A Mother's Mantra

by Whistlewind Wolf

Back home, Katniss doesn't have Peeta to comfort her during her nightmares. Instead, her mother comes to her aid.

A mother strokes the hair of her first daughter while she sleeps. The girl's face holds no anger, peaceful only in sleep. She stirs, caught in the death throes of a recent nightmare. The mother softly chants in her daughter's ear the words she's spoken since she was young, and the ones that have been added since she returned from the arena. As she repeats the familiar words, her firstborn slowly stills.

You are predator.
You are protector.

You are robber.
You are provider.

You are tribute.
You are victor.

You are dangerous.
You are safe.

You are my child.
You are my Katniss.

All is quiet once again.

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(A/N: This is what happens after I think about something for about ten minutes before making the decision to type it up and send it out into the world. Feh.)