AN: Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait. here's the next chapter. We've skipped some time and now Katniss is 10 and Gale is 12. I've come to realize that I can write young children and adults - anything in between seems to be difficult for me, so I apologize in advance for how adult Gale and Katniss sound. Still, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Hopefully I can get the next one up sooner - it's going to be very dramatic, unlike the fluff piece this chapter has turned into. So stick around, there is more good times to come!
Disclaimer: Suzanne Collins owns everything, though I wish she'd give me Gale.
Song of the Mockingjay: Chapter 4
Winters in District 12 were never predictable. Some years they were fairly warm with little snow and sometimes it felt like the whole world had always been ,and would always be, covered in a blanket of white. The short days and long nights were hard, especially for the miners. They woke long before the first rays of sunlight peaked over the horizon and emerged from the darkness of the mountain only to find the surface just as black.
Gale had been born during a particularly harsh winter. As his mother liked to tell it, they hadn't had any electricity in days and the snow had been piled shoulder high around small paths shoveled around town. Freezing temperatures and food shortages had caused a lot of deaths and the lack of able bodied miners had meant that Marcus had pulled extra hours in the mines. His shift was so long that she went into labor and had Gale before Marcus had returned home.
His smile, she said, was brighter than the bonfire at the Solstice festival the next night - and it had stayed that way until spring.
This year the winter had been fairly mild. They hadn't had a serious snowfall yet and the temperatures had been practically balmy for the time of year. It meant that more animals were active in the woods and that meant more meat on the table for the Hawthorne family.
Gale stretched in the darkness, feeling the two small, warm bodies pressed on either side of him. Vick - now two - had decided that he didn't want to sleep with his parents anymore. He was permanently glued to his brothers, often following them around like a shadow when they were home. It was annoying for Rory and Gale, but good for his mother. Vick was growing like a weed - a trait shared by all the Hawthorne boys - and his new found height and mobility meant that he was getting himself into all sorts of trouble. The only time his relentless curiosity seemed to be manageable was when it was fixated on his older brothers.
Rory was tolerating it, but he was reaching the end of his rope, often escaping to the Everdeen house and Prim. The two were basically inseparable, even when Prim forced him to play with her two small dolls The first few times he had run off Hazelle had been furious. They had searched everywhere for the young boy, only to find him happily playing in the small fenced in yard with Prim. It had become the rule that Rory could to go over to the Everdeen house if and only if Gale walked him over there and Katniss brought him back before dinner.
That meant that Gale was often left alone with the bundle of tireless energy that was his youngest sibling. He loved Vick, he really did, but the boy could be exhausting. He understood why his mother was always so eager to pawn Vick off on Gale the second he was home from school.
Today, however, was Gale's day - December 20th, his birthday. With the preparations for the Solstice celebration in full swing, he knew that his family's funds were tighter than usual. He didn't mind. The only thing he ever wanted was the one thing he got - one full day with his father. Marcus would take the day off the mines and spend it with Gale doing whatever he wanted. He knew they needed the money and forgoing a day's wage put a strain on their limited funds, but Marcus was insistent and he did it for every one of his children's birthdays and his wife's.
In the darkness of the morning, Gale could hear the slight creaking in the room next to his. It meant his father was up. It was just past six, a full hour after his father usually reported to the mines, but still a while before the sun rose.
Slowly, Gale disentangled himself from the mess of small limbs wrapped around him and got dressed. They needed to get moving soon if they were going to reach their hunting spot by dawn. During winter they had to ventured farther and farther out to catch game since so much animal population was hibernating. With the short days and the larger distances it meant that their window for hunting was severely limited.
"Gale?" His father whispered, cracking the door open ever so slightly.
"I'm up. Just give me a minute."
Gale put on his hunting boots - a hand-me-down from his father - a thick sweater and cap knitted by his mother last year since he had outgrown his last ones. He met his father in the hall with a big smile.
Marcus fingered the shaggy black hair sticking out from under the brown cap. "Getting a bit long there, don't you think?"
Gale rolled his eyes. "I don't need a haircut."
"Too bad." Marcus said, pushing the cap forward on his head. "I'll get your mother to do it later. Trust me, when you're older you'll be glad that we instilled you with some grooming habits."
Gale ducked out from under his father's hand. "Are we going to go hunting today or am I going to get a lecture on the importance of shaving?"
"We can do both. There is a lot of down time in the woods these days."
The smirk on Gale's face dropped. "Please don't."
Marcus threw his arm around Gale's shoulder. He had grown four inches in the last year, but compared to his father's six foot three frame, he still felt small. "You complain now, but in a couple of years you're going to be begging me for advice on girls."
"From what I hear from Mom, you're advice won't help much."
Marcus stopped, letting Gale slip out from under his arm. His mouth opened and closed a few times making Gale laugh. "I wooed your mother with grace and skill. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar."
"Wonder what Greasy Sae would have to say about that." Gale chuckled, dodging his father's playful swings. After a few tries, his father gave up, shaking his head at the youth.
"You got that lip from your mother. Not me."
"I know. Her brains too." His father lunged at him, and this time Gale wasn't fast enough to escape. He ground his fist none too gently into Gale's cap making the wool fabric shift down over his eyes. Gale protested, trying to break free, but his father had too tight a hold on him. With three boys in the house, Gale had gotten pretty good at wrestling, but his father still bested him every time.
"Cheeky boy." Marcus chided, but his voice was all amusement and his face was bright with a smile when he let his son go. There was a brief frown, but Marcus hid it as quickly as it formed. "Come on, we need to get a move on if we want to catch something for lunch."
Gale rubbed the sore spot on his head for a moment before catching up with his father's long strides. The Meadow was quiet as they passed under the fence. In a few months the brown grass would grow tall and green, wild flowers would color the landscape, and cicadas would sing every night. He couldn't wait for spring, even if it meant that his first reaping would be just around the corner.
At twelve, Gale was finally eligible for the Hunger Games. Just the thought of the annual competition haunted his dreams. It was a bloodbath and viewing was mandatory - to make sure everyone fully understood the power of the Capitol. Every year they took two innocent children from every district - one boy and one girl - and forced them to fight to the death. Only one victor came out, and more often than not it was from one of the wealthier districts. In District twelve, 'tribute' was synonymous with 'death'. They only had one living victor - Haymitch Abernathy - and he was an old, portly drunk that, spent most of his days at the bottom of the bottle.
