I'm naked. That's the first thing I register as I come too. As my eyes adjust to my surroundings I take in the rich soil beneath me, and the roots above my head. The morning light is peaking through them, but just barely. I seem to be in a little hidden pocket under a tree. It's a good spot. I'll try to remember that next time. I'll have to mark the tree so I don't loose it.
I take a deep breathe and shut my eyes again, as I register all my fingers and toes. The soil is moist but cold, my skin breaks out in goose bumps, and my nipples pebble as the cold seeps more into core. My head is ridiculously foggy, and my mouth is dry. That's the worst part about waking up after. I always feel like I'm hungover. I smack my lips a little and roll onto my back to stretch, before sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
I start to crawl around my little den, mapping it out, and trying to find where I came in. I have to figure out a game plan, I expanded my territory a little too far last night it seems, so I don't know where my nearest cache of clothes is. As I peak through the roots I take in the height of the sun. It already looks to be maybe 8 or 9, I slept too long. I find the entrance, low and snug under the brush. A very good spot, even the entrance is hidden. What a lucky find. I lay on my belly and shimmy my body through the opening a little. Poking my head out of the brush and scanning my current area. I recognize nothing. I see no marks indicating that I've been here before. I scowl and debate waiting out the day where I am. I'm not hungry, and I feel rested. I could easily wait till night fall to go home. Mom will understand, she knows what's it's like sometimes, plus she's too busy keeping Prim under control while she enters her first change.
I hear a snap, and I scurry back into my den. Soundlessly, I sneak over to the side where the sound came from, and peak through the root wall. It's a boy, 17 I'd guess, I take a quick wiff of the air, and his scent says he's not one of us. So I can't approach him. He leans against the next tree over and pants heavily while checking the direction he came from. He's sweating profusely and his blonde curls stick to this forehead. He pulls the shirt he's wearing up to wipe his face, and I take in the toned abs, and the nice V that disappears into his pants. I cock an eyebrow and smile, before scowling again. I always get so damn horny when I change. Animal instincts on overdrive I guess. My ears perk when I hear more footfalls, someone running quickly in this direction. I shrink back a little. The smell from the other is foul. He has a rotten smell to him, and malicious intent laced within it. I can't help it when my teeth start to bare at the new comer.
The boys ear finally hear the other approaching as well. He's louder then a freight train, so I'm surprised it took as long as it did. He swears, and quickly approaches my tree. Quickly checking behind him again, and then diving through the entrance of my den. He's too preoccupied with making sure there's no signs of his entrance to notice my presence. I shrink back against the far wall. Looking for another way out. My nice new den has just become a prison, and I don't like being cornered. It takes a lot to not try and bolt around him, but he has wide set shoulders and blocks the entrance. He smells nice though. His pure smell is sweet, and and has a kindness to it. His human scent reminds me of dill and cinnamon, with a hint of a cologne. It relaxes me enough to stay still and hidden from him.
The foul one comes running through the forest. Heavy footfalls slowing down as he pants heavily. He is bigger then the one hidden with me, with blonde hair. It seems he pissed someone off in his last life, for instead of a clear blue that would match his fair complexion, he has cruel black eyes, someone locked away his emotions. And he will know no true happiness. Only a false one. He grimaces before swearing.
"PEETA YOU FUCKING COCKSUCKER!" He shouts to the woods. "I WILL FUCKING CATCH YOU! YOU CAN'T FUCKING HIDE FROM ME FOREVER!" He clenches his fists and keep walking in the direction he thinks Peeta went, who I guess is the boy with me. Peeta relaxes a little rubbing his hand over the back of his neck, and goes to check his watch. He frowns at the time, and lays back against the root wall. I stay still though. Looks like he isn't leaving and neither am I. Even if I wanted to run, that predatory figure scares me. I do not doubt that finding a naked girl alone in the woods would make his day. As strong as I am, he would still destroy me. I am uncomfortable in this position though. I automatically went into a crouch when he came in. And my muscles are stiffening. I try to relax and move my legs a little, but unfortunately I push one of the roots with my foot which snaps.
Peeta shoots up a straight and turns to notice me. I must be quite a sight. A naked girl covered with dirt and twigs in her hair. His mouth hangs open while his face flushes red. He doesn't even avert his gaze while he gapes and stutters. Too flabbergasted to say anything at all. I just stare back at him, I don't even move to cover myself. I have nothing to say, plus his reaction is interesting. He finally clamps his hand over his eyes and turns around.
