A/N: Sorry for the wait, I had a bit of writer's block.

Disclaimer: .-.

Chapter 7: The choice

Katniss POV

I lower my arrow, and tuck it into the sheath; my eyes stay narrowed at my mother. How did she find us so quickly? They'll take us back to the district for sure…I glance over at Gale, to find he's as terrified as I am. His eyes focus on the ground below, and I can't tell if it's to avert Hazelle's eyes, or regrets his decision to come.

"What are you doing out here? The shopkeepers told us you were in the woods, but there was no trace of footsteps on the path. There wasn't a search party, but if we didn't find you today there would be." Hazelle focuses her attention on Gale, but he keeps his eyes focused below. "We searched for hours yesterday with no sign of either of you. Do you know how terrifying not knowing where your oldest child is? I thought I lost you Gale. There's so many possibilities as to where you went, that I thought we were in the wrong direction. Do you understand what we went through?"

Gale pauses a moment before meeting Hazelle's gaze. "No, I don't know. But I have some idea how you felt. There's no sense of direction, and fear haunts you with every step. You've been through quite a bit, I can tell."

"Right, which means we should head back to the district before you two cause any more trouble. You're all they talk about in the district. Besides, well, the games. We shouldn't leave them guessing. It's better if you both come with us." As Hazelle grabs onto Gale's arm, my mother does the same. "No." I snap, while breaking her grip on my arm. "We're not going anywhere. There's no need for us back at home anyways. It's about time you learn for yourself. You did it once." Let's call this payback for leaving Prim and I after our father died.

"Katniss! You're being unreasonable. Do you want Prim and I to starve again? You're the one who provides for our family, not me. How can I return to a life I left years ago? It doesn't seem possible. We won't last long on the terressae. Just. Come. Back. With. Us."

"Well, I'm perfectly happy here. You won't starve, you have Prim's goat milk and you can start up your apothecary table. You don't always get the easy life. Sometimes, we all need a break. Whether you like it or not, you'll return without Gale and I."

"What about Prim?" My mother exclaims. Don't you care about your twelve-year-old sister back in the district? You'll never see her again if you stay. She cried for hours when she realized you weren't returning. Not even Buttercup or her goat will cheer her up. I promised her I'd find you and bring you back. The last thing either of us want is to hurt Prim. She'll be heartbroken if you don't come. Come back for Prim's sake at the very least."

A compromise. How will this solve anything? As much as I will miss Prim, I want to stay. I can't let Gale down again, so much for our normal day. If I do go back, life will never change. It's the same routine day after day, on top of the schoolwork once September comes. I can't return to that life, and I don't know if I ever will. I just want to be happy, is that too much to ask? I'm happy for once in my life, and now my own mother threatens to take even that away. There's no adventure to that life, not like the adventure that waits in the woods each morning. Craving to get my bow, and hunt with Gale. Here, I can do that every day.

"I said no! Just return to the district without us, I don't want to be trapped in a routine again. There's nothing to that life mom. I want to break free and enjoy the life I have. For all I know, I could be the next tribute of the 75th hunger games! If that's the case, at least I lived my last year to the fullest. If I return to the district, I'll lose all hope. Please, I want to stay here and hunt." Her eyes filled with hurt when I mentioned the games. She knows my name is in the reaping ball more than any other girl from the seam. For her, she loses me both ways.

"Gale" Hazelle begins, "think of Rory and Posy. Neither of them can sign up for terressae until the 76th hunger games. How will they feed our family? Surely neither of them can hunt. Do you even care about the family anymore? Are we nothing to you? What part of you thought this was a good idea for anyone? You're causing more trouble than you need to. Rory and Posy want to see you as much as Prim wants to see Katniss."

"Of course I care about the family! I taught Rory to hunt about a year ago, and he caught on immediately. He will feed our family. You're not nothing to me, I just can't stand the idea of the coal mines. I'll work the twelve hour shift each day with no time to hunt. How would I provide for the family back in the district if I only have half the day to myself? I came to be happy, alright? You'll provide for the family just as well as I do. Trust me on this."

She stayed quiet for a moment considering everything. "You really won't come back, will you?" Gale shook my head, waiting for her response. "I-I understand Gale. We'll carry on without you…" She trailed off, trying to blink back tears. I would do the same if my own son left me. How could you handle the goodbye knowing you'll never see them again? Then again, I'm just as bad as Gale… "Goodbye." Hazelle choked on the last syllable. "Goodbye." Katniss and I whispered.

A/N: Next chapter won't be as sad, I promise. I'm about half-way done with it right now.