DISCLAIMER: WE'RE SORRY FOR NOT DOING THIS IN THE FIRST CHAPTER!

WE DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES OR ANYTHING IN IT.

Prim's POV

Today's the day I get to see Katniss. It'll be the last time I see her. After she wins, she'll be different, just like the first District twelve victor. I know she's going to win! I just hope that she won't resign to drugs like Haymitch did. He tried to drown his sorrows and memories of the games in liquor and alcohol. Albeitly, it didn't work. Although he did successfully turn himself into a drug addict. Congrats, Haymitch.

I turned my thoughts back to Katniss. How am I going to confront Katniss today? I ran scenarios through my head.

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Scenario #1

"Hi Katniss! I brought you some hot chocolate. I'll miss you! Win the games for me!"

"Thank you, Prim. I promise I'll win for you."

I shook my head. Too naive.

Scenario # 2

"Please win, for me, Gale, and mother. I can't bear it without you."

"I know, I will for sure. Be safe, and farewell."

Better than the first, but it's too 'damsel in distress'-like for me.

Scenario # 3

"KATNISS, KATNISS, DON'T GO! KATNISS, KATNISS!"

"There, there, Prim. Don't cry. You know that I have no choice but to go. But don't worry, because I'll win. I'll win, for you."

Too sappy.

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In the end, I just gave up, and decided to act on the spot.

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The peacekeepers called us up to say our farewells to Katniss. It was me, Gale, and mother. They led us down the hallway, from the entrance of the Justice Building to the room where Katniss was in custody. One of the peacekeepers opened the door. He wouldn't let us take the hot chocolate in, fearing that it'll spill. Gale stepped back to let us go first. Tears began to swell up in my eyes as I stepped into the room. It looked so fancy; thick, deep carpets with a velvet couch and chairs. The velvet reminded me of one of the dresses mother owned, the collar was made of the material. It was more than we could ever afford, I felt slight envy to those who stayed here.

Katniss was sitting on the couch, running her fingers over the fabric. Her eyes had a tint of puffiness to them, and her nose was a slight pinkish color.

I ran up to Katniss, and climbed onto her lap. I wrapped my arms around her neck and laid my head on her shoulder. It was just like when I was little. Then mother sat next to Katniss and wrapped her arms around us. it was silent for the first few minutes. Then Katniss started telling us what we needed to remember doing. Some of which I already knew to do, not that I complained.

I couldn't take anything extra from the capital. I wasn't stupid enough to not know this, I wouldn't want to worry mother and Katniss anymore than I already had. We were to sell milk and cheese from my goat. Mother had a small apothecary business that she ran for the people in the Seam. Gale could bring her the herbs that she didn't have. He was also going to bring us game, Katniss suggested that we thank him by trading milk or medicine.

I can't hunt, I couldn't ever bring myself to kill or hurt the poor animals. I was scared of the woods, the rustling noises of the squirrels and chipmunks in the leaves of the trees, and the occasional rabbits leaping from roots and landing soundly on the grass. Even the slightest sounds scared me, I always thought that something was going to come out and eat me. It was quite childish, but I believed it anyways.

Katniss tried to teach me how to hunt before. I didn't like it, every time she shot an animal my eyes would moisten and become teary. I would blab over it and talk about the chances we had to heal it, assuming we got to home quickly enough. I didn't like seeing the animals hurt, or anyone in that matter. I wanted to help them, to cure them. I had thought of becoming a doctor or helping mother treat her patients, I already knew a lot. But she and Katniss would never let me do so, they thought that I was too weak to handle seeing the wounds. They are wrong, they think they know what's best for me but they don't always do.

Katniss' voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I didn't really hear what she had said - something about fuel, trading, and staying in school. It didn't really matter to me, I suppose I could ask mother about it later.

Then, Katniss reached over to Mother and grabbed her by the arm, speaking with intensity. "Listen to me. Are you listening to me?" Mother nodded, looking surprised. "You can't leave again."

I didn't understand. What did Katniss mean by 'leave again'? Is she implying that mother is going to leave us alone again? If so, I can understand why. I don't want to be alone again, I missed father. Even though my memories of him are fuzzy, I know we had a good time together, and I miss that. With Katniss here, it helps, even if it's not quite the same.

