Chapter 2 -
The hammering of my footsteps and the pounding of my heart against my chest were nothing in comparison to the sickly wails escaping the families of those trapped under our feet. I was among them.
Then without notice, the whole thing collapsed, sending out gallons of choking smoke along with it. I could barely contain my screams as my knees thumped against the ground.
My father trapped forever under a mile of rubble, died doing a job he clearly despised.
I woke as the sunrise slowly streamed through mine and Prim's bedroom. It was getting harder to sleep every night, knowing what my own nightmares contained.
Slowly leaning back from Prim, as not to wake her, I quickly dressed and grabbed my hunting jacket on my way out.
Every morning I secretly hoped Gale would turn up, it's hard enough having no friends, especially when the only one you've ever had has grown into a committed miner. He won't even be awake yet, I'm in the woods long before the miners will have been off to work.
Retrieving my bow and arrow from the log, I lower into my hunting crouch and quickly shoot down a rabbit and a squirrel on my trek to the strawberry bushes. It's useful knowing what people would trade for the different delicacies the woods can offer, very few have the equipment needed to hunt illegally. For example, the mayor loves his strawberries, and the baker defiantly wouldn't turn up his nose at a squirrel, gives a fair price for them too.
My morning hunt is over to quickly, and after a quick cup of greasy sae's broth I find myself at my school desk. To be honest, I don't really see much point on school. No town workers would offer a job to someone like me, someone poor and someone who lives at the seam. Definitely not someone who survives and feeds her family through hunting.
Most of the day I just sit and doodle in my books, the teachers don't really care either way, they know what to expect of a seam girl.
I guess my home life's okay, I have Prim, I need to look after her. My mother on the other hand is a complete different matter, you have do kind of 'order' her if you want her to do something. After my Father died she never really returned to her normal self, I'm now forever alone I guess but at least Prim seems happy enough. She's learnt to deal with mother and cope, she has school friend and never really seems like she's too down. Thats something, at least.
Me on the other hand... I have zilch friends, there's no more of the Everdeens kicking about either except us three. Sometimes I tell myself its better to just blend into the background but truly, its not. I hate to admit it, but I hate the loneliness I feel, it makes me feel somehow, I don't know, defective. But hey, maybe I am.
My father would hate me to feel like this, and God knows what Prim would do if she realised my happiness was just an act for her benefit.
After school I make the trip back home, only to get my game bag and get back into the woods. Its my true home I think, society cant judge me there. All the berries are just becoming ripe, the strawberries being one of the first. I quickly make the decision to only pluck enough to fill a quarter of my game bag, I hadn't traded with the baker in a while and he always makes good deals. Id always been fond of Mr Mellark, he'd been there for me and Prim when the winters were rough and we'd needed help. He's a good man.
He'd divorced his wife around six months ago, I felt bad for him and in made sure to bag an extra squirrel to my usual haul. His ex-wife was a witch though, I think the whole district was relieved that Mr Mellark had finally gotten rid of her.
Upon knocking on the back door to the bakery, Peeta was the one to answer me.
Now, Peeta Mellar, the bakers son. Blond hair, good cheekbones. He also had to be the nicest person at school. Friends with the completely wrong crowd though, god I hated them. Most town kids were stuck up, spoilt and overly obnoxious, but Peeta was far from all of those things.
"Hey, erm is your dad in, I've got these squirrels.."
"oh right, sorry, come in. Ill just go get him."
A moment later Mr Mellark appeared with a warm smile on his face. I couldn't help but smile back.
"Haven't seem you in a while Katniss, you and Prim alright up there?"
"yeah its all good thanks sir, I've brought you some squirrels."
I carefully handed them over, accepting a fresh loaf of bread and some pastries in return.
"Thanks sir," I said, turning to leave.
"For the last time Katniss, call me Robert, you've known me for long enough." He said with a quiet chuckle.
I just gave him a smile as I turned away, only to catch Peeta's eye and noticed he'd been watching me the whole time.
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