Chapter Text
Ivypool had been having nightmares again.
When she woke with a start, her rapid heartbeat echoing through her ears, the room was still dark. She rolled over automatically, her back to the wall, intending to wake Dovewing sleeping beside her, but her outstretched arm came down empty and landed on the hard foam pillow.
It was cold. Oh, her sister had long left; they were still fighting.
She pressed her hand over her chest and closed her eyes, feeling the lump of beating warmth, and the ache that dragged out each breath. She took a few more difficult deep breaths and brought her focus back on each specific object- the shape of her furniture, the smell in the air, the texture of her bedsheet.
Leafpool, the Lake District's local doctor had taught her this method. It could help calm her in any situation.
Within five minutes, Ivypool's rapid heartbeat had begun to calm, and her eyes had adjusted to the gloom. She propped herself up on her arms, and looked around the room. Whitewing was still laid on the bed opposite, curled close to the wall, the remaining half of the bed beside her empty. Pale and withered, eyebrows drawn tight, eyelids fluttering every now and then, she seemed to be in an uneasy sleep.
Ivypool could see clearly her mother's writhing lips, probably sleep-talking again. She slept like that ever since Birchfall's death.
Ivypool pushed back the bedcovers, and crawled lightly to the edge of her bed, then twisted around to slip down onto her boots. She quickly pulled on a jacket tossed by the bed and a pair of trousers, before wriggling her feet into her boots. She folded her bedcovers into thirds, straightened the bedsheet, and only then did she make her way outside.
She trod silently, as she did when she was hunting in the forest, only flinching at the pitiful screech the rusted hinges let out when she pulled open the door.
She felt Whitewing stir in the corner of her vision, but Whitewing didn't get up; she was still asleep.
The place she lived in was called the Lake District. It was located on the edge of District Twelve, a land more barren than anywhere else in the country.
Those of the Lake District were even poorer than the other residents of District Twelve. They paid the Dark Forest higher taxes each month, in exchange for half the normal amount of food.
In addition to this, it was illegal for citizens from other areas to offer Lake District citizens any kind of support. It was obvious that the Dark Forest was targeting the Lake District, because there lived all that remained of the rebels, along with their descendants.
To overthrow the Dark Forest's tyranny, several wars had erupted in Eden, the most recent of which had been twenty years ago. Back then, Whitewing had been the same age as Ivypool now; it had been before her and Dovewing's births. But according to the elders of District Twelve, it was the most tragic war in all of the history of Eden.
Brokenstar, the then president had been assassinated, leaving Eden's armies leaderless. If it weren't for District Two's sudden betrayal- destroying the rebels' provisions- the Dark Forest might have fallen a long time ago.
After that, the tide of the war turned within the night. The rebel troops stationed in each district surrendered one by one, leaving only one last group fighting stubbornly at the border. It was only when the Dark Forest used the lives of a group of children from District Twelve as leverage that they finally laid down their weapons.
Luckily, the Lake District could provide for itself. The Hunter's Organisation had formed here long ago, open to all those above the age of fourteen and below that of thirty-five. A small group was sent to hunt in the forest as long as the electrified fence wasn't active, and the catch distributed to the Organisation members and Lake District families without a grown man in the household.
Hunting, too, was illegal, and the Peacekeepers' tight surveillance meant the amount of prey they could bring back was limited, but at least it stopped too many people from quietly wasting away.
Today was Reaping Day, and school was closed, but Ivypool had to go to the Hunter's Organisation for her shift. Each hunt was taken in secret- most of the Lakers knew of the Hunter's Organisation, but were unaware of how many members were in it.
Even many of the members themselves were unaware of this. They only met up with a few fixed partners- most members' jobs consisted only of hunting and bringing their catch to the warehouse next to Leafpool's clinic, while a few designated members were responsible for distributing the food.
This was to prevent anyone from leaking the identities of their fellow members. If caught by a Peacekeeper, they must insist that they had been acting independently, no matter the cost.
This was their unspoken rule.
