"If it's natural to kill, how come men have to go into training to learn how?" Joan Baez questioned, I wonder that myself. I'd really like to know why. But we have the Hunger Games and we find out the sad truth behind both parts of this statement. We find children who have never hurt a fly, killing other in order just to see another sunrise. Then there is my group of people, those of Districts One and Two receive special training, which almost always means a guaranteed win for one of the four tributes.

It was the day of the 74th annual reaping. I dressed myself in the very best I owned. My very best happened to be my favorite dress, it was shorter, a baby pink with black, tiny polka dots all over it. Fairly tame from what I see around me. I had made the dress myself. When I was about 12, I went through this phase where I had to sew ALL of my clothes. And 4 years later, I can still manage to make a beautiful dress.

After being huddled together with my peers by peacekeepers, the reaping began. As always, ladies first. My heart started to pound as the tiny sheet of paper was lifted out from the bowl. My name was in there 5 times. I shouldn't have to worry... right? I was going to worry anyways. I couldn't leave my life. I was comfortable where I was. The paper was open. Out poured the name Clove Abendessen. She was a year older than me and we went to school together. She was vicious, even in school. If she didn't like you, she spat at your feet in the hallway. And there was nothing you could do about it. Her mom was the superintendent of the school She could do whatever she wanted and no one could tell her otherwise.

Next were the boys. They didn't even have to draw any names, from among the older boys walked my brother. I panicked. That couldn't be happening. I knew it was an honor to volunteer, but there are plenty of other boys who could have volunteered. Not my idol, not my hero.

I stumbled through the girls. "Cato!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

He turned around and smiled. "It's my time to shine," he said, walking up to the stage.

"Cato! You're making a huge mistake!" But he didn't listen, he kept walking. "Cato!" I shouted once more, my voice cracking. Two piece keepers approached me.

"Ma'am, plea..." one said, grabbing my arm.

I cut him off. "Let me stand here, I won't do anything stupid," I said, emphasizing stupid and glaring at the one who had my arm. He took a long moment to study me and let me go. I turned around just as I saw Clove and Cato shake hands. I felt my face get hot and my eyes stung.

No. No. No.

Before I knew it, they were both ushered by peacekeepers into the building. The two were sent away and I ran up to the building. The door shut right in my face. I tugged and pulled on the door. A peacekeeper came up to me.

"Calm down ma'am. They'll let you in, in a moment," he said, pulling me away.

I fought him as he grabbed me by the arms and pulled me away. I screamed at the top of my lungs, tears slipping from my eyes, down my cheeks and into my mouth. The salty tear brought me back to reality, and so did the push the peacekeeper gave me as he let me go. I fell onto my hands. My wrists ached now. Slowly let up, and laid on my side, right on the stage. Just as I did, the door opened. I quickly ran in and found the room Cato was in.

I forcefully pushed the door open

"Cato!" I shouted, running over and hugging him.

He embraced me tightly. "Tempest," he whispered, his voice quiet but filled with regret.

"I love you so much, I don't want you to go, please!" I begged, into his shoulder, my tears being soaked up by his nice shirt I had sewn for him.

"I don't want my last image of you, for now, to be sad, smile Tempest, I'll be back again," he said, smiling. He let me go and took out a knife. He held it in his hand so gently and allowed for the sun to reflect off it in the late afternoon sunlight. He grabbed a part of his shirt and cut it off.

"Cato," I said, upset he had cut the nice shirt I had spent almost a month making.

He hushed me and wiped my tears with it. I was confused. He then placed it ever so gently in my pocket on my dress. "Hold it close whenever you miss me," he said, kissing my forehead.

"I love you, so much Cato, you better come home," I said, trying not to cry.

"Take good care of mom and grandma," he said. We hugged one last time.

"Let's go," said the peacekeeper, pulling me away.

"Take care, Cato," I said, trying to be strong. "I love you."

"I love you too, little Tempest," he said.

I was pulled back out to where the reaping was held. I tenderly pulled the sheet of material from my pocket and held it close to my face. It still smelled like him. All I wanted to do at this point was to vomit. I wasn't even away from him for five seconds before I started to miss him. I didn't know how I was going to tell my mother that Cato was gone and even worse, had volunteered for it. It was suppose to be an honor, but I felt it not to be.

I held my head up high and walked home from the stage. It wasn't a terribly long walk. Only about a mile. As I approached the humble abode I was proud to call my home, I couldn't think of what to say. It's almost as if I had forgotten how to speak. I took a deep breath and walked in.

"Hey mom, grandma," I greeted them.

"Hello Tempest," my sweet grandma greeted me. "How was the reaping?" she asked.

My small grin quickly changed to stoic face. "Uh...Cato...He..."

My mom came up to me. "You let him volunteer!" she shouted.

"I couldn't control him! Mom! You know how the reapings work! I had no control!" I shouted back.

She approached me and got close to my face. "Now how will we live?" she asked in a low voice.

"We'll find a way. I promise," I said, hugging her.

"I don't need any of your sympathy, get out of my face, Tempest," she said.

I gave her a final look and ran out the front door. I ran as far as I could from my home. I wanted to leave my life in the dust and find Peeta.

I found a small part of District Two that was hardly been touched. It was a large meadow . I ran to the middle, threw my body against the ground and cried. I cried for Cato. I cried for my mother and grandmother. It was going to be a tough few weeks.