Stay Down 1

A lot could change in a few years.

Katniss quietly shut the door to her daughter's room before she made her way silently down the hall. Her socks didn't announce her leaving to her oldest child, who was long since lost in the land of nod. The women slipped off her clothes and slipped on her nightgown, sliding under the warmth her comforter should've brought her.

On most nights, she could let the ghosts come to her with their hauntings easily and be able to let the pain subside when morning came. But it was this time of year she wouldn't be able to handle that guilt so easily.

Tomorrow was the day where they honored those who'd fallen in the Uprising.

Katniss, a voice whispered in her ear. It was a soft voice, full of understanding and forgiveness that the oldest Everdeen sister didn't feel like she should deserve after what had happened.

It hadn't been her fault, of course. It was Coin's, and her death didn't haunt her. It never would because it was for her avengeness. But even if she was avenged, her death would always haunt her in every sleeping hour she'd have, even in her dreams.

Their bond went out from the living and further than the dead. They talked to each other at night for a little while, a time both of them enjoyed. Even if she could understand her emotions, Katniss was grateful she didn't press her on that ever-present guilt. That time the shared was meant to be enjoyed, and it always was to the fullest.

"Prim," the older sister sighed happily, "it's felt like forever since I talked to you, Little Duck."

I know, her voice replied weakly, and the older girl could almost feel her smile, Katniss...there's danger coming.

"What kind of danger?" when she was scared, the women could feel it. Now she felt a fear much like she felt in herself when she was fighting for her life in the Hunger Games so many years ago, and it made her heart scream.

The Capitol is not happy about being overthrown, her voice was soft and shaky as she quietly cried, they are plotting...their fallen have spoken of it, and the living will try and start their own uprising.

"Oh no..." she'd always known the Capitol wouldn't stay down, but...the day was too soon.

Oh no...I have to go, their hour went too fast for them, Katniss...if they rebel, you have to be the Mockingjay.

And her little sister was gone. The women sighed shakily and tried to fake it like she was fine when Peeta came in for the night. She would have to be the Mockinjay again...

But she didn't think she could.