Ivypool and Dovewing had joined the Organisation last year. On their fourteenth birthday, Whitewing's friends had thrown a small party for them on the Lake District square. Although alcohol was a luxury in District Twelve, Whitewing still brought out some rum for the sisters.
As they were still underage, the girls drank sparingly. After the party, Ivypool's friend Blossomfall got the sisters to sign their names on the register for the Hunter's Organisation.
Ivypool had been slightly tipsy, while Dovewing was already in a drunken haze. But when they woke from their respective hangovers, they both remembered joining the Hunter's Organisation, gaining new identities, and becoming new powers for the District.
Underage members usually only hunted once a week. Ivypool and Dovewing joined different groups, so they could split from the spoils of two teams. They began their respective shifts the second week they joined the organisation and provided meat for their family throughout the year.
Within the fortnight, Ivypool discovered that Dovewing had extremely sharp eyesight. Dovewing had told Ivypool that her teammates always asked her to climb high into the trees to scout the surroundings for them, and that as long as she was in a tree, her arrow could always pierce straight through her prey's throat.
Ivypool believed her- she could tell that it was true from the way her sister always returned with more meat than her. Blossomfall, who was in the same team as Dovewing, often exclaimed to Ivypool how Dovewing was a perfect hunter. Ivypool always felt a sour jealousy rise inside her when she heard the admiration and wonder in her friend's voice.
Until last winter.
On the day of Dovewing's accident, Ivypool had been helping out in the clinic. Leafpool was the only doctor at the Lake District clinic. People here couldn't afford to go to the District Twelve Hospital; they always went to Leafpool when they were ill.
Ivypool found that Leafpool was always gentle, calm and understanding around others. The first time she entered Leafpool's clinic, the infirmary was filled with the rotting smell of disease and injury. Leafpool, cool and composed, had been gliding between her patients, occasionally bending down with a quiet, caring question.
Ivypool couldn't make out what she was saying, but the soft tone soothed the repulse and fear in her heart.
Leafpool was always busy. At first, her blind son, Jayfeather was the only one who could help her look after her patients. It was only when her sister, Squirrelflight, who worked for the District Twelve government, decided to sponsor students who worked odd jobs at the clinic, and employ more helpers for Leafpool, that Leafpool ceased to always be so overwhelmed.
Ivypool was unfond of Jayfeather. He was bad-tempered and always scowling at others- including her. The way his empty blue eyes stared at her made Ivypool want to throw the tray she was carrying at his face.
But she never did. Whenever she thought of how he had lost his sister in The Hunting Code, she felt a wave of sympathy for him.
It had been snowing heavily; it was so cold that Ivypool's face was almost frozen. She put her palms to her cheeks, trying to warm them, but found that her hands were even colder than her face.
Just as she was puffing on her hands in a feeble attempt to thaw them, a commotion outside caught her attention. She could hear Jayfeather shouting her name.
Ivypool darted towards the door. When she saw who was being carried in, her blood froze.
It was Dovewing. Dovewing had fallen out of a tree when she was out hunting, breaking her leg and ribs.
Ivypool could no longer recall how the family managed to get through rest of the day. She only remembered mechanically passing Leafpool her rubbing alcohol and scalpel, before curling up in a corner of the clinic, hollow and distraught.
The Organisation member who had carried Dovewing there told her how Dovewing had slipped and fallen from high up in a tree, her injuries were serious and it was probable that they would leave lasting damage. She had thought she might go mad with worry, feeling tears threatening to escape, but to start crying in the clinic, where everyone was watching, was unthinkable. She couldn't cry, not here.
Dovewing couldn't leave her bed for months. Ivypool was woken several times each night by Dovewing moaning and crying in her sleep. Whitewing always seemed disturbed and agitated too. Ivypool had to take on her mother and sister's responsibilities- earning money, hunting, chores- all alongside attending school each day.
Luckily, Leafpool was a skilled doctor. With rest and recuperation, Dovewing was mostly back to normal. But she couldn't run for a long time. Whenever she ran too fast, a nagging ache would surface in her left leg.
