literature

The Reaping

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Gale froze, a mixture of relief and horror.

Relief that it wasn't Katniss.

Horror that it was Prim.

For a long moment, he felt as though there was a buzzing in the air, and watched helplessly as little Prim finally shuffled forwards in her oversized clothes.

How was Katniss holding up?

Gale looked across to her. A split second later, she twitched out of her dumbstruck state and dashed forwards, screaming desperately, “Prim! Prim! I volunteer!”

Katniss, no –

“I volunteer as tribute!”

A hush fell over the crowd. Gale withdrew, closing his eyes. Not hearing.

This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.

Then, a piercing cry cut into his reverie. Prim. Screaming and clinging onto Katniss.

Gale rushed towards her, peeling her tight fingers off from Katniss’ waist, as she shrieks, “No, Katniss! No! You can’t go!” He lifted her away, her arms and legs thrashing frantically, when Katniss turned and caught his eye.

“Up you go, Catnip,” Gale murmured, fighting to keep his voice steady. He carried Prim back to her mother, and held them both in a tight embrace. Katniss’ mother cried silently and buried her tear-stained face into his shoulder.

“She’ll be alright; she’s strong,” said Gale reassuringly, over Effie Trinket’s booming voice. God, how he hated that voice so much right now.

“Let’s give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!” trilled Effie trinket.

Gale glared. Applause? Applause for what? For Katniss being gone for the better part of his life now? His loss – the sacrifice of his dear friend?

Not in her lacy pink dreams.

He put three fingers to his lips and raised them high. Prim and her mother followed suit, and slowly, the rest of District 12 held three fingers high in Katniss’ honour. Katniss’ farewell.

She looked around, in danger of crying – not that she was showing any signs of weakness. But Gale knew. Gale had known her long enough to recognise her slightest change in body language. In facial expressions.

She turned away as Haymitch, District 12’s only surviving Games winner, plummeted off the stage and fainted.

Then Gale steeled himself as Effie proceeded with the routine.

What if it’s me? Who’ll look after our families? Or maybe it will be me, and I won’t lose Katniss forever after all. Maybe I can protect her, but then –

“It’s time to choose our boy tribute!”

– but then when the time comes, when the inevitable happens, then…

“Peeta Mellark!”

We won’t have to go through that pain after all.

The baker’s son, a boy of medium height and ashy blond hair approached the stage. Gale sized him up and down. Katniss’ first known enemy didn’t seem too threatening. Sure, he had a stocky build, but his eyes betrayed him. His eyes reminded Gale of the way Katniss’ prey looked before she hunted the animals down.

Or maybe he would form an alliance with Katniss, as Gale himself would’ve done without second thought. Katniss probably wouldn’t trust Peeta as readily though, Gale thought drily.

Eventually, a group of Peacekeepers led the tributes to the Justice Building, and the residents of District 12 disbanded, leaving behind the friends and family of the tributes.

Gale held Prim’s hand, and put a hand on her mother’s shoulder, leading them towards the Justice Building, where the Peacekeepers soon let them inside and guided them to waiting room.

The baker and his family were already there. They nodded to each other in quiet acknowledgement of the shared tragedy.

A Peacekeeper led Prim and her mother to a room on the left, while another led the baker and his family to a room on the right. Gale waited for what seemed an eternity before the Peacekeepers summoned them out. He stood up expectantly, but then the baker was already being led to Katniss’ room.

Gale sat down, a little awkwardly. Prim and his mother waved goodbye, before returning home heavy-hearted. He smiled back at them, pain in his eyes. He heard noises behind him; Madge, the mayor’s daughter, had just arrived, out of breath. A Peacekeeper led her to Peeta’s room.

After an age, the doors opened again. Gale stood up, only to see that Madge was being led to Katniss’ room. Sighing, he took his seat again.

He felt a bit guilty for having snapped at her this morning, then felt a surge of anger. Why couldn’t it have been Madge’s name being drawn? Then none of this would have happened! Then just as quickly, Gale felt sick for wishing this misfortune onto anybody at all.

He buried his head in his hands. The clock ticked on. He’d give anything to be able to replace Katniss in the Games. Despite how much he hated anything to do with the Capitol. Gale ran his hands through his hair, and leaned backwards, staring at the ceiling.

It was ornate. In fact the entire room was about the most expensive looking place he’d ever been. He suppressed the urge to punch the wall.

It was all just so unfair!

He closed his eyes.

What if we had run away… to live in the woods, away from the District, away from the Peacekeepers, away from the Capitol…

Footsteps.

He blinked his eyes open. A Peacekeeper loomed above him.

Finally!

He strode briskly to the room, practically running, and swung open the door.

There she was, gorgeous in her blue dress and plaited updo. She didn’t deserve this fate.

Gale closed the door and opened his arms, smiling as Katniss rushed towards him. They stood there in each other’s comforting embrace for a long time.

“Listen…”

Gale was telling her to get her hands on a bow. That fighting the tributes would be just like hunting. That she was the best hunter he knew. That everything would be fine. But the Peacekeepers returned, all too soon.

He pleaded for more time, but they yanked him away from Katniss, who started to panic.

“Don’t let them starve!”

“I won’t! You know I won’t!” Gale began to panic. “Katniss, remember I –”

SLAM.

I’ll be waiting for you to come home.


It was too late. They were going to take her away.

Out the Justice Building and back under the fence he went. Back to the woods, where he felt at ease. Where he met Katniss for the first time. He clambered to their spot, a rock ledge overlooking a valley, and bellowed with all his might. Bellowed to get it all out of his system. All the pent up emotion. He bellowed till his voice went dry.

His voice resounded across the valley, each echo sounding more hurt and vulnerable than the last.

He bristled as he picked up a rock and threw it as far as he could. Gale collapsed.

What if she doesn’t come back?

Gale scrunched up his face in his hands and sighed. Life had never been the same since that day he met her. Life seemed less bleak. He had a hunting partner. A special friend. He could smile. It was going to be hard, being without her. Watching her struggle in the Hunger Games. Being unable to help her. Seeing her family in pain should anything happen to Katniss.

What if she didn’t come back?

I’ll just have to trust in her.
Recently finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and I was pretty obsessed with it.

So instead of studying French or brainstorming script ideas or reviewing online documentaries or doing my multiple readings or practising piano or training my vocals I decided to get some things out of the way. i.e. some overdue fanfiction.

So yes, this is obviously a short based on the Reaping Day from Gale's perspective.

Now I haven't read the other two books so it is very important that in the comments you don't post any spoilers. Maybe I get some charactersations off, or maybe well, some characters change or something but please don't tell me! I hate spoilers! :( At least be extremely mysterious about it. Or maybe don't even bother. Because I'll pick up what you mean anyway T_T OTL (hahahha here I am assuming I'm going to get comments).

But yeah.

I just really had to get this out of the way. Out of my system.

I might write other things. Maybe Peeta's POV instead or something. Who knows. :D
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