Hello my lovely readers! This is actually the fantastic idea of eckles, who has asked me to bring his story to life. I hope it doesn't disappoint, and for the rest of you, I hope you enjoy another Galeniss story!
A blush kisses the sky in the pre-dawn of the new day, begging to be seen by the few awake at this hour. Normally there would be plenty of watchers, waking for work in the mines or shops, but not today. Today is a day that many attempt to sleep in-if they can.
I don't fall into that category even if I had that liberty. Being the breadwinner for my family at as a teenager is a heady task, and yet one I've been doing for years now. And yet most of the time I don't mind it, the hunting in the woods, the fresh air that is a relief from the district's grey coal dust, the satisfying thunk into the flesh of animals when I manage to find and shoot them. This hour is one I've seen here in these woods for a long time and usually a ghost of a smile would grace my face when it came, as it meant it was time to go. Today, however, is different. Too much stress to think about the innocence of the sky.
"Reaping Day." My best friend reminds me gloomily as he picks at a worthless twig, relieving the bark from its stem as he broods.
"We'll get through it again." I predict with more confidence than I feel. A bitter snort from Gale beside me tells me that he knows how I really feel about it, but he doesn't call me out. We have too many slips of paper in that bowl, a better chance to get reaped than all of the town kids and many of the Seam ones too. It's not something to talk about though, especially today. Not when we can have a few more hours of ignorance.
"And what about next year? It won't just be us anymore." He reminds me, as if it wasn't on my mind already. No, it won't be just us anymore. Both of us have younger siblings that will at twelve years old be in their first reaping next year. Prim and Rory. Just thinking about it makes me angry.
"Then we'll save them." I state simply, knowing there isn't another option. Besides, both of them will only have one slip in the bowl because neither will take out tesserae like Gale and I do. We already talked about that and refuse to let them. It's not like I relish the thought of having to go into the arena if Prim was chosen, but it's a far better option for my conscience than letting her go in that death pit. That I couldn't handle.
"For how long?" Gale frowns, "I'd only have next year to do that for Rory and you would only have three for Prim. Too many years of them unprotected."
"Well we can't very well change anyone's ages, Gale." I point out, knowing where this conversation is going before he even speaks a word of it.
"But we can change where we are for the Reaping." He says, and I hold back a sigh. Here it is again.
"And running is going to help us today how? You know it's worse right before the Games. They'll catch us and kill us before we even get five miles with all the kids. Or bring us back just to reap us into the Games to punish you and me." I argue, shuddering slightly when I think of the runners we didn't help last year that a hovercraft found. They killed the one and took the other, and we never saw either again. It's not a fate I relish even if living in the woods away from the Capitol's wrath and control would be a nice change.
"Then we'll leave during the Games. Without the school calling roll call, we would have at least a few days if not a few weeks ahead of them by the time they knew we were gone. Plus some of the peacekeepers might cover us for the mandatory broadcasts, like Darius and Purina." He debates, and I shake my head.
"We can't count on that." I shoot him down as gently as I can, knowing it's for the best.
I was right. I wish I wasn't most of the time. But that conversation that unwillingly makes its way to my mind from a year ago today only makes me want to cry now. Not because I didn't run, but because Gale did.
I never thought he'd do it, to be honest. After we had that talk about it and I shot it down I thought that was the end of it. He grumbled under his breath, but that didn't faze me because he always did that after I made him see reality. That as sweet as running away would be, it wouldn't work. Besides, after we were both safe from the reaping he gave me a hug and all seemed fine, albeit he was still a bit antsy. I just put it down to the fact that he was still thinking of Rory and Prim being in there next year, and waved goodbye before going home with my family to eat a slightly larger dinner in relief that I was safe for another year.
I suppose he was still thinking of Rory then looking back now, and I just didn't anticipate what it meant. But the very next day he had vanished from his home, from the woods, from the Hob. It wasn't until I was well on my way home after exhausting my places to check that I realized he had run for it, really and truly.
