The sun rose over District 12 as 2 blonde-haired boys stood within the depths of the woods District 12 where even the illegal hunters dare not enter. The older one, about 20 years old, stood cheering for his 16 year old youngest brother as he was sparring with something even the bravest would call him a fool for – a hungry alpha bear. But for the brothers it was a matter of daily occurrence. Not many would know but the bear was actually a tamed one – or as tamed as a bear could be. It actually was healed by the brothers once 5 years back when it was still a cub and wounded fatally, but since then it always looked up-to them, especially the youngest as its master. Throughout the years it mated with another bear, and both it, its mate and its newborn cubs, were always looked after by their 'master'. They had warmed up to the caring humans and in return it helped them train to become abler fighters and as strong as possible.

Standing at the side Rye cheered for his youngest and easily the most favorite sibling. In their family only the both of them had any sort of connections to each other. Their father, though loved them both and always had a soft spot for his youngest brother, never stood up for them due to their abusive mother. Unfortunately the second brother, Millet always tended to be in their mother's good grace, thus was the sole holder of the position of her 'favorite' son while the others tended to stay away from the spot. His this attitude drifted him apart from his siblings, both of whom had no love for their mother who somewhat loved to abuse them, and over the years their relation strained. Though yet not hostile, but none of the other 2 shared any warmth with him, as he has chosen his own path and pushed them away whenever the 2 of them tried to come near him.

The eldest loved the youngest dearly for a reason. He still remembered the day as clear s day when he was 9 and his youngest brother only 5.

~FLASHBACK STARTS~

Rye was helping at the back to order all the necessities while a 5 year Peeta Mellark with blonde hair and sapphire-blue eyes sat at the table doing his study from Rye's schoolbooks. It always amazed Rye that his youngest brother was so intelligent and he always had this scholastic approach in him with which he would attempt every aspect he had doubts in. Even at that age he had no problem at all in 'enjoying' (as he describes studying) books that even adults would falter at. His eidetic memory might have something to do with it, but even Rye knew that his brother loved studying and understanding the unknown, as eidetic memory can only help you recall everything and no understand.

He was brought to the sound of their home television broadcasting the theme of the 63rd Hunger Games and it felt like a stone dropped in his stomach. He dreaded turning 12 – the age of entering the reaping. Knowing their mother, even with them living pretty well off, she would force him draw as many teserae as possible without any care of him at all. She even wouldn't should he go and die in the arena. He always dreaded turning of age to enter the reaping.

"Are you again thinking about the games Rye," asked his brother timidly from the corner effectively bringing him out of his sulking. He still didn't know how, but among the many gifts his brother had, reading other's emotions and hiding his own is one of the most prominent.

Rye couldn't find it in himself so he nodded, and his brother slid out of his chair, walked up to him and hug him around his waist. Not being able to control him any further Rye crouched down and hugged his brother hard, while sobbing in his neck. His brother always had this effect in him, and although Rye never displayed emotion to anyone else after having experienced a life his mother, his brother was another thing. He had the kindest soul Rye knew, and that always had him want o protect him from every evil surrounding them. He knew he shouldn't act on an aspect even his brother had to face once he turned of age, but he knew again, his brother was more mature than his age and wont judge him.

After finally having managed to control his emotions, Rye smiled at his brother and said, "Thanks Peet. I needed it."

Young Peeta smiled at him adorably and said, "And what did you think brothers are for then?" And then he had this certain frown on his face that Rye knew would mean that he was thinking something. "Rye, they say the careers train prior to the game. Why don't we do as well?"

The question caught him off-guard but he still replied, "Because we don't have the necessary means, and aren't that wealthy to afford the necessary means."

"Means you say? You believe they have it air-conditioned in their arenas with health drinks to boost your stamina and training regimes and food to keep you feat and working?" asked Peeta dryly laced with sarcasm – a feat Rye found both non-characteristic and adorable given Peeta's age.

But the words had Rye thinking hard and true he found, he can't deny his brother's logic. "What do you say w propose then?" Not many would take advice from a 5 year old, but Rye always paid heed to his brother's advice, as they always helped him in the past.

"Move to the jungles and train ourselves in the dense cover of the forest, surrounded by the wild, and with only ourselves as our means for survival," said Peeta calmly.

Rye shook his head. "Its not that simple Peet. The forests have many dangers out there that can be dangerous for us. Then there is the fact that trespassing the fences are illegal. Also we don't have weapons to provide for ourselves to protect ourselves there, much less help train. And then with our responsibilities in bakery, and then our school, I don't find we have enough time. Also to consider our mother won't allow us," said Rye morosely.

