"People before us thought that there was nothing bigger than the sun. No matter where they are, all stars are smaller than our sun. Turns out they didn't know what they were talking about! The science books in our school aren't super detailed, but one day I will buy an astrology book. Maybe five of them. The kind they import from Three for the private schools here."

Kassia gazed up at the sky, admiring all the stars that twinkled in the sky above them. Her dark, curly hair seemed to fall perfectly. Her dark skin was illuminated wondrously in the moonlight.

She was astounding. Breath-taking. Not just in looks, she was beautiful to her soul. Her very core radiated love and kindness.

If only Eden would admit to her the feelings she held, feelings had held since they were no older than twelve.

All she felt in this quiet moment between them, was an endless flow of love. She was her person, the beacon of light in Eden's life. She always has been.

All of that could change in a mere twenty-four hours. The Reaping will have passed, and two girls will be on their way to the Capitol. Possibly one of them.

This year was a Quarter Quell, meaning the Capitol had to make something horrendous, ten times worse. They had revealed two months ago that this year's twist would be that instead of two tributes of two genders from every District, there would be two female tributes.

"As a reminder for the rebellion of the districts that the Capitol shall never forget the turmoil brought upon us, upon the country, as a reflection of the countless mothers and daughters lost, and lineages forever forgotten. This Quarter Quell will draw two female contestants from each district. They will go on to compete in the 225th Annual Hunger Games."

What a bunch of lies, a speech filled with nonsense. Yet it preyed on Eden's mind, like a vulture over a corpse.

What if one of those girls was Kassia? What if it was herself? Thrown into an arena to fight strangers, some with professional training, others with life experience. Eden had experience with self-defence, it came with being seen as 'the weird kid', but Kassia… was too kind, too trusting for her own good.

If she were put in that arena, she would be the first to lose her life. She saw the good in everyone and had faith in humanity despite its cruelty. It was something Eden had long forgotten, had long been numb to.

"Maybe they didn't know any better. If someone tells you something enough times, you're bound to believe it."

She suppressed the overwhelming worry and anxiety building up. Everything was going to be fine. The likelihood of being reaped out of all the girls in the district - in their last year - was slim. The district wasn't small by any means, a dense amount of the population within the city. A quick way to and from work in the factories, amongst other jobs.

So, to be picked from such a vast amount of people, it was stupid to think it could happen.

"You seem distracted, is everything okay?"

Kassia's voice pierced through all the thoughts and emotions swirling, reminding Eden of where she was.

"Yeah," Eden replied nonchalantly. "I was just thinking about tomorrow. So many things happening all at once, y'know? Our last reaping, a quarter quell, two female tributes… it's just preying on my mind."

"Eden."

"What?"

Kassia took Eden's face in her hands, looking down at her. Her eyes shone brightly, filled with nothing but kindness.

"We will be fine. You will be fine, okay? Neither of us has anything to worry about. Our names aren't in any more times than anyone our age." Her voice was soft, reassuring.

"I know, but- " Eden started, the anxiety beginning to crawl its way back.

"We will be fine. You have bigger things to worry about anyway. Like where you're going to move to in a month."

"I don't need to worry, I'll find somewhere." Eden told her dismissively, turning her head to look away. She didn't need Kassia to worry about her, she was tough enough to look after herself.

"Don't you dare brush me off like that! You need to find somewhere soon, Eden. You remember what your grandma said. She was serious about it, and I can't sit and watch you sleep on the streets longer than you already have!"

(The dawn of your birthday is when you leave this house. I don't want a grandchild who has no respect for her elders sponging off me.)

She despised her grandmother, the moment she had been dumped with her by her parents, Eden knew she despised them too.

"I will, I will. I'm looking into some cheap apartments, if I'm lucky, someone will get back to me." Eden told her, looking her straight in the eyes, expressing that she didn't need to stress over this topic.

Kassia's mouth opened briefly, the words she wanted to say seemingly on the tip of her tongue. But instead of speaking, she let the silence between them hang in the air. She sighed and looked down, her expression flickering into one of upset for less than a moment. When he began to speak while she turned towards her backpack, any hint of sadness had disappeared.

"I made you something for tomorrow."

"Wha- Kass, you know you didn't need to, I don't want to lose things that might be important." Eden protested, fretting over the gesture.

(It meant the world to her. Kassia was a creative girl and had given her things occasionally. But for her to make something to mark tomorrow… it just made Eden fall in love with her more. So hopelessly more.)

Kassia simply ignored her friend, instead pulling some kind of clothing out of her bag. Turning back, she held it up for Eden to see. Once Eden's eyes adjusted to the item of clothing in the moonlight, she felt her eyes prickle with tears.

