DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Hunger Games Trilogy nor the characters. They are property of Suzanne Collins. I am not making profits nor am I using ideas from anyone else in my writing.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first piece of FanFiction. I would love feedback.
Katniss awoke in a startle, and she started to weep because she realized Prim wasn't there. They refused to let her volunteer as the tribute, and her Little Duck was about to join Peeta in the 74th Hunger Games. She was absolutely terrified for her little sister. She knew that the things she had dreamed up were just that, dreams. -More like nightmares, but really is there a difference in a world ruled under the Capitol and President Snow's tyranny?
In all honesty, it felt surreal. Katniss felt like her entire world would never fall back into place. She was terrified for her sister. Prim knew nothing that Katniss did about hunting and surviving in the woods. She had not held the responsibility of keeping everyone together the year after their father had passed away. Her mother checked out, and Katniss took care of her Little Duck. Prim had never been to The Hob, nevertheless the arena of the Hunger Games.
Her mom was awake already, and as Katniss got out of bed, she started to feel the emotional exhaustion that would plague her life for as long as she was apart from her little sister. She knew her mom felt it also, but she was worried about her mother falling apart again. The thought of losing her little sister just overwhelmed her more than she cared to admit at this point. And heaven forbid she let her mother know her fears, her mom might actually just fall apart.
Gale, of course, would be waiting for her in the main room as he would want to make sure she was feeling okay after the events of the day before. He was there to hold her after they said their goodbyes to Primrose. Prim and Katniss were thoroughly shaken at that point, and honestly Katniss still didn't feel much better, but she could not begin to fathom the terror and fear coursing through her sister at that time either. Sure enough, she walked into the room to find her mother and Gale in a whispered conversation. They stopped when she walked into the room, and Gale stood up suddenly. She didn't have to know what they were talking about. It was what the entire town would be thinking and whispering about.
Gale was the first to speak, "Morning Catnip… Hope we didn't wake you."
"No," Katniss said. 'I was woken by my nightmare."
"Oh," Gale said softly.
Katniss walked to the kitchen where she found a small breakfast laid out for her by her mother (She hadn't eaten since the morning before The Reaping), but she wasn't that interested in food. She was waiting to hear from Primrose. The lady, Ettie- no Eddie, Ellie, Effie. Yes, that was it, Effie. She was supposed to call when they reached the Capitol that morning. As if on cue, the phone rings. Of course, it is not Prim, but rather Peeta's mother wanting to talk to Katniss' mother. They talked for a few moments before Mrs. Everdeen ended the call.
"Peeta just called to tell them they had reached the Capitol, and that they are fine," Mrs. Everdeen sighed.
"Why hasn't Prim called then? What happened? Is she okay?" asked Katniss with alarm.
"No," her mother said calmly, "Peeta said she should call soon, but they have a lunch they have to attend, so it might have to be afterwards."
Katniss walked away silently while Gale poured her water because he knew she hadn't been thinking about herself, and therefore hasn't taken care of her own needs like nourishment. She solemnly accepts the cup as the phone rings. Before her mother can say anything after picking it up, Katniss is at her mother's side, her cup of water lying spilled on the floor and forgotten in the haste.
"Oh hi sweetie," her mother cooed. "Yes, your sister is here too- Oh okay, yes you can talk to her. I love you baby, and alright. Okay." And then she hands the phone to Katniss.
"Yes Little Duck, yes - Me too. I am here. I want to be there. Why? What? Okay, call as soon as you can Prim. Please," she said pleadingly, and then the call ends abruptly.
"She has to go to the lunch with Peeta and that woman Effie. She is supposed to call back later," and with that, Katniss darts from the house.
