Hey guys :) this is FeathersOfTheMockingjay here :D

Sorry for the long wait, I had to get through a bunch of exams, so I didn't have much time to write. And I swear I'm a long-time sufferer of writer's block.

Enjoy :P

P.S please don't forget to favourite / follow and leave me some feedback :D I love hearing from you guys.

Authors Note: I don't own The Hunger Games. Copyright to Suzanne Colllins. Most characters belong to her. I only own the idea + fanfic.

Chapter 3: Trains

Firm hands shove Juniper and I into the train carriage. The door immediately swooshes shut. I slam my hands against the door, trying not to accept the truth.

Realising that loosing my temper isn't going to get me out of this mess, I press my head against the glass. Defeated. That's the only word that springs to my mind. We have been taken over, once more, by the Capitol.

The train quickly gathers up speed, and soon the green fields are blurry, and melted together.

I glance upwards, and spot Juniper in the reflection. She leans against the opposite window, her blue eyes staring madly out the window, trying to take in as much as she can. I don't blame her - it's not like we're ever going to see it all again. We're like dead men walking.

I walk up to her, and she turns around. "How is this happening?" She chokes, then brushes away her tears.

"I mean, whatever about you or me getting reaped, but both of us?" She hangs her head. Her tangled braid is falling apart, and wisps of blonde flow out of her brown hair.

"This is it Rye." Juniper regretfully without looking up. "There's going to be an uproar with the districts."

I bite my lip. "I'm sure we'll think of something. . . Besides, Haymitch always has an idea." I touch her chin gently, and she lifts her head up, her eyes stained with salty tears. She slides her hands around my neck, and presses her forehead to mine. I watch her blue, blue eyes searching mine. I can think of nothing else to say but a cheesy, "I'd prefer to have you in there with me, more than any of the other girls back home." She pulls away and starts to dispute, but I stop her, my finger sliding over her lips. I smile, and she beams back at me.

I whoosh back into reality when I hear a bang and a clutter in the room, and jump away from Juni, flinging my hands behind my back.

"Oh Dear God. Another set of lovebirds."

The familiar drawl of Haymitch pounds across the room, he dizzily stumbles forwards, and bangs into the table, swearing. I look back quickly at Juniper, her face is bright red, and she examines her knuckles carefully. Her face finds mine and she stifles a giggle, her eyes glinting in the solemn light streaming through the window. I smile, at her beautiful face. Juniper grins, and looks back at her wind whipped hands shyly.

"Rye, your parents - or should I say mentors - are waiting for you and the girl in the lounge." He slurs. I wall confidently up to him, and bend down next to his chair and snap, "'The Girl' has a name you know." I get up and pat him on the shoulder, and exit the room.

"Watch what you're saying shortie," he calls after me. I roll my eyes. As I open the door into the next compartment, Juniper rushes awkwardly out of the room.

"Juniper." She calls after her, and calmly shuts the door.

Juniper's POV:

I follow Rye gingerly into the opposite carriage, keeping my eyes trained on his back. My fist clenches into a tight ball, when Rye hugs each of his parents, lingering, like he doesn't want to let go. Anger boils up inside of me, and I sit down on the plush couch to relieve my shaking legs.

I still can't believe how the Capitol had the heart to do this. To everyone. They have no idea what the impact is. Like a slap in the face, or having your head dunked in the school toilets. But sending those. . . Amazing people's kid into the games, is just plain cruel.

It's outrageous.

After all Katniss and Peeta did. What they went through. What Katniss went through, her confusion. Her love. Now I - me, just an poor child who hunts in the forest - am being sent into an arena to kill their son, whom Katniss was so afraid to have. The reason? Because she didn't want her children in those games. Katniss doesn't deserve this. I'd rather die myself then kill Rye. If anyone deserves to get out - it's Rye.

I can't kill him.

I can't.

I remember when all the girls in 6th grade, used to swoon over them. He'd just brush them off. I always thought that he would run off with one of the other girls eventually. They were all so much more prettier than me. But in those woods. . . He chose me, me. Out of everyone - and I am so grateful.

Now I won't live to tell him.

I bite my lip, snapping into reality like a fragile rubber band. I glance at him. Rye is immersed in deep conversation with his father, while his mother holds his hand, her eyes staring lovingly at him, scared, terrified, but filled with anger.