However Peeta looked unfazed as if somehow expecting Rye to say all this. He finally asked, "Surviving the dangers of the forest each day is a step closer to surviving the arena is it not?" A bit shocked at the idea Rye couldn't help but nod. "The fact about trespassing being illegal is a joke which you know as good as me do. Even if we are caught, I heard a good catch usually satisfies the head peacekeeper." Again Rye can only nod at the reasoning. Its no secret how corrupt the fools are. "Weapons can be designed, and we need to learn to wield them. I would be more than happy to know about the weapon I wield rather than raising it in the arena to use it for the first time with no knowledge about my weapon whatsoever." Again that sarcastic tone that Rye is falling in love with and he couldn't help but smile. Truly his brother had a silver tongue and a very effective muscle inside that cranium than his. He had no doubt that Peeta can create a weapon as good as its capitol counterpart after reading and seeing them. "Now time is something that may be a factor, but nothing that can't be overcome should we decide to do what we are planning to do. Get it Rye. If we don't prepare its like giving up already and should the worst come, and either of us end up there, I don't want any of us to be an unprepared weakling but rather a potential threat that others must watch out for." Even if after the reasoning Rye was still skeptical, now he was determined to go with the plan to train for a more glorious end, should it come to that. "And lastly, dear mother would love us whether we go with my plan or not. So what's the point in not preparing for the worst just because she may love us more than what is necessary?" asked Peeta at last sarcastically, and that was the last straw for Rye to fall down laughing soon joined by Peeta. No silver tongue – a golden tongue.

~FLASHBACK ENDS~

Soon after that day our training began. At first it was a tad bit difficult but they managed to cope up with their schedule by working extra hard at bakery at the evenings. Though their mother was even more violent, but soon relented when she found the work done. As long as the job was finished, she didn't give a damn about the other businesses the boys were upto.

It took 3 months' savings for them to buy a book on capitol weaponry and then another month for Peeta to build then all. Rye helped clamping handles and forging the molten metal into blades as Peeta desired. Metal as it may seem, was found in their district very cheaply, due the presence of the coalfields out there. On very old furnace, that though was no longer supportive for coal, but was more than enough for blades, was highered for their business, and soon they had 4 prototypes of each capitol blades and weapons that the capitol used as per the book. The hard part came in carrying the collective 224 weapons into the dense part of the forest and that took a week. Then finally they started their training regime. Every morning they would wake up at 4, run bare-foot into the jungles deep part where their weapons were kept, train with them by referring to the instructions given in the book, then train all non-weapon arts like stealth, snare-building and camouflage, healing, etc., then go for tracking an animal and hunting it, and finally return running back home just 15 minutes prior to the start of school.

A year into that training regime, and they had well-defined muscles already and now they were learning the wild atmosphere methodically. Though it took 3 more years to fully get accustomed with the wild, to climb trees and jump between them effortlessly, to travel the forest silently and to swim (in which Rye drowned more than once and had to be saved by Peeta to the embarrassment of the elder) and fish in the lakes, the results were worth the hard job. Every year Rye surviving the reaping would bring a relief to the siblings, and they would train more vigorously. They knew their father knew about their secret and approved of them wholeheartedly, due to the extra food and pocket-money they were supplied with secretly, and that made them even more defined. Rye was best with tridents, swords and daggers while Peeta slowly perfected them all, but still was best with blades if only to point out.

5 years into the training the brothers had embraced the wild totally and were more than capable of surviving it. They would regularly spar with each other, and more than often hunt and spar with bears and wild dogs to test their limits. Even with their secret incoming meat though, Rye found it amusing that Peeta would regularly buy meat from the Everdeens, and for once he got a reason to tease his brother for his crush over the elder Everdeen sister, much to his chagrin. He had witnessed the bread throwing-stunt his brother pulled a few years back to save her from starvation, and then he was sure, Peeta was head over heels in love for the girl. The fact that the girl was from seam was no bother to Rye as both him and Peeta were taught by their father to respect everyone equally (though Millet chose to ignore it). If his brother was falling for the girl, the least he could do was support him wholeheartedly.

Now at the age of 20, Rye had nothing more to see that the next 2 years his brother doesn't get reaped (as well as Katniss or else he was sure that Peeta would volunteer if only to keep her safe). He was brought out of his musings when Peeta finally pointed the spear at the bear's head, and the intelligent animal bowed its head accepting its defeat.

The bear walked away to its mate while Peeta walked over to him smiling widely. Both of them were considered the cream of the crop of District 12, and Rye can see why. Both of them were much taller than their age, with very well-defined muscles worthy of a well-trained career that they earned from both their training regime and lifting sacks of flour, a well-features face (Rye's with stubble) had mesmerizing sapphire-blue eyes and shoulder-length golden blonde hair that kept hanging like their mane. Even without capitol treatments or the cosmetics of Districts 1 or 4, they were well passing and handsome youths that got many attention from people of the fairer sex – Peeta more than him because of his silver tongue and charming personality. It's a tragedy that he had set his eyes only one female though.

Both walked with a grace that could be rated as inhuman, both were their year's wrestling champions and champions in many other sports, and additionally Peeta's academic fervor was no slouch either. Their combined room (which Millet or their mother wasn't allowed into) had a room for awards that kept coming regularly, and it was like every day that Peeta brought home some academic award and scholarship while every month a physical achieving award was brought by the both of them. Though no very brave their father was firm when he said that their money earned through scholarships shall only be their to use and handle and for once their mother had no say with it, even with her greed. So a tenth of Peeta's monthly 'income', which was a miners earning for 2 years surprisingly, was spent in his experiments that always awed Rye, for his brother could easily pass for a citizen of District 3.

