Night Visions

A Hunger Games Fan Fiction By Millie55.

Based on the album by Imagine Dragons.

Chapter Two

Tip Toe

In the morning light let my roots take flight
Watch me fall above like a vicious dove
They don't see me come, who can blame them?
They never seem to catch my eye but I never wondered why

Tired footsteps carried the group of survivors through the trees. Toes caught on roots, ankles twisted and rolled on the uneven ground earning stumbles down. Pain filled groans mixed with the cries of crying children. They had been walking all night, into the rising of dawn. Weak and exhausted they continued to follow the young minor who had lead them to the safety of the forest. Gale Hawthorne. He lead the pack, carrying his sleeping sister Posy over his back as he pushed through the branches to a familiar body of water and clearing.

"We'll rest here, stay in the coverage the trees." He advised as he looked back over the prior residents of District Twelve.

Heavy eyes watched them disperse over the land. Most stuck close to one another, clinging to the trees. Others found the time for a moment alone. A moment to cry. The stress was great, the idea of breaking down had even crossed his mind. He however had to remain strong. He had people to lead and a family to take care of. Finding his mother and brothers sitting in the grass he carried his little sister over to them. Forcing a smile he placed Posy down in Hazel's lap. There was a look of pride in the mother's eyes. Her son had saved many lives. Gale was a hero. She watched him with her Seam gray eyes hoping that he would sit with them, get some rest but he moved to check on others instead.

He walked along the trees checking on those who had chosen to follow him. Most nursed injuries. Burn. Cuts. Bruises. All however greeted him with thankful smiled from behind tear. He received hugs and firm handshakes, even a flower from a young child.

Gale carried the pale flower with him, twisting the steam between his finger and thumb. He continued his walk along the trees, following the sound of sobs. They lead him to Adriena who was resting back against tall tree, tears streaming down her strong cheeks as he sister continued to cling to her. The young girl, no more than for was red in the face, crying and screaming for her parents. His heart clenched at the sight, the pain of losing a parent was all too familiar to him. Stepping closer, he found a spot to kneel down in front of the sisters. He watched as the young woman wiped her tears away upon noticing him, as if she was ashamed for being seen as weak. Scared.

"Sorry if she's being too loud-" It was an unnecessary apology to escape the brunette's lips. They were deep in the forest. The worst the poor girl was going to do was scare the animals, and at the moment that was not his biggest concern.

"Nothing's going to here her all the way out here, it's just us. We're all crying anyway-" His words werestrong, yet offered comfort, "-No one is going to think of you any different for crying. Just get it out of your system, rest up and we'll keep on going." Where they were going exactly he didn't know. There had to be a place beyond the trees. Away from Panem. Some place safe. Free.

Pushing up from his knees, Gale returned to his feet intending on returning to his family. In his place he left the flower. A gift that gave him a warm heart, passed on to another in hopes of sharing the same feeling.

From your slanted view see the morning dew
Sink into the soil, watch the water boil
They won't see me run, who can blame them?
They never look to see me fly, so I never have to lie

He had returned to his family, his body stretched out over the dew drenched grass. Posy had draped her tiny frame over him as Vick and Rory slept curled up near by in attempt to rest their eyes. Rest however didn't come. As soon as heavily lidded eyes came shut, they flashed open at the sound of a low flying hover craft. Panic ensued. People scrabbled for further coverage, some screamed and covered their ears in attempt to block out the sound that lead to the destruction of their homes and the deaths of many. Gale however shot up, passing Posy off to his mother before moving out into the mouth of the clearing.

There he stood, vulnerable to an attack but something told him that the Capitol would not have strayed this far. This hovercraft belonged to someone else. A shadow was cast down upon him as the craft slowly came into view, the bottom marked with the shimmering of gold. It was the glistening of the mocking jay. The symbol of rebellion.

A relieved laugh erupted up his throat. They were not alone. The rebels of thirteen Haymitch Abernathy had informed him off were not of drunken fabrication. They were in fact real and there to assist them. Moving back to the treeline he got low, the air of the hover craft forceful as it lowered down onto it's grassy landing. The mouth of the craft opened wide, lowering a ramp down.

"Gale Hawthorne?" The voice was unfamiliar. It belonged to a man - a solder. Boggs. Tall, complexion dark and expression hard. The young minor stepped forward, the remainder of his district standing behind them in slight awe. "By orders of the President of District Thirteen and her associates you and the survivors of District Twelve are hereby offered status of refugees and are encouraged to join us in the battle against the Capital."

Hands meeting in a firm shake Gale nodded, "Last I was told Thirteen was ash." He spoke loudly over the hum of the hovercraft.

It was exactly what District Thirteen wanted outsiders to believe. Since the days of it's fall they were training. Preparing. Waiting. Waiting for a spark to rise and fire to catch. With the retaliation of the other districts and the previous victors of the Hunger Games that time was now.

"There is much unknown Hawthorne," Boggs addressed him as he looked out over the survivors. "This is it?"

"That's it."

Hey yeah, don't let 'em know we're coming
Hey yeah, tiptoe higher
Take some time to simmer down, keep your head down low
Hey yeah, tiptoe higher