Pure As Ivory, Driven As Snow - A Hunger Games Story

Part 1 - The Vow

1.1 MAUDE – THE NIGHT BEFORE THE REAPING

Maude Ivory awoke, startled and sweating from a nightmare. 4 am. That's what it said on an old timer she'd gotten at the Hob years ago. It had to have been made in District 3 – but it looked like an old school, pretty relic from another time. Occasionally, she used it at District 12's school for tests her students had to pass. She had been teaching music for five years, and unlike many of District 12's teachers, she was one of the ones who not only taught the kids something practical, but did so with great taste and passion. The curriculum did not include many practical activities in 12, and when it came down to her written instructions, the music lessons were much less extensive than what she was doing. But the children needed it. She knew they did, she felt it when she saw a child's face light up during a certain tune, the ecstasy when they were singing as one choir, the way they would just listen to her tell stories or play the piano, request songs she had written or ask about peculiar sounds and instruments she had. She always knew that everyone in District 12 had their calling, their part to do in order to help each other survive. Some were born to be salesmen, some to be working as coal miners, others were healers.. Despite having been through a lot in her life already, she had remained a young, cheerful spirit at heart, but she would also tell you that she has become a better listener over the years. In her young life, she had been the one in the spotlight. Now, it was more important to her for others to have theirs. Yes, everyone had their calling. To her, it was music that had a healing power. The power to make others feel things.. to give everyone a voice.

It was the morning of the Reaping of the 25th annual Hunger Games. The morning of the Reaping was truly never a nice experience for anyone in any district, but she felt particularly uneasy about this one. It might have been because she had, just days ago been reminded by a student, of Lucy Gray, who had recently been coming up in conversations in 12 again – it seems not all had forgotten her existence and started spreading rumors and information – and who had been like a big sister, or a mother to her when she was young. A mentor, in the true sense of the word. Mentor. It was only one of many words perverted by the Capitol's twisted view on things. Lucy Gray had never had the chance to be a mentor. She was a tribute in the 10th Hunger Games. And she disappeared soon after winning them. Losing her was one of the most painful things Maude Ivory had ever been through, and as the years had gone by, she had uncovered more and more about what might've been the reason behind that, her biggest clue being that Coriolanus Snow, who had mentored her, and who had done such a great job of convincing her he was on her side - was now Head Gamemaker. Coincidence? Maude Ivory didn't think so. And neither did her friends, the other Covey. Something had been just a little too perfect about him even then – but she'd only realized later when she was older. She was naturally trusting and always saw the best in people. But in hindsight, she wished she had been mature enough to protect Lucy from this power-obsessed lunatic.

Another reason for her uneasiness might've been the fact that for the past week, every citizen of 12 had to choose an innocent young person – in fact, two of them – a boy and girl - from 12 to 18 to be tributes in the next Hunger Games, a special edition celebrating the first quarter of a century of the games coming to a close. It was an understatement that for Maude, being a teacher, helping children to grow and thrive and taking care of their well-being, it was an uncomfortable task. An impossible task, to choose any young person to go to an arena to fight to the death. It was against her nature, and she thought it was against human nature. But then she corrected herself thinking, apparently not.

Yet another reason might've been the one with the most gravity – in the shape of the little life growing inside of her at this very moment, she could feel it moving around inside of her, and even though she knew her child was safe in the Reaping, as was she, she was shaken by a horror as old as time as it moved in her. She couldn't imagine her child ever having to go to the games. Her husband had died just months ago from pneumonia, and soon after, she hadn't even really grieved yet, she realized she was carrying his child. When she met Lewis Everdeen, a coal miner, seven years ago, she felt safer than ever before. She knew she would never be ready to have children, but she always wanted to ever since she was little. So when she discovered she was pregnant a few months ago, she was shocked. But then, she felt joy, despite the loss of Lewis. It was a gift, she knew that. They had created a new life. Something she'd always wanted, and maybe, it would remind her of Lewis enough for her to finally stop missing him so much. She knew it was a selfish thought, but the pain she'd been holding in, was starting to eat her up. She didn't want to be alone anymore. Now, for the first time since her acceptance of that gift, she felt something else. Terror. Fear. How could she send another human being, a young person, to the Hunger Games while carrying a life inside of her? She was angry and sad for being made to do it against her will. Of course, the boxes she crossed, next to the names of the tributes she'd chosen, were only two of many – they were intercepted by the Capitol and the two individuals with the most crosses would have to be chosen. But it was still her who had drawn one more cross next to the names of two people she didn't even know. Who would make anyone do such a thing?, she thought. But she knew the answer. Snow.