The previous night was a long one. I tried to convince Katniss that she and her family should just stay with us, but they insisted they would be fine. The noise around the Seam, and the noise permeating from town had lasted until around midnight, and only then was I able to lay down in my bed in sleep, albeit fitfully. It's just about six in the morning now. Work doesn't start for another two hours, but I want to be sure that I'm up when Rory leaves.

I've fixed my self a large cup of herbal tea to help my mind wake up. The warmth of the cup is soothing to my hands that are going to be worked to the bone for the rest of the day. Looking out the window I can see light of dawn start to spread throughout the darkness. I feel like there might be a metaphor in there for what happened last night. Before I have any time to explore those deeper meanings though, I hear a door open behind me followed by the sound of soft footsteps.

I turn and watch Rory stumble into the kitchen. He's wearing his most durable pair of tan pants along with a faded, flannel shirt that I think used to belong to me. He had the foresight to carry his boots, so as to not wake anyone else up. I gesture for him to take a seat across from me, which he does without question. I slide my cup of tea over to him, and hand him a piece of the bread that I traded for at the bakery yesterday. It's good stuff too. One of the baker's boys, the youngest one, was there yesterday, and he always gives us the freshest bread when he's there. I'm pretty sure his name is Peeta, but he doesn't talk much, and I never feel the need to spare unnecessary words in conversation. It's just business.

Rory takes the bread and tea appreciatively. "Thanks," he says, ripping off a piece into his mouth. He chews and swallows quickly before gripping onto the still steaming cup. "Do you get used to being up at the crack of dawn, or does it always feel like this?"

He does look like he could put his head down and fall asleep at the table. "It'll get better," I say, leaning back in my chair. "Give it two or three years and you won't even notice it."

Rory's head pops up at that, "Two or three years?"

"Calm down, I'm kidding. Just try to go to bed an hour earlier and your body will adjust to it in no time."

I stand up from the table, and walk over to the ancient clock that we keep sitting on the windowsill and see that it's just about half-past six. Conveniently, at the same moment I see Katniss walking up the street. She's dressed in her normal hunting attire, bag slung over her back. Normally we meet each other in the woods, and she doesn't look entirely comfortable with the change routine. She sticks close the other houses around ours, eyes shifting around looking for any Peacekeeper patrols.

"It's time Rory," I turn and say to him. He nods, throwing back the rest of my tea, which I'm sure, scalded his throat, but it doesn't stop him. Now his tiredness is forgotten, replace by anticipation and he's on his feet in an instant, slipping his boots onto his feet.

While he's doing that, I pick up my game bag from next to the front door and take one of my spare knives out a cabinet and bring them over. Rory looks at the items in my hand curiously. "The bag is just for luck. I'm not expecting you to bring anything down your first time out, but maybe you'll be a natural." He takes the bag and throws the strap around his arm. "This is more important though," I tell him, holding the six-inch blade up. "Keep it hidden until you're passed the fence, so no one asks any questions. Once you're out there though, make sure you have it where you can reach it at all times. I'm sure there are some snares out there I've forgotten about, and one bad step and you're hanging from a tree upside down."

"Has that ever happened to you?" Rory questions me, looking almost hopeful, which I try not to take offense to.

I take a quick look out the window and see that Katniss is still walking down the street. "Don't tell her I told you this Rory, but when Katniss and I first started hunting together, she stepped in her own snare about a second after she finished setting the thing. I had to climb a tree and cut her down."

Rory's eyes almost pop from his head. "You're serious? You aren't just trying to freak me out?"

"Dead serious kid. And if you don't want me to hang you upside down from a tree on purpose, then you'll never share that with another living soul," I state gripping his shoulders. "She hit me so hard when I laughed at the time. She's much more dangerous now."

"I won't say anything Gale."

"Smart kid," I answer, patting his shoulder. "Let's go outside."

Rory follows me outside, to where the rays of daylight have now taken it up most of the sky. Katniss is standing at the foot of the steps to our porch, and I can tell by the way she shifts her weight from one foot to the other that she is anxious to go.

"Ready to go Rory?" she asks as we make it to the top step, where I stop walking, and Rory continues down.

"Been ready since yesterday," he smirks, standing next to her.

Katniss looks back up at me. "Be careful, today," she implores me. I think she says it every time she sees me now. She's told me she still has nightmares about losing her father in the mines, and now that I'm spending most of my time in the same place, I can tell it weighs on her mind even more now. I enjoy the fact that she thinks about me so much, but I wish it wasn't because she fears me being buried alive.

"I will, but you two look out for yourselves." I take a look around to make sure we're alone before I continue in a softer tone. "Triple check the fence today Katniss. I doubt it will be on, but better to be safe than sorry after last night."

She just nods. I know she would have done it, even if I hadn't said anything, but it makes me feel better. I would have spent all day in the mines with my mind preoccupied by the possibility that something bad was going to happen and I could have stopped it. Not having your wits about you in place where the walls can literally collapse on you is not a good thing.