Sitting down on the stone porch beside Rye Peeta sighed and said, "So how was your hunt? I was too busy with Gryff there to look at it."

Rye handed him a hand-chiseled bowl full of meat and said, "A turkey at the usual spot at the lake." It was a usual thing that while they had learned how to stay without food and water for ages, the both of them can wolf down a full-grown turkey together without much problem. Looking at his brother's disinterested face though, Rye said, "Scared of the reaping?"

That got Peeta's attention and after taking a moment he said, "Got nothing to hide from you anyway so yeah. But not for myself. No, I can take up rather well in the games now and survive through the blood-bath easily while holding on my own against the careers. Its her I'm rather scared about. With the number of teserae I hear her taking, and also counting the fact that she'd volunteer if her sister is reaped, I can rightfully say I'm scared and nervous of her entering the games."

Rye sighed. Damn his brother for always caring for 'her' (who he had no trouble identifying) before caring for himself. After a moment's silence, he asked "Say if she ends up in the games today, we can expect Peeta Mellark in the 74th Hunger Games for sure. What I want to know more is, should the both of you end up the last 2 tributes, is there any hope of me seeing my brother again?" Rye asked the last part almost vulnerably.

Peeta looked at him for a long moment before he said, "You know my first priority." That was enough for Rye to understand the implied meaning and he crashed himself to the enigma that was his youngest brother, with a few tear-drops escaping his eye. But Rye kept his emotions in control, afraid that it'd only make it harder for Peeta should the worst comes.

After finishing their meal Peeta said, "Rye would you do me a favor?"

It came automatically for Rye to reply the answer to his dearest being on this earth. "You need only ask bro."

Smiling at the nick-name that Rye rarely used, Peeta fished out 3 pills from his pocket and handed them over to his eldest brother. "You remember the first project I started working on and always dreamed to accomplish?" Rye nodded eyes-wide. Peeta's dream has always been to make a teleportation tool that would use the medium of space and ambient time to deliver the matter of a body from one place to other. If he is getting the hints right, than Peeta might as well survive the games should he manage to evade the gamekeeper's attention and survive. Smiling brightly Peeta said, "Yeah I know. I only managed to forge them into pills and with the limited time I had I only managed to make 4 pills, 1 of which I tested with last night and found the result successful. I already created doppelgangers, though with the lack of time again I only managed a corpse imitation of a person rather than a working body, and only 4 of them as it takes time. So promise me to hide and care for whoever the 4 would come through the other end of the pill with all our medicinal supplies present in my lab. You know where they are alright?"

All hopes crashed in Rye as he sighed. He should have expected that coming. It's a good thing that emotion-control was part of their decade-long training or he would have been mad by now, but the training helped him in thinking properly rather than shouting like a raging bull. "You aren't coming through the other end right? Fine I'll do as you said."

Hugging him briefly, Peeta smiled and said, "Thanks Rye. Oh one more thing." And then he fished out 2 bandannas from his pocket – one deep green and the other midnight bluish-emerald. At Rye's raised eyebrow Peeta said, "The capitol allows tributes to bring with them a token. It's a communicator through link and ambient force, and I took extra care to ensure the wiring do look like fabrics. Since its my personal invention and emits no wave, we could communicate but only at the fall of night, as any time other would make them suspicious. I'm still working to make it full-time though, but it is powered by solar energy and is still ineffective when its recharging."

Rye couldn't keep the awe out of his face. "Know what Peet. You should have landed at 3 rather than here."

With a smile Peeta replied, "I won't have it any other way. You, dad and well you know who are the only ones that are y driving force." And with that he put on the midnight bluish-purple bandanna, that Rye noticed looked good on him.

Before he could go though, Rye said, "That'll be considered a part of your uniform rather than a token Peet and I have the exact token for you should you be the one to enter the arena." And with that Rye pocketed out a chain he had been carrying along with him for 4 years now for this moment. It was always meant for when Peeta might get reaped, but something told Rye that today might be the day. No matter what he believed in his brother and his brains so he knows he can outsmart the arena all at once, making them believe the sky is green and pigs fly in the air with very minimum effort.

Peeta fumbled with the chain which revealed to be a golden chain with a platinum phoenix, having very small emerald eyes and black wings. Peeta knew from very old legends that it was a death phoenix – the one who helps conquer death. He had told about the legend to Rye once ages go, but he was overwhelmed, that his brother cared for him this lot. Instead of refusing it, as he knew both he and him 'earns' a lot, he accepted it in good faith and thanked Rye profusely which his sibling simply waved off. Then there came the rung of the alarm that asked the citizen's mandatory attendance in the city square within 2 hours. Hugging both the adult bears a goodbye and cuddling the cubs for maybe the last time, Peeta set off with Rye on their usual running course home that needed to cross a lake by swimming in the middle, after hiding their weapons.