Cat Lady
I walk through the Victors Village. It's been a while since I went outside. It feels nice, but, even though District Twelve is being remade completely, there are reminders of her everywhere. I frown when I hear a pained sound coming from a kitten. I pick the creature up. Normally I wouldn't do anything to help an animal. But I'm a different person now. And it bothers me sometimes when I see living things hurt. Not creatures that I'm used to hunting, I know I can still kill game in the woods, but animals that live along side people. And anyway, I know Prim would do something to help the cat.
I examine the cat. It's a girl. A lot of her white fur is stained red with blood. I look for the wound. The cat has been bitten on her leg. Maybe by a dog or some wild animal that got over the fence. I don't think this cat has been eating enough, either. I hold her more carefully in my arms, as I walk back home.
"Hey Katniss," I hear Peeta call.
I turn toward the voice and find Peeta sitting in the grass of his lawn. I take a few steps in his direction. "Hi." I say.
Peeta stands up and dusts himself off. "Who's this?" he asks, gesturing towards the cat in my arms. I pull her closer to my chest.
"Oh, I don't know, I found her near the Seam." The Seam doesn't exist anymore, it was destroyed, along with most of District Twelve, when I shot that arrow at the force field in the Quarter Quell. "She's hurt."
Peeta nods. "So are you going to keep her, or are just healing her and letting her lose?" he asks.
I frown. I hadn't thought about what would happen once she was healed. "I don't know. If I find her owner, I'll give her up. But if she doesn't have an owner, I might keep her at my house. I could use the company."
"You have Buttercup, don't you?" he asks.
"I guess. But he mostly ignores me. And two cats are better than one, anyway." I say.
Peeta laughs. "I guess two Hunger Games and a war have turned you into a cat lady, Katniss." he says.
I scowl at him and pet the cat's head. Her fur feels soft on my fingertips. "No. I'm just doing this because it's only a baby and..." I trail off when I see Peeta's arched eyebrow. "Anyway, you have no right to assume things about me." I tell him.
Peeta puts his hands up. "Okay, okay, you win. Have fun with your cats, Katniss." he says with a laugh. I roll my eyes and go home.
I walk to the kitchen and set the cat on the table, where Gale was hurt and bleeding a year ago. I frown. I'm not sure what to do now. I search through the cabinets. And find some medicine for people. But I don't know if it's safe to use on cats. I wash the blood from the cat and bandage her leg. I search the fridge for leftovers, and put it in front of her.
She stands up slowly and picks at the leftovers. I watch her carefully and change my mind. Maybe I won't give her back if she has an owner.