Soon enough I'm watching the backs of Katniss and my brother as they take a shortcut between houses and avoid the main roads. I'm glad Rory is going, because it'll make me feel better knowing he's better prepared. We all know that in Panem, only being fourteen years old doesn't protect you from anything. I just wish I could go with them. I'm pretty sure I can actually feel the trees and the fresh air calling my name, trying to lure me in. I shake myself of the temptation to run after them, and turn back towards my front door, immediately wishing that I hadn't. My mother stands in the doorway clad in her bathrobe that had seen better days, with her arms crossed over her chest and that piercing look that only a mother can give to her son. Apparently they had not been as quiet as he thought.

"Mom-" I begin, but I don't get far.

"Gale Hawthorne, you better get in this house this instant, and explain to me where in the hell your brother is." Oh, that glare is deadly.

I waste little time making my way back inside the house and taking a seat at the table. My mother practically stomps over, taking a seat across from me.

"Well? Why hasn't your mouth started moving yet?" Ok she is really pissed.

I sit forward in my chair, considering my words carefully. I knew the conversation was going to have to happen. "Rory is going hunting with Katniss, although I'm guessing you probably already figured that out."

"I did, but my question is why? He's only fourteen Gale. I think you take for granted the fact that every time you go past that fence you're breaking the law. If anyone in power decided to stop ignoring it, they could shoot you without a second thought!"

"It's always been a risk," I remind her. "Dad knew that, and he took me out well before I was fourteen. It's the only reason we have haven't starved like the Capitol wants us to."

I notice my Mother's temper visibly cool, and the pain behind her eyes at the mention of my Father is evident. She doesn't continue talking right away, but shifts herself over so that she's next to me. I'm caught off guard when one of her hands takes one of mind and her other hand comes up to rub my cheek affectionately. "You've taken on so much responsibility since your Father was killed Gale, and he would be so proud of everything you have done-just like I am. But don't forget that you aren't your Father. I'm still your Mother, and you are still my son-Rory is still my son. You don't make choices like this behind my back." And, there is giant serving of guilt.

"I know," I concede quickly, gripping her hand that's still on my cheek, and looking her in the eyes. "This wasn't about trying to go behind your back. I was going to tell you."

"But why does Rory have to go into the woods all of a sudden Gale? Is this all about putting food on the table? Katniss has been providing us plenty during the week, and you still go on Sundays."

I shake my head. "I know we're not in dire need of food at the moment. This is just about the future, Mom. It isn't fair that we put all the pressure on Katniss to hunt, and we can't take for granted that she'll always be able to do it. It would help if Rory knew how to hunt and handle himself out there." I pause for a second, knowing what I'm going to say next won't be pleasant. "I spend six days every week in the mines now. We both know what that means. The chances are really high that one of these days something could go wrong and I might not come back."

"Gale!" she exclaims, and I can see tears in her eyes. "Don't speak like that."

"It's the truth. Everything Dad taught me would be gone if something happened, and I don't want that. It gives us an advantage that we know the things we know, and it's worth the risk."

"I don't question that Gale. I just wish you boys didn't have to put yourselves at risk."

"We may not have a choice one of these days," I add reluctantly.

"What does that mean?"

I turn and look back towards the bedrooms to make sure Vick and Posy are still in bed. "It means that eventually people are going to get fed up with this. At some point enough people are going to say 'no' to the Capitol and there's going to be a full blown war."

My mother looks completely aghast at the prospect. "Gale, they would kill all of us. Look at what's left of District 13."

"Maybe, maybe not. Where is it that the Capitol gets all of their fancy crap, all of their food? They couldn't just destroy all of the Districts unless they wanted to leave themselves with nothing. Can you even imagine them having to produce their own goods without us? I doubt they would know how."

"Is this what this is all about? Rory learning to fight?"

I shake my head at her comment. "It's not about fighting, it's about surviving. Rory is still only fourteen. He still has years left to be Reaped, and the next Games will be a Quarter Quell. Last Quell they doubled the amount of Tributes. They could throw a whole District worth of kids in if they wanted to. I just want Rory to be prepared for everything."

"I'm afraid about what they'll do for the Quell after what happened last night," my mother confesses. "The Capitol won't sit on their hands after being humiliated like that. I'm glad that Vick still has another year left, but Rory and Primrose are still at risk for it."

"They won't sit idle," I agree strongly. "And if they go too far, it could mean complete madness everywhere." I won't say it because I know my mother would probably slap me, but part of me hopes they try it. Let them push their luck and see what happens to them. It's probably a suicidal wish, but the part of me that wants to fight can't be clamped down so easily. My mother looks like she plans to continue the discussion, but the door behind us creaks open and we see Vick come walk out, stretching and trying to rearrange his hair which is all over the place.

"I have to go, Mom," I say and stand up from my chair, reaching for my jacket and my lunch pail. "Tell Posy I said to have a good day."