His father had pointed him out once and Gale had never forgotten Abernathy ever since. "There," His father had said, as the man had stumbled by reeking of spirits. "That is a broken man. It's the only gift the Capitol will ever give you."
Gale shook his head as he followed his father deeper into the woods. He didn't want to think about the Games, not today. Today was his day. Marcus and Gale laughed and chatted as they checked their snare lines. Today they had a good haul - especially for winter: two rabbits, a squirrel, and a raccoon. The raccoon was still relatively fat and would fetch a good price at the Hob - most meat did at this time of year. Rabbit was Sae's favorite to serve in stew, but Gale knew that they would be keeping those two. His mother had specifically asked for any they had brought back, to make rabbit for the Solstice. That meant that they were having squirrel for dinner. Not his favorite, but anything was better than the bland grain mush they ate most days.
The sun was high when they finally stopped for lunch. His father pulled out some dense, flat bread. It was made from the the same grain as their mush, but ground coarsely and baked so it approached something that appeared to be bread. The only real flour was expensive, so much so that only a handful of members of District 12 could afford to buy it. The bakers got a discount since they bought it in bulk direct from the Capitol, so their bread wasn't too outrageously priced, but it was still a treat for people in the Seam. Once in a blue moon his family could afford a loaf and that was mostly due to the baker's affection for the Katniss. He always gave them a better deal if she was around.
A few pieces of precious squirrel jerky rounded out the small meal, making Gale ache even more for the changing of the seasons. His father didn't seem too interested in his meal, sighing loudly as he twirled a piece of jerky in his fingers.
"I wish I could give you more." He said, looking up at Gale. Reaching across, he placed a warm palm on Gale's cheek. "You deserve so much more than this."
"You're doing the best you can Dad. We all know it."
"But it's not enough. I work 12 hours a day, six days a week and for what? Bad grain and a handful of coins? We can barely scrape by, and that's only because we break the law and hunt for our meat. No one in the Seam can have both a family and full stomachs - and the worst part is that the Capitol prefers it that way." His hand clenches around the piece of jerky. "Bastards."
Gale had heard this before. His father had a deep hatred for the Capitol - most people in the Seam did, but most never said anything because inside the fence it was too dangerous. Out here though, his father was open with his opinions and Gale could see the fire that burned in his eyes. It made the boy proud to know that even with the harsh life, his father never gave up. Gale swore that he wouldn't either.
"Why don't we leave then?" Gale whispered. He looks out over the woods. Even in the harshness of winter, it still looked like freedom. If he had one wish, one gift for his birthday, it would be to stay out here forever; no fences, no rules, no Capitol.
Marcus looked over at Gale, smiling sadly. "That would be nice. We could build a small house in the woods, close to a stream with fish. You and I would hunt all day, and when Rory and Vick were old enough they'd join us. We'd have fresh meat all year and plenty of furs to keep us warm. That would be the life."
"It would be better than staying here. Especially since..." Gale wanted to say 'Since I'm up for reaping' but he couldn't get the words out of his mouth. His father knew what he wanted to say though. Marcus reached out a hand and placed it on Gale's shoulder.
"Especially since you're twelve now." He sighed, looking up at the sky. "With the two younglings and the Capitol on our tail we'd never make it. We could be beaten or jailed for hunting, but that is nothing compared to what would happen when the Capitol caught us trying to run. I would never put your mother or you through that. People deserve a better fate."
"District twelve isn't much better."
"No, you're right." Marcus ran a hand through his unruly hair, a habit of his when he was frustrated - one that Gale had picked up. "I wish I could just take you away and give you a better life. I wish I could save you from the reapings. I wish that you never had to know what it was like to work in the mines." He sighed loudly. "I wish a lot of things."
"Me too." Gale whispered.
Marcus smiled then, looking over at his son. "Did I ever tell you how I met your mother?"
Gale shrugged. "Something about the Justice Building."
He nodded. "It was a few weeks after the Hunger Games. It had been particularly brutal that year and I knew the kid from 12 who was reaped. After he died, I couldn't sleep for weeks. I was angry and went up to the Justice building and started throwing rocks at windows. Luckily it was your mother who opened the doors and not a Peacekeeper. Her arms were filled with tesserae grain and oil and I almost hit her with a rock. She was so angry with me that she dragged me back to the Seam by my hair." He chuckled at the memory, staring up at the sky. "She kept me out of trouble then and she's been doing it ever since."
"You threw rocks at the Justice Building?" Gale's eyes were wide. He had always heard stories from his mother about how much trouble his father was growing up, but Gale had never understood how much of a handful the man had been in his teens.
"Yes - and don't you get any ideas about it!" Marcus snapped, mumbling, "Your mother would kill me." He coughed and grabbed his son by the shoulder. "Look, life in the Seam is hard. It isn't easy and it isn't fair, but that doesn't have to be everything to life. You're like me - too much like me sometimes. You see the injustice and it makes you want to fight. Not everyone is like that. But if you are smart you can make a life for yourself outside the Capitol's rules. Hunting is illegal, but we do it anyways because we sell our goods to the right people and we are careful. It's a small rebellion, but it still is one. I don't want you to ever stop fighting them, but I want you to think about how you do it."
"Like only talking about the Capitol where they can't hear us." Gale mumbled, looking at his father with new admiration. He was a rebel, a fighter, and he saw the same in Gale. Pride flared in his chest and Gale was pretty confident that it was never going to go away.
"Exactly." Marcus said, then he smirked and leaned towards his son conspiratorially. "Did you know the Solstice celebration originally was an act of rebellion?"
Gale shook his head.
"Years ago, people tried to fight back. To break their spirits the Capitol tried to starve them into submission and freeze the fight out of them. They didn't send any fresh food and shut off all the electricity. It was a harsh winter, but everyone - even the people from town - pooled their food to feed those who couldn't feed themselves. They made fires for light and heat to keep people alive through the long nights. Finally, the Capitol relented knowing they could to lose the whole district if they didn't. That was when tesserae started. People could get more food, but on the Capitol's terms. We don't usually talk about it during the Solstice celebration, but everyone knows and for one night we are all rebels.
"Do you understand what I am trying to tell you?" Marcus asked. Gale nodded.
"Good." Marcus said, standing up and dusting his trousers off. "We should probably get home before your mother starts to worry."
