Ivy ran through the mud of the giant machine surrounding the area where the miners worked. She was playing hide and go seek with almost half her classmates and had mud splattered all over her grey dress. It was a fun game for the 8-year-olds to play especially not where they were supposed to be.

She ducked down under some stairs and hid in a corner hoping she was hidden enough. She grabbed some mud with her two fingers and made lines under her cheeks as if to help her camouflage.

She blew out a breath and rubbed her arms to help stave off the cold. And lost balance and almost face-planted before catching herself.

The blonde boy who was it turned rapidly and saw her hands catch herself in the mud. He walked over ready to shout when her hands shot up and she shushed him. She shook her head pleading with the boy to pretend he didn't actually see her.

He smiled and decided if he couldn't find anybody after a while he'd come back to find her. He ran away after he heard someone knock something over and knew he'd found another target.

She sighed and situated herself in a better position. Luckily Peeta was nice enough to ignore her and save her some time. Just as she went to move spots she spotted her father and a few of his friends get off work and head to the spot where people performed for the minors to let off steam and drink. She gathered herself quickly and ran back home hoping he wouldn't find her. She was wearing some of her best clothes and he'd be angry if he saw the way she looked.

Once she reached home she barged in and ran for the bathrooms to clean up knowing her brother and dad would be back sometime soon and would not appreciate mud on her and everywhere else.

After she was done she hurriedly got dressed and saw her brother sitting watching the Capitol news.

"Oh hey, Ivy." He jumped up and stuffed his hand in his jacket before pulling out a piece of metal. "Made this for you to practice throwing."

He placed it in her hand and she noticed it had a star shape design. She poked the edge and felt its sharpness. "What is it? It looks so cool!" She smiled before looking up.

"It's called a throwing star. Want me to show you how to use it? Maybe even practice skipping rocks?"

She brightened up and immediately agreed. She followed him to the woods blocked off by an inactive voltage fence and then to the lake their family liked to go to.

He helped her practice for a while throwing the star first into trees and then into leaves. Then she had asked to try skipping the rocks as she could never do it right. He showed and she tried many times but she still couldn't skip. It started to get dark out so he suggested they head back home and she pocketed her star before heading back home.

••

Now 10 years old Ivy sat with her paper mache throwing stars as she tried to copy the last thing her brother had made her. "Honey we need to go down to the bakery for some bread if you don't mind coming with me!"

"Yeah, Dad!" She yelled back as she hurriedly changed. "Be right out!"

Before the young girl's dad could even grab his money Ivy ran past him and out the door. He shook his head with a laugh glad that the Mellarks youngest boy was her friend.

After her brother died in the games when she was 8 she never talked much and kept to herself if she had any friends before she certainly didn't after. Her brother was her only best friend and coping with his death was hard on her but once Ivy was asked or practically begged by Peeta and a few others to join tag with the other kids she was able to recover better and come out of her shell.

••

Ivy had her shoes tied by her dad and they made a secret get away to the lake beyond the border of district 12. Her father decided to have a little fun before her first reaping later that day. She was 12 now and she couldn't get her mind off the reaping.

She skipped rocks to copy after her dad but kept failing. It was a nice distraction for the two and a favorite pastime of Ivy's. "I suck." She groaned as she plopped down after her fifth rock fail.

Her dad laughed at her and sat down. "It's hard to do I know." He agreed. "My mother taught me when I was a boy. Much older than you though. I was a horrible shot." He laughed.

"I miss Ma Ivory." She frowned.

"She misses you too. I know it." He looked at the glistening lake remembering all the time she snuck him out here. "She was the best song memorizer and rock thrower I ever met!" He laughed.

"I wish I got her abilities." She pouted. "Atlas certainly did."

"You got her hair at least. A beautiful shade of golden brown."

She blushed and rolled her eyes. "Daaaaad." She groaned.

"I'm messing with you, darling." He smiled at his little girl. "But you have so much going for you. You have your mother's medical passion. Your brother's creativity. And no matter what you don't give up."

"I miss them all."

"I do too sweetheart."

They were silent for a moment as they listened to the birds chirp. That was until Ivy brought up the dreaded topic.

"You think I'll be okay?... I won't turn out like Atlas?"

"There are many new kids entering this year darling." He assured her. "I think you'll be okay."

"Why do they do this to us, Daddy?"

"It's a reminder of the Dark Days, and of the uprising of the districts against the Capitol. Twelve were defeated, the thirteenth obliterated. The Treaty of Treason gave us the new laws to guarantee peace and, as our yearly reminder that the Dark Days must never be repeated, it gave us the Hunger Games."

"I'm scared." She murmured. She didn't have many memories of her brother now but she knew she missed him- she heard many stories of how they were best friends. One memory she'd certainly never forget is how long it took for her brother to pass. Poison it seemed like. But it was horrific and sad enough.

"I know darling." He brought his daughter in as they stared at the flowing river. "No matter what. I'll be with you always. In the grass, the skies, and when you see yourself in the mirror you will see my eyes." He kissed her forehead as his heart lay heavy with fear. His only child had many years to go until she was safe and he could never guarantee her safety. All he knew was she never would have to get Tessarae as he worked hard enough and was blessed with a fair amount of money to help them live.

"I know Dad." She let out a sigh and cuddled into her dad's arms. "I know."