A/N: The inspiration for this chapter was a snow globe. Read on if you want to find out more. :)

Chapter 12: Carrie

The next day brings unexpected joy for both of us. I've shot my first squirrel.

"Great job, Carrie!" Andrew says with a grin. "We'll have a real feast."

We risk a fire for lunch and cook the squirrel, along with some other meat that Andrew somehow caught. We also eat some greens that I gathered near the fence of District 3, as well as some fish from a giant lake nearby.

"What's this called?" I ask Andrew, referring to a strange bird creature that he shot. "It tastes kind of like chicken."

Andrew shrugs and observes the piece in his hands. "Some kind of wild turkey creature. It's definitely edible, though."

"Well yeah. I'd be dead by now if it wasn't."

After lunch, we hop back on our scooters, our packs full of leftover food. We're pretty tired, since hunting is quite a bit of work. No wonder people in the Capitol are so lazy; we never get any exercise.

"So what are we doing today?" I ask Andrew.

Andrew looks over at me. "We're doing what we've been doing for almost a week now. Moving closer to District 12."

"But that's so boring!" I say. "Can't we stop near a district or something?"

"Again?" Andrew sighs. "What, is that our daily routine now?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Everyday we hunt, sleep, eat, and visit a different district. At this rate we'll be in District 12 next week. Is that really what you want?"

I knit my eyebrows. "Of course. I want to live there."

Andy stops his scooter suddenly and looks over at me. "Carrie. Do you even remember why we left the Capitol in the first place?"

"Um, no, I forgot." I stop my scooter as well and adjust the strap on my bag so it doesn't put as much pressure on my shoulder. I didn't really forget. I just don't want to have to say it.

"It was because of that letter, damn it!" Andrew shouts, kicking the ground. "How can you just act like you're having the time of your life, visiting districts, when we're defying the Capitol?"

"Andrew," I say softly. "I don't even know why you wrote that letter in the first place. The Hunger Games have been going on for almost seventy-two years. It's a way of life."

"But that's what we're protesting about," Andrew counters. "We won't be able to stop them alone, I know. There's only two of us. But maybe our story will inspire others."

I let out a silent sob. "No one will remember us, though! That's the problem. We're just two teenage runaways."

"Maybe," Andrew says. "but we know that we're more than that."

He starts up his scooter again and, with that, we're off on our way.

District 4 is the fishing district of Panem. All of the seafood we import comes from here. The GPS tells us a bit more about the economy of the district, but I lost interest after the first sentence. Water is not my thing.

Andrew, on the other hand, looks like he's in his sanctuary. Visiting this district reminds me of the little water fight we had on our first day as runaways. I smile, remembering how it feels like to be surrounded in the lake, with nothing for several yards around you except the water. Maybe swimming isn't so bad after all.

"Oh, look at this, Carrie!" Andy turns around and hands me something. "Can we get this?"

I sigh. Andy and I are in a public market in the square, observing handicrafts. The square here is incomplete; the fourth side of the 'square' is part of a huge lake. This is apparently the place where we get all our fish and crab from. From anywhere in the district you can this lake. The locals have no name for the lake, as far as Andy and I can tell. They just call it 'the lake'.

"What is this?" I ask, looking down at the round, globular object in my hands.

Andy shrugs. "The man behind the counter calls it a 'snow globe'."

My eyes light up. "Snow?"

I've only ever seen snow a handful of times, since it rarely ever snows in the Capitol. But up here in District 4, snow must be a common occurrence in the winter if they have a souvenir named after it.

The design is unique. A glass dome filled with water containing a few objects called shells and several children skating on the lake in the winter, when the water has frozen into ice.

"It's beautiful," I say to Andy. "I like it."

"Wait, that's not all. Shake it."

I peer quizzically at him. "Shake it?"

"Yes." Andy smiles. "Do it."

I shake the snow globe rapidly a few times and look back down at it.

"Oh!" I say, with a sharp intake of breath. The white bits of material lying at the bottom of the globe appear to be floating down on the skating children. Just like snow.