She reaches over, grabs the front of my shirt and pulls me down to kiss my cheek. "I will. Be careful Gale." That's the second time someone has told me to 'be careful' this morning, like I have some measure of control over whether the mine decides to swallow me. They should tell it to the mine.

As I walk past Vick on the way to the door, I rub his head and mess up the hair that he just managed to pat down. He just grumbles, but doesn't mind it too much. He'll mind later when he finds out Rory got to go learn how to hunt and he didn't.

There's already a queue for the elevator when I arrive at the mines, sitting at the base of the mountains. that surround District 12. Whenever it gets too crowded down there, they simply blow a new seam for the miners to cut into. I immediately see one my friends and fellow crewmembers waiting for me. Thom and I are same age and went to school together before we joined the mines. He's a little shorter than me with the common seem look, but he's built even stronger than I am. He can probably dig out more coal by himself then some entire crews pull out combined.

"Good to see you made it out in one piece last night," he comments to me as we step into line next to each other.

"Why do you say that?"

"It got pretty wild last night. Some people refused to leave and the damn Peacekeepers started swinging at us."

Now I'm especially glad we got out when we did. "Do you know if anyone was hurt?"

"Just a few bruises, nothing serious. Although Bristel did trip and twist her ankle while we were running back. I stopped to see her this morning and it was swollen up pretty good."

"I guess she won't be showing up today then." Bristel was another of our crewmembers. She was a few years older than us.

"No, she could barely walk when I saw her," Thom responds. "I was going to stop by after work to check on her again if you want to tag along."

"We'll see," I say noncommittally. I don't know if I'll be able to delay getting home today to make sure Rory makes it home alright.

We finally make it to the front of the line, and slip inside of the rickety, old elevator that takes everyone down. The thing is ancient, and I just anticipate the day where it breaks loose and plummets to the ground. The sound of the sputtering gears is anything but comforting. I switch the light on my helmet on, and gather my nerves as I do everyday, as the darkness surrounds us.

Luckily nothing bad happens throughout the day. The mine supervisors drive us hard, but the time passes quickly. Soon enough, Thom and I are on board the elevator again, unhurt, but most definitely unclean. The coal dust is everywhere, in every crevice and every pore of my skin. Unfortunately, when we reach the surface, there is barely the sun is already disappearing. I let Thom know that I really need to get home, and we make our goodbyes and set off in opposite directions.

Although nothing remarkable happen in the mines today, there was plenty of chatter about last night. There were varying attitudes about Thresh's interview, but most everyone was envious that the District 11 tribute got to throw Flickerman. There were some miners who were especially vocal about it, commending Thresh's words. We have family of fallen District Tributes working in our crews, and some of them whispered words that would never be said without consequence above ground. It's hard not to sympathize with them.

As I'm making my way home, I'm pleasantly surprised to see Katniss making her way down the street towards me. She's changed out the hunting clothes she was wearing this morning into jeans and a sweater. We fall in line walking together when I catch up to her.

"Some special reason that you wanted to walk me home today," I ask her lightly, though I can't help but smile at her.

"I just needed to stretch my legs."

"You go wandering through the woods every morning," I remind her. "Are you sure you just didn't miss me?"

She turns her head away from me, but before she does I can see her cheeks color lightly. "Maybe a little. It's hard only seeing you once a week after we've been together everyday for four years."

"It's not any easier for me," I let her know, honestly. She looks back at me, and just for a few seconds she gives me one those wanting looks that manage to slip through her mask of toughness and resolve that she keeps on so often. She hates showing vulnerability, so I appreciate the times when she does, especially when its for me.

I decide not to push it though, and change the topic. "How was Rory?" I ask.

"He was fine," she answers. "I showed him some of our favorite spots. Then we worked on shooting for a while."

"How many arrows did we lose," I inquire.

"Just a few. We spent most of the time with him just watching me."

"I'm sure he learned a lot. He'll most likely talk my ear off about it tonight." Not that I really mind

Katniss nods at me. "He was definitely eager. I told him you could teach him about tying snares."

"I'll do that."

We approach my house and I can see Rory and Vick on the porch, either playing a game or doing schoolwork next to a light. Katniss and I come to a stop a bit away from the house.

"Want to stop in?" I ask her.

She thinks about it for a second, but shakes her head. "Not tonight. I promised Prim I wouldn't be long. Are you going to see Rory off again tomorrow?"

"I wasn't planning on it. I can if you'd like me to."

Again she shakes her head. "No, you should sleep in. You look tired. I'll see you later, though. Goodnight Gale."

"Night Catnip." She walks away and I watch her go until she's out of sight. As I approach the porch, Rory stands and begins telling me about his day. I'm instantly grateful that I can get some extra sleep tomorrow because I know Rory is going to keep me up tonight. I know it's worth it though. Every little bit of information I can pass on to him is an advantage. One he'll probably need someday soon.