It was just after sunset when the Everdeens arrived. His father was busy finishing cleaning and cutting up the lone squirrel when John Everdeen dropped two more on the table. Marcus looked up at him with an eyebrow raised.
John shrugged. "Katniss wanted to go hunting after work, and for once Cami thought it was a good idea, so who was I to deny my girls."
The two animals had already been cleaned, leaving little work for Marcus. "You must have found these quickly if you had time to hunt after the half day."
"Katniss is becoming very good at flushing out game." John said with a smile. "We even got some more for tomorrow's get together."
Gale came over, taking the extra hunting knife and set about skinning the game. "I bet you can get game faster since you don't have to wait on snares."
John nodded. "True, since I have my bow, but it is a lot harder since there's a higher risk of failure. Sometimes I come back with nothing to show for it."
"Still..." Gale said, a hint of wistfulness in his tone. He wanted to learn how to shoot. The largest game they ever brought back were things that Gale and Katniss corralled for John to shot. It was how they got duck, geese and even a fox once, whose pelt sold for good coin. If they had more bows then it would be possible to hunt even larger game, maybe even venison, but weapons were illegal in the Districts so it wasn't like Gale could just go out and buy one. John Everdeen's bow was the only one Gale had ever seen and that had been made by John's father.
It still didn't change the fact that Gale really wanted to learn how to shoot.
John smiled at Gale. "You're right though, on good days it does really make things go faster. More shooters would also increase our chances."
Gale's eyes went wide, and for a second his hand slipped, pushing the blade through the squirrel pelt and into the wood of the cutting board.
"Careful Gale." Marcus admonished, causing his son to look sheepish. He looked up at John Everdeen. "You too John. Don't get his hopes up if you don't mean it."
John held his hands up in a placating manner. "Do you really think I'd do that?" He asked, his tone dripping with amusement. "Katniss!" He called. She sauntered in, a big smirk on her face carrying a tall, single wood shaft - carved so that the ends bowed slightly forward from a center point and then backwards. It was a good ten inches taller than the small girl and made of a dark wood. Gale's eyes widened and he dropped the knife.
"Is that for me?" He asked.
"No, it's for me." Katniss said, rolling her eyes. "Of course it is."
Wiping his hands on his pants, Gale took the unstrung bow from Katniss. It was as tall as he was and up close he could see the details in the carving, from the smooth neck to the flat grip that was wrapped in leather with a smooth arrow rest just above it.
"John," Hazelle said looking at her son, who held the bow with a gentle reverence, then back at the smiling Everdeens. "This is too much."
He waved her off. "Nonsense. The only thing that it cost was time. Besides, with Gale and Katniss shooting we'll have more food for everyone." He lowered his voice. "I know how difficult it's been this winter for your family."
She sighed and shot him a small smile. "That's the problem with three growing boys."
"Or just being Seam." He said, looking back over at Gale and Katniss. He was holding out the bow as best he could and imitating the motions that he had seen John do a thousand times. Draw and release. Katniss was already moving his feet and shoulders into better positions which made John laugh.
"When can I start lessons?" Gale said, his eyes alight with excitement.
"Once I'm done with Katniss' bow. We'll practice over the winter and come spring you two should be ready for real game." John said.
"You're getting one too?" Gale asked and Katniss nodded back, just as happy as he was.
"It's a lot smaller, but Dad said he'll make me a real one once I'm bigger."
Gale smirked, holding his hand above her head. "Are you going to get any bigger?" That earned him a punch and he clutched his gut while laughing. It was to worth it.
"I bet I'll outgrow you." She snapped.
"Better just give me the necklace now since that will never happen." He frowned for a moment, noticing for the first time that the crystal was conspicuously absent from her neck. "Where is it?"
She blushed ever so slightly and turned, pulling a small package out from her back pocket. She handed him the bundle, mumbling something he couldn't make out. The cloth parcel was tied together at the top with the leather string of the necklace and it still had the small purple crystal hanging from the end.
"More?" He asked. His mother was right. This was too much. What little money that his father brought in usually went towards the necessities - food, clothing and oil. This was true for most people in the Seam, so the sharing of resources was often more of a trade since no one could really afford to give anything away for free. The exception to the unspoken rule seemed to be Camille Everdeen and her free medical treatment - apparently that generous philosophy extended to the rest of her family.
"This one is from me and only because you'll need it." Katniss said. "And the crystal is just because you survived another year. That's pretty impressive here, so I figured you earned it."
Gale shook his head. Of course Katniss would rationalize the whole experience. Pulling the loose knot on the leather, the cloth opened and he frowned, not knowing what it was. "Err, thanks?"
Sighing, she pulled his right hand towards her, hooking the leather band around his wrist and placing the attached caps on his first three fingers. "It's a shooting glove. Dad has one to keep his hands from bleeding during long hunts."
He looked down at the soft, supple leather and back up at Katniss. "Did you make this?"
She blushed more, the tips of her ears turning red. John laughed. "She did. Wouldn't let anyone else help her. She caught the rabbit, prepped and tanned the leather herself."
"Catnip..." Gale said, looking over glove. He could tell it was handmade - the leather was well worked but the stitching was uneven. It made him smile. He could easily see her sitting over the glove, agonizing over every detail and fumbling horribly with the needle and thread. Just the thought that she had gone through all the trouble for him made his heart swell. Impulsively he reached over and hugged her.
She squeaked and tensed in his arms, but after a moment she awkwardly returned the embrace. They had grown closer in the last two years but most of their physical contact was challenging in nature: punches, kicks, and the occasional wrestling match when trying to scramble up a tree. This was entirely new for both of them, but it felt more comfortable the longer he held on.
"Thanks." Gale said as he released her.
Katniss nodded, her face thoughtful. "We're friends. That's what they do right?"
"Yeah. That's what they do."
"Good." She said. "Now you'll have no excuse when I beat you."
Gale sputtered. "Excuse me?"
"Archery. You aren't allowed to whine when I'm better at it." Her voice was strong and her words matter of fact - daring him, challenging him, forcing him to keep up with her. Sometimes he forgot that she was two years younger than him.
Gale snorted. "Not happening."
Katniss didn't say anything, she just smiled at him and he couldn't wait for their lessons to begin.
The sun was just peaking through the window. The world was still grey, bland, and cold; and if she hadn't been shocked awake, Katniss would have still gladly been sleeping.
