Our family always spends time in the woods, not just time for hunting or picnics. My mama and I have an especially special place in the woods. The lake. Mama says this is where her father taught her to swim. I learned to swim here too. Sometimes I come alone to relax. Usually, Rue and I come to fish and gather katniss roots. I came to the lake almost every day in summer since I was five. But this summer, the summer I was 14, was the most special of them all.
I dove into the cool water, making only the smallest splash. When I surfaced, my blond hair was wet. My mother always remarked how much I looked like her sister. I was blond like my father, with gray-blue eyes. My father brought in the blue in my eyes, while my mother gave me the gray. I swam gracefully through the water. When I was done swimming, I stepped out onto dry land. I always swam in a little shift so I wasn't naked. I opened the game bag and took out a loaf of bread. There was also some left over rabbit. I quickly changed out of my shift into a white dress. I was starting to eat, when I heard a twig snap in the forest. I grabbed my bow Mama and Da always reminded me that there were some wild dogs, but usually I could befriend them with a little food. I was preparing to whistle to the dog –or whatever it was in there- when a boy stepped out of the woods. Not knowing who he was, I stepped back and kept my arrow notched. "Gale, move forward. We're at the lake, now." I furrowed my brows, for I couldn't see whom the other voice came from. A second later, a handsome older man stepped out from the concealing trees. Both of the men looked very similar. Dark hair, gray eyes. A bit like my mother in fact. Both of the strangers stopped and stared at me. I was sure it was partly because I was a stranger (to them, not to the woods) and partly for I assumed I was quite beautiful. My white dress was blowing in the slight summer breeze and my undone hair was curly and gentle. Also, they seemed a bit surprised at…..not me having a bow, but the bow itself. I heard the man whisper, "Katniss?" Then he looked back at me. "Prim? Are you out there?" A new voice startled me. I turned to see Cinna staring at me. I grabbed my game bag and ran over to Cinna. He disappeared into the forest. I started after them, but stopped in the concealment of the woods. The last thing I saw was the boy named Gale. Then I ran away.
