So, I am glad that there are a few out there that like my story so far. I have always been hesitant to write a Hunger Games fanfic because the originals themselves are so fantastic. This story on the other hand will not give my brain a rest even though it itself doesn't quite know what it wants to do. I just want to reassure everyone that despite how these first 2 chapter may look this is not going to be a Peeta/Prim pairing. As HogwartsDreamer113 mentioned in their review, Prim is twelve years old and in my book that classifies her as a kid. Yes, a four year age difference in nothing the real world today I simply will not be writing that.


"See that little girl? I wanted to marry her mother, but she ran off with a coal miner."

Five year old Peeta's eyes turn the direction of his father's pointing finger. Several yards away stands a little girl in a red plaid dress with twin braids dangling down her back. Look back up at his dad, he asks, "A coal miner? Why did she want a coal miner if she could've had you?"

"Because when he sings... Even the birds stop to listen."

Something in his father's voice, awe maybe, that causes Peeta's eyes to look toward the tall man beside the little girl. Studying the man, he still doesn't quite understand. There isn't anything overly remarkable about the man. He has the same dark hair and dingy coal dust coated appearance that is common among the miners from the Seam. How could someone's singing trump the somewhat more comfortable life as a Merchant?

Seeing the confusion on his son's face the older man smiles as he ruffles the young man's hair. "Don't worry. One day when you least expect it you'll understand. Just wait and see."

Peeta's eyes shoot open at the familiar sound of a cannon. Shit! He was suppose to be standing guard. Fear and panic begin to rise as he quickly turns to scan the campsite behind him. His nerves only begin to settle when he sees the small figure in the dark. He lets out a soft sigh of relief as the girl sits up and gives him a groggy look.

"What happened? Who was it?"

"I don't know." He admits as he turns back to search the woods for any signs of movement. "Guess it just means we have one less person to worry about."

Prim nods silently as she to looks at the forest around them before her eyes settle back on District partner and ally. How long has it been since he slept? Standing up, she makes her way over to him. "You should get some sleep. I can keep watch."

"No," Peeta glances at her a smile grin crosses his face briefly but quickly fades. "I'm good."

She studies him closely before she speak again. The tired lines around his eyes, the way he seems to be leaning on the spear in his hands for support. "No, you're not. You need to sleep." He opens his mouth probably to protest but she doesn't give him a chance. Using his own goal against him may be low but she can think of no other way to get him to see reason. "You say you want to protect me. How will you be able to do that if you wind up weak from exhaustion?"

Peeta frowns down at the young girl who is most definitely years older mentally than her physical age would have everyone believe. "Fine..." He sighs handing her their only weapon. "...but only for a little while. And wake me up if you hear anything. I don't care if you think it might just be an animal. Wake me up, got it?"

"Got it." Prim fails to suppress the small smile that creeps up at his protective tone. A tone that reminds her of Katniss who is undoubtedly waiting for the miracle that will return her baby sister to her unharmed. A miracle that Prim herself knows will never come.

She glances back at Peeta where he settled in sitting against a nearby tree. His eyes are closed and his face relaxed, his body finally giving up its battle against sleep. In the short time that she has known the baker's youngest son, she can see how different he is from most of the merchant kids. He may have that Townie look but so does she and she is from the Seam.

No, Peeta Mellark is something else entirely. He is devoted to protecting a complete stranger knowing that it will cost him his own life. As much as she want to make it out of this nightmare the only way she knows he can truly guarantee her safety would for them both to make it to the final two. There is no way she'd be able to go home and live with herself if she took his life and just the thought of him doing something... Leaves a hollow feeling inside her.

She can't let that happen. As soon as she gets the chance she will strike out on her own. She'd leave now but that would leave Peeta unprotected and vulnerable. In the morning. She promises herself as she glances back at him again.


"Okay, so who knows the Valley Song?"

Peeta barely has the chance to think about how silly of a song it is and wonder why the teacher would even ask who knows it when a small hand shoots up into the air. He recognizes the familiar red plaid dress right away as the teacher motions the girl forward and stands her up on a stool in front of the music assembly.

"Go ahead, Katniss." The teacher encouraged her with a kind smile. The room was silent as everyone stared at petite girl with her head hung low. Just when Peeta thought she was going to remain quiet he heard the softest, sweetest sound of his short life.

"Down in the valley, the valley so low
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow, dear, hear the wind blow;
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow.
Roses love sunshine, violets love dew,
Angels in Heaven know I love you,
Know I love you, dear, know I love you,
Angels in Heaven know I love you.
If you don't love me...

Peeta is mesmerized by the voice filling his ears. At that moment nothing else mattered, the entire world seemed to freeze and fall away. All at once he realized two things: one, this song wasn't silly and two, a voice like that wins every time.

The low rumble and ache in his stomach, pull Peeta out of his comforting dream and back to reality. He winces against the sunlight that assaults his vision causing him to groan and rub his hands across his face to rub the last of the sleep away. "Prim, I think it is time to move on. Hopefully we can find something edible today." Opening his eyes again his heart sinks, "Prim?"

Jumping to his feet he spins around he eyes raking the area in search of his ally. "Prim, this isn't funny." He says in a lowered but forceful voice. He moves to the spot he left her the night before and stares out into the trees. "Prim, where the hell are you?"

As if on cue, a bloodcurdling scream cuts through the silence. "PEETA!"