A/N: Well, I said I would write a Hunger Games story from Rue's point of view, so here it is. I hope you all enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of the characters, Suzanne Collins does.

...

It is still dark when I open my eyes. At any other time of the year, I would already be heading to the orchards for a day of picking fruit and singing with my mockingjays. But today, I am free to stay in bed, nestled in the warm embrace of my younger sisters. After all, today is the day of the Reaping, but it doesn't start until two, so we might as well enjoy the extra time to rest.

My sister Iris, about three years younger than me, snuggles close to me as I lay back down and wrap my arms around her. The twins Cassia and Camellia, both of whom share the bed with Iris and I, also snuggle closer.

My brothers Sage and Alder lay in bed with our still sleeping mother and father. I am the only one awake. But I am not the only one worried, I know that for certain.

This year's Hunger Games are approaching and I am twelve, today will mark the first time my name goes into the Reaping Ball.

My brother Alder, ever the optimistic six-year-old, says I have nothing to worry about as I will only have my name put in the ball once. I don't have the heart to tell him or my other siblings what I've done, something that only my parents and I know;

Here in our nation of Panem, there is a rule about your name being entered to be chosen as a Tribute: when you turn twelve, your name is entered once, then twice when you're thirteen, and so on until you're eighteen, the last year of eligibility, with seven entries. However, if you're from a poorer area, like District 11 where I live, you can take out tesserae, a meager supply of oil and grain, for each member of your family. The only downside is that this requires you to enter your name once more for each entry. So, since I took out tesserae for myself, my parents, and all five of my brothers and sisters, my name has been entered eight more times. Still, nine entries in a total of hundreds, I suppose the odds are still in my favor.

That's a lie. Here in District 11, the odds are never in our favor. That's what my father always says.

I know this has to be torture for my parents, to know that I am only the first of the six children they will be forced to sacrifice to the Capitol, the leaders of Panem, to compete in the Games they dreamed up as a way of reminding the rest of us just how helpless we are to resist their whims.

I am the eldest in my family. My younger sisters, who share a bed with me in the shack where we make our home, are Iris who is nine, and the twins Cassia and Camellia are the youngest in our family, both having just turned five a month ago. Alder is six, and my other brother Sage is ten. If there is any comfort that can be taken from this, it is that all of them have several years before they have to worry about entering the Games.

I strive to protect my siblings. I give my rations to them, and I even forage around for any extra food I can give them. Here in District 11, the agricultural district, the Peacekeepers keep a sharp eye on the crops to make sure no desperate soul tries to take more than they're given, even if it's to fill their starving bellies or those of their children. I could be publicly whipped in the square on a daily basis for my foraging, but it's a small price to pay considering the alternative.

Knowing my family will be hungry when they wake, I begin to make breakfast. I smile when I see there is still some groosling. On our way home from the orchards last night, my father and I happened to stumble upon a pair of wild birds that we call grooslings. We had one for dinner last night and decided to save the other one for today. I take half of it and put it in a pot to warm it through.

I then turn my attention to the grain from my tesserae and decide to make some biscuits, not the most creative thing in the world, but given my limited options, better than nothing.

As I heat the groosling and prepare the biscuits, I hum the song I sing in the orchards when the day comes to an end. Since I can climb into the trees higher than everyone else, I am the first to see the flag that signals quitting time. That is why I said before that mockingjays are my friends; I sing to them, knowing they will carry the song through the trees and let everyone else know that we can stop for the day.

Before long, the biscuits are ready and the groosling is heated. I'm pleased to see that a bit of grease is left in the pot, perfect for making a bit of gravy. I don't think my mother will mind if I use a small helping of our flour rations.

I set the bowl of gravy on our small table just as Iris stirs.

"Mmmm," she grins. "I smell groosling."

"Don't even think about it," I chide teasingly, trying not to smile. "Not until everyone else wakes up."

Of all our siblings, Iris is the one who looks the most like me. If she were three years older, she would be my twin, so I can't help but laugh when she literally mirrors my expression before slumping back onto the bed with a huff.

"Breakfast ready?" Alder rolls onto his side and looks up at me, crawling over Sage, who wakes up and looks annoyed.

I nod.

"Now it's just waiting on you to be ready," I snicker.

After my siblings and parents all wake, we sit down to eat. My brothers and sisters each have two biscuits, a chunk of groosling, and a dollop of gravy. My parents and I each have only a single biscuit, a small handful of groosling, and my parents have some gravy, but I do not. Normally they would try to persuade me to eat more, but they know I would refuse. I don't have much of an appetite today, but even if I did, I would prefer to let my siblings have more.

Normally, my family would be thrilled at such a meal and my siblings would be giggling and chattering as they mopped up their gravy with one biscuit after another. But today the meal is spent in silence. No one wants to bring up the Hunger Games or the Reaping or the possibility, slim or no, that I could be on my way to the Capitol tonight.

I try to push this thought from my mind as I dress and get ready to go out. Since most people will be taking advantage of the chance to sleep in, the Peacekeepers will be less likely to be watching as closely. So, if I go out under the cover of darkness, I might be able to get more than usual.

"Be careful," my mother says as I grab the bag I use when I go on one of my outings.

I nod and leave without a word, bag in hand.

...

...

So, that was the first chapter. Let me know what you think and the next chapter will be out on Friday, September 8th.

Until then, everyone.