Chapter 3 Into The Woods
Gale crept out of the mines, stayed to the shadow, it was long past dark and the district was quiet, but he didn't want to take any chances. He hoped his family would figure out that he wasn't dead, that his conversation with Hazelle would clue them in. It was too late to do anything about it now, he couldn't go back, no matter how much he wanted to, they were safe at least for now. He had to get to the woods as fast as possible, if anyone caught him it would only danger his family more. He hoped they would be fine without him.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and felt all the air leave his lungs, he was caught, might as well be dead until he heard a voice.
"About time" said Cinna in his slight Capitol accent "We were worried that you might not show up" Gale turned to Cinna, still trying to catch his breath. The other man still looked out of place, but from a distance you wouldn't be able to tell. He was wearing an worn out overcoat, patched pants and scratched leather boots, there was no sign of his expensive Capitol clothing.
"What are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?" Gale questioned Cinna "and whose 'we'"
"We can't talk here" said Cinna, dragging Gale through the quiet district. As they passed through the town he couldn't help but think it might be the last time he would ever see his district again. He felt the slightest bit of hesitation, it was true he hated District 12, but there were some good memories around each corner. The old slag heap where he had taken countless girls, the bakery where he had traded squirrels for bread the last time the morning of the reaping of the 74th Hunger Games. He had not been able to go back to trade again, the baker had lost his youngest son, just like Gale had lost his best friend. Finally they passed the Hob, the black market that he and Catnip had go to for years. Thoughts of her reminded Gale of why he was leaving the only place he had every know. Part of him wondered what the point was, she was gone, nothing could bring her back. Another larger part of him knew that he wouldn't be able to let her go unless he found whatever he needed to find to make peace with losing her.
"Wait" Gale said suddenly after they walked a few minute into the woods "I just need to get something" He walked off until he came to an old hollowed tree. Inside the alcove of the tree was a length of wire and rope, a few old hunting knives, two bows and two quivers of arrows. He took the slightly smaller bow and one of the quivers. Rory would know that he had been here, he had taken over most of the hunting since Gale had started working in the mines. He felt better that his family would know that he was at least still alive. For now.
Cinna looked like he wanted to ask but didn't Gale continued to follow him farther into the wood that Gale knew so well. They walked for what could of been hours through the woods. Gale was wondering again why he was trusting Cinna, he didn't even know the man he was following through the woods. If Cinna wasn't who Gale perceived him to be he was in serious trouble.
They finally stopped at a clearing much farther then Gale had ever been before. The sky was beginning to lighten to a dark blue from the black it had been all night, dawn was coming.
It wasn't long before Gale heard it. The deep hum of a small hovercraft as it appeared over the tree tops. Its shiny silver color stood out so Gale guessed that they were far away from the district to avoid being seen. It landed in the clearing, a door on the side opened and expelled a ladder as if it had a mind of its own.
Gale felt nerves well up in his chest, what was he getting into? Where was he going to end up? The only thing that kept him determined was that he didn't think he had anything left to lose.
"We have weapons where we're going, you know" Cinna said several minutes after they got on the hovercraft "You didn't have to bring your own"
Gale thought for a few moments before answering "They were her's" Understanding crossed over Cinna's face. Nether of them said another word as the minutes slowly passed. Eventually the hovercraft landed, Gale was rushed off by Cinna into a trapdoor right into the forest floor. He was led down stairs through a hallway until he was pushed into a room. At a desk in this room was a older woman with gray hair and eyes who stood when he entered.
"Gale Hawthorne" she asked, he nodded "I am President Alma Coin, welcome to District 13"
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