"I can't do this." I cry, and tear out of the compartment, searching for my room. I locate it, and slam the etched wooden door. My feet find the bed, and I throw myself heavily onto the covers. This, can't be happening. It can't be real.

Can it?

I close my eyes and try to block it all out. I tuck my knees under, and grip my ears with my dry hands.

I picture myself lying in the meadow, the dandelions and grass tickling my back, the shade calming me. Lolling under the tree, staring wildly up into the canopy of leaves. Searching for partings, so that my eyes can lock onto the blue sky, and billowing white clouds. But the sky becomes covered with a blanket of darkness. Thunder. Lightning. I am trapped in my own nightmare, created by horror. It can't be broken.

Suddenly, the door clicks open, and my eyes burst open. "Rye?" I ask and turn around. It's not Rye - Katniss stands before my bed. "Oh. Um - sorry. . . Um, Mrs. Mellark I thought you were . . . Eh-" I stutter, filled with embarrassment.

She is one of the most important people in my life. I was 10 when my Mum died, my Dad resolved to drink. He couldn't cope. I had to find some way to fund the house, or we would die of starvation. Then we started learning about The Hunger Games in school, and of course her story came up. I was blown away by her life story, and was inspired. I spent the rest of my evenings trying to earn money so I could buy a bow. I hunted for food, and traded for medicine and health needs, and money to pay the rent. Then my Dad died last year the day before my 13th birthday from a drug overdose. I had no one left. But I struggled through, determined to survive. And I did. Until now. I would be in a grave beside my parents if it weren't for them Mellark family. They gave me hope.

"Hi Juniper. You can call me Katniss. Don't worry." She walks forwards and sits down on the bed.

"I was wondering do you want something to eat? Peeta and Rye-"

I cringe at the word, biting my lip, urging myself not to cry. Not in front of my idol. Not now! I plead to myself. But it doesn't work. The thought of him weakens me. Spending time with a person I have to kill. A single tear drop rolls of my cheek, and splashes onto my not-so fresh blue dress.

"Juniper, I know you don't want another person telling you 'it's going to be all right' because I know how it feels to be told that, when you know it's a lie.

"This is dangerous stuff the Capitol has caused. Some of the districts are gradually forming an alliance. The games are going to change - for the worst. It's not certain but. . . There may be a chance that you and Rye might leave the arena, maybe even a few more of you. I don't really know you that well, but I know Rye really cares for you - alot. And I think he has for a while."

She pauses, probably asking herself whether she should go on.

"I'm beginning to see something in his eyes, that I've seen before in . . . Peeta's. The way he looks at you -"

she stops for a moment and catches sight of something outside the window, and rises up off the plush satin sheets. Still surveilling the land, she continues.

"I know Peeta's finding it very hard to accept that his son is going through the exact same steps as he did."

She turns around and smiles, her face lighting up.

"I'll leave you to it," She walks across the room to the door, "come have some dinner soon, huh?" Katniss looks at me one more time, now looking a little deflated and lost in thought, then leaves the room.

I sit there, thinking just for a while. About what she said. Does Rye really care about me that much? I focus my eyes on the intricate little patterns sewn into the duvet. Determined not to cry again.

I force myself of the bed, and pull out a dress from the wardrobe. I might aswell eat as much as I can. The likelihood is that i'm going to be starving in a few days.

Rye's POV:

The silent clatter of knives against plates fills the air, and I stare into the murky sky. Thousands of bright orbs light up the dark oblivion, blurred into jagged lines as the train cuts through the night.

The door creaks open, and I clumsily let my knife slip out of my hands onto the floor, nicking my finger on the knife as it makes it's way to the wooden floorboards. I bend down off of my chair to retrieve it, sucking the little pool of blood appearing on the tip of my finger. I glance up when I realise that the hushed murmuring between my parents and Haymitch has faded. I feel my mouth drop open. Her gentle figure swivels around, after quietly clasping the door shut. Juniper blushes madly, realising that all the eyes in the room are fixed on her. She awkwardly brushes one of the dangling curls behind her ear, and moves towards the table. I catch her gaze, and smile at her. Her eyes flit downwards, trying to stop the burning red from flowing to her cheeks again.

The dress she wears, is a dark, deep blue, and flows loosely around her body, matching her eyes effortlessly. Her hair has been caught up in a loose bun, with fly-away curls cascading from the sides of her head.