"That's just awesome," I exclaim. "How much is it?"

"Five rabos," Andy says. "Can we get it, Carrie? Please?"

I roll my eyes, trying to hide a smile. "Sure."

I hand the merchant five rabos from the stash from my father, and we continue walking around the square. Several minutes later, I see a small boy down at the other end of the town walking with his head down, looking sad.

"Wait right here," I say to Andy, and walk straight for the boy.

The boy looks up when I approach. "Are you here to take away my brother, too?"

"What?" I ask, completely confused.

"I'm Evan Cresta," the boy introduces himself, ignoring my question.

I furrow my eyebrows. Cresta. That sounds oddly familiar.

"My sister Annie won the Games two years ago," he explains with a grimace.

I nod, now understanding. "But why are you so sad? Don't the victors' families have happy lives?"

Evan looks even sadder now, if that's possible. "We did, for a while. But when Annie came back, I realized something was wrong about her. She used to be the best sister ever, she always would tell me stories about the grand adventures she went on. But now, she's all loopy and can't go ten minutes without getting hysterical about something."

I have tears in my eyes by the time Evan is done explaining about how the Games changed his big sister. I realize that even if you win the Games, you life will never be the same. For you or your family.

"Right now I'm supposed to be with my brother and Annie while my parents are fishing, but I ditched them. I'm too bummed to do anything, anyway," Evan says.

I feel like I have to do something for this kid, this kid whose life has been altered by the Games. I feel like I must do something for him, even though he has never helped me.

"Here, take this," I say urgently, handing Evan the snow globe.

Evan looks at the souvenir curiously. "Why are you giving me a snow globe?"

"Shake it."

"I know what happens."

I grit my teeth in frustration. "Just do it!"

Evan shakes the globe, and together we watch the 'snow' fall inside, raining down on the skating children.

"You're one of those snowflakes," I tell him. "You may be feelings down on the ground right now, but sometime soon someone will come around and give your life a shake, changing it for the good. Someone very special will do that, very soon."

Evan gives me a 'what are you talking about' look. I know I sound like my sister Rheah's therapist, but really? I'm opening my mouth to explain everything again, in a simpler fashion, but he interrupts me.

"But eventually, those snowflakes will calm down and settle back unhappily on the ground," he argues.

I suppress a smile. I have to hand it to him, this kid is smart. But fortunately, I know just what to say. "But someone will always be curious and thoughtful enough to reach over and give it a shake, sending you flying away again."

My little psychology lesson turns out well. Evan considers this for a second, then leaps up to give me a hug. "You're right, kind stranger. Thank you."

I watch as Evan runs back down the street, no doubt looking for his siblings. I feel a warm feeling run through my body as I go back to find Andrew.

"Were did you go?" he asks when I find him standing exactly where I left him. "I turned around and you were talking to some little kid in a parka. Believe me, it took a lot of strength not to call security."

"Relax," I say. "I was just talking to Evan Cresta."

"Who is that?" Andrew asks, obviously not recognizing the name.

I explain my story to Andrew, and by the time I am done, he's smiling and nodding appreciation.

"Good job, Carrie," he says. "I think you made him feel a lot better. But how did you know that someone would eventually help him?"

I shrug. "I don't know exactly. I just have this crazy feeling that one day, his sister Annie will find someone that cares about her and will take care of her and her family. Maybe not today or tomorrow. But soon."

Andrew nods and we start our short journey back to the fence, the happy feeling still with me.

"Hey, Andy?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I figured out why it's important to help others," I say to him.

"And why is that?" Andy says with a smile.

"Because it helps you, too."

A/N: Oh yeah. Snow globes are awesome. Who's with me? *high-five*

Ha, but seriously, I loved writing this chapter because there was something about it that made me want to roll up in a ball on the floor and shed happy tears. I'm glad I was able to fit Annie Cresta in here. And the whole thing about finding someone special to help her? Well, I bet you know who that is. ;)