"Katniss! Wake up!" Prim hissed in the dark, shaking her furiously. Her messy braids swung as she used her whole body to force her sister into the waking world.
"Prim." Katniss groaned, shoving the pillow over her face and trying to ignore the younger girl. "Let me sleep!"
"But it's the Solstice Katniss!" She climbed over Katniss - pointy knees and elbows digging painfully into soft flesh as she scrambled to their small window. It faced east making it hard to sleep in most of the year. "The only day that the lights never turn off."
Katniss peaked out from under her pillow see Prim standing on their small bed trying to see the sun over the blackened Seam roofs. Lately Prim had become scared of the dark - and Katniss blamed Rory for it, or more specifically, Gale. Rory had been bugging Gale for a story and the idiot told him about a monster that lived in the shadows and kidnaped children by dragged them into the mines. The story ended with a brave miner that saved everyone and killed the monster but Prim hadn't stuck around for that part of the story. She had run off, dove under the covers and refused to come out for almost an hour.
There were many nights now that she clung to Katniss in the dark, making her promise to keep all the monsters at bay. If Katniss could, she would have left a light on but most days they didn't have electricity let alone extra candles to burn. Today was different though, today was the Winter Solstice. There was going to be light flooding the entire district and not one house would be dark.
"Do you want to watch the sunrise?" Katniss asked and Prim turned to her with a big smile. She took that as a 'yes'. Slipping out of bed she dressed in her warmest clothes and then help Prim into hers. She buttoned up the wool jacket with a smile - the small red coat looked much better on Prim than it ever had on her, but Katniss was sure that was the case for most things.
People called her mother an angel because she was so beautiful and had such a kind heart. If that was the case than Prim had to be too. Prim was the sweetest, kindest, prettiest little girl in the whole district and Katniss wouldn't hear any differently. Luckily no one tried to debate the fact with her since everyone agreed. She was much more suited to pretty red jackets and ribbons than Katniss, and she was more than happy to let Prim have them. The last time her mother had tried to put a ribbon in Katniss' hair it had gotten caught on the fence around the district and ripped. She stopped trying after that and both were happier for it.
As quietly as they could the two girls slipped from their room, but before they got too far Prim ran back in and dove under the bed. She rummaged around for a moment and then came out with a tiny box. It was wooden, something their father had carved for them a few years ago and it held their most precious trinkets: some of their best ribbons, a carved locket from their father, and a small pressed primrose.
Prim dumped everything on their bed, but before Katniss could ask why they were stopped by a stern whisper.
"And just where do you think you two girls are going?"
They turned to see their mother, clutching her heavy winter robe tightly around her nightgown. She was standing by the kettle, warming some type of tea.
"To watch the sunrise." Prim said. Then she added softly. "I want to catch some light for later since we'll have so much today."
The two older Everdeens looked at each other for a moment. Katniss shrugged, having heard as much as her mother on the subject. Camille wiped her hands on her robe and turned off the stove. She knelt down in front of her youngest and smiled sweetly. "Prim dear, who told you you could catch the sun in a box?"
"Daddy." She said, looking slightly embarrassed as she turned the box in her small hands. She looked both hopeful and embarrassed at the revelation. "He said it only works at dawn, and since he doesn't see the sun anymore, I thought he would like some with him in the mines."
Camille leaned forward and kissed her on the head. "That's very nice of you Prim, I know the perfect spot that get a lot of light. We'll go catch some and come straight back before your father wakes up. That way it'll be a surprise and you can give him the box as a Solstice present."
Prim smiled brightly, shifting from one foot to the other in excitement as their mother left to get dressed. Prim had told Katniss once that she did it because she couldn't keep in all her happy feelings. Katniss, being the amazing big sister she was, said it was very good that she got rid of all the energy since keeping it in could make her explode. Prim had started at her with wide eyes, bright with fear and trust that her sister would never lie to her and had started dancing immediately. She had danced all the way to bed that night, convinced that she had to get rid of all her happy feelings so that she wouldn't blow up during the night.
Dressed and ready to go, the three girls left the house and made their way through the empty streets. Prim hung on tightly to their mother's hand, swinging it back and forth between them. It was such a sweet picture - full of innocence and good feelings - that Katniss couldn't help but want to be a part of it too. She reached out and took her mother's free hand, surprising the woman and Katniss too. As she had grown older she had stopped touching her parents as much. It didn't seem as necessary any more, but she found as she walked with her mother's warm hand in hers that she had missed it.
They walked through the Seam, weaving through rows of houses and along the muddy streets behind them. They were chasing the sun as it rose, even running at Prim's insistence so they didn't miss daybreak. With an excited squeal they burst into the Meadow. From here there was nothing standing in the way of the sun as it peaked up over the trees.
"It's so pretty!" Prim exclaimed happily. Katniss snorted softly earning a small pinch from her mother. The grass was brown and dead right now and the trees were barren, but Katniss realized that it was the first time that Prim had been to the Meadow. She looked out past the fence and stared at all the trees and rolling hills with nothing - no buildings, no roads, no people - for miles.
"You should see it in the spring." Katniss said and Prim turned to her with wide eyes.
"Really?"
"Yep. There's flowers and green grass as far as you can see."
She pulled on her mother's hand. "Can we come back later?"
Camille smiled. "Of course we can. I'll even teach you how to make a flower crown filled with primroses. But right now," Camille said, scooping up the small girl in her arms, "You need to catch the sun before it becomes too bright."
Prim fumbled with the box and wiggled in her mother's arms trying to get it high enough. She pushed the open box to the very tip of her outstretched fingers, dropping it as almost as soon as it reached the soft rays of sunlight.
"Did I get it?" She asked, staring at the box.
Katniss picked it up, rubbing her hands over the wood. "I think you did. See, it feels warm."
Prim reached out a hand and placed it on the lid. "It is!" She squeezed her mother happily before squirming out of her grasp. "How long do you think it will stay there?"
"Long enough, but don't open the lid." Camille said, ruffling the young girl's hair. "Now we better hurry home before your father wakes up."
Prim nodded enthusiastically, clutching the closed box tightly to her chest the entire walk home.