Without me.
I went back and checked his house again just to be sure, and what I found only angered me further. Most of the dented kitchenware that the Hawthornes' owned was gone as well as all the blankets, a pillow or two, and Gale's hunting bag. All the food was gone too, even the food in the ice box that we had hunted just yesterday. It was more than enough proof for me and I wanted to just sit there and cry on the lumpy couch that I had sat in for years, but I couldn't. The peacekeepers would find out soon enough that they were missing, and I wasn't going to be there for them to find me when they did. For all I know, they could be coming to knock on the door now at my house to demand to know what happened to the Hawthornes, as we were probably their best source on the family.
I was off, but just on the timing. The banging on the door early morning the next day proved my thoughts and I nearly dropped my books on my foot from the sound if only because I dreaded this conversation. I was almost more irritated and hurt that Gale left me behind than the fact that he left at all, but I couldn't be thinking that.
Luckily it was Darius who questioned me, who seemed almost surprised to find me here which tells me he's shocked Gale left me behind too. With very few words he gathered that I had nothing to do with it and had no knowledge (well…real knowledge anyway. I never thought he'd actually go through with the plan) of them, he gathered the rest of the peacekeepers and they left for the woods to go find the Hawthornes.
About a week later, two days into the Hunger Games, another peacekeeper came knocking on our door to inform us that the runners had been caught and killed.
I've never cried so much in my life. Even for my father, who I had no time to mourn with two people to feed. I still had my mother and Prim to feed, but it wasn't as dire nor as hard as when I was a frightened eleven year old girl. And since I dared not to go to my woods to mourn my best friend and his family who seemed as my own most of the time, I crawled into the cellar to hide. I didn't come out until the next morning, though I knew there was a mandatory broadcasting. Perhaps the peacekeeper who came to check if I was watching heard me sobbing and assumed I was there, not wishing to deal with a crying girl. Perhaps they didn't check at all, knowing I'd never try something so stupid when my best friend did and died for it.
I did go to the woods again a few days later, more out of necessity than the fact that I wanted to. Who knows if security had gotten tighter or not? I would. But the fence was off as normal, and the woods were almost eerily silent. I avoided our spot for months but I hunted still, attempting to reset Gale's snares that he'd left behind but I never could do it as well as he did, and I never caught much of anything. My bow did not catch as much as I could have gotten had the snares worked or I had my partner to help since I felt helplessly half blind now when shooting, but we survived. I shot animals with my bow, some to take home and some to trade at the Hob. It was there I learned just how serious Gale had been about running.
He'd bought a tent months before the Hunger Games, old with a few tears that he thought that he could fix which would give it life for at least another few good years. He'd bought nails a month ago from the Hob Hardware guy Bruner, who claimed Gale paid extra for as many as Bruner could get the next day. Said he ended up scrounging up about three and a half dozen, which seems more than enough to me to build a cabin of some sort if you used them sparingly. From another vender he bought a water purifier a week before he left, claiming to the man as a joke that he needed cleaner bathwater. Greasy Sae hadn't sold him anything, but since the day he ran away she's looked at me with a pity I loathe. Eventually months after the fact as I was slurping down one of her slops, she ventured to bring him up.
"I never thought he'd leave you behind." She comments, if only because it's so busy in the Hob that no one can overhear us. I give her a frown and turn my eyes back to my bowl. Me too. He'd clearly been planning to leave for months, that was certain. All carefully hidden from me and probably his family too except for maybe Hazelle. But the kids couldn't have known. No, not at all. They'd promise and promise to not say a word and act like nothing was different, but one of them would have let it slip. Posy was only three and even if she had the slightest clue of what was going on she might have said something off hand. Most would have written it off as a toddler speaking nonsense but you never know.