After Katniss spoke, mother's eyes met the floor, and she said, "I know. I won't. I couldn't help what-"

"Well, you have to help it this time. You can't clock out and leave Prim on her own. There's no me now to keep you both alive. It doesn't matter what happens. Whatever you see on the screen. You have to promise me you'll fight through it!" Katniss' voice rose to a shout. I don't like it when she shouts, it scares me. I don't want her to yell at me, I like it when she speaks softly to me. It's as if no one else can hear what she says to me, like it's just me and her. But in her voice as she shouts, I can hear the bitterness in her voice. All the anger that was piled up in mother's abandonment, was poured into that demand.

Mother pulled her arm away from Katniss, and proceeded to defend herself. "I was ill. I could've treated myself if I had the medicine I have now."

"Then take it, and take care of her!"

I moved closer to Katniss, and held her face in my hands. "I'll be alright, Katniss," I said, "But you have to take care, too. You're so fast and brave. Maybe you can win." In truth, I know it's not very possible. There is going to be competition with better experience and skills in other things. There are people who have been training their entire lives for the games. Even with all of this in mind, I still have hope in Katniss. She has an advantage, she knows how it's like in the wilderness. If she's lucky, the arena will be in the woods. Then she'll know what to do, it'd be like the woods here, at home. She can climb trees, if she outruns the Careers, she can get to a branch on a tree and camp out until they leave. I try to be optimistic, but it's difficult.

"Maybe," Katniss speaks again, maybe she knows this as well? "Then we'd be as rich as Haymitch."

"I don't care if we're rich. I just want you to come home. You'll try won't you? Really, really try?" I asked. I want to know if she really will try, she can say that she will, but I'll know if she lies. I can always tell, even when she tries her best to hide it. I personally don't care if we become rich or not. Fortune doesn't matter to me, family does. I just want to know if the only family member I care about left is going to come back home to me. To hug me again, treat me the same as before, as if nothing changed, and the games never happened. I would love to see it.

"I'll really, really try. I swear it," Katniss says. It's as if she read my mind, as if she knew that I would miss her so much.

A Peacekeeper signaled that our time was up at the door. We were all hugging each other, not wanting to let go and possibly not be able to see each other ever again. Katniss kept saying, "I love you. I love you both." And we kept saying it back. All too soon, the Peacekeeper ordered us out of the door and into the hallway where others were waiting to come in. I could see Gale, the mayor's daughter, and surprisingly, Mr. Mellark was there as well. He walked into the room moments after we left. It's surprising that he would be visiting Katniss, considering that she would be ending up having to kill Peeta to win the games. I know him, I always save a couple of goat cheeses for him in return for bread at their bakery. He's always so nice, even nicer when his wife isn't around. They say that the father is the ruler of the family, but it seems like the mother is in this case. I'm not sure why he's visiting Katniss. Possibly to give her a gift? Maybe some baked goods as a farewell? I can't be sure.

It confuses me even more to see the mayor's daughter here as well. I don't know her. I can't even recall her name. I guess Katniss knows her, well enough at least. Maybe they met before? I don't recall seeing her earlier. Maybe it was at the Hob. I shake my head in confusion, wipe away any stray tears, and follow my mother home.

Mr. Mellark's POV

I waited for the mother and little girl to come out, before going in myself. I saw surprise on little girl's face. She was probably wondering why I was here, when I didn't know Katniss very well.

I figured that since my boy was definitely going to die in this year's hunger games, I might as well wish that girl good luck. She seemed strong and tough. She was brave enough to be the first person in District twelve to ever volunteer. She has a chance, unlike my son. She has experience in hunting, I know it from the game I buy from her. Every squirrel I buy from her was always shot dead in the eye, nowhere else. So I imagine that she has amazing accuracy and speed. My son, even if he has strength from handling the flour sacks in the bakery, is not very good at anything that could actually help him in the games. He's an artist as well, from helping me decorate cakes. I don't know if that will help, maybe he could find paint and camouflage himself like a chameleon and trick people into thinking he's dead. Although they would find out eventually when his cannon blast doesn't come. And, to add to that, they won't see his picture in the night when they show pictures of the fallen tributes.

As I entered the room, I could see velvet chairs, expensive stuff. I sat down on the edge of one of the chairs. Then I pulled out a white paper package from my jacket pocket and held it out to Katniss. She took it, and opened it, finding cookies inside. I thought it was a good gift, because cookies weren't easy to come by. It was a luxury many could not afford.

