Okay, here we go. (: I loved the ending of Mockingjay. It seemed perfect for a fanfiction. SO! Here we go.
This is set right after the epilogue. Katniss is in her late thirties, give or take.
Tell me what you think. It's my first Hunger Games fanfiction, so don't be too harsh on me? (:
I am in the Meadow, about to go hunting, when I hear it.
"Mommy!" My daughter, Prim, comes running. I stop, as I always do, and think of who she was named for. Primrose Rue. We found it suiting. And her brother, Finnick Cinna, too. It was the least we could do to remember everyone who helped get us this freedom, and paid the ultimate price in the process.
I immediately panic, rushing to her and picking her up. She's seven now, and pretty soon I won't be able to carry her, but at the moment I don't care.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Daddy told me to come get you," She says, which only makes me panic more. I hurry home, rushing into the house.
Peeta meets me at the door. The look in his eyes tells me something's seriously wrong. I haven't seen him like this since Haymitch died last winter.
"What's wrong?" I ask for the second time, more urgently, putting down Prim. She runs to her brother.
He doesn't say anything, but instead leads me to the family room and gestures to the television. The headline simply reads: "WAR DECLARED."
"Against who?" I question.
"Another country." Peeta whispers, turning to me. It takes a moment to register in my mind.
"Another country?" I don't believe it. Never had we even suspected another civilization in the world, other than Panem. If such a thing does exist, why would they start a war with us?
He doesn't answer, but turns the volume up on the television. President Paylor comes onto the screen, looking just like she had when I met her, years ago, in the heat of the war. Bags under her eyes from loss of sleep, creases in her skin due to years of stress. Running a country comes at a high cost.
She stands behind a podium in a conference room, shuffling papers before starting.
"Citizens of Panem, at exactly 7:05 A.M. this morning, a single bomb was dropped by unknown hovercraft on the outskirts of District thirteen." She pauses, and a series of images flash on the screen. Forests burning, smoke rising and forming a thick smog.
I'm at a loss for words. Bombed? District thirteen? It just doesn't make sense. I start pacing, thinking of what this means. War. More misery. Would we ever be safe?