But leave me behind of all people? I could have helped him hunt and put up the tent and keep watches. I wouldn't have left Prim or my mother behind, but I could have convinced them to go if I thought it was a good enough idea, had he on the off chance convinced me. So had that conversation been the last straw for him? I think it was, and he told me nothing to save me from the torture the peacekeepers surly would have done to get information out of me. Not that it matters now because he's dead and I'm alone again without a hunting partner. He's dead. They're dead. I'm alone. Bad idea for everyone.
"Me too." I whispered almost incoherently before putting down the bowl and slinking off, not wanting anyone to see the tears threatening to fall.
That was months ago now. I haven't allowed any tears to fall since then except for here in our spot, but I'm no less bitter. It's been a hard year and this will be a harder reaping, as the threat of Prim having her name in the reaping bowl looms over my head even heavier than it did last year. I've still managed to get enough on the table without her having to take out tesserae thank god, but just barely. It was so much easier to say that with Gale around to help me hunt.
It was also easier to think of going into the arena back when I had assurance that Prim would be alright with me gone or dead. Gale would have taken care of her just as I would have taken care of his family in the case either of us went to the arena. Now that's gone with Gale. If I get chosen today, I don't know what will happen to Prim and my mother. Prim can't hunt, and what my mother receives from her Seam customers is next to nothing for her apothecary skills-not that she'd ask for more when all of the Seam has next to nothing. Which means they would have Lady to give them cheese and milk until I had to return as a Victor. But more likely than not, I'd be just as dead as Gale and the rest of the Hawthornes and they would die too at some point. It's not a thought I relish thinking of, but a crude possibility.
With that bitter thought in mind, I get up as the sky starts turning to a light shade of blue and hunt and gather strawberries, never getting as much as just last year. But I've scrounged up enough that I can bring a rabbit home along with some stale bread with another rabbit, some greens, and some coins from selling all the strawberries. The coins are more than I should have received, but Madge had closed the door before I could protest against it. I hate the pity offer, but since I do need the coin I swallow my pride and force myself to go home with it.
The walk home is rather uneventful since people are undoubtedly getting ready for the reaping soon, something I'll have to dress quickly for as I was out in the woods longer than I intended. I realize since Gale stupidly left me here and tried and failed to escape with his family that I should be far more careful in the woods, but I'm not. Not really, anyway. The need for food is far greater than my fear, and as long as I'm not running I don't think the peacekeepers will say much of anything about it. Darius and the ones who frequent the Hob don't care, and Cray is always up for a nice fresh turkey. Naturally I don't get many of those of late because Gale was always the one that was good at getting turkeys mostly with his snares, but I get enough to ensure Cray leaves me generally alone to my long lonely hunting escapades.
"Katniss!" Prim calls my name, relieved as she gives me a hug no sooner than I've walked into our Seam home. Sighing, I hug her back and give her head a light kiss, assuring her that I'm fine. She's never admitted it, but ever since we heard the news that the Hawthornes' were killed for running she's terrified that I'll suffer the same fate one day and never come back. It's freaked her out for the last year if I'm late for good reason.
"I'm fine, Prim, just took me a little longer to gather strawberries than I thought." I comfort her, not telling her that the real reason is because I was sitting at our…my rock too long, thinking bitterly of last year and forcing back tears. I need to be strong for her, or at least pretend to be. Telling her that would do the opposite.
"You better hurry to clean up and dress then." My mother calls from the kitchen as she comes to see us at the door. "I left a basin and clothes for you in the bedroom."
I nod in reply, releasing myself from Prim's grasp to do such. I'm still not one for listening to my mother, but ever since last year I've tried harder. If Gale had convinced me to go with my family they'd be dead too, and that frightens me more than I'd like to admit. So I've really tried to mend my relationship with her and allow her to be a mother, which is harder than I expected. Of course she also looks at me with a pain in her eyes every time I try not to mention Gale to her or Prim. He's never far from my mind especially in the woods that will forever be our forest and not mine, but his ghost is safer locked in my head in the district, even here. You never know what people would think if I was seen to be missing a runner, even one who was known as my best friend. Not that my family would think ill of me, but I still need to be strong for them.