Traditionally, most families spent the Solstice in their own homes spending time with their loved ones and preparing for sunset. In Katniss' house that meant eating a sparse breakfast and then preparing the hearth. Her father would clean it in preparation for their fire - scrubbing it clean of ash and debris so it was ready for Solstice. During the holiday a fire was always lit at right as sunset and kept burning straight through until dawn. It was bad luck if it went out before sunrise.
After the cleaning was done the cooking got started. Even her father, who was notoriously bad at making anything more complicated than a roast helped out. He was delegated to helping Prim chop vegetables. Katniss was busy grinding the tough grain into the finest powder they could when there was a knock at the door.
With a whisper from their father the small girl was up and opening the door. In walked Marcus and Gale, the later of which was loaded down with an armful of wood. "Hello Prim, are you enjoying the Solstice?"
"Yes." She chirped happily. "Daddy is teaching me how to peel katniss roots."
"Really? And what are you going to be using those for?"
"For the dumplings! We have katniss roots, collard greens and rabbit for the filling."
Marcus laughed. "Those sound delicious. I can't wait to try them."
Dumplings were the traditional food of the holiday. Their grain wasn't good for much, but once soaked and boiled it turned gelatinous and could be formed into small, chewy dumplings stuffed with a variety of fillings. Katniss' family always made them with savory fillings, but some of the more well off merchants made theirs sweet by adding a bit of sugar.
"And," Prim continued happily, "We are going to have an herbal tea for people to drink."
People would make dumplings by the plate to handout to friends and families after sunset. They were traditionally eaten with some type of soup. Depending on how well the winter's been this could be anything from a thin broth to a hearty stew.
"Tea?" Marcus asked, looking over table to see the large piles of dried plants that Camille was preparing.
"There has been a flu going around, and since everyone is going to be out in the cold tonight, I thought a medicinal tea would be good." Camille said as Gale tried to hide his frown.
"Don't worry, this one tastes good." Katniss said, seeing his face. Most of her mother's teas were bitter and hard to get down, but tonight she was making one of Katniss' favorites. It was common to have in their household, since it was impossible to help sick people when the healer was sick themselves. There was dried elderberries and elderflower to help boost the immune system, lemon verbena to help fight off current infections, rose hip for added nutrients and peppermint to give it a smooth finish.
"I'm sure it does. Make sure you keep a few cups for us." Marcus laughed and turned to the hearth. "Are we your first this year?"
"Yep." John said, wiping his hands on a small towel. "We haven't made our rounds yet, but let me get you a log from out back."
Since all the logs for the hearth was supposed to be given to you on the Solstice, her father had a small store that he kept just for gifts. It was his best wood: cherry that had been seasoning for at least two years. It burned slowly and made the whole house smell like the forest. Katniss loved it whenever he put a log onto their fire, but that was only on special occasions.
"Thanks." Marcus said. "Can I go ahead and throw this one in the fireplace?"
"Please do." Camille said.
Over the next few hours people came and went from the Everdeen's small house. Their fireplace was overly stocked and after a while, they had to politely turn away people. Camille's generous healing made her popular among the Seam and it was reflected in their growing pile of wood. As the sun started to set, people returned to their homes to light their own fires, but Katniss knew they would be back soon. Once the fire had been lit and candles were placed, all the doors would be thrown open and the people would take to the streets to visit with friends and family.
"Would you like to do the honors?" Katniss' father asked her, passing her a the flint and the small wood saved from last year's fire. It had been kept on the mantle all year as a good luck token, and so far had worked its charms well. Now it was time to burn up all of last year's luck and pass it on to the new year.
Lighting the fire was simple for her after all the practice she had out in the woods and the fire was quickly ablaze. They started with the large log that Marcus had brought over. It was, very appropriately, wood from a hawthorn tree. It would burn long and hot, warming the house.
John smiled at his daughter, scooping up Prim and sitting them both down by the fire. "Should we get the candles going?"
Prim nodded enthusiastically, bouncing even as she obediently sat. They had a set of 12 that they kept just for the Solstice - large white candles that would be set in every window, the kitchen, small washroom, and two out front to help line the street. In addition there would be four smaller candles that were to be kept on the table. Unlike the large ones that lasted a few years these burnt quickly and carried wishes with them.
From the top of the kitchen cupboard John pulled out a small package, wrapped in heavy white fabric. It had the four candles, tall and brightly colored smelling of pine and sandalwood. Katniss inhaled deeply. This was the smell of the Solstice. The scented candles were more expensive and the colors even more so, but her father always saved up for the small treat.
He handed the forest green one to Katniss and the blue one to Prim.
"It's the color of my eyes!" Prim said excitedly.
"That's why I picked it for you!" John laughed. His laughter soon petered out as Prim crawled towards the fireplace. Wishing was always done in silence, because wishes were supposed to be kept close to the heart. Prim lit her candle, squeezed her eyes shut and wished as hard as she could and put the candle on their table. She smiled brightly turning to her sister with a nod.
Katniss looked down at the candle in her hand and wondered what she should wish for. A good spring with lots of game? Another year where her father came home from the mines everyday? Less injuries around the Seam so her mother wasn't so busy? They were all good wishes, but her mind honed in on one as soon as the thought occured.
Please, she wished silently as she lit the small candle. Please don't let Gale be reaped.
With the doors of the houses opened and the streets lined with candles, the whole Seam was alight with life and laughter. Kids ran from house to house trying all the food they could get their hands on and some brandished small gifts from their families.
Katniss and Prim walked the streets of the Seam with their mother - greeting friends and accepting dumplings and soups. This year there was a good variety with Katniss' favorite being the one filled with a sweet nut paste that Ripper had given her. She had been so surprised by the the slight candy flavor that she had eaten the whole thing in two bites. Her and Prim were still sipping on Greasy Sae's thin broth when they spotted all three of the Hawthorne boys.
"Catnip!" Gale shouted, waving at her with his free hand. Vick was clutched protectively against against his side even as the toddler desperately tried to wriggle free.
"Gale!" Katniss replied as they walked over to the trio. Prim and Rory immediately began talking about food: who had the best dumpling, where to find the tastiest soup, and who's house to avoid unless completely necessary.
Katniss smiled. "Sounds like you guys have already had a busy night."
Rory nodded enthusiastically. "We are going to Town now. Want to come?"
Katniss glanced back at her mother who was finally catching up with them. Camille smiled at her reaching out to take her hand. She pressed a small coin into her daughter's palm. "Have fun and don't get into trouble."