Those alluring, glowing balls of blue find my burning coals, and she grins a little sheepishly. "I decided to join you guys, for some food." She looks up at my mum, who gives her a reassuring look. "I might as well make the most of all this . . . " she stammers, trying to find a suitable word. "Um. . . Food. While I have it anyway."

Haymitch rises his glass and states, "To 'the girl' !" Juniper laughs a little, and then starts tucking in to the banquet laid out on the intricate table cloth. I try to wipe the stupid smile of my face, but my eyes are like a magnet to her, and I can't help but find her eyes every other second, and grin again. Dad looks at me, then at Juniper, and glances back to Mum. He looks worriedly at her, and furrows his brow. Mum places her hand gently on top of his, as he clutches the tablecloth. Instantly he relaxes, but I can feel the tension, worming its way into him. He excuses himself, and runs out the carriage door. "Peeta!" Mum calls after him. Plonking her serviette hastily on the table, she runs after Dad, and just as I start to hear a loud banging, and crashing - it stops. Silence. Juniper takes my hand, and her eyebrows are bent in an anxious expression. "Flashback." I mouth back at her, and she nods.

Haymitch beadily eyes us, and when he catches our glance, he winks, and gets up, "i'm just going to - retire - to my. . . room." He raises his bottle of a bright purple liquid. His long legs stagger forwards, and he bangs into the leg of the table, the force knocking the flask out of his gruff palms. It lands on the table with a loud splintering of glass, and the purple stuff oozes out onto the wood. He sighs. Suddenly, a loud, booming voice sounds through the cabin.

"THAT IS MAHOGANY!"

I whip my head around, to find a grinning Effie, her smile standing out on her pale face. "Effie?" Haymitch gasps, his mouth forming a perfect o.

She smirks, and runs forwards into his arms, flinging her arms around his neck. He looks a little startled and first, but sinks into the embrace. "Come on." I whisper at Juniper, jerking my head in the direction of the opposite carriage. We walk quietly over to the sliding door, and just before my foot touches the other side, I catch a nearly inaudible whisper : "I've missed you Effie."

I stumble along the carriage corridor in the dark, gripping onto the wall, trying to find the switch to the light. The only light present, is the eerie white seeping through the window. Its milky light an alien to Juni and I, trying to find the door to my bedroom. Then, I spot a sliver of light, coming from under a nearby door. I look back at Juni, and she nods, daring me to go forwards.

I sneak along the hallway, already starting to hear the hushed whispers finding their way under the door. I peer through the keyhole, Juniper not far behind.

My good mood immediately sinks. They stand in front of each other. Mum holds tightly to his hands, and he scrunched up his eyes.

"Shuushhh, Peeta. It's ok. It's just you and me. Nothing's going to happen, it's alright."

She smiles slightly, sighing slightly, when his shoulders relax. His eyes break open, and he looks down and their entwined hands. When his eyes return to Mum's, hers are glistening with tears. She smiles up at him, her whole face lighting up at the sight of his normal self. Dad pulls her in closer, and suddenly, a warm hand grabs mine. I can just about make out Juniper's face in the darkness. A single tear rolls down her cheek, and she bites her lip. I squeeze harder, trying to keep myself together, but my eyes gaze through the keyhole once more.

This time I keep my hand firmly in Juni's.

"I love you Katniss. I don't know how-" He stops, fumbling with her hair. "I don't think I could . . . Live through this without you." I grip Juni's hand tighter, in anger and desperation. I stand up solemnly, bringing her with me, bursting into the next room in anger.

"How, how, HOW!?" I hiss. "Why us. If we hadn't been reaped they wouldn't have to suffer. LOOK WHAT THE CAPITOL ARE DOING TO THEM!" I scream, thrashing my arms wildly around me. Juniper switches on a light, and takes both of my hands. Her bright blue eyes squint into mine, almost glowing in the dusk like light.

"Listen Rye. What's done is done. We're only human - we can't fix everything. . . ." she pauses, and breathes out heavily, her eyes still fixed on mine.

"but we can win for them. You're amazing with knives, and I got my bow. We can do this." I relax a little, but what she says next causes a chill to scrape down my back.

"And when it's just us two left, you're the one who gets saved. I have no family. Look what would happen if you died. You're parents couldn't live on with out you." I try to object, but she interrupts.

"Rye - you know it's the truth." That does it. I wriggle my hands out of her grasp.

