I wake to the sunrise, gold and orange light streaming through my window like the colour of the daffodils in the meadow. I used to play there when I was young, chase my sister in the deep undergrowth of the wheat, or run barefoot through the grass up by the graceful willow, her branches swaying in the chilly breeze of district 12. Now, at fourteen, I prefer to walk through the woods. They are my home, my escape, my refuge from my busy life. Being the son of a baker, and a student in the local school can sometimes get hectic, so the sound of my footfalls pounding against the mossy earth, or the eerie singing of the mockingjays, transports me to another world.
I swing my long legs over the side of the bed, wiping the grit out of my coal grey eyes. I pad into the bathroom and turn the shiny silver knob. Cold water streams from nozzle, and I plunge my messy head of blonde streaked hair under. I gasp, the liquid is freezing cold, and jerk my head away from the icy jet of water, banging my head on the other tap. "Ouch!" I rub my scalp in frustration, and walk out the door of my bedroom.
I walk gingerly along the creaky wooden landing, carful to not wake anyone up. I step on to the wrong panel, and a large creak emerges from the colliding floorboards. I pause, listening for a sign that somebody heard. Quiet.
I jump down the last few steps, and raise my eyebrows when a thick sweet smell wafts through the kitchen door to my right. The back door is through the kitchen, but the front is only about 20 strides away. I'll risk it. I lift my weight off my right foot and cautiously walk past the open doorway. The sweet smell seeps into my nostrils, and my mouth waters. He's making 'pan au chocolat'. One of my favourites. I resist the urging temptation to bound in, grab one off the tray and sprint out the door. I continue, but my foot catches on a rumpled piece of carpet, and my legs give way beneath me. I land hardly on the kitchen tiles. Ugh! second time today. Dad jumps. "Whoah! Where did you come from?" He brandishes the spatula. I groan, and pull myself up. "You want a bite?" He says, sinking his teeth into the crisp pastry. "No, I'm good thanks, Dad." I respond, trying to think how I'm going to work my way out of this one. "So, I'll just be going then. . . " I say, pointing to the door.
"Not in those clothes, you're not!" I look downwards.
"Oh. Right." I grin sheepishly - I'm still wearing my pyjama's. I sprint up the stairs and grab a pair of baggy trousers, and a dark green hoodie. This time taking the stairs two at a time, I sprint my way to the brightly coloured door. "Thanks Dad!" I call, already half-way out, on to the granite steps. "Don't be too long Rye! Be back for lunch!" He shouts after me. I have a slight suspicion he knows where I'm going.
I take to a run, the frosty ground is hard, underneath my thick boots. Just as I reach the centre, a bright face pops out from behind a shop. "Hi Rye!" She smiles. A little too eagerly. She wraps her arms around my neck, but I brush her off. "Oh Rye! I haven't seen you in ages!"
" Yeah. Ages. I saw you yesterday Diana - now will you let me through?" She sighs.
"Ok. Talk to me later then." She flicks her blonde curls. I stride past her, and think, sure. Like thats going to happen.
I reach the gate, which opens up go the forest. My mum told me that it used to be a tall electric fence, but it was never on. Now a less harsh wooden fence is all that separates the district's busy town from the peaceful wood that surrounds the vicinity. Nobody really uses the woods now. Since the coal mines were blown up, District 12 has taken up technology, so people are less inclined to need to hunt to survive. Only me and one other person walk this wood. Her eyes so blue you could get lost just staring into their endless pit of wonder, radiant like the juniper berry after which she is named. Blonde streaked brown hair, thick, like a horse's mane, tied in a delicate Dutch, running down the back if her head. And her smile. It makes me crumble. Red lips - Wide, happy, like she will never frown.
A twig snaps, and I break out of my daze. Birds fly madly upwards into the bright orange sky. Whipping my head around, I catch her glance. I smile at her. She blushes, and ventures out of her stance, bow in hand. "Hi!" I call out to her. "Uh - sorry about the birds." One corner of her mouth twitches upwards.
"Um. Hey." She swipes fly away curls away from her face.
"Nice bow!" I say glancing and the beautiful carved wood in her hand. "If you teach me how to use it. . . I could show you how to throw knives." I smile, hopefully. Her blue eyes burn into mine, and I look away. "Um sure. . . R-" she pauses, her brow bent "Rye! That's it!" She hops of her rock, and offers her hand, shaking it vigorously when I clasp mine in hers. "It's a deal!" I smile.
We wait behind a rock, the doe's eyes glistening in the leafy light. Juniper waits, paused on her honkers. She lodges an arrow in her bow and pulls the string back, aiming for the doe's heart. I hold a knife ready, my arm taut and prepared to lunge forward with the weight of my throw.
"One. . . Two. . . Three" We fire, her arrow sinking into the coat of the deer, and my sharp knife plunging between her two eyes. It collapses on to the forest floor. "Bullseye." Juniper gasps, running to the deer. She retrieves the arrow with care, and grabs the knife. She hands it to me.
"So," she says nervously, "Do you want to have a go?" Waving her bow.