It was a white collared blouse, but what had been embroidered on the tips of the collar and down the line of buttons, were pink flowers. For each button, there was a pink flower, the centre was where the hole for the button was. When closed, it was like a white centre to the flower.

Eden had to be calm and reserved to deal with her grandmother, it was how she had learned to be. Never let others know how you felt, as it would be used against you. But Kassia was the person she felt most safe with and trusted the most. She felt comfortable saying she had favourite colours, interests, and hobbies.

So, she did not withhold her feelings and grabbed her best friend's shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug as tears streamed down her face.

"Kassia- I love- I love this so much! Thank you! You are the best, most amazing person I have ever known!" Eden said through her tears. She was so thankful this girl was in her life, that she had chosen to be her friend.

"Woah, I didn't expect that reaction! I hope those are happy tears!" Kassia joked, rubbing her friend's back gently.

"Thank you, the fact that you made this just for me… it means so much to me." Eden told her as she began pulling away from her tight hug.

(She had never been given anything while living with her grandmother. Everything she had to buy herself, and she was lucky if she found a piece of clothing that she truly loved, and it stayed intact for a week after buying it. Her grandmother was a cruel woman. A horrible witch.)

Kassia stopped Eden, instead leaning back slightly, enough to look down at her friend's face. She took Eden's face in her hands, wiping away any remaining tears. What Eden saw looking down at her, was an expression of bliss. She would have done it; she would have kissed her in this quiet and intense moment between them. She would have, had Kassia not done so first!

The moment she felt Kassia's lips pressed against hers, it was as if the spark always within her burst into a blaze. Almost consuming her whole, Eden would happily live in this feeling for eternity. She kissed her back, her hands finding their place around her waist, gently caressing her lower back.

After a short amount of time, Kassia pulled back from the gentle kiss, opening her eyes. Eden did so too, and the pair stared into each other's eyes for a moment.

Into each other's souls.

Eden saw nothing but purity, saw bravery.

And concern. Concern?

"What's wrong?" Eden asked quietly, worried.

"Did I cross a line? I know you kissed me back, but I don't want to assume you liked it, or if you felt like you had to kiss back. I'm so- "

"Kassia." Eden sat up properly, level with her now. "I kissed back because I loved it. That kiss made me feel more alive than I ever felt before! I was going to do the same, but you beat me to it!"

With this confession, Kassia burst into a fit of giggles, unable to contain herself. Once she had settled, she finally looked back at Eden. That beautiful, adoring smile graced her face once again.

"So… girlfriends?"

"Girlfriends. I'd be nuts to say no!"

"Shut up Eden, you're too sweet!"

The two girls spent hours underneath the stars, cuddles and kisses exchanged, as they watched the stars.

Eventually, they returned to Kassia's house in the early hours of the morning to rest up for the day ahead. But nothing mattered after that night, nothing could bring Eden down from this high. She hoped it lasted her entire life.

All that mattered was Kassia, her happiness, and her love.

Everything else came second.


"Eden Galar!"

The voice boomed, echoing around the central square of District Eight. It just kept repeating in her head.

Ringing, ringing, ringing.

Eden. Eden. Eden.

"Eden!" Someone screamed.

Kassia screamed. Desperately.

Eden felt the grip of hands around her arms as Peacekeepers began to lead her towards the stage. She felt numb, empty. There were no words, no thoughts as she was led up. Just emptiness. Emptiness slowly gnawing away at her soul.

This had to be a nightmare, a dream she hadn't woken up from yet! But reality slapped her in the face, hard. This wasn't some dream; this wasn't a figment of her imagination.

She had been chosen for the Hunger Games.

The Peacekeepers released their grip on her as they reached the steps of the stage but stood behind her. Waiting expectedly.

Eden looked up, following the steps and at the Justice Building before them. Black bricks, all power-washed just for today. Sat before the building, on the stage, was the mayor, and Eight's mentor, Ezaria Satorre.

Her stern gaze was fixated on Eden, silently communicating with her.

'Pull yourself out of this state now. The country is watching.' Her gaze seemingly said, piercing through whatever haze had overcome Eden.

She took one deep breath, still not fully released from this daydream state, but functional enough to get through this.

Eden walked up the stairs, up onto the stage and was greeted by her escort. She seemed to be obsessed with the pink, as a majority of her look used many shades of it.

Pink, just like the flowers embroidered on Eden's bouse.

A moment of sickness washed over her, at the thought of leaving her girlfriend behind. But she gritted her teeth and smiled at the escort, as they returned to the microphone.

"What a beautiful girl, with such simple but beautiful taste! As per tradition, I must ask, will anyone volunteer to be in Eden's place?"