"Thank you." She says, politely. "I had some of your bread this morning. My friend Gale gave you a squirrel for it."

I nodded. I remembered trading with the boy. He seemed nice, it's somewhat surprising that these two are friends, considering the girl's attitude.

"Not your best trade," she says.

It didn't really matter to me. Although I have to admit, I was being generous to the boy because I've seen him before. He was out hunting for game to feed his family. That's a tough position to be at, so I gave him more than needed, to help him. I didn't expect him to share the bread to this girl, though. Him doing so must mean that they are very good friends.

We sat in silence for the rest of the time, neither of us had anything to say. Finally, a Peacekeeper came to let us know that our time was up and escorted me back into the hallway.

"I'll keep an eye on the little girl. Make sure she's eating." I say curtly, as I walk to the door. The last thing I see before leaving is a grateful expression flicker onto her face.

I would've done it even if I didn't know Katniss at all. I know her sister, she always gives me some goat cheese to trade for bread. I always give her more bread than the cheese was worth. I was fond of the girl, and I felt sorry for her. I had heard about the mine explosion, and how their father died. I thought that the two sisters were brave, with very strong bonds because they stuck together, even when their mother abandoned them.

Madge's POV

After the baker left, I took a deep breath. My turn. I hope that she will accept my gift. After pondering a few ways to give her the gift, I walked in, having a little speech in my head.

After sitting down next to her, I began speaking. "They let you wear one thing from your district in the arena. One thing to remind you of home. Will you wear this?" I ask, taking out my gift and holding it out in front of her. It was a mockingjay pin, elaborately carved out of brass.

After studying it for a few seconds, she asks, "Your pin?" She seemed rather touched that I was offering this to her.

I nod firmly and say, "Here, I'll put it on your dress, all right?" I open the clasp on the pin, and clasp it onto her dress, making sure that it'll stay on before removing my hands from the pin. I really want her to wear this in the arena. I want her to know that the whole time that she's in the arena, I'll be rooting for her. "Promise you'll wear it into the arena?"

She nods, but it's not enough for me. I need her to say that she will. "Promise?"

She looks me in the eye solemnly and says, "Yes."

I give her a farewell kiss on the cheek, and get up to leave, seeing as though the peacekeeper was already holding the door open for me impatiently. I walk out the door without another word. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Gale's POV

I'm last to see Katnip. When the door opened, I stepped in and held my arms out. Katnip doesn't hesitate to rush into them.

She needs to win, she has to. For Prim. I give her advice, to keep her alive. "Listen," I say. "Getting a knife should be pretty easy, but you've got to get your hands on a bow. That's your best chance."

"They don't always have bows," she says.

I know. But she needs one anyway. "Then make one, even a weak bow is better than no bow at all."

"I don't even know if there'll be wood,"

"There's almost always some wood," I say. "Since that year half of them died of cold. Not much entertainment in that." The gamemakers found that year the worst one of them all.

"Yes, there's usually some," she agrees. Good, she's finding inspiration.

"Katniss, it's just hunting. You're the best hunter I know," I say. I need to make that flame of inspiration grow larger and burn brighter.

"It's not just hunting. They're armed. They think," she points out. Uh oh, that flame's beginning to die out.

"So do you. And you've had more practice. Real practice. You know how to kill."

"Not people," She retorts.

"How different can it be, really?" I say, grimly.

The Peacekeepers come back too soon, and I ask for more time, but they take me away. Katniss starts to panic.

"Don't let them starve!" She cries out, clinging to my hand.

"I won't! You know I won't! Katniss, remember I-" I say, then they yank us apart and slam the door. I never had the chance to finish. I can only hope that the flame that would give her the will to live was large and strong enough.

Nike: Whoo, that was long! Longest chappie yet! I think that this story is better than our PJO one. Maybe it's because Aqua didn't contribute to this one.

Aqua: HEY!

Nike: *Runs away while Aqua tries to chase her down* JUST KIDDING!

*Dargon watches the chaos calmly, not planning to take a part in it*

Platinum: I did most of the writing in this chapter!

Nike: But I did the best parts!

Dargon: Lower your self-esteem, Nike.

All of us: PLEASE REVIEW!