"No, I'm good actually. You're amazing at it! Probably the best I've seen since my mum. . ." I trail off. Mum hasn't been her usual self since Snow's granddaughter was elected. You see, after the rebellion, people moved around a lot, and the capital gained so much more citizens, that the capitol's vote usually overpowers the district's. Who knows what's going to happen now. I quickly change the subject. "Right, so now you must follow me." I beckon her over, and we trudge through the pine needles. We come to a thick hedge. I grab her hand, and pull her through. Juniper gasps, squeezing my hand. "My mother and father build me this when I was young." I explain showing her around the clearing. "They wanted me to have somewhere I could go to, practice with my knives," I point at the targets "or climbing," I stare up into the canopy of the trees. "Just in case those games. . . I mean anything bad happened, so I could defend myself - survive." She looks at me.
"It's amazing Rye!" We fall silent. I don't know what she's thinking about, but I wonder about what this new president will get up to. She is a descendent of President Snow after all. That could only mean trouble.
"Rye!" Juniper snaps her fingers in front of my eyes, "anyone in there?"
"Oh right yeah - sorry!" I grin, and pull one of my knives out of my jacket pocket. "Do you want to learn how?" I ask.
"No, I just would really love to see you throw them! It looks really cool!" She nods.
"All right. Here goes-" I fling the knife towards the target. It slices through the crisp morning air, and lands bang on the centre of the target. I see Juni's jaw drop out of the corner of my eye. I relax my muscles, and turn to face her, a proud expression fixed on my face. "I. . . I know this sounds weird for me. . . But - I'm actually lost for words - for once!" She catches my eye, and we burst out laughing. I wipe my eyes, glancing at my watch. "Oh God! I'm late for lunch!" I exclaim in surprise. Juniper laughs again, her eyes shining in happiness. "All right mister punctual! We better run then!"
Our feet pound together along the forest track, jumping over roots, and avoiding branches. Running in the fresh breeze coming off the lake, beneath the sea of different shades of green, I get one feeling : freedom.
We reach the fence, and stand awkwardly by it. "That was fun today, Rye." Juniper says, and smiles.
"It was amazing. I never thought I would have the chance to hunt with you! You're epic with a bow!" She blushes again, and looks back into the trees. "So. . . I'll eh - see you around?" I ask her, rubbing the back of my head with my hand. Juni's eyes seem to bulge out of her head.
"I'd love t -" She clamps her hand around her mouth. "Uh, I mean, Yeah that would be cool."
She grins sheepishly, hitching her backpack containing the chopped up deer meat on to her shoulder.
"So, I'll see you around - I gotta get back for lunch, and the President's new announcement!"
I suddenly hear a loud rumble from the sky. Grey clouds have formed, covering 12 in a net of darkness. The sky lights up, as a powerful streak of lightning hits a nearby tree. Juni jumps in fright. "I hate lightning!" She shivers, and looks up at the sky. The heavens open. Sheets of cool water jet down from the sky. I pull my hood up around my face. Juniper stands soaked, in only her teal blue t - shirt. "Oh man." She shouts, "I've left my jacket at the lake." She sighs, and face palms. "I've got to go Rye! My mum will murder me if she finds out I've left my good hunting jacket out in the rain." She glances up at the sky again. "Seems like the lightnings stopped. It'll be fine."
She starts to run. "WAIT!" I shout after her. She turns her head around, squinting in the lashing rain. I strip off my hoodie, and run over to her. Handing the jacket to her I wipe my sodden hair away from my face, giving her a worrying look. She smiles and takes it, pulling it over her head, she takes my hands and whispers, "I'll be fine!" Juniper laughs, and moves in closer, planting a small, delicate kiss on my mouth. Then she's gone, she bounds off into the forest. I stand in shock, and a goofy grin reaches my face.
I hurdle over the fence, and run through the village until I reach the big door of my cozy home, wondering how Juni's getting on with my jacket.
I throw my shoes on to the wrack, and walk into the kitchen where Dad is serving up lunch. He gives me that 'you're in trouble!' Look and says "you're back." Mum looks up from the table. Her face is white and her eyes are dull. "Hello, Rye." She says, barely audible, and gives a slight smile. Willow looks at me with sad eyes. Something's not right I think, but sit down at the mahogany table and tuck in to my soup, dipping my slice of freshly made bread into the creamy goodness. I take a swig of my water. Dad stands up suddenly, placing his hand on Mum's shoulder. Mum takes his hand in hers and looks up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Go on, Peeta."
"Rye - we - Eh - have some bad news." I look at them in horror. Where's this going?
"The President's speech took place earlier this morning while you were out." He pauses, and looks down at Mum, twisting her braid in his fingers sadly. He starts again but his voice cracks. Then, Mum speaks. "Rye, She's called on a vote to bring back The Hunger Games." I clench my fist, and throw my napkin on the table in anger. I am engulfed in terror. "No. . ." I whisper, "NO!" Shouting now I run out the door. Dad tries to follow me, but his leg slows him down. I burst out the door, as I hear mum starting to shout. She is probably as terrified as I am. This is why my Godfather Haymitch never had kids.