Finding Storm

Chapter 1

Storm's POV

I felt the soft crunch of pine needles beneath my boot, muffling my footsteps, crouched low I paused. The rabbit sat in a ray of sunshine escaping from the leafy canopy above. It froze—catching my scent on the wind. Its beady eyes widened, frighted, it turned to run. As my knife entered its body.

I pulled my throwing knife from the rabbit and deposited it in my game bag. It rested at the bottom of my bag along with two squirrels and a small possum. I walked along the stone wall separating my district from the harsh woodland. I checked my snares as I walked. Clover had been helping out at the school today so I had to check the traps. After resetting each snare carefully I came to the end on the wall. The wall ended in a spot where a landslide had occurred years before, the boulders brought down the mountain from the landslide were easy to climb over and soon I was back within the walls of my district. My home. My cage.

District 7 was one of the poorer districts, cutting down trees for wood is tiring and seemingly endless work. Every able-bodied person in District 7 worked. From the age fourteen the teenagers were taught how to wield an axe.

I made my way the overgrown gravel road that lead into town, my hunting grounds were far from the town so the walk was long and tiring, much more so without Clover to keep me company.

By the time I was back to town the sun was dipping low over the horizon, but mother was expecting to see me home late. I often came home late on the weekends after a full day of hunting. I came to the door of our house—if you could call it that. The roof was sunken and low, it consisted of two rooms and only one bed.

As I knocked mother came to the door. She gave me a tired smile as I stepped over the threshold. Mother was young, although she didn't look it, years of hardships had weathered her. She was only seventeen when she had me, one year younger than I am now. Mother was once wealthy, she lived in Victor's Village with her mother who had won the games, and her father. I don't know who my father is, only that he lives in another district, and doesn't know that I exist. When my grandparents found out mother was pregnant they kicked her out of the house and she was homeless and poor.

I was surprised to see mother home so early, she works as a maid for the Mayor and usually stays late. She would never admit it to me, but I know that he beats her, she comes home with bruises on her face. But not today.

Mother skins and cleans the carcasses of the animals I caught, giving me half the meat to bring over to Clover's house. I wrapped the meat and walked to Clover's House. Mrs. Sandoval answered the door, I've known her all my life. When my mother was kicked out of her home Mrs. Sandoval who was her friend, and when I was born they practically raised me together. Clover is like a younger sister to me.

"Hello, Mrs. Sandoval. My mother sent me to bring these over," I say as I hand over the meat.

"Thank you," She says, and I smile.

"Where's Clover?" I asked, peering around her into the kitchen.

"Come on in, she's in the other room." She opened the door to me and I walked in, the floorboards creaking below me.

Clover was sitting on the floor of the bedroom, sorting a pile of papers. Clover volunteered at the local school, as a teaching assistant and often had papers to grade. She looked up from her work grinning.

"Hey Storm," she said and she moved a pile of paper so I could sit next to her.

"I just got back from hunting, I checked your snares."

"Thanks, I've been meaning to get into the woods, I just haven't had any time recently." She works at the school most days and grades even on the weekends. 

I ask about her boyfriend Archer, the two of them have been dating for three years. She tells me that Archer is fine and I rush to change the subject, too avoid the one thing I don't want to talk about, but she asks anyway.

"Have you talked to Aster yet?" She asks. I blush and turn away. Aster and I have known each other for years and Clover is absolutely certain that he has a huge crush on me. Truthfully I like him but that's not something I'd never admit to Clover, or anyone. But I'm sure Clover knows.

"No..." I answer, looking at the floor.

"Storm, the reaping is only two days away," I stiffen at the mention of the reaping, when two of the children in our district will be sent away to that Capitol to fight to death in an area, with the whole event on live television. "you might not have another chance too. I think you should ask him tomorrow, ask him if he feels the same way."

Clover is right. It's true that I'm scared, the Games scare me, I'm scared I'll get chosen, and I'm scared I'll never be able to tell Aster how I feel.

I take a deep breath, "Alright, I will." I agree to tell Aster, I agree to tell him before it's too late.

Hi, Everyone!! This is the first chapter of my fanfic. Sorry, it's pretty uneventful. But don't worry, It'll get much more exciting ;)

Thank you all for reading!!

Comment and tell me what you think so far!!

-Ruby R