Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games Trilogy. No copyright infringement or disrespect intended.

Coming home

Chapter 2.

As usual, Katniss was heading to Mom and Prim's apartment for reflection hour. Gale was away for mission and not expected to be back in a few days, which happened quite often. Mom caught up with her in the corridor before she reached the door.

"I have something to tell you."

"What's the matter?"

"Alma is here with us."

"Is she out of hospital, then?"

"Yes. But she's still unstable. Me and Prim offered her to stay with us for a while. She feels less scared with us around."

Alma was the only person from town who have made this far. Her mother was injured during initial bombing at that night of escape and passed away a few days after their arrival in the District 13. They were only ones from town who were with the crowd led by Gale - they happen to be awake that night waiting for her father and brother who worked at the train station. When the bombs started pouring down, they managed to run from the town to the meadow just by instinct. Her mother was hit by debris on the way and the injury got worse in the course of journey to 13.

It was not uncommon. Many people got burns, inhaled the toxic gas and fumes that night, or got injured by explosions and collapsing buildings. Some of them died in the woods, some others died after arriving to the new district. Gale and Katniss hunted for the crowd and taught them which plant to eat in the woods. There were never enough food, everybody was in shock and fear, and most of them didn't even have adequate clothes and shoes – at least it was nearly summer and was not too cold at night. Mom and Prim helped those who were injured as much as they could on the road, but it was inevitable that some of them could not survive the long journey.

Mom opened the apartment door for her. Prim sat with another blond girl on the table.

"Hey Katniss! Look who we have here!" Prim was enthusiastic.

Now seeing them together, it made sense.
Alma would feel odd to be even among others from the District 12. Her blond hair and tall physique would stick out of browns and olives of Seam crowd as much as generally short-built, greyish blonds of 13's people. She looked unfocused and her blond hair was cut short curling up irregularly.

"Hi Alma."

Before Katniss realized she was staring at Alma's new hair, Alma whispered,

"… I asked them to cut like this in the hospital. I couldn't keep it long like… "

.. her mother. Katniss remembered Alma's mother even before that fateful night, because she had strong physique and somewhat unmatching voluminous long hair - kind of odd looking woman. On their journey to 13, there she was trembling with blue lips from blood loss and pain. But she was trying to stay strong for her daughter and managed to keep up with the crowd. It was only after arriving at 13's hospital, after seeing her daughter was in safety of the new district - and probably sensing it was her last moment, she collapsed crying her husband's and son's names. She died a few days later and Alma had been held in hospital for exhaustion and shock ever since.

Alma was probably just several months younger than Katniss but was much taller than her. She must had been one grade under Katniss' but Katniss didn't have so much recollection of Alma from the 12's school days.

"Alma, why don't we make some tea for Katniss and Mom? The adults must been tired from whole day at work."

Prim offered in friendly voice and Alma stood up without words.

Standing, Alma was almost same height as him. Curly blond hair. Fair skin.
She grabbed a tea spoon from Prim and just held it as if it was a pen.

Her eyes were unfocused but her fingers had a firm grip on the spoon.
- He used to hold his pencil like that.
Only it used to make the pencil tiny in his much bigger hand.

The room started spinning.
Katniss couldn't stand straight.
She collapsed on the chair Alma was sitting just moments ago.

"Katniss! Are you OK?"

He traced a line around her foot on the earth, drawing a small round shoe shape.
Katniss kept quiet and still, just following the movement with her eyes.
She was sitting under a tree with her knees to her chest. She was weak from long hungry days and almost falling asleep while he was sketching the tree and a girl under it on a small paper folder. It was a scorching hot summer day, the contrast between the tree's shade and outside of it was blinding.

When he completed tracing the shape of her both shoes, he didn't move away from her. In the dozing haze, she felt his breath on the face. Slowly he moved even closer to her. It felt almost like a dream when his lips finally touched her forehead.
The contact was brief but it felt hot and wet on her sweaty skin.

After a long pause, she managed to lift her eyes to meet his. The bluest, deep lake of emotions.
She didn't understand what they were trying to tell her.
She couldn't feel the earth she was sitting on.
She couldn't see the woods outside of the shade.
What she could comprehend was only him, with those bright blue eyes and talented hands of artist, that he was slowly embracing her.
Her folded legs were gently crushing into his embrace. His big warm hands were hot on her back. He held her folded like a baby in the height of summer heat. It was too warm and their posture were awkward. But oddly she found it the most comforting.
Secluded from the hunger, shame and bone-breaking burden of responsibilities.
She wished they could freeze the time and stay forever right there.

A/N: oops, I did it again! publishing another chapter without any proof reading from beta. sorry I couldn't hold it back.
I guess both chapter 1 and 2 will be replaced when I eventually get beta's help. Please send me message if you're interested!