"I'm so sorry, oh my god I didn't even see you there! Why are you naked? What are you doing here?" Now that he's found his voice he can't seem to stop talking. He moves to stand and bumps his head on the roof of the den, I can't help but giggle at him. He stops and rubs the back of his head, looking back at me, before averting his gaze again. His cheeks still red. "I'm sorry, I'll go now." He flusters a little before looking back once more, and moves to leave the den. But I smell it. The foul stench, he's coming back this way. I hadn't heard him coming because I was too preoccupied with Peeta. I grab his ankle quickly and pull him back to me. He falls on his back with a thud.
"What are you doing?" He starts to say before I clamp my hand over his mouth. He grabs my hand to move it before he hears the foul one returning. He goes still beneath me, and together we don't make a sound as he walks past again. Swearing about how he'll look all damn day if he has too. I wait until his scent fades before I look at Peeta beneath me. Unlike the foul one, he's been blessed. His blue eyes are like sapphires, beautiful and bright. But he has a ring of a clear white blue around his pupil. The mark of a blessed soul. That makes me smile. He will not hurt me. It goes against his nature to harm.
His hand is relaxed on mine while I study his eyes. He has fully relaxed now. A calm has come over us, and he doesn't seem to mind that I'm on top of him. He also seems to have forgotten I am naked though. He links his fingers around my hand, and pulls it away from mouth just slightly, but doesn't release his hold on me. His eyes flick back and forth as he studies me. "Who are you?" He finally lets out, a whisper against my skin.
I smile again, "Katniss." His thumb traces circles against my skin, like a secret he wants to keep. I study his face once more, from his full lips and perfectly sculpted chin, to his thick eyebrows and blonde curls, before I sit up, and remind him I'm naked. Colour floods his cheeks again. He sits up before pulling his shirt over his head. It's my turn to be flabbergasted as he does so. He turns his face away and holds it out to me.
I scowl a little at it, but take it anyways. I actually prefer being naked. Another life time I'd be embarrassed for him to see me, but after many naked mornings in the woods I don't care anymore. I give him my thanks anyways before putting it on. It's large on me, and will hang to my thighs when I stand. But it will work for now. I try to keep myself from looking at his torso too much, and my hands want nothing but to explore the canvas of his chest, but it's just my high from the night before messing with my senses, I tell myself.
We don't look at each other anymore, our calm broken, we face opposite ways, and look everywhere but at each other. "Who was that?" I finally say after a much silence. If I am hiding from someone, I want to know who at least.
Peeta sighs. "His name is Cato, and he is a douche bag." From the corner of my eye I see him rub his neck again. There's something he's not telling me. I decide I'm not going to pry though, it's not my business. "What are you doing here?" he prods a little, a shy smile spreading his face before he adds, "and why are you naked?"
I scowl, I don't know how to really explain it. I'm not giving him the truth of course. "It seemed like a good place to sleep. And I forgot my clothes at home." I shrug. He gives me a sceptical look, but doesn't push further. "Do you live near here Peeta?"
"Yeah I live in Panem." he nods. "My family owns the bakery." I nod and accept the information. I know where to drop off the shirt then. He clears his throat a little. "I've never seen you before? Are you from Seam?" I catch his eye then, but I only see curiosity. I nod. But no disgust appears in his eyes. He just blinks, before breaking eye contact and looking away again. "You're a long way from home." He adds.
"Not too far," I reply "all it takes is a good run to get here." I pause and study the sun through the roots again. "Which way is Panem from here, I didn't realize I was this close." I add quickly so I know which way to go home, not letting him know that I'm actually a little lost. He points and says that's it's only a few miles. I'm right at the edge of the town.
I take a long sniff again. The air is clear, the lingering scent of Cato is gone, and the wind carries nothing. He is far from us. We can probably leave our shelter. "We're all clear now, Cato is long gone. I'm going to go now." I go to move past him, before looking back at him again. "Don't worry. I'll return the shirt." I go to shimmy out of the hole when he grabs my wrist.
"Can I see you again?" He says quickly with a blush. "Like, not just when you return the shirt. But more then that?" I shake my head. And his eyes downcast.
"I am not someone that should be in your life Peeta." I say slowly, trying to lift his sour spirits. "Maybe I'll know you in the next life." I smile as his confused look, and shimmy out of the den before he can say anything else. I remember to put a scratch in the bark before I run off. I leave him there, shirtless, confused and completely baffled. I smirk a little before running back through the woods towards home. I set a good pace and take some deep breathes. Enjoying the summer air in my lungs.
The blue moon last night messed with my senses. The full moon always makes me feel drunk anyways, but two in one month was too much for me, so I don't remember much of the night. I'm sure I'll be hearing the same story from the rest of the pack. I keep up my pace and hurry home. Eager to get back to Prim and see how her first blue moon went. I try to keep the thoughts of Peeta out of my mind. It's the first rule I was taught when I came to age.
Werewolves don't mix with humans. It's dangerous for both of us.