Once I'm washed as I'll get, dressed in a surprise of one of my mother's old dresses from her apothecary days in Town way back when, and my mother has braided my hair much fancier than normal as I scarf down a bowl of broth and tesserae bread that Prim brings me once she's eaten her own, we're on our way to the town square where most of the district has already gathered for the mandatory attendance. I slip my hand in Prim's and take her to her spot before my own closer to the stage, waiting for the Capitol escort Effie Trinket to choose the fate of the poor souls who were unlucky enough to not escape her manicured hands. I can only hope it's not mine. I don't know what my mother or Prim would do without me.
The ceremony goes by mainly with me not paying much attention until the names, but at the dead silence after the girl's name is called I find myself dumbstruck.
"No." I whisper in utter shock as the name is called, a choking feeling strangling me as I can't breathe. No. No. NO. Not that name.
Suddenly an almost bubbling laughter makes its way to my throat as I keep it down beneath the bitterness, because it has to be some kind of punishment of my very own. One slip. One. And it got chosen. Exactly what we feared in the woods last year, that we could only save them a few times. Well I suppose Gale had the right of it dying, because at least none of them had to die in front of cameras with the whole of Panem watching. I will, I think, as I cry to volunteer before Prim can even make her way to the stage, practically tripping over the rope to get there before she does.
They can't have her. They can have me.
Except now I can't go die in the Hunger Games like practically every single District 12 tribute there ever was. No, now I don't have anyone to take care of Prim or my mother, no pact that has to be kept. Because Gale died on me in his stupidity and…and…fickleheaded stubbornness, I have the gaunting task of winning in the arena.
I'm so lost in my world I almost miss the tribute of love from the district for me saving Prim, a twelve year old girl from her fate. Or maybe they're doing it out of pity. I don't know. I don't care. All I can think is how much I hate my best friend for dying on me and leaving me to this fate where I have little options to decide upon. There's only two, really. Win or the remaining Everdeens die.
I choose the former, even if it seems impossible.
"No." I gape as I watch District 12's reaping. It's a spectacle that the Capitol will love, but here in District 13 is only an example of why the Hunger Games are a terrible thing. As if anyone didn't know that already.
"A surprising turn of events." Boggs muses to himself, curious about the girl on the stage that almost looks…pissed under the shock. I can't imagine why.
"She has to win." I shake my head, wanting to punch something. Boggs seems to detect my anger as my fist closes and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Easy, Lieutenant. There isn't anything you can do to control the arena." He points out, but I don't listen to him more out of desperation than lack of sense.
"Not from here there isn't." I point out, forcing myself to breathe. A violent rage isn't going to convince anyone in this room that we can do something about the Capitol and the fucking dictator now, much less the all commanding President Coin.
"What are you suggesting, Lieutenant Hawthorne?" she questions me, seeming almost amused under her normally bland and mundane face that hides all emotions. I'm struggling to keep my cool, but under the circumstances I think that's probably expected. It's not their best friend that just volunteered for the Hunger Games after all. It's not their friend that has to win because they left her to the District instead of convincing her to run with them and their family. For all I know she thinks I'm dead.
Those arguments will also not convince them that I have to help her win. What they need is a logical, clever plan that will incite a rebellion of some sort. Well I'm not sure it's very logical nor clever, but I'm desperate and at the moment it's the only thing I can think of.
"Katniss Everdeen has just exemplified that she is against the Capitol by volunteering for her little sister to make certain that a twelve year old doesn't die." I start off, knowing it goes far deeper than that but leaving that for later. "By her winning the Hunger Games, we can use her to push the rebellion into starting."
"And what do you propose we do to aid her victory?" President Coin questions me, crossing her hands over her chest.
I give a little smirk, knowing it's almost idiotic but I'd look forward to doing this mission. Killing those damn Careers while protecting Katniss is a win win in my book. "What she needs…is a guardian angel."