Memories of the Mockingjay

Chapter 2: Deep in the Meadow

Just past the meadow, there was a field, and around that field was the huge electric fence that surrounded District 12. You could see the buzzing electricity and as I approached, a fly flew into it and was burned to a crisp.
I neared the gap beneath the fence and took a deep breath. I was always so worried that I'd knock the fence and electrocute myself, but nonetheless I always ventured out here.
I threw my bag under the fence and slid beneath in a dip I had dug into the ground.
I stood up on the other side, dusting myself off and throwing my bag over my shoulder. I walked into the woods, the smell of nature filling my nose.
I heard the cooing of the birds overhead and the snapping of twigs around me. Weapons weren't allowed in the districts so I hid my bow here. I don't know who it belonged to before me, but I found it in a log one day while exploring. Someone had the same idea as me. I wasn't an amazing shot, but I could hit a target. The animals I collected I gave to my best friend Isla and her family. We didn't need it as we lived in the Victors Village and my father got a monthly income. Without the food Isla's name would be in the reaping bowl countless times. I shot down a few birds and wrapped them in a cloth before tucking them into my bag. I checked my snares that Haymitch taught me to make, and found a rabbit. I reset them and left for Isla's house.
I walked through the meadow, letting the grass run through my fingers as I headed to the Seam.
The shacks that lined the Seam were falling apart, and the skeletal people that walked by were on the verge of starvation. I suddenly felt awful for being healthy, and wearing the nice clothes Aunt Effie had sent me.
I came to her house and knocked on the door, he skeletal mother answering the door. I have her a hello and warm smile as I entered the house. Isla would be at school so I didn't bother asking about her. I retrieved the animals from my bag and placed them on the table for her. 'You're an Angel, Cinder. I can't tell you how grateful we are for your help.' There were tears in her eyes as she embraced me in a hug. 'It's the least I can do after what happened with Xena.' I whispered. Xena was Isla's older sister. She had put her name into the bowl to get food for her family. Her name was in the bowl 56 times when she was reaped. She died in the cornucopia bloodbath.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and got to work on lunch for her and Peter, Isla's little brother. He was only three and too young to attend school. She invited me to stay so I did. I ate the lunch she prepared and began to walk home.
I passed through the meadow again and lay among the grass and closed my eyes. Until a familiar voice ripped me from my daydreams.
"You lied."
I sat up with grin on my face to see Rye, brushing a hand through his limp hair. "Sorry, I went-"
"To the woods." He interrupted me, with a hand on his hip. "I know. I saw Isla's mom on the way home."
He was trying to be mad at me, but I knew he couldn't for long. I stood up beside him, dusting off my dress. "You can't stay mad at me for long." I grinned at him. "Not when you see what I've brought for you."
And with that I started running home, Rye trailing behind me bombarding me with questions about what I'd brought for him. I ignored him as I opened the door to home, laughing out loud.
I saw dad and Haymitch sitting at the kitchen table, eating a pastry dad had probably made. "Hey dad," I smiled, hugging him, before hugging Haymitch, "Hi uncle Haymitch." I said. "Good afternoon Sweetheart."
I spoke with them for a while, before retreating to my room, where Rye stood outside knocking on the door. "Fine! Come in!" I said, pouting at him, pretending to be mad.
I dipped my hand into my bag and threw his gift at him. "Thank you Cinder. As a reward, I won't tell dad that you skipped school." He replied, a smug grin on his face as he inspected the paints. He and dad were the artists, but I was never good at that stuff.
I sat in silence for a little while, trying to hear snippets of Dad and Haymitch's conversation. They were talking about the Hunger Games. All I could hear was "Katniss...she wouldn't have wanted this...it can't happen."
I wonder who Katniss was, and what she wouldn't have wanted
I soon got bored of the snippets of conversation, and stood up, sauntering over to the mirror that hung by my window. People say I look like my father, because of my Blonde hair, but that wasn't completely true. My mother must have had some influence over how I look, as the only feature of my fathers that I don't possess are his eyes. Mine are a piercing grey colour, while his are brown. Rye however, looks exactly like my father, from their blonde hair to their chocolate eyes, to their structured jaw. I glanced out of my window to see Chaol approaching the house. He looked up to my window and I waved out to him, before heading downstairs.