Where the Snow Lands (A Hunger Games Story)

You Reap What You Sow

Today, was the day, the official day of reaping for the Hunger Games. Coriolanus Snow was opened his eyes, it was his first year as Head Games Maker. The years spent studying in the university and working below Dr Gaul had finally paid off. It was a pity of what came of her in the end. A nasty accident with one of her muttations. No one around to pull her from the VAT of newly made pups meant they made short work of her as a pack. Coriolanus had warned her the cross-breed of sickly district children and rabid wolves would be received in poor taste, but she had not listened and in the end it had overpowered her. Quite literally.

He would miss her and her ways. Over the years she grew to not only be a mentor to him but a friend, a confidante, there was no one he trusted more, except maybe Tigris but the relationship has seen better days.
Dr Gaul helped mould him into the strong man that he had become, tall, slim but athletic, filling out from his younger years on a proper diet and a rigorous exercise routine. He was strong enough to take on a man twice his size, smart enough to anticipate the moves of his opponent and once again part of one of the most respectable families in the Capitol.
He would honour her memory today, after all it was not just his first games as Head Maker but also the 10 year anniversary of his first taste of the games. All those years ago and the dazzling Lucy Gray.
Coriolanus Shuddered at the thought.
He didn't like to dwell on the past, on his childhood or on her.

Suddenly there was a knock on his bedroom door.
'Come in.' Coriolanus spoke in an unusual tone, deep in thought of preparation of the morning and of past events.
His butler entered, 'Sir, the day is upon us, the stylists are in the dining room ready to help you dress for the occasion.'
'Very good, I shall be down shortly.'
Coriolanus rubbed his temples, he could feel the same migraine approach him that came on every year on this day and plagued him until a Victor was crowned.

As Coriolanus made his way into the dining room he was met with an embrace from his cousin Tigris. Once a small but resilient worker had now clawed her way to being the most renowned fashion house in all of Panem.
She struck gold on her first big fashion project 'Something from Nothing' and never looked back. It came as no surprise that the collection itself was nothing more than her remaking old clothes from before the Great War into fashionable statement pieces. That was 5 years ago and she still gets requests from families who are not so well off to turn their reaping day outfits into works of art. Of course because of our background she obliges. Free of charge for those who show kindness in other ways, none of which in ill faith.

'Cousin.'

She addressed him curtly, the boyish nickname long forgotten. Standing tall and slender with the most delicious figure. Tigris was the embodiment of fashion. Her modified features such as her cat like eyes and whiskers was enough to make any passer by stop and take a second glance.

'You keeping well?', she asked, glancing up from the creations she was laying out before him.
'Same complications different day, I'll be glad when the day is through and I can retire to my study to examine the tributes', Coriolanus headache was growing by the second. An underlying flash of excitement arose but he quickly stifled it.
'I will never be one to support the Games Coryo, but I do congratulate you on your new position. If anyone can bring some humanity to the Games, I hope it would be you.' Tigris flashed him a quick smile and carried on compiling his outfit.

'That is the one.' He said quietly. 'Its almost as if my father had worn it.'

'I was meaning to tell you cousin, I have spent months modernising and repairing this suit, it was one of the only articles of clothing still tucked away in his trunk.'
'Tigris it's perfect, thank you.'
'Remember Coryo, Snow lands on top'
'Snow lands on top'

A quick hug and Tigris was gone, she wouldn't stay for the events that followed. 'Pity really' he thought, 'she will learn soon enough.'

Snow dressed and washed and plucked a single pale blue rose from the well preserved Garden. God rest her soul Grandma'am's memory will always live on and her roses will always be tended.

He went downstairs where the car was waiting, his driver opened the door and helped him into the car. This was it. The show was about to begin.