In this fanfic, Katniss and Peeta's daughter is 16 and has an extremely strained relationship with Katniss. The only thing that could draw them close is when she runs into a boy, in a similar way that Katniss found Peeta.
Disclaimer: The hunger games belong to Suzanne Collins
* .Beep beep beep* I sighed and rolled over in my bed when my father's alarm clock went off. I heard him rustle around. The calming sound of rain filled the hall as he turned his shower on.
I sat up and headed toward my bedroom window, sliding it open I could feel the soft breeze that fall brought. I looked out over the horizon and saw the sun rising over the forest of district 12. In the back of my mind, I remembered that my sanctuary, is also my mother's. My despicable, uncaring mother... I shook the thought away quickly and walked away from the view, leaving my window open.
My name is Ruelynn Rose Mellark. I live in district 12 with my brother Briley, my dad, Peeta and mother, Katniss. The whole district knows us. I'm reminded constantly of my parents fight in bringing Panem to the country it is today. I'm reminded by the stares I get in town, by the phone calls to my home everyday, and the screaming that wakes me in the middle of the night when my mother has a nightmare. Even my name is a symbol of the rebellion they fought in. I'm told that Rue was the name of my mom's very first ally and that Rose is after my aunt, who got killed the day the rebellion ended. My brother shares in this as well. His full name is Briley Finn. His first name has very little significance, it's origin mostly came from a brand of bread called 'barley' which is in partnership from where my fathers name came from. His middle name is from another fighter and ally, which I'm told is a man named Finnick.
I have been told plenty of stories about my parents fighting for their lives. Years ago, there was an annual thing called "The Hunger Games". In it, a boy and girl from every district was reaped, placed into an arena, and we're forced to fight to the death, until a lone victor remains. In the 74th, and after poor circumstance, the 75th games, my parents were reaped. That's how they met, and eventually fell for one another. My dad was captured and tortured after the 75th games. Every once in a while, I'll find him curled in a ball, or clinging to a chair, his eyes get very vacant, and he's whispering words of nonsense. That's what the Capitol had done to him. My mothers nightmares come much, much more frequently. Almost every night again.
I'm 16 years old, and my personality resembles my moms almost exactly. I love to hunt, I'm stubborn, I'm quiet, and I'm extremely guarded. Dad says that this is why she distances herself from me. He says, that I remind her so much of herself, that it is literally painful to see me, or talk to me. He often reminds me that she has lost so many people, her father, her sister, her closest friends, and her mother. He thinks that keeping her distance from me, is the only way to keep things bearable. I know it must upset her. I wish I would have been more like my brother and father, who love to bake and stay out of the forest..
I went into my bathroom and brushed out my long, wavy, blonde hair. Looking into the mirror, I resembled my father so much. Except for my eyes. I had the exact same color as my mom's. I braided my hair back and went to put on my hunting clothes. Lacing up my boots, I grabbed my game bag, and headed downstairs.
"Morning sweetie" My dad said as I walked into the kitchen. "Hey Dad, I'm headed out, I'll meet you at the bakery later." I told him, he just smiled me and handed me a mug of coffee, like he does every morning.
My dad owns 'Mellark Bakery' that sits in the center of town. Our routine is pretty typical. We both get up at the break of dawn, head out, I hunt, he bakes, then I catch up with him late afternoon as he's closing down for the day. Briley usually hangs out with dad, but every once in awhile I can coax him into a day with me. Mom just stays home. I crossed the plain field that lead into forest. Creeping quietly, I went to the old beaten log that I keep my bow in. It's actually my moms bow, she passed it onto me, showing me the secret hiding spot when I was 6, and showed me, so perfectly, how to shoot when I was 10. I've been coming out here since then. Mom used to hunt for necessity, I hunt for the joy, and peace it brings. Dad doesn't complain when I come home with a few squirrels though.
My mother hasn't been out into the forest since shortly after she taught me to shoot. It was so easy, so natural to me almost as soon as I picked up the bow. The very first shot I took landed only a few inches from my target. I grinned, pointing to show my mom, even then, at my raw age, I saw distinct fear in her eyes when I looked to her for satisfaction. That was the day I noticed a change. After that moment, she slowly drew away from me, slowly drew back conversations, and laughs, and smiles, and, eventually, everything. That's the day everything changed for us. In my eyes, she saw herself, at such a tender age, learning to hunt with her father. It was all too much for her. All too painful. I assume now that she didn't expect it, perhaps she expected more of my fathers hunting tendencies (which were terrible at best) to be living inside me. To her surprise, I had been given the absolute opposite of what she imagined. I let the instincts that my mother passed down take over me now, shaking all of the thoughts in my head away. Even for me now, 6 years later, it was extremely disappointing to me, to watch our relationship go up into flames. I stood, hiding behind limbs and bushes, using my ears more than my eyes to spot any wild life. Right where I expected, a wild turkey crossed my view, drawing back my bow, silently and gracefully, I brought her down. Smiling, I sat down to take its feathers off, and put it into my bag. We hadn't ate a turkey in months. Walking back through the forest, I shot two squirrels that I would take to an old women named Greasy Sae, she was in her late 80's but was still healthy as a horse, commenting that it was all from her years of cooking and eating Katniss'game. After making my stops in town, I walked to the bakery.
As I neared, dad was just turning the 'open' sign to 'closed' and turning off the front lights. I pushed the door open. "Good news" I said, "got us a good sized turkey to cook up." I handed my bag to my dad. "That's my girl, good job Rue." He said laughing. I heard noise in the back room, "Hey Uncle Haymitch, get your drunk ass out here!" I yelled. "Ruelynn" my dad said, sending me a dirty look, I just laughed. Uncle Haymitch stumbled out. "I'm not even drunk yet, mini Katniss" my face fell to a dirty look like my fathers. Haymitch always said that to get under my skin. "You comin' over for dinner?" I asked, "Not tonight, maybe tomorrow." He told me. We sat around while dad cleaned the turkey and wrapped it up to bake at home. All walking home together, we laughed and joked about everything you could imagine. Haymitch and I loved to pester one another. Once inside I saw my mom and Briley sitting on the couch talking. They always talked, and nothing ever pissed me off more than seeing it. How could she just not care? Or not bother to even say hello when she saw me? In all honesty, it broke my heart. I couldn't understand.
As soon as Katniss caught my stare, she stood up and went to the kitchen with dad. Briley sent me an apologetic gaze, and I stomped up the stairs and slammed my door.
A few hours later I heard a knock on the door, I could tell from the foot-fall on the stairs that it was Briley. "Come in loser," I called to him, he slowly came inside, closing the door behind him. "You alright Rosie?" he asked, I laughed. When Briley was learning to talk, he could never say 'Rue' or 'Ruelynn' but upon hearing my middle name, he quickly said 'Rosie' as an alternative. The nickname is still used by him and my dad pretty often. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just tough, ya know?" I told him. "I understand, trust me. We talk about you all the time, we really do. I need you to understand sis, she's broken. I know you can't quite get it, but she really does love you. But you're just so, her. I wish I could have her explain, she's coming around, give it more time." He said softly. "Bri, it's been 6 years.. There isn't much to say after that." I trailed off, looking down. "I know, just, just when she can bare it, please, try to break your walls, just enough to listen." He rubbed my shoulder and left the room. He was only 14, but he seemed so impossibly mature. Maybe I could try to fix things, but it'd probably just be easier to leave them be.
Author note: Hey guys! This is the first fanfic I've written in a LONG time. And, the very first Hunger Games story I've written. There's many directions I want to take this story, please give me advice and review! I hope you all enjoy.