A Blossoming Primrose: Katniss's Daughter

Chapter 7

"Pri-im!" I can hear someone chanting my name.

"Prim!"

I snuggle into my pillow in response. I don't want to wake up yet.

"Primrose Mellark!"

I shoot up in bed, hating the sound of my full name. Whenever it's used, it usually means I'm in trouble.

"What?" I mutter grumpily, folding my arms across my chest.

My mother hovers over my bed, an antagonized expression on her face. "Prim, you've been in bed for hours. When I got here, Phox Hawthorne was in the corner, practically falling asleep!" Her tone takes on an accusing note, and I roll my eyes. "I sent the poor boy home for the night."

"Mom, didn't he explain that yesterday, he served me soup, I threw up, and then he helped me to bed?" Now it's my turn to sound annoyed.

My mother relaxes slightly. "Oh. Well, if that's all. Anyways, time for breakfast. Is your stomach feeling better?"

I nod. "Loads better. Can I go hunting today?" I ask her hopefully.

My mother shakes her head. "No. First you hurt your knee, then you get sick. Not today, Primrose."

I sigh exasperatedly. "Please, Mom? I feel loads better. Plus, Phox'll come with me."

My mother looks at me questioningly for a moment. Then she sighs. "Fine. But you know that it's just because I want someone to watch out for you. To protect you, I guess."

"Mom!" I say in protest. "When you were younger, you and Gale Hawthorne hunted in the woods all the time. Did you end up marrying him? No! So why do you have to be that way around me and Phox? We're just friends." I try out the word 'friend' for the first time. I guess you could call me and Phox friends. He saved me from wild dogs and helped me when I was sick. I shrug a little.

My mother ponders this for a moment before sighing. "Primrose, please don't be difficult. I'll have you know that Gale and I -" She falters for a moment as I raise an eyebrow suggestively.

"You and Mr. Hawthorne what, Mom?" I tease her smugly. Although I know that my mother and Mr. Hawthorne had explored the possibility of a relationship, in the end, my mom had chosen Peeta, my dad.

"Oh, go get changed, you," she mumbles angrily as she stomps out of the room. I giggle a little, knowing I've embarrassed her with the talk of hers and Gale's past.

Now that I've gotten the green light to go hunting (well, Mom never officially said yes, but since she sort of gave up, I'm taking it as a positive answer), I'm filled with glee. The woods! Oh, how I've missed its pine scent and the rabbits and squirrels that hop around, scrounging for food.

I slip on some maroon-colored trousers and pull on a gray long-sleeved shirt. I clad my feet in my hunting boots and shrug on my grandfather's hunting jacket, which I adore. Even though it's tattered and faded, it reminds me of home. Whenever a new hole appears in its leather, my mother always patches it up.

I pull my dark hair into a bun and tug a cap onto my head. It shrouds my eyes from the bright sunlight that shines through the mesh of trees.

Pinning the small Mockingjay onto my shirt and tucking my jacket over it, I grab my bow and sling my sheath of arrows over my shoulder.

"Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! Bye, Boggs!" I call cheerfully as I exit the house, pulling the door shut firmly behind me. As I step over the threshold, I hear my father mutter, "Well, someone's feeling exuberant today, aren't they?"

I simply roll my eyes and ignore him as I break into a sprint towards the Seam area, where Gale, his wife Aline, and Phox all currently reside.

I stop in front of a tall, dull house that's on an odd tilt. It's the only house in the area with lights on, so I assume that it must be where the Hawthornes are staying.

Feeling a little awkward, I walk up the creaky wooden stairs, clutching my bow in one hand while precariously holding the railing. I stand in front of the worn-down door warily before rapping my knuckles sharply on the wood three times.

I hear Aline yell "Phox, get the door!" and Phox grumble something under his breath before the door swings open. With a start, Phox jumps a little at the sight of me. He's wearing a hunter-green t-shirt with brown pants and his hair is mussed adorably, I must admit.

