Life After Mockingjay
Chapter 1
Katniss grabbed her knapsack and filled it with some of the sandwiches Peeta made for her the night before. She filled her water canteen, grabbed her bow and arrow, and suddenly she came to a stop. Rye and Dandelion. She went upstairs to check on them.
Dandelion, two and had blond hair and blue eyes, was snoring soundly as Rye, less than five months old with brown hair and brown eyes, lay in his crib breathing normally. Katniss stroked Dandelion's hair and planted a kiss on to Rye's tiny head. She suddenly heard a noise behind her.
"Buttercup?" Katniss asked and then she rapidly turned around. There stood Peeta. He was shirtless, his muscles nicely rounded and bulging, his pack showing, his blond hair tousled, and his brown eyes seemed pleading, but mischievous. Katniss sighed, "Peeta, really?!" She placed her hands on her hips.
"Why not? Why don't you stay home just one full morning without hunting before going to the medical center? We barely have any free time together!" Peeta pleaded. Dandelion turned onto her side and yawned in her sleep.
"Why don't you hunt with me just ONE day?" Katniss replied, nearly shouting. Rye shuffled in his sleep. "I have to go. The kids almost woke up. They need a full night's rest, so let's not wake them. If they wake up and leave for school before I get back tell them I-"
"-love them," Peeta finished. "Yeah I know I tell them almost every single day," Peeta responded. Then, he hugged Katniss tightly and she held onto him tightly and then he kissed her. "I love you," he said looking into Katniss's green eyes.
"Love you, too," Katniss said. They both pulled away. "I'm bringing dinner home." Peeta nodded and walked back to his room.
Katniss made her way out the door. It was about six in the morning which was pretty early for the district, but anyone was allowed into the forest from four in the morning until dark, but there were exceptions for night hikes, camping, and nocturnal animal hunting. People never really entered the forests until about eleven in the morning and by noon, the forest was bustling with picnics, field trips, and other things, but Katniss really only hunted there, unless she wanted family and/or friend time in the afternoons.
Katniss walked through the quiet town square. She waved to Indigo, who sat in rocking chair eating a popular breakfast dish, fruit-filled oatmeal. She found a gold coin she could use at the market to buy seasonings for meat, and she picked a daisy from the school garden for Dandelion. This was her daily routine towards the woods or just for a walk through the town square.
When she reached the woods, Katniss stopped. She thought of Gale; his brown hair, olive skin, and his beautiful green eyes. She always thought they were just good friends, not that they were in love. Gale may have been seen and wanted by other girls, but he only and always wanted Katniss. The kiss never meant anything to Katniss at the time. Now, everytime she entered the forest, she knew that he loved her before, but she never let him in. He was only a friend. Only a friend. . . . . . . . Katniss fell to the ground and began sob.
"What's wrong, Catnip?" a voice asked. Katniss lifted her head up slowly and then quickly turned and saw young tall man with olive skin, brown hair, and beautiful, loving green eyes. Katniss couldn't believe it! She hugged the young man tightly who hugged her back, and she sobbed happily into his shirt. How good it felt to be in Gale's arms again!