Katniss clutched the money to her chest tightly. "We will."
The town square was the center of the entire Solstice celebration. All of the merchants set up tables in front of their filled with selections of their wears. Like the Seam they had plates of dumplings to share but they substituted the thick, nutritious soups with delicious drinks - some of which were laced with Ripper's white liquor and definitely not for children. Katniss had snuck a few sips from her father's cup in years past and decided that she didn't mind not being allowed those particular brews. They burned on the way down and made her head feel fuzzy.
In the center of the square was a bonfire. Everyone added a piece of wood and like their fires back home, it would burn all night long. It was always eye catching, and this year wasn't any different.
"Wow," Gale breathed, watching as the flames rose. They were easily taller than any of the buildings in the Seam, reaching almost to the tops of the Merchant houses that surrounded the square. The fire was so bright and warm that Katniss felt the urge to take off her winter jacket.
"Yeah." She echoed. She knew that the two of them would be content to stand there and just watch the fire, but their siblings had other ideas.
"Let's go to the bakery!" Rory said, pulling Gale forward. "I bet Mr. Mellark will have something good!"
They walked around the square, taking in all the colors and smells - citrus, pine and spices - and Katniss couldn't help but notice that while this was a festival for sharing, there was still a very noticeable absence of Seam folk. There were a few families, but they mostly stayed close to the fire and away from the tables selling fine wares. The only ones that seemed brave enough were young children who pulled parents too and fro - too innocent to notice some of the darker looks from the older generation.
"So much for unity." Gale mumbled as they passed by the apothecary table. Ash Locke, glared at the Seam children and Katniss instinctively put herself between the glaring man and Prim. He was her grandfather by blood and absolutely nothing else. Katniss had never talked to the man, but she knew that he was well respected in town and that his opinion mattered. It was hard to miss when people refused to even look at her, let alone trade with her, when the man was around. She didn't want Prim to have to live with that stigma ever.
Reed - her mother's younger brother - glanced their way curiously, his eyes tracking over Gale and Vick before settling on Katniss with a frown. It wasn't the same hate-filled glare that his father gave them, but the mix of regret and resentment set Katniss on edge. Reed had taken over as the heir to the Locke's apothecary after her mother ran off to the Seam. Camille had been one of the best apothecary's this town has seen in four generations, and if the whispers were true, Reed's skills were far below her standards.
"Come on." Gale said, pulling on Rory impatiently as he tried to pause and stop at the butcher's table. It was only a few down from the apothecary's stand and Katniss could still feel Reed's stare on her, like an itch between her shoulder blades that she couldn't quite scratch.
"Didn't you want to go to Mellark's table?"
Rory, who had a protest on his lips perked up, darting ahead of the group. Prim followed shortly after and the two ran ahead. Glancing backwards, Katniss saw Reed's eyes watching Prim and she frowned. Prim had no idea who those two were and Katniss wanted to keep it that way.
A warm hand slipped into hers, startling her. She looked down at his large hand, almost engulfing hers, and then back up at Gale.
"Don't worry about them Catnip." He said, his eyes serious. "They aren't worth your time." He squeezed her hand softly and she felt a rush of strength. It was just like this morning when she reached for her mother's hand - solid and reassuring.
She nodded and he dropped her hand. "Think Mellark will give us anything?" She asked, sliding her hand into her pocket before the lingering warmth could dissipate.
"With you there, I bet he'll give us a whole plate of cookies." Gale said, shifting Vick in his arms. The boy grunted lazily and burrowed deeper into his brother's arms which made Katniss smile.
"Bet I can get more than you." She said, happy when Gale returned her smirk. His grey eyes were bright in the light of the fire and his step quickened ever so slightly. He was alive and brimming with the joy of the night and she was determined to be too.
Gale was right - people like her grandfather weren't worth her time, people like Gale and Rory and Prim were.
Gale sat by the bonfire. The warmth and the day's adventures had lulled the children into a light slumber even as the square bustled around them. Prim and Rory were curled up on his left and Vick was passed out on his shoulder. He knew he should wake them and take them home, but he wasn't quite ready to end the day yet.
"It's been a good day." Katniss said, staring at the flames. She had a soft smile on his face and her body was completely relaxed. Gale wondered if the baker hadn't spiked their cider with something other than cinnamon and clove.
"It has." Gale said.
"There's only one thing left to do and it'll have been a perfect Solstice."
Gale frowned. They had eaten a massive amount of food - so much that his stomach actually hurt from being too full - made wishes and burned them. He had never seen his little brothers smile as much as they had tonight. What was there left to do?
Katniss noticed his confusion and pulled out a small orange from her pocket. "My father gives Prim and I one every year for Solstice. I want to share it with you."
He blinked as she started to peel the orange globe. "You don't have to."
Katniss rolled her eyes at him. "I want to."
She handed half to him and even though his stomach was filled to the brim, the sharp smell citrus made his mouth water. "Thanks." Was all he could manage.
The orange was flavorful and juicy, bursting as it crushed between his teeth. With three children, his family didn't have much extra money and what little they had went towards food for the festival. He had seen oranges - the market was filled with them as well as lemons and limes - but he never had the money to try one before. It was sour and sweet on his tongue, like the cookie she had shared with him at the baker's so long ago.
Just like then, the treat seemed like so much more. "I'll buy the orange next year." Gale said, chewing on the last bit of the fruit.
Katniss looked over at him. "You don't have to."
"I want to." He said and Katniss smiled at him.
Spring seemed to come quickly and leave just as fast. Before anyone could blink it was Reaping Day. Katniss frowned looking up at the sky. Even though it was just after dawn the sun seemed too bright and the temperature too high. She fidgeted with the fletching of an arrow, running her fingers down the feathers and back again.
"What's wrong Katniss?" Her father said, pulling out a small pot of jam, their last from last summer's berry harvest, and a small pot of butter. They had no bread, but the Hawthornes had promised to bring some with them today.
"Nothing." She mumbled, shoving the arrow back into her quiver opting instead to pace. She walked back in forth in the tall grass, wearing a path through the small meadow.
Her father sighed. "Clearly."
A twig snapped in the woods and the two turned towards it sharply, Katniss already reaching for one of her arrows just like her father had taught her.
"Woah there!" Marcus said, emerging from the tree line with his hands held up. "It's just us."