"Er, hi?" My greeting comes out sounding more like a question, and I internally curse my stupidity. I straighten up. "Hi, Phox. My Mom gave me permission to go hunting today, but she said I could only go if you came with me. D'ya wanna go?" I give him my most winning smile and hope it's enough to convince him.

He shrugs. "Sure, why not? Lemme just go change into my boots and grab my bow and arrows. In the meantime, just come on in."

"Thanks," I mumble, stepping in and looking around. It's shabby but quaint, rather cute actually.

"Phox, who's our visitor?" Aline calls as she steps into the main foyer. Her eyes widen as she sees me. "Oh, Prim! What a pleasant surprise!"

"Oh, er, thanks," I reply, shuffling my feet and staring at the ground. "Phox and I are gonna go hunting for a bit." I jerk my finger towards the door.

"Oh, all right. Just be careful," she warns before returning to what I'm guessing is the kitchen.

I stand in the foyer for a few more minutes, twiddling my fingers and looking around before Phox emerges. He's now got on a brown jacket and boots, and he's got his quiver in one hand and silver bow in another.

"All ready," he says to me. He looks behind his shoulder and yells, "Bye Mom, bye Dad! Be home soon!"

We walk out immediately and start jogging towards the woods. Phox unlatches the gate and ushers me through. I thank him and we walk to the clearing where my mother and Gale used to meet up.

When we arrive, the tall grasses are yellowed and dying. Leaves clutter the ground, vibrant splashes of red, orange, and yellow popping out all over. I sit down atop the large rock overlooking the rest of the woods and hug my knees to my chest.

Phox sits down next to me, propping himself up with his hands. I notice that his fingers are long and slender, perfect for pulling back the string of a bow.

"So." I'm the first one to break the silence. "Isn't it a little ironic that your Dad and my Mom used to meet up here when they were younger, and now both of their kids are too?"

Phox lets out a little laugh that sounds more like a bark. "Yeah, I guess so."

Another silence settles between us before I once again interrupt it. "Hey, Phox? Thanks for yesterday."

He grins down at me. "No problem. I was glad to help. That's what friends are for, right?"

"Right. That's what friends are for," I repeat a little more uncertainly.

I then point out a thick bushel with a few ripe berries still hanging off of it. We pop them into our mouths and then start hunting.

We work as a team. Watching each other's backs, backing the other up. And I must say, we made a pretty good team.

At the end of the day, Phox and I go home loaded with kills. I've got squirrels and rabbits hanging off of the game pouch I brought with me. So does Phox. We even collected a few strawberries for dessert tonight.

Overall, it's been a pretty great day. I guess you could officially call Phox and I friends now. We joked around, talked, and hunted.

When the sky begins to dim and the sun starts to set, we decide to return home. Phox walks me back to my house in silence. We traipse through the Meadow and then reach the Victor's Village, where I turn to leave, but Phox stops me.

"Hey, Prim? I, uh, just wanted to ask you something," Phox blurts out nervously.

I raise an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"Um, well… I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go to the bakery for lunch tomorrow? Y'know, as a friend's thing." I almost snicker at the panicked look on his face.

My eyes twinkle. "Sure! Sounds fun."

Phox breaks into a wide smile. "Great. Uh, I'll pick you up tomorrow, at, say, twelve-ish?" He runs a hand through his hair.

"All right. See you tomorrow," I reply happily. I have to keep from skipping over to my house. I've got a date with Phox! But we're only friends.

Just friends, I tell myself. And I'm happy that way. I think.

I tell my parents and my mother seems happy, but a bit uneasy.

"I'm sure you kids'll have fun," she says, going back into the living room to knit.

That night, I can't help but get excited over my lunch plans tomorrow. I know it's stupid, since we're just friends, but I can't help the butterflies that are in my stomach.

I fall asleep contentedly, excited about the upcoming day.

Author's Note:

Holy Panem! Thank you SO SO SO SO much to everyone who's reviewed! It's made me so happy! If we could get to 25, I'd be absolutely elated :D

Next chapter'll be up soon!