Hunting time was always tight on Reaping Day. Ivypool had to leave the forest and return to the Lake District at noon. After Dovewing left the Hunter's Organisation, Ivypool changed to her sister's group, which now had four members: Ivypool, Blossomfall, Leafpool's other son Lionblaze, and his neighbour Cinderheart.
She saw Lionblaze's golden head first when she reached the cliff where the group usually met. He was leant lazily against the gritty rock, his foot tapping on the grass sporadically. He waved eagerly when he spotted Ivypool, the movement so exaggerated she thought it a little ridiculous.
"Hi," Ivypool began. "The others aren't here yet?"
"Nope." Lionblaze shook his head. "But we can set off first."
Hunting groups usually spilt into pairs, taking a route each, and regrouping at the end of a session to count their prey. Ivypool would prefer to wait for Blossomfall, as she and Lionblaze weren't very close- their only meetings were at the Hunter's Organisation and a couple of encounters by chance at the clinic.
But she had no reason to reject his invitation. To be honest, she was rather surprised that Lionblaze had offered to hunt together. She remembered clearly that he always used to partner with Cinderheart.
"Alright." Ivypool said, trying not to sound too unwilling, although she had no such intention, "How's Leafpool?"
She gestured for Lionblaze to go first. He did so swiftly, heading deep into the forest, Ivypool following.
"She's good." Lionblaze said after a brief pause, "She's started to teach Jayfeather how to give patients injections."
If it were me, I definitely wouldn't allow him to give me an injection. Ivypool thought. How could a blind boy find my blood vessels when I can't even find them myself?
But she didn't say this out loud. "Great," she said, forcing ease. "Things will be easier for Leafpool then."
"Of course." Lionblaze puffed up his chest, seemingly very proud of his brother. "Where's Dovewing?"
Ivypool's arm twitched where it had been holding her bow. A twig snapped beneath her foot. Lionblaze, who was waiting patiently for her to answer, didn't seem to notice her reaction.
She began evasively, "She's not home, she might have gone to buy something to eat... shh."
Ivypool caught Lionblaze by the corner of his jacket. There was a light breeze blowing towards them. On the other side of a thick bush, directly opposite them, was a hare munching on some roots. Maybe they had startled it- it stood up onto its back legs warily, its nose twitching.
Lionblaze reacted before she did- without hesitation, he drew the bow all the way back, the sharp arrow flying towards the hare and killing it in one strike.
"Good shot." Ivypool congratulated in a low voice.
"Dovewing has better aim than me." Lionblaze sighed.
Dovewing. Dovewing again. It had been six months since she had left the Hunter's Organisation, but it was like she was still active, the way everyone held her in their hearts. Ivypool's mood soured instantly. She shrugged and continued forward without another word to Lionblaze.
They ended up with a good amount of catch, although most were Lionblaze's kills. He had a strong arm, and his arrows always rendered prey incapacitated if not dead. In that were the case, he would quickly finish it off with another arrow, before moving to collect the body.
When they met up with the other two, they had caught a hare, a squirrel and a sparrow. Add that to the two squirrels dangling from Blossomfall's hand, and the bundle of herbs in Cinderheart's arms, and their task was well and truly complete. Now all that was left to do was bring their catch back to the warehouse, and meet up at the square.
They couldn't all move or go to the Hunter's Organisation together- they would be far too conspicuous. Lionblaze and Cinderheart would bring back the spoils, separately, while Ivypool and Blossomfall headed straight back, maybe even managing to squeeze out the time to have a rest and a change of clothes at home.
Ivypool, however, had no such plans, as she was likely to bump into Dovewing leaving the house around then. But Blossomfall would gladly accompany her straight to the square. "I'm really worried about Bumblestripe being reaped." she burst out finally, "You know it's always him that signs up for tesserae for our family."
