I breathe in, I breathe out

[moveswithoutsound]

Life in the Seam had never been easy but without his father Gale had little choice but to take tessarae and hunt in the woods. If not then it would be his younger siblings who would be forced to pay and he refused to let that happen.

Hazelle regretted the weight put on her eldest son's shoulders but what could she do, with the new baby and her husband lost in the mine accident Gale was all she had to depend on.

The young man who did not even at this young age resemble a boy moved without a sound through the woods. His snare line had netted some fresh meat and at least a day or two could pass without bellies that roared with hunger, he could dull it. Maybe even get the extra blanket Posy needed.

He was alert to every sign, Gale knew these woods were not safe and yet they were the one place he longed for, because here he felt free.

Here he could breathe, here he was not just another pawn for the Capitol, set to either play in the Games or head for the mines when he was old enough. Either way his fate was mapped out and it meant a life of hard work, followed by Death.

How he wished something could change but he was one young man against the ruling government.

As much as he wanted to rebel, Gale knew that he could do nothing in his current positon.

He had too many mouths to feed, too many responsibilities. He did not sigh but there was a heavy look in his eyes as he slung the game bag over his shoulder.

Comments

[firegirl]

Katniss doesn't hear him. She has entered the woods to do hunting of her own, and there's no sound of anyone else in the woods. There's no sound of anyone who is human in the woods, but she can hear all the rest of the noises that the woods bring.

If she could, she would never leave this forest.

She would never go back on the other side of that electric fence, but her sister is there. Prim is there. Katniss will do anything to ensure she doesn't starve.

They all nearly did starve.

She's not going to let it happen again.

Katniss will hunt. She'll get the food her family needs, and she will survive. It's all anyone can do in District 12. There's no way for a kid to rebel on his or her own, not that rebellion is even a thought that occurs to her as angry as she might be at the situation they've all been forced into.

It's not as important as surviving.

She can't afford to think beyond that.

Her little sister can't afford for her mind to stray.

Katniss hears the sound of something further into the woods, and she takes the bow and arrow into her hands, ready to find it, to aim, and to fire.

Her muscles are tense but focused on the task at hand.