The Third Quarter Quell

by TJ Golding

In another universe, Prim was never reaped for the 74th Hunger Games and with no victors from District 12, girls would be chosen at random. When Prim's name was called however, Katniss volunteered in her place and quickly added more fuel to the fire of the rebellion, catching not just the eye of the world, but one of Finnick Odair's.

1. PROLOGUE

AUTHOR NOTES:

Okay so I'm going to have to make a quick note about everything that has gone on in this fanfic.

1. Peeta Mellark is reaped for the 74th Games with another random girl and is killed by Cato due to his leg being infected. Cato takes Brutus's place in the Quarter Quell and he is currently 19 years old.

2. Finnick is five years younger than canon and wins the 70th Hunger Games instead of Annie Cresta. Because of that, he's two years older than Katniss. I figured it'll be weird if he's 24 years old and she's 17. Age difference is always something that bothers me.

3. Annie Cresta will be Annie Odair, sister to Finnick instead of a love interest. She was never reaped for the Games, so I'm switching her up a bit. Annie will win the 71st Hunger Games instead of the 70th, making Annie and Finnick a sibling duo to the Games.

4. Katniss knows how to use a lot of other weapons. She doesn't outright train with them the way Careers does but… come on! Katniss has access to using bows and knives so why wouldn't she train with them in case she ever gets Reaped? She is mostly trained in bow and arrows, but she knows how to use ranged weapons like throwing knives, spears, throwing darts and melee weapons like quarterstaffs, hand-to-hand spears and knives.

5. Mr. Everdeen also makes other ranged weapons because he can't just start with a bow from the very beginning, does he? Using and making a bow and arrow is actually a lot harder than using and making things like spears and darts, so I made it so that he made other weapons for hunting before he got good enough to make a bow and arrows.

6. District 12 respects Katniss. I know it happens in canon, but here, I'm fleshing out the fact that she provides them fresh food and such.

7. Katniss has a closer bond to Madge and Mrs. Everdeen. Don't ask me why I add that, I just want to add that.

PROLOGUE

I breathed out a sigh of relief as Amelia Jacobs was reaped on not Prim or me. A weight was lifted off my shoulders, relief pouring through me. I thanked whatever higher power was out there that me or worse, Prim, didn't get reaped.

Effie Trinket quickly moved to the second glass bowl, placing her hand in it before drawing out a name. "The male tribute for the 74th Hunger Games is… Peeta Mellark."

Cold swept through my body, memories of me shivering in the rain and Peeta tossing me the burnt bread that saved mine and Prim's lives flashing through my mind. I wished that I could help him to repay the debt that I owed him, but I can't. The tributes were chosen and things were set in stone. Peeta will die and nothing will change that.

My eyes widened as I watched Peeta Mellark confess his love for me to the world. I narrowed my eyes. How dare he? How dare he make me look like some weak little fool?

A small, hidden part of me wondered if it was true or just a way to gain sponsors. I quickly rolled my eyes at that. Obviously it's a way to gain sponsors, although there certainly are some elements that were true. If only the Capitolites would stop hounding me, it'll be great too.

Peeta died a few days into the Games due to an infected leg. I wasn't surprised but I did wish that Peeta didn't make it to the Final Eight. Maybe then, the Capitol reporters won't hound and pester me with questions. I shrugged off his death as if it's a mere inconvenience and went back to my life before Peeta Mellark threw it off balance with his little confession.

The Everdeen luck ran out the next year.