Chapter 1: Mother Finds Love Again

I like the quiet of the woods. Quiet is something I have come to appreciate and no longer take for granted ever since winning the 74th Hunger Games, and then the 75th Hunger Games filled with previous Victors.

At 20 years old now, I still live with my family, but also still feed us and find much needed solace hunting in the woods. The good news the quiet I find amongst the trees will only continue once I get back home. Primrose will still be in school, and only Mother will be home, and the woman who birthed me has always kept to herself.

However, I find out just how wrong I am when I enter our mansion in the Victor's Village.

I stand in the doorway, my mouth falling open in shock when I see my mother up against the wall, ferociously kissing the Baker. Mr. Mellark. The father of my dead district partner during my first Games... Peeta.. The pair are heatedly making out, their hands thrashing from side to side.

"MOTHER!" I shriek. "WHAT THE HELL?!"

Mother and the Baker spring apart and Mother tries to collect herself. "Katniss! W-Why are you back so soon?"

"Why are you kissing another man?" I yell.

The Baker has by now flushed red with embarrassment. "I'll go, Lillian." And he slips out the back door, no doubt afraid that if he goes through the front, I might trip him or something.

Mother faces me, chastened. "Katniss, Steffan has been a good source of support for me since your Games. And he's been lonely ever since... Peeta died and he divorced his wife."

I flinch at Peeta's name and shake my head. "I... I can't deal with this right now. Have fun with your new boyfriend." And I storm out.