1.
Things in Panem had settled down once more. The war was over, and the rebels in District 2 had been dealt with. Gale's job was over. He was free to go home… but as much as he wanted to see his family, there was one thing still holding him back; Katniss Everdeen. He knew he would not be able to face her yet. He had seen the look in her eyes, and this is not something she could forgive him for. She didn't need him anyway. This was the tipping point of her affection, and he'd just tipped it Peeta's way for good. There was no way now to get back into her heart, and after everything that had happened, he wasn't sure he wanted to.
Gale made the decision to wait a while before returning to district 12. It was no longer his home, nor where he thought he should be. He would find himself a new home, in another district now the barriers between them were down, but which district? He could remain in 2, and work the quarry but it would be hard, and there was nowhere for him to roam outside. No woods, no fields…. He considered district 4, where he would be able to fish. It was a viable option for sure, but his heart wasn't in it. He wanted somewhere with trees, somewhere to hunt, and work and think, to be alone with his thoughts, and bury himself in hard labour. Then it came to him; District 7. The perfect place. He could hunt and work. It was like district 12 without him actually being there. He could think of Katniss hunting and not feel guilty. Gale decided what he needed most was time. Time that district 7 could offer.
As soon as Gale decided his destination, he packed his bag, and the next day he was in district 7. The driver of the freight train Gale had caught, told him his best chance of finding accommodation was to stay with somebody and pay rent, as houses were very expensive and hard to come by. He spent the day walking around district 7, hoping to find somewhere to stay. It was late in the evening and the only accommodation he had been offered was by a little old lady, and he wasn't sure he wanted to stay with her. It was looking like he was going to have to spend the night on the street. This was a big mistake after all. He was just deciding to go back to district 12, when he came across a circle of houses. These houses were not like any he had seen in the rest of 7… They were bigger and more extravagant than the others. He looked around the circle, most seemed empty and baron, only a couple had lights in the windows. It was cold outside and he didn't fancy spending it outside on the train platform, so after a moment's deliberation he knocked on the nearest door. A voice came from within "Hang on, hang on! I'm coming!" Gale figured it was a woman. He could hear thrashing and footsteps coming from inside as the woman searched for her door keys. Gale heard the key turn in the lock, and the door opened. There stood a slight woman with wide brown eyes and straight short hair. She had her arms crossed across her scraggly dressing gown, and stared at Gale viciously; "Do I know you?" She said pointedly.
"Yes. Yes you do." Replied Gale, for this was the second time they had crossed paths. He couldn't believe he was once terrified of the small fragile looking woman stood before him, yet after remembering that she was a victor of The Hunger Games, he thought it best not to provoke Johanna Mason any further.
