. Technically speaking, hunting in the woods outside the district is illegal. However, the peacekeepers we have here in District 12 don't really enforce that rule. Food is a bit difficult to come by, particularly for people living in the Seam. The peacekeepers appreciate the availability of fresh game just as much as we do. Some of them are among my best customers down at the Hob, where the somewhat shady dealings of people buying and selling goods take place. Even so, it's best not to make it too obvious when you're involved in illegal practices.

"Yup!" I reply as Rory steps aside to let me into the house so we can continue our conversation in private. The Hawthorne home reminds me a bit of the house I used to live in with my mother and sister before we moved to the Victors' Village, where the houses are bigger and nicer, but just don't feel like home to me. Houses in the Seam are smaller, simpler, and more intimate somehow. Well, I think so, anyway. My mom and Prim seem thrilled with the upgrade, and it's good to see them happy. I set my game bag down on one of the wooden chairs as Rory closes the door. "I've brought you guys a couple of rabbits today. They should make a good stew," I say, removing the dead, furry creatures from the bag. Rory takes them and examines them.

"It still amazes me how you always manage to get them right through the eye. Gale was right about your bow skills," he says in admiration, making me blush as he so often does. Rory is quite the charmer, but in the most genuine way possible. He's honestly just a sweet guy. After getting passed the idea that he's old enough to start drawing attention, it doesn't surprise me when Prim says that all of the girls at school go nuts over him.

"You'll get there, it just takes practice," I say simply. "Gale and I are both impressed with how far you've come so quickly. Speaking of which, I think you may be about ready to start going out by yourself more often. You know I'm going to be gone for a little over a week for the Victory Tour," I remind him. Not that he needs reminding, but he knows that I prefer not to talk about my participation in last year's Hunger Games, so this is the first time I've brought it up. I've been putting off having to think about the tour for as long as possible. "So, you'll have to hunt without me for a bit."

"Yeah, I thought about that," Rory admits, scratching behind his ear as he sometimes does when he's nervous. "It's a lot of pressure going alone, Katniss. What happens if I can't find anything to kill?" he asks. This is one reason why Gale and I put off teaching Rory to hunt for as long as we did. It does put a lot of pressure on you to be a primary caregiver to your family. But this kid has been hunting for several months now, and has taken to the woods like a duck to water. Or, so I'm told, anyway. We don't exactly have a lot of duck ponds in District 12.

I nod understandingly. "I worried about the same thing after my dad died, and suddenly it was up to me to make sure my family didn't starve. But don't worry, you're a good hunter. I'm confident that you can keep your family fed while I'm away," I say as reassuringly as I can. I'm really not good at pep talks. Peeta is the one who always knows what to say. That's why I'm grateful that he'll be with me on this Victory Tour, even though I'm not exactly his favorite person at the moment. "And if somehow you don't think you'll have enough to eat, feel free to eat with my family in the Victor's Village. We have plenty to eat and they'd be happy to have company," I continue.

I can see that the doubt hasn't left Rory's eyes. "That's very generous, Katniss, but you know Gale…" he says, his words layered with uncertainty. I nod. I do know Gale. I know that Gale has no desire to mooch off of anyone else, no matter what the circumstances. It doesn't matter that he's my closest friend, and that my family and I will gladly help out the Hawthornes in any way that we can. Of course, I know I would feel the same way if the situation were reversed. I also know that he would do whatever he could to help my family anyway. Because that's what Gale and I do. We're partners. We look after each other and our families.

"I know, he's stubborn. Just tell him that my mom invited your family over because she feels lonely with everybody in the Victors' Village gone," I say, quickly making up a lie. Making up lies is one thing I have gotten good at. Gale and I make up lies sometimes to cover up our illegal activities. I make up lies when times are tough so that I don't worry my family. I've even lied to myself some over the past year, telling myself that I was sure everything was going to be fine even though I was sure of no such thing. "I know it's a lot to ask of you, Rory, but you did fine hunting by yourself while I was still… away. And you've improved since then. You'll be fine."

Rory seems to consider this for a moment, then nods. "Whatever it takes to take care of my family," he says determinedly. "Thanks, Katniss."

I smile at the boy who has grown up so much in the past few months before grabbing my game bag and going off to make my trades at the Hob. I can't help noticing how Rory represents so many young people in District 12 these days. So many children have been forced to grow up too fast, the weight of their family's well being on their shoulders. Everything is changing. Everyone can feel it, and everyone is affected by it. Exactly what everything is changing into, I'm still not sure. But I have a feeling that I'm about to find out.