Of course Ivypool knew. Blossomfall's family had it even more difficult than hers. Her father, Greystripe had been executed as a member of the rebellion, and her mother had passed away a few years previously. It was up to Blossomfall and her brother Bumblestripe to support the family, including their paralysed sister, Briarlight. Ivypool wanted to comfort her, but her heart was filled with the same grey gloom. Two of District Twelve's children were going to be reaped, no matter what, and if it wasn't Bumblestripe, it would be someone else.
No one wanted to lose their family. No one wanted to be sentenced to death before they were even of age.
Blossomfall was still pouring out her anxieties to Ivypool. Ivypool's attention drifted from her friend's rambling, as the faces of the few Dark Forest authorities flashed through her mind. Their souls harboured a cruel cunning, cunning that let them seize upon, precise and deliberate, everyone's weak spot: children. Children, fighting one another. Children, dead.
The faces blurred, but their greedy, predatory gazes were still focused on the Lakers. Ivypool's heartbeat quickened again. It was far from winter, but she shivered despite the warmth.
They steered away from the path in the Lake District, crossing the wealthy district and heading straight for the square. The pavement was wider here than in the Lake District; the neighbourhood also featured a shopping mall, a hospital, and a school.
Not everyone was able to attend school in District Twelve, and even less could stay in school all the way to graduation. Also, education was pointless to those who lived in the Lake District- even if one managed to graduate and enter university, it was impossible for them to find a job outside of the Lake District that required that education.
Blossomfall hadn't graduated from senior high school either. She had dropped out of school at fifteen to wash dishes at the miners' cafeteria, for a wage even more meagre than that of the miners. But Ivypool and Dovewing were still in school. Whitewing chose to draw on their limited savings, just to keep her daughters in school until they could graduate senior high school at eighteen.
They had attended primary school and junior high school in the Lake District, and only started at the state senior high school this year.
"Your school." Ivypool heard Blossomfall's sour, slightly bitter voice as she gave the teaching block a sideways glance through the metal fencing. "Nice building."
She didn't reply, just tugged on Blossomfall's hand, quickened her pace, and lead Blossomfall past the school.
Without incident, her school would be the most beautiful building she would see in her life. But for her, happy days there were few and far between. She and Dovewing were the only Lakers in the year, and were, predictably, shunned for it. It only got worse when she and Dovewing were split up and put in two separate classes.
But today the unhappy memories weren't the sole reason Ivypool didn't want to linger. One day ago, she and Dovewing had had a big argument here.
Ever since her accident, Dovewing had become very sensitive. No longer being able to contribute to her family filled her with guilt, and with it fear of blame for the same reason.
Actually, neither Ivypool nor Whitewing had ever seen her as a burden. But they were unable to stop her from deciding for herself to find new ways to earn food and money. She never told her mother or sister anything about what she did, and Ivypool could never manage to extract an answer the few times she asked.
Over the last fortnight, Dovewing suddenly began to bring more things home than usual- more to the point of being abnormal. They ranged from common things like bread or vegetables to objects of more luxury- salt and cough syrup. But her tracks were getting stranger too. Some weekends, Ivypool would be awoken by her slipping out of bed, and see her leave the house silently, returning only when it was near midnight.
She couldn't help but fret about her sister's safety. Everyone knew how unsafe District Twelve was, as the poorest, least developed place in Eden. In the Lake District, everyone knew each other. Outsiders might see it as a slum, but it was safer than most areas in District Twelve.
Where had Dovewing been? Didn't she know that there could be drunkards and addicts everywhere? Five days ago, when Ivypool followed Dovewing to a park in the wealthy neighbourhood, she finally discovered where her sister's extras had come from. She hsd watched from behind a bush as Dovewing embraced a boy- the mayor's son, Tigerheart.
Dovewing was dating Tigerheart. Tigerheart was supporting their family. Any form of support to the Lake District was illegal.
She shouldn't have been doing this. If anyone found out, the whole family would be sentenced, while Tigerheart's only loss would be a girl who'd wanted to date him.
"Oh yeah, I just saw Dovewing this morning." Blossomfall said seriously. Ivypool's heart missed a beat. "She looked like she was in a hurry."