Katniss sighed and put the arrow away. "You're late." She said, not even trying to keep the growl from her tone.
Marcus shot John a glance but he only shrugged. "Nerves." He said and it earned him a glare from his daughter but he only pulled her down to sit next to him. "The only reason we've been waiting around is because you wanted to get here early."
"It's Reaping Day." She grumbles. "We need to make sure we get enough today because we don't know when we'll get back out here again."
"We've never had enough problems with food before and we won't this year either. Now eat your breakfast before you bite someone's head off."
She opens her mouth to respond, but shuts it again and crosses her arms defiantly. Within seconds her leg starts twitching and she's standing again. Her father was right, she knew that, but this year wasn't like all the years before. This year she knew someone in the Reaping and it wasn't just anyone it was Gale.
Her eyes flickered over to him, almost disgusted at his supposed nonchalance. He showed no outward signs of being nervous and she envied him for that. Her dreams had been filled with nothing but the image of his name being called by their newest escort - Effie Trinket. Their last Capitol representative had nothing on her, clearly ready to move on from the poor district the second he arrived, but Effie was something else. Katniss couldn't tell what was bigger: her enthusiasm or her hair.
When she passed by the small group of men again Gale dragged her down and shoved a piece of bread in her hands, already smothered in butter and jam, before she could protest. "If you want to get to work faster than eat up. Otherwise we're going to be waiting around here all day for you to stop pacing."
"You eat it." She said, handing it back to him. "I'm not hungry."
It was true, her stomach was in such tight knots that she didn't think she could fit anything in it.
Gale's eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed just so, like he was planning a new snare. She was the problem and he was trying to find a solution and she didn't really like it. Katniss fidgeted under his gaze but refused to give in. Finally he sighed and ate the bread letting her off the hook.
"You know Catnip, there's almost no chance that I could be chosen today, right?" He says the words carefully, but they are the wrong ones and she's up and wandering off. She doesn't want to think about it, let alone talk about it. One of the things that she enjoyed so much about her friendship with Gale was that they didn't have to talk about things. He just seemed to get her and that was nice since no one else besides her family seemed too.
"He's right Katniss." Marcus said, standing. "There are thousands of strips in the bowl. He only has two. There's no way that-"
"Two?" She says stopping and turning back to them. Her eyes fix on Gale who is now refusing to look at her. "You told me you had one."
"I took out tesserae." Gale said. Katniss walks back to the group, standing over Gale with a fierce glare on her face.
"When?"
"January. We needed the extra grain."
Her small fists bombard him as she falls to her knees. "Why didn't you tell me?" She hisses and keeps hitting him and he lets her.
"Marcus..." John says, looking over at the other man with a pitying gaze.
"Things were tight and Gale volunteered. Hazelle and I didn't want him to, but he was stubborn. Skipped school and went to the Justice Building without us knowing." Marcus said and gave John a weak smile. "I have no idea where he gets it from."
"You told me you were sick." Katniss growled and Gale finally stops her, sitting taller.
"I knew you would worry. But I don't regret it." Gale said.
He held her hands close to his chest and Katniss' head falls, her eyes filling with tears that she refuses to let fall. "You should." She whispered. "By the time that you're eighteen that will be..." She does the math in her head, "14 strips. That's a lot."
Gale shrugged. "There are people with more."
"So? It only takes one."
He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. "It's going to be fine. Just you watch."
They manage to have a good morning of hunting. Gale and Katniss shoot a squirrel each and they find three rabbits and a raccoon in the snare line. With the extra Peacekeeper presence for the Games they decide to keep all the meat instead of trying to sell it.
After their talk this morning Katniss had been quiet and Gale was still worried about her. He was just as nervous for today, but he was so surprised that Katniss was taking it so hard. Most of the time she was hardly fazed by anything, but the thought of him in the arena had shaken her and he hated it.
As they left to get ready Gale paused and pulled Katniss off to the side. "Here." He said, taking off the crystal necklace. He had it for the last two weeks after beating Katniss at archery. He was stronger than her, so he could make more kills, but she was more accurate and he knew in a couple of years he was never going to get that crystal back.
She frowned, looking at it in confusion. "I didn't win this."
"I know. I'm only loaning it to you, for luck."
She holds it back out to him. "Then you should keep it."
Gale shook his head and pushed her hands back to her chest. "I think you'll need it more than me. Besides," He put on his best cocky grin, "It's not like I'm giving it to you for free."
"What do you want?"
"I'll tell you tonight, after I get through the Reaping."
Katniss twisted the necklace in her hand before sliding it over her head. "Alright, but it better not be your homework. You know I hate math."
Gale grinned. "Don't worry, I've got something better planned."
She looked at him warily, but Gale knew that she had already agreed. He didn't really have anything he wanted from her, but the idea that he had would keep her mind off the Reaping, at least for a little while.
Katniss' whole body was wound tight. It seemed like every muscle in her body was seizing as she listened to Mayor Undersee read the Treaty of Treason. From here she couldn't see Gale - she had tried but there were too many bodies in the way - so she resigned herself to clutching the crystal necklace in one hand and keeping a death grip on her father's with the other.
Effie Trinket took the stage, giving a small speech in her lilting, bubbly Capitol accent. Something about the honor of the Games, but Katniss wasn't listening. She was just willing the woman to get on with it.
"Ladies first." The pink woman said, her steps to the glass bowl stunted by her overly high heels and tight skirt. She drew the name of a girl, no one Katniss knew and she watched at the poor girl, on the verge of tears walked up to the stage.
At 10 Katniss was old enough to understand exactly what the Games were - a death sentence. In the last 68 years District 12 only had two victors: Haymitch Abernathy, the local drunk who stood on the stage swaying slightly, and Marissa May, who had died long before Katniss had been born. That was it. Two in 68 years. The wealthy districts had five or six - District Two had eight victors - but twelve always supplied the smallest, scrawniest tributes and they always died quickly.
"And now for the boys." Effie said and Katniss' hand tightened around her father's. She felt him give a reassuring squeeze back but it didn't help. Her heart hammered in her chest and Katniss was worried that it would slam right out of her chest. Time stretched on but Effie's manicured fingers finally picked a name.
"Thomas Rowan."
Relief swept over her which was quickly replaced with guilt as she heard someone cry out, supposedly his mother. Gale was only safe because someone else had the misfortune of going into the arena.
