Chapter 1: We Meet Cato

Hello my lovely readers. I thought of this a while ago and just decided to put this up. If you can please review it would really help my writing :). Thank you. -swish

I wake up in the middle of the night with sweat dripping down my face, another nightmare. Looking to the other side of the bed, I don't see them. It feels cold like they haven't been here for a while. Freaking out for a second I get out of bed. I find both of my brothers lying in bed with our mom.

Of course they're there its reaping day and it is their first one. I only have two more until I don't have to worry about it anymore, but what about when I can't help them. When I can't do anything to make sure that Damien or Jasen don't go into the games. Trying not to think about it I go down stairs to get the shop ready. I know not many families will come to get fresh meet, but it gives me something to do.

As I skin some of the animals, with the skills my father taught me, I start thinking about him. I really miss him. He was my idol. He was always there for me and for anyone who needed him. Everyone respected him, but things changed when he died. Mom was never the same, both of my brothers grew up not really knowing their dad, and I had to grow up faster then I should of. The day the mines blew up affected not only the families of the minors, but us in the town as well.

I was only eleven then when I heard the sirens. I ran to check on my brothers. I took them home and had them wait with mom, but dad wasn't home. I went out with the other families when I saw him. He and some of the other town men were helping the injured get out of the mine. He went back to help some more people when it happened, a second explosion went off. Everyone was screaming and pushing to get to their loved ones. I saw dad on the floor, but he wasn't moving. I ran to him to and when I got there it was too late, he was gone. Almost everyone lost someone that day. It was a day where it didn't matter where you live because we all had a reason to morn.

As I continue to cut I can here my brothers get up. When they finally get down they both sit on the steps watching me as I finish up the meat. When I finally turn to them, it still shocks me how much they look like mom. Where I have our dad's town look with my blond hair blue eyes my brothers have our moms seams look with the dark black hair and silver eyes.

We aren't like other families. My dad grew up in the town and my mom in the seams. They fell in love with one another when my mom started trading her father's game. It really just happened. Both my grandparents were happy for them, but that didn't stop all the talk around district 12 or the fights I get in when I need to defend my brothers from bullies. Don't get me wrong they can handle themselves in a fight, but why should they if they have me as an older brother.

I walk over and sit on a step below them. We sit in silence for a few minutes before Damein speaks up. "Cato, what is it like? Just waiting to see if you get picked or not."

I stand up and sit between them and put an arm around them. "Honestly it is one of the most scariest things I went through when I was your age," I tell them. I look at both of them in the eye before I continue. "Neither of you are going in there I promise you. Both of you only have one slip. You will be safe."

They both look a little more relax before something seems to dawn on them at the same time. Jasen is the one that speaks up. "What about you Cato? You have more slips in there then you should because of what happened after..." he stops his train of thought because we all know he is talking about the tough times we had after dad died.

When we didn't know what to do and we were all still in shock. Our mom wouldn't move because she was in a deep depression. That year we almost starved to death because no one was running the shop. We didn't have anything, but luckily my birthday came and I was able to get enough tessera to hold us over until I could run the shop on my own. Doing that though has added my name in that dreaded bowl at least an additional twenty more times.

"Jasen, you know that I will be fine. Neither of you are to volunteer for me you got that. I am here to protect you not the other way around" I look a both of them to make sure my point is clear. "Now go upstairs and get ready. We can't be late."

Both of them run upstairs to go get ready. I couldn't really sit still right so I get up to walk around. Not much to do today nobody is open. I figure I can go help Gale with his trading. As I leave the shop I see him near the mayors house talking to Madge. I wait until he's done, don't want be a bad cousin and ruin his chances with her.

He finally walks away when I go to catch up. "Now aren't you suppose to be getting ready for the reaping." I tell him.

"Oh yeah, I have to dress up so they can just herd me to my death. I'll go get ready right now. How should I do my hair?" he says sarcastically. We continue to walk through the town until we reach the Hob. We sit down to have a bowl of some of Greasy Sae soup. "So how many this year?" I ask as we eat.

"I really have no clue," he said looking into his soup. "Come on Cato lets go."

We get up and leave. I turn to go to town while he goes to the seams. "I'll see you at dinner afterwards okay"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah we'll be there." he turns to me. "Oh and Cato may the odds be ever in your favor." he says in the worst Effie impression I ever heard. I laughed and continued walking home.

When I get home I see both of my brothers wrestling in our room. "Hey you little greyhounds knock it off." I say grabbing both of them and throwing them over my shoulder. I throw them on the bed and start tickling them. " I will stop once you say 'Cato the amazing we will do what ever you say'"

They hold out for a little before they finally break "Okay, okay we will say it," says Damein. "Oh Cato the amazing we will do what ever you say" they say in unison.

"Good now get out of here so I can get ready." they both got up and ran down stairs.

I start to pull out some clothes when someone grabs my shoulder." Cato I pulled out some clothes for you to wear and I ran a bath for you" my mom says as she leaves my room. I take a quick bath and into the clothes mom pulled out. When I look in the mirror I notice its dads old clothes from when he was of reaping age.