Ivypool glanced at her friend, attempting a guess at whether she already knew of Dovewing's secret.
"She's been all over the place ever since her accident. " She shrugged with forced indifference. "Whitewing and I don't really interfere with her. Why, did you see her doing something?"
"She greeted me and asked me whether I was going hunting with you. You know we used to hunt in the same group." Blossomfall said, "She told me to stay safe, and then she went to the library. What was she going there for?"
"To study, probably. She didn't do too well in her last exam." Ivypool said.
"I thought she always had pretty good grades?" Blossomfall replied in surprise.
"Yeah, she's always been a high achiever." Ivypool rolled her eyes.
The clock tower gradually appeared at the edge of Ivypool's vision, its outline faint and hazy. As the most conspicuous building in District Twelve, it was specially renovated by the government every year. Its tan frame stood stark against the district's grey and white landscape, while the pendulum swung steadily, its ticking echoing through the air.
She knew they were nearing the square- just past the crossway, and they would be able to see the huge screen the Dark Forest had installed. It streamed live each Reaping Day, displaying to the residents of District Twelve everything that happened on the square stage. There they would see this year's "tributes", the screen capturing and magnifying each and every detail; people would see two helpless, terrified faces, and the presenter's false, ugly smile.
Ivypool and Blossomfall were early; there were only a sparse few dozen people across the square. The Reaping was scheduled to start in a little over an hour. After she and Blossomfall signed on the register to mark their arrivals, they were herded over to the section reserved for twelve to eighteen-year-olds. The two girls no longer felt like talking and with the arrival of more and more people, they were forced to stand further apart- Blossomfall was seventeen, and required to stand near the front of the crowd, while fifteen-year-old Ivypool stayed close to the centre, and soon found herself deep in the mass of people.
She wasn't very tall, and the tall boy in front of her blocked her view. No longer able to see the stage directly, she could only crane at the top-half of the screen over his head; it was just turning on, and packed crowds were appearing on it.
Just as the speakers let out a sharp screech, Ivypool spotted Dovewing.
There were just two people between them. Ivypool wanted to call Dovewing over, but her sister was pushing Tigerheart away, while saying something under her breath. Tigerheart gave her hand a brief, restrained squeeze, before turning away and leaving.
Ivypool let out a long sigh, shook her head, and said nothing.
The camera moved from the residents of District Twelve to focus on those on the stage. Ivypool could see Tigerheart's father- Rowanclaw, the mayor of District Twelve- his expression serious, gaze sharp.
Beside the major sat Mapleshade. Ivypool knew about her- she was one of the hosts of the Hunting Code and one of the most senior figures in the Dark Forest. Grotesque wrinkles were sprawled all over her face, around her lips, across her cheeks, by the corners of her eyes... she looked ancient and frightening. Her unreadable gaze was sinister, and the cunning curve of her mouth made it difficult to gauge her age.
Ivypool was rather surprised that Mapleshade had come to District Twelve. As an important figure in the Dark Forest, the elderly woman was usually sent to District One or Two, or sometimes remained at the Dark Forest. It was as if two enormous hands had wrapped themselves around her throat, stealing her breath away. A sense of foreboding was slowly creeping up her spine, chilling her through and through. For a moment, she was certain that Mapleshade had spotted her.
Mapleshade's snake-like eyes narrowed, seizing Ivypool's heart, and Ivypool froze, not even daring to blink. But she wasn't looking at Ivypool, just looking down on everyone with haughty contempt.
The Hunting Code was a live show held annually by Eden. It had been created after the first defeat of the Districts by the Dark Forest, to prevent such a period of history from repeating itself.
It would be sensible to call it a massacre, rather than a live show, thought Ivypool. A long, cruel massacre. The show's organisers would select two teenagers from each district- a boy and a girl- and send them into a huge outdoor arena. They were would be forced to fight to the death until there was only one person standing. That person would be crowned the show's ultimate victor.
