Love in a Mist

I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES

Lavender's POV

"Lavender, can you come down here!" I heard my mother, Katniss Mellark, yell from downstairs. I could tell that something was wrong, but she tried to keep her voice calm.

I rushed down the stairs to find my younger brother, Fin, lying on the floor with a gash on his leg. Blood streamed everywhere like a waterfall. Fin's brown hair messed up and filled with sweat and his blue eyes filled with worry and his exhaustion pulling through. My father, Peeta Mellark, holding multiple towels stained with blood. I could hear my breathing coming in heavily.

"Fin!" I tried rushing to his side, but my dad stopped me.

"Don't come over here, Lavender."

"What happened?" I shrieked.

"I was…" Finned stuttered. I knew then that whatever he was doing I wasn't going to like it.

"What were you doing, Fin!"

"I was following you… I wanted to see what you do in the woods and I tried climbing the fence, but the wire cut me," the cut was deep that was for sure.

"You are only twelve!" my body was shaking from anger and guilt from having a slit pain that this was my fault.

"I can take care of myself," Fin quietly answered.

"You obviously can't! This is a perfect example."

"Stop fighting you two! Lavender, I just called you down to tell you we are taking Fin to the closest healer and you will be left alone for while, will you be alright?" mom asked as her and dad were lifting Fin.

"Mom, I'm sixteen. I'm sure I'll be alright."

"Alright, alright, I worry, sorry, just be safe and please don't leave the house." My parents and brother left as I nodded my head. I know why my mother worries. I know all about the Hunger Games. I know about her nightmares. I know about mom and dad's past. There might be a few details left out, but I'm sure whatever they are they don't need to be known.

The door shut and I rushed into my room to change into my hunting clothes. I know my mom told me not to leave the house, but like I would really listen. She already doesn't approve of me hunting, but it helps me relax and focus. I rushed out of my house and climbed the fence and found my bow and arrows. My mom taught me when I was younger so I would be able to protect myself and my father taught me how to paint. I took more to the hunting though. Don't get me wrong I love painting and drawing, but hunting helps me in a way painting doesn't. It's hard to explain, but it makes sense to me.

I was out in the woods for maybe a half an hour and my dark brown hair was starting to fall out of the braid my mom put it in this morning. I caught a few squirrels, but today I wasn't really trying. Then, suddenly I heard footsteps coming to were I was. I sprinted up a tree and readied my bow. Even though the rebellion had gotten rid of the Hunger Games, the woods was still illegal. If I was caught I'm not even sure what would happen to me. The capitol is still there, but with a new president. I'm not sure how harsh the punishment would be now.

"Caspian, this isn't that difficult. You aim and you shoot," I saw an older gentlemen teaching (I assume) his son to hunt with a bow and arrows. The boy, Caspian, looked to be my age maybe a little bit older, he had dark brown hair and golden brown eyes the same as me. And you could definitely tell the boy resembled his dad.

"Dad, this is difficult. I'm just not good at hunting."

The father sighed and they were about to leave when one of my arrows fell to the ground. The father instantly took the bow from Caspian and aimed for me. My hand was a little bit shaky so I couldn't defend myself. I'm sure my eyes looked like a deer's when they realized they were the prey.

"Dad, stop. She looks scarred," Caspian tried to reason with his father.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" the father completely ignored his son and keep complete focus on me.

"I, um, I'm Lavender. I was here hunting when I heard footsteps."

"Come down then, I'm not going to hurt you," he said as he lowered the bow. He looked at me suspiciously though as if he might have recognized me from somewhere before. "How old are you, Lavender?"

"I'm sixteen."

"Just a year younger then my boy, Caspian."

Caspian and I made eye contact and he gave me a slight smile. I tried to make myself smile, but I was to on edge to form one.