"No Juni. I'm not going to let you. You're the only one I care about apart from my family. And I think I might. . ." I trail off. "Listen Juniper, I'm NOT going to do that. I can't. I won't. Ever." I stare out the window. "Please Juniper," I plead, grabbing her hands.

She turns her head away, "It's my choice, Rye," and let's my hands go.

"Get some rest, tomorrow we'll be arriving at the Capitol." Juni glances at me silently, then walks determinedly out the door.

The cannon booms, shaking the rocky earth beneath our feet. I feel uneasy on my feet, so I kneel gingerly down, and reach down to unhitch my cerated knife from the fallen tribute's chest. The limp body wallows in a pool of blood, and his eyes have glossed over, blood dripping from his hanging jaw. My shaking hands push myself up off the sandy track, and I turn to Juniper, who's face is still pitch white. "We've done it Juni." I smile at her. She frowns, her hands clutching the bow. "No Rye," she croaks, and walks forwards, so that our faces are only inches apart, "I don't think you understand." I still stare into those glowing blue orbs, and I feel the knife slip from my bloodied fingers. Her voice jolts as she whispers angrily into my ear, "They will only have one winner." She steps away from me, and hurls the bow over the edge of the canyon, and after a few seconds, I hear a the faint clatter of wood on rock.

"Juniper?" I ask, my voice cracking. "What are you doing?" Suddenly realising what she is about to do, I lunge forward, but slam into an invisible wall, dividing us.

"JUNI!" I bellow at the top of my lungs, and slam my fists rapidly against the barrier. I force my full weight against the wall.

"PLEASE JUNIPER! DON'T DO IT! PLEASE! THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY."

A sick feeling wiggle's its way from the bottom of my stomach, and I hurriedly gulp to bile back down my throat. Juniper raises the knife, her face terror stricken, and I fall to my knees, my legs no longer physically able to support my quivering body, and my fists become raw from banging against the glass. I shake my head at her, swear pouring down my forehead. "Please." I whisper, my voice hoarse from my shrieking. The knife edges closer to her heart, but I can see in her face she doesn't want to do it. I stare into those bright blue eyes, and a soft tear flows down her face. She bends down, lowering the knife, and I sigh, relief rushing through my veins. Until, I see her lean in towards the glass, resting her palm against the cool surface. "One more kill Rye. Then you're free." She draws herself up to full height, and the panic seeps in again. I jump upwards, and then slam my full weight against the divider, kicking, punching, heaving, and screaming at her, ordering her that she would stop. It just won't budge. My knuckles swell, and I stop for a moment, breathing heavily as I lean against the barrier. We catch eye contact. I mouth at her "please," my brow furrowed in angst.

Juniper closes her eyes, and holds the knife so it points towards her chest. I start up again, but however hard I try, the dirty blade reaches her body, and pierces her soft skin. Her eyes burst open in shock, pulls out the knife, and begins to whisper "I lo-" But her knees sink to the ground, and her body slumps forwards. Almost immediately, the barrier ceases to exist, and I tumble forward, landing on a sharp rock before her.

My breaths are short, and I slowly turn her body over,

hoping,

praying,

to hear soft, little breaths matching mine. The cannon booms once more, and I collapse, hugging her lifeless body to my chest. Tears stream from my eyes, bouncing off her discoloured cheek. I catch my reflection in her glassy eyes, my face red and eyes bloodshot.

Then, my focus returns to her open eyes, and my fingers gently close them, because I know, those little shining orbs, will never be the same again.

My body jerks upwards off the satin covers of my bed, gasping for breath. My hands clammily grip the covers, and my enormous t-shirt sticks to my salty, wet skin. I breathe heavily, and slick my soaking hair out of my eyes. The clock above my cupboard ticks loudly, and chimes, as it rings 4am. Gradually, the sound of beating footsteps get louder, and suddenly, the door bursts open and Juniper runs in, her eyes bloodshot, with dark rims showing plainly under them.

"Rye? Are you o-" I can't help myself. I jump off of the bed, and throw my arms round her neck, stopping her from going any further. She looks startled and begins to speak, but I stop her with a kiss. Juniper slides her palms around the back of my messy mop of hair, and I curve my hands around her waist. Her lips gently caress mine, and we are tangled in a wild embrace for what seems like eternity.

Then, she pulls away, her bright blue eyes staring quizzically into mine once more, and I place my finger to her lips.

"Never.

Ever.

Leave me."