Only the victor could return home in peace, bringing with them a generous prize from the Dark Forest.
Rowanclaw's mouth opened and closed as he announced the lines he read every year, his face blank, his tone mechanic and detached. His perfunctory performance seemed to amuse Mapleshade, and leering, she snatched the microphone from him the second he finished his speech. "Time for the draw," she said loudly, her voice shrill and scratchy. "Ladies first!"
She slammed on the button of the draw machine. Ivypool watched as the balls containing paper strips began to churn; they bounced off each other dizzyingly for a dozen or so seconds, before the opening to the chute at the bottom of the machine slowly slid open, and a dark grey ball tumbled down into the glass tank.
Mapleshade picked it up, unscrewed and opened it, smiling maliciously the whole time. She straightened the paper slip, and narrowed her eyes, craning her neck in an exaggerated fashion. Ivypool felt like each heartbeat lasted longer than a century.
She glanced back down at the crowd, glee and satisfaction finally filling her gaze.
She seemed to be staring right at Ivypool. No, how could she possibly be looking at me? She doesn't know me. Her limbs felt boneless. It's not going to be me. It's not... don't be me, don't be me, don't be me.
Mapleshade's voice rang through the square. The female tribute wasn't her.
It was Dovewing.
The crowd stirred, breaking the deathly silence. Someone began to whisper about the draw.
"That student from the Lake District?"
"Someone from the Lake again? Last year the female tribute was a Laker too."
"It was definitely rigged. You know how the Lake District is..."
"Shhh, do you have a death wish?"
Her heart seemed to stop at the end of its beat. The warmth drained from Ivypool's hands and feet, the residents' whispers echoing in her ears- sighing in shame, barely concealing relief, not even bothering to hide glee- stirring her thoughts up into a tangle of chaos. On the screen, a Peacekeeper was moving towards the fifteen-year-olds's area.
She seemed to see Dovewing look up, slightly lost, as if she were confirming that it was really her name that Mapleshade had called. Her sister's gaze seemed more confused than fearful. Dovewing began to walk stiffly towards the Peacekeeper moving her way, her face deathly pale. She turned, finally feeling the stare boring into the back of her head.
"Ivypool", Ivypool saw her lips moving, I'm sorry, she was saying.
No. No. Dovewing turned back, walking steadily towards the stage, but Ivypool was sure that she was still limping. She recalled Dovewing's pitiful cries in the nights just after her accident, each of Dovewing's tears when she embraced Ivypool, and the hand that held on to her arm tightly, never to let go.
How could Dovewing take part in the Hunting Code? How much extreme weather might she be forced to endure there? The cold and the damp both made her bones ache until it was unbearable. What if someone tried to kill her? She would hurt her leg again and fall as soon as she tried to run. She only had to step into the arena to be facing certain death.
Ivypool looked around helplessly, unable to find a single familiar face. Mother? Blossomfall? Even Tigerheart? No one could save Dovewing, and now she was on her own too.
Who could tell her what to do? She felt a rush of anger. Tigerheart, Tigerheart! Where had he gone? Was he remembering the joyful, radiant smile Dovewing wore whenever she saw him? Would he hate himself for not being able to volunteer to take Dovewing's place in the Hunting Code? Did he know how he was putting their family in danger? Did he know that Dovewing had gotten into a huge fight with her for his sake?
Dovewing couldn't take part in the games. Absolutely not. No one else could save Dovewing- there was only one solution to the problem.
"Dovewing!" Ivypool's voice was almost a yell, "Wait!"
Dovewing didn't stop. More specifically, she quickened her step when she heard Ivypool's shout, as if she were in a hurry to reach the stage that symbolised death. Ivypool shoved a boy in front of her out of the way, and the rest of the crowd made way for her. She grabbed Dovewing's arm, tightening her grip to a clench, but Dovewing wouldn't look at her.
"I volunteer." Ivypool looked first at the Peacekeeper, then, across tens of hundreds of teenagers, she gazed up at Mapleshade, "I volunteer to take her place in the games!"