"My name is Gale Hawthorne," he said with a smile extending his hand for me to shake it. I was hesitant. Could this be the same Gale my mother used to be best friends with? I thought Gale moved to district 2 or maybe even 4 after the rebellion. I eventually extended my hand as well. He was bound to find out whom I really was.

"Lavender… Mellark."

"Mellark…." Mr. Hawthorne said with recognition. "As in Peeta and Katniss Mellark."

I wanted to say no, but I felt like lying wouldn't get me anywhere.

"Yes… those are my parents," my sentence came out quietly. I was usually recognized for this. The daughter of two victors, the daughter of the star-crossed lovers, the daughter of the girl on fire and the boy with the bread, the girl who looks a lot like her mother with her father and mothers characteristics. I was used to the attention and I was used to not having any real friends. They only wanted to be friends with me for the popularity or they were so jealous they would make fun of me. The one true friend I have is Eric Odair and he only comes to visit once in a while from district 2. Fin was named after his father, Finnick Odair, who died in the rebellion.

Mr. Hawthorne's face went blank and I looked over to Caspian who was looking at his father with knowing eyes.

"I need to be getting home," I said trying to break the silence.

"Yes, I'm sure. Does your mother know you are out hunting alone?"

"No," I gulped.

"It's dangerous by yourself," he replied.

"I could hunt with you," Caspian piped in. I then really noticed Caspian. He is really hot, but not as hot as Eric. I could take him up on this deal about hunting I could always use someone to back me up.

"Ok…" I'm sure once my mother finds out she will freak, but what can she do? Ground me. I sneak out all the time anyway.

"I really should be getting home. There was a family emergency."

"Is everything alright?" Caspian instantly asked. Why would he care? I barely just meet him.

"I'm sure it's fine."

"Well let me at least walk you home," Caspian insisted while glancing at his dad to get permission. Mr. Hawthorne nodded in approval.

"Be back by eight," Mr. Hawthorne said before leaving.

"You really don't have to walk me home. I'll be fine," I explained to Caspian.

"I want too. I need to have some sort of friend/ social life after just moving here."

So that explains why I never saw them before and I swear I thought they lived in district 2.

I sort of laughed at his comment and keep on walking. I hid my bow and arrows and jumped the fence.

"I now know your secret spot you hid your weapon. You better watch out, Mellark," Caspian said teasing me slightly nudging me.

"At least I know how to use it," I came back with. We both start to laugh when I realized as we strolled up to my house my parents were back. I must have been out later then I thought.

"Oh, god, my parents are going to kill me," I stated as I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Why?"

"My mom specifically told me not to leave the house."

"Oh…" just then my mother and father came outside.

"Lavender Primrose Mellark! Where have you been?" My mom exclaimed.

"We where worried sick. I thought your mother told you not to leave this house!" my father fumed.

"I'm sorry…"

"Sorry, isn't good enough. We thought you might have been kidnapped or worse!" my mother started to hyperventilate and my dad started to stroke her arm to calm her down.

"Who is this?" my dad gesture to Caspian next to me.

I gave Caspian a worried glance because now was not to bring up that a Hawthorne is at our house.

"This is Caspian…." I quietly said.

"Hawthorne…." Caspian added. I gave him a quick glare telling him this was not the right time. My parent's faces went blank. My mother's eyes started to water and it's rare to ever see her cry.

"He just moved here with his family."

"Where were you, Lavender?" my father asked. My mother stayed quiet.

"I… I went hunting. I know you told me not too, but it relaxes me and when I saw what happened to Fin I…."

"Going hunting is what got Fin injured. I want you to go inside and we will discuss this later." Dad then turned to Caspian and said, " I'm sorry, our family isn't usually like this, but today has been a really tough day."

My dad and mom entered the house expecting me to fallow right behind them.

"I'm sorry, I'll see you later," I apologized to Caspian.

"It's fine, you can make it up to me when we go hunting."

I smiled and watched him exit Victor's Village then enter my house hoping that my parents won't blow up at me.