Eden looked out into the sea of teenagers, there had to be a few thousand. But she was looking for one person, in particular. It wasn't hard to find Kassia, Eden remembered the golden flower slide-in clip in her hair.

Looking at her from up here, on top of this stage, time itself felt as though it stopped. It was just them, everyone else blurry and unimportant.

Kassia's lips were parted, she looked as though she was about to speak. To volunteer for her.

Slowly and subtly, Eden shook her head, eyes determined. She couldn't let her do this, take her place, and die in the Capitol's horrid arenas. Having to watch the girl she loved die, while stuck in District Eight.

(Eden knew how to survive, how to keep herself safe and who not to trust. Kassia wouldn't stand a chance if she volunteered.)

Her girlfriend's eyes were filled with tears, but she closed her mouth and time seemed to resume, the world no longer blurry.

Silence amongst the central square of the district.

"That decides it then! Eden Galar, our first tribute representing District Eight in this year's Quarter Quell! What an honour, I must say." The Capitolite truly seemed to believe so too, sickening Eden.

"Let us move on to our second female tribute! Whoever will it be? Let's find out!"

She moved away from Eden and towards the bowl on the right side of the stage. They had filled both up with different names of those eligible, from twelve to eighteen. All tinted slightly pink to remind everyone of the Quell's twist.

The escort dug deeply into the bowl, searching for the right slip. Once she had deemed the slip worthy, she pulled her arm back and quickly returned to the microphone.

(She could handle whoever was chosen. She didn't know many people in the district or get along with classmates, but she would deal with it. She could survive this. She would survive this.)

"Kassia Dragoste!"

Her heart stopped. There was silence within her head. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, there was movement in the large crowd.

When she saw Kassia, she astounded her with her beauty, like always. Her yellow blouse with frilled collars, her black skirt with patterns of yellow flowers all along it. That flower clip.

Her eyes, ones that had only ever held kindness, were now steeled as tears silently ran down her face. She walked towards the stage; gaze set forward.

That was when it hit Eden. Like a train ploughing through a brick wall.

Tears flowed like a stream down Eden's face, her hands shaking so violently that she had to ball them into fists. She didn't care if the nation saw those tears, saw the heartbreak and fury etched across her face.

(Fuck the Capitol. Fuck the nation. Fuck every single person involved in this sick, twisted game. Eden knew the world was cruel, it was unkind. But for this to happen? It made her want to tear the entire world to shreds.)

Kassia reached the stage, and the escort guided her to her spot, standing only a few feet away from Eden. She couldn't look, couldn't accept this all.

"My, my! It's an emotional and powerful day for everyone it seems! Well, is there anyone that would like to take Kassia's place?"

Silence greeted them once more. Confirming their place forever in history.

"That decides it! Everyone, give it up for your tributes from District Eight, Eden Galar and Kassia Dragoste!"

The escort gestured for the two to shake hands, stepping back.

"Do try to look presentable girls, Panem is watching." She said quietly to the pair now that the microphone could not hear her.

Eden threw her a death glare, wordlessly telling her to back off. Once she returned her gaze to Kassia, her heart felt like shattering. She smiled weakly at her girlfriend, wiping away her tears before holding out a shaking hand.

Eden took it, gently squeezing it to reassure her, eyes soft. Everything had changed within seconds. She now had a new plan. One she couldn't fail or back out of.

To ensure Kassia won. To get her out of that arena alive.

No matter what the cost.

She had people who cared about her and had a family and friends who needed her. Eden needed her too, she loved her so deeply that she found it difficult to word. But she had nobody who would miss her, nobody who would care if she was gone.

Except Kassia.

But it would be worth it, worth dying for knowing that she lived, that she got out of that arena alive. At that moment, Eden made a promise to herself. Do whatever it took to get her home. Protect her, fight for her, anything. Kassia was going to make it back.

There wasn't a choice in the matter. Eden would succeed, she couldn't afford to fail.

She needed to succeed.

She would succeed.

She will succeed.


Hey there! :)

Welcome to the Awaken Verse! The aim for this verse is to create two or 3 fics within the verse of various tributes from different points in time! It is something brand new to me, something I have really wanted to do for a long time! I want to create something that is all from my own mind, just from me! A change of pace, something new!

I hope yall liked the first chapter, I don't know how many chapters exactly I'll have, but there will be more, I have plans for these two that have been spinning around my brain like crazy! I have only written this chapter so far, but Eden and Kassia are special to me, and hopefully at some point I might even make a blog for the verse! (We'll see, college life is crazy especially as a first year!)

Updates aren't anything that is a set date/day, they will come out as I have the time to write and update. But I'll try to update somewhat regularly, more likely when I have more free time in the summer.

With that, I'll leave things there and see yall in the next update! :)

- Art