The Expedition *ON HOLD*

Chapter 1: The Expedition

Prologue

Katniss’s POV

Cold. That is all I feel. Cold without the warmth of my father’s smile. Cold without the warmth of my father’s presence. I don’t even feel like crying, I’m too frozen with sadness. Why did this happen? Why my father? Wait I know why. But it’s still not fair. The Capitol is evil. Snow is evil. Pure evil.

I look at my sister Prim who is only 5 years old. She is so young but I can still see the coldness in her eyes. Then I shift my eyes to my mother, strange I don’t see coldness or sadness. It seems like she is in another world, totally shut out.

And then finally I look around. This small room in the Justice Building has strangely managed to fit a lot of people. All the caskets of the dead miners are lined up in the front of the room. The wallpaper is an ugly yellow-green colour that probably hasn’t changed in 50 years. But you cannot go up to the front of the room because you would run into a line of Peacekeepers. No one wants to do that.  Most of the people in the room are crying and hugging family members. Finally the Mayor walks up to the podium and reads out a speech written by the Capitol, totally fake.

“We are gathered here today to mourn the death of 56 miners. We all are deeply sad to hear about this tragedy and all wish it had never happened.”  Yeah right. “We pay the respects to all the families that were affected. This is it for the ceremony but feel free to stay longer if that would help you. On behalf of all Panem I feel the pain of everyone in this room. Thank you.”

So that’s it for the speech I guess. Now we walk home. “Mom, Prim time to go home” I say pointing to the door. “Yes, Katniss” replies Prim. My Mom says nothing just looks at me as if I said nothing.

As I take Prim’s hand I realize I don’t know what we are going to do without Dad. He brought in the money. He got the food on the table. He cared for us. What are we going to do?

All I remember is what he showed me. What does it mean? What should I do with that information? Definitely not tell Mom she is still in her own world and if I try to talk to her she yells at me. These questions are still pounding in my head as I fall asleep.

 Chapter 1

4 WEEKS BEFORE…………..

We had been planning it for weeks. My dad and I were going to lie to Mother and say we were going on a hunting expedition for a few days. But as it turns out my dad wanted to show me something. I don’t know what he wants to show me but it must be really exciting or important or both. I can’t wait till tomorrow when we set of at 4am to start our little “expedition”! For now I have to get a good night’s sleep so I’ll be ready in the morning to hike like 20 km.

IN THE MORNING…………………………             

As I open my eyes everything is silent and I can see just the tiniest bit of light coming from the horizon. As I look around the my room I see my school clothes on the floor and the old rugged cabinet, that was nearly in pieces, with only a few items in it. The rug is all frayed and is a purple-brown colour.

That’s how it is in District 12. We are the poorest District in Panem and everyone forgets about us because we are the most outlying district in Panem. Half the people in District 12 are either starving or and the other half are dirt poor. I guess we’re in the middle because we have food every day and we have some personal belongings.

In the Hunger Games usually the District 12 tributes die first cause we are weak cause half of us are starving. We have no chance at ever winning the Hunger Games. Ever.

I feel weak in the knees thinking about the Hunger Games because in less than a year I’ll be that stinking reaping ball.

But now I have to focus I’m going on an expedition. Clothes. Check. Food. Check. Watch. Check. Bag. Check. Done. I’m all packed.

“Dad, are you awake? I’m all packed! Ready to go?” I yell into his room. “Don’t you sound excited! And are you kidding me pipsqueak I’ve been up for hours making sure we have everything.” He replies. “Good” I say. I sure don’t want to forget the food or something and then at noon realize we have nothing to eat. “You’re turning into a big girl you know Katniss. Going on expedition and such.” My father says in a mystical voice like he knows something is going to happen. “Well let’s go then” I say running down the stairs.

TWO HOURS LATER………..

“See Katniss this is where my friends and I used to play before this   area became outlawed.” Cool. My father played in outlawed area. Well before it was outlawed, but still. I don’t know why but ever since I was young the idea of breaking rules seemed like a cool and good idea. My mom would tell me how it’s not good to break rules but I would still do it.

After 4 hours of hiking up and down I was starting to get tired. The sun was strong and was hitting hard on my back. “Dad can we stop for a little while, I’m really tired.” “Sure thing Katniss.” He says.

As we sat down on the edge of a valley and my father pulls out the container of water out of the leather bag I ask him what this whole “expedition thing” is all about. “Dad?” “Yes”  “Why are we going on an expedition?”

“ Well,  uh, I know you’re probably too young for this but I think you should see it, I mean with next year you being in that evil reaping ball, I think that you should know a little more about the Capitol. My father showed me what you’re about to see when I was 14, but I think your mature enough for this.” With a troubled face he sighs.

“But I still don’t know what I’m gonna see!” I reply in a whiny voice.

“When you see it you will know Katniss, you will know.” My father says and turns back to the water. 

After blazing a trail for a few hours we set up camp because it’s getting dark. It feels like I’ve done this a hundred times, but then again I probably have! My dad has taught me how to make shelter out of literally nothing. But luckily tonight we have a tent from home which, like anything else in District 12, has been handed down from a couple generations.

As we are setting up I look around at the landscape, which is oozing out all different colours. The ground is covered in dry, long, grass and the sky is layered with orange, red, yellow, and pink since the sun is setting.  It’s late August and the sun is low in the sky it’s almost like the sun is only showing half of its face. Just like the Capitol they would never tell the truth ever.

Dad cuts through my thoughts “OK time for bed or should I say sleeping bag, because we are sleeping in sleeping bags, get it.”

“Yeah, I do” but I don’t find it funny because I’m too focused on the Capitol.

Right after I say that there’s a loud crashing sound, like a gun, behind our tent and then a scream that cut right through my skin. “What the heck was that?” I turn and ask my father but he’s not there.