Katniss knew that in two years she would be up there, adding her name to the pot and then a few years after that Prim's name would be in there too, along with Rory's and then Vick's. This feeling - this gut wrenching horror - was never going to end.
Katniss didn't know if she would survive it.
The first thing Gale did when he got back to the house was change out of his Reaping clothes. They were the only things he owned that weren't dirty or patched up and that was only because they were worn once a year. He would have liked wearing them - especially since he hadn't owned anything this nice before - but knowing why he was so dressed up made him want to throw the clothes into the trash and burn them.
His hands shook as he unbuttoned the collared shirt. He hadn't wanted to worry anyone, but he had been scared. His heart had almost stopped when Effie Trinket had reached into that bowl. Instinctively he had looked back towards where he knew his family was, but he hadn't been able to catch a glimpse of them.
Then it had ended and he was able to breath for another year, but the threat would always be there, lingering over his head. Gale wiped his hands on his pants, willing his body to cooperate. The Everdeens were in the living room and he had seen Katniss - felt her shaking as much as he had been when she had launched herself at him after the ceremony. He knew that he needed to be strong for her right now; and for his younger siblings who didn't really understand what had happened. If he could, he would shield them from it all but the Capitol made sure that was impossible.
He thought he had understood his father that day in the woods, when he poured out his dreams and wishes. The bitter edge to his voice, the rage bottled in his words, but Gale hadn't understood, not really. He had known what it meant to be of Reaping age, but he hadn't felt the weight of the chain the Capitol used to hold down it's citizens. This was how it started. They fostered fear in the Districts by starting them young. He knew he would never forget this feeling and he would relive it every year with ever decreasing chances that he would escape fate.
"Gale?" Came the soft question from the other side.
"Coming." He called back. Dressed once again in his hunting clothes Gale felt better. He glanced back at the small pile of clothing on his floor, knowing that he should pick them up, instead he swept them under his bed with his foot. Let them stay there for the rest of the year. It was where they belong anyways.
Dinner had been delicious. The two families had pooled their resources to make a bigger than normal fare, cooking up all three of the rabbits to make the stew more filling. Full stomachs made everyone happy and made it easier to forget the horrors of the day, at least until the mandatory viewing started.
Prim and Rory sat on the floor at the feet of their parents and Katniss stood off to the side. There was room on the floor, but she didn't really want to be in the middle of everything. She knew from last year that Prim and Rory were going to be a bundle of questions and she had no desire to answer them.
"You alright Catnip?" Gale asked, choosing to stand with her instead of sitting with his siblings.
"Fine. I didn't have my name in the Reaping bowl. Twice."
Gale rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. "You weren't supposed to find out about that."
She dropped her arms, her mouth falling open as she stared at him. Wasn't supposed to find out. He had planned to hide this from her and that frankly hurt. She had never been anything but open with him and she had thought he had been the same way. She curled her arms around herself, shifting away from him.
"Katniss..." He said, struggling to find the right words.
"You lied to me Gale."
"Because I knew you'd be worried and you were. I didn't mean to hurt you Katniss."
"Well, you did." She snapped, moving to the other side of the couch. If there weren't Peacekeepers patrolling the streets right now, making sure that everyone was staying in their homes and watching the broadcast, she would have left. She didn't want to be around him right now.
"Is she home?" Gale asked, as he put Vick down on the floor of the Everdeen's living room. Rory was already there, talking with Prim excitedly about the frog he found outside the school.
Camille smiled sadly at him. "She tried to leave as soon she saw Rory running down the road. I made her stay. She is supposed to be in the backyard, but your bet is as good as mine if she's still there."
Gale nodded and moved towards the back. Peaking out the back window he was glad to see the small brunette sitting on the steps. She was sporting two twin braids today, messily done with a few dandelions barely managing to stay in the loose locks. Gale didn't have to be genius to recognize Prim's handy work.
It had been two days since Katniss had last spoken with him. Since then she had been avoiding him to the point of ignoring him when he was in the room. He had tried talking to her, but she wouldn't even look at him.
He opened the door quietly and reached for one of the flowers. "I'm surprised there are still flowers in the Meadow. It looks like Prim put them all in your hair."
Katniss spun around, surprised and angry. She saw the flower in his hand and swiped at it. Gale held it above his head, horribly out of reach of her short arms. "If you want it back all you have to do is talk to me."
She glared and turned back around, refusing both to acknowledge him and to move. Gale sighed. If she was going to be that way then so was he. He sat down so that they were back to back and with a loud, overly dramatic huff he fell backwards, putting his not-so-insignificant weight (at least compared to her tiny ten-year-old self) on to her completely. Katniss let out an indignant squeak as she fell forward, crumpling over her knees and Gale readjusted himself so that she couldn't get up.
"Gale..." She growled in a warning.
"She speaks!" He said, smirking. "I was beginning to think she had lost her voice."
Katniss wiggled, trying to push him off of her but couldn't find the leverage. "Get off!"
"Nope." Gale smirked. "Not until you talk to me."
She stubbornly stayed quiet.
"Fine." Gale sighed. "I'll talk then. I'm sorry. I don't know how many more ways I can say it before you believe me, but I am. I was just trying to protect you."
"I don't need your protection." Katniss grumbled. "I can handle myself."
"I know, but I'm going to try anyway. I know you'd do the same for me. It's what friends do."
Katniss shifted, rolling her shoulder to the side and Gale slid off her back and smacked his head hard on the porch. He hissed, holding the back of his head as he waited for the pain to subside. When he opened his eyes again he saw Katniss looking down at him annoyed - but she was still there and that meant something.
"I wouldn't lie to do it though." She leaned forward do that his whole viewed was filled with her face. "Don't do it again."
Gale smiled, a weight coming off his chest. "I promise. No more lying. Not even if I hurt your delicate sensibilities."
She sat up straighter and glared at him "Delicate?"
He reached up and grabbed another dandelion from her hair. "Like a flower."
Her eyes widened and she stood up. "Take that back right now Hawthorne!" She snapped, but he could see the way her lips curled ever so slightly. There was no real anger in her eyes, just amusement and Gale knew that they would be alright.
"I can't. You told me not to lie."
She pounced on him, trying and failing to pin him to the ground. Their laughter rang out over the yard and Gale was happy. For a while there he was convinced he was never going to hear her laugh again.