Part Nine: The Rose & the Mockingjay

The entire ride to District Thirteen had my skin crawling; I hadn't seen or heard from Cato in a few months since the training incident and I was a bit nervous in seeing him. Did he want to tell me how he truly felt? Was he truly okay? The ride seemed to be taking longer than usual, but that may have been because of my current state. When we landed in the hangar, Haymitch was waiting for me along with Cato's team of doctors. I stepped off the hover craft and headed straight for him. The look in my eyes must have been feral from the way Haymitch was now speaking to me.

"Now Sweetheart, remember he's just detoxed from a high amount of tracker jacker venom. We are not completely sure of what he is capable of or what he truly wants to see you for."

I looked at Haymitch and nodded, searching frantically for a way to get down to the hospital as soon as possible.

The doctors began explaining to me that this was a favorable way of torturing a victim by Snow, though there had been little to no research on rehabilitation and detox of the subjects. There was also a possibility that Cato could be, or would eventually suffer from heart issues and memory function because of the high doses of venom that were being released into his system for such a long period of time. But I didn't care; I wanted, no, I needed to see him. When we reached the room, I looked through the glass doors to see him sitting on the edge of his hospital bed, his face hidden into the strong hands that I had grown accustomed to having hold me at night. I opened the doors and walked in slowly, Haymitch following in close behind me as I spoke softly.

"Cato…?"

Before I knew it ice blue eyes bore into my cool grey ones. His expression was unreadable, and I could feel Haymitch shifting lightly behind me, ready to defend me in a moment's notice.

"Katniss…"

He eased himself off the bed and I surprised myself even when I flung myself into his defined arms and began to cry.

I had waited for this moment for the last month, the moment when I could finally be in his arms again. I could hear Haymitch sigh in relief even though I was practically gagging on my own tears. Cato's grip tightened around my body and I cried harder; I had never felt safer than in that moment.

"Katniss… Everything is okay, I am okay. Just relax… don't cry…"

His soothing tone made me cry harder. I had always vowed to not let myself get attached to anyone in a romantic way, or be like some of those girls from the Seam who attached themselves to the man of their choice for every hour and every waking minute of every day. But here I was, making a complete fool of myself in front of everyone, and to a man I wasn't sure thought of me as more than a pain in his ass.


Once Cato had been cleared by the doctors Coin summoned him and I to command to begin our strategy. Some rebel forces had been able to invade the Capitol and needed assistance.

"If we can over run the Capitol forces, then Two should follow after it once Snow is relieved of his power."

Coin stood in front of the remaining council, knowing that her word went above all others. I could see Cato tense at the mention of Two; the news of his parents passing had sent him into a rage of grief that only I could get him to calm down without having to have him sedated.

"Our main objective now is to secure the Capitol,"

The cold woman turned to me and stared into my grey eyes. I kept my face blank; I knew what was going to happen next:

I was heading to the Capitol.


We landed in the outer parts of the Capitol in the early morning. Coin had shipped Cato and myself out immediately for us to meet our squad at the make shift rebel base. The ride had been a silent one; after my small breakdown in Cato's arms I had distanced myself from him, pondering how I truly felt about him. I had grown unnaturally attached to the Brute from Two, and I knew not many people close to us approved of our little "romance". I sighed; everything had moved so fast between us, and changed so quickly that I hadn't had time to really think how I felt.

Cato was brutal and most times cold towards others. But he was loyal and strong, igniting a feeling within me that I could not place. The cool contours of his well sculpted muscles; the ice blue eyes that seemed to hold me in place, but my thoughts always turned to another blue eyed, blonde haired boy…

Peeta.

What would Peeta think of all of this? It would break his heart, but he would allow it if it meant I was happy. Was I truly happy, or was this all a scam for keep the Capitol happy? I turned to see Cato sitting stoically next to me without a hint of emotion in his features. I scowled as my mind began to wander in thought. I missed Peeta, more often than not. I saw him in the bread they served us at meals, and in the dandelions that grew in the woods. I saw him in my dreams at night. Since Cato and I had been separated my nightmares of Peeta had been increasingly horrifying, and I feel the pit in my stomach harden.

"Are you thinking about him?"

I stop my thoughts, and turn my head to look at him. His ice blue eyes seemed to freeze my very soul.

"Yes."

He scoffs and shakes his head, his large adam's apple bobbing in his throat as he speaks.

"Why do I even bother? Whatever Fire Girl, love your precious baker."


I can hear Boggs and Jackson shouting orders as we run through the streets of the Capitol. We had expected the pod lined streets to be filled with muttations, but no one could prepare for the exact horrors they would unleash. We had already lost Leeg 1 and 2, along with Holmes. I start running, as fast as I can when I hear him call out to me.

"Katniss!"

I stop and turn to see Cato running behind me, his sword and gun in hand. He sweeps past me, grabbing me by the arm in the process and barreling down the street with me in tow. The whole place was in chaos; civilians were cramming into buildings for refuge, while others tried assisting each other to get to safety. I had no idea where Cato was taking me, but I had to trust his judgement.

That's when I realized where we were: the beautiful mansion, the red brick circular drive. We had reached Snow's mansion. I gasp in horror at the site of the all the Capitol children surrounding the colonial style mansion.

"He's made a human barricade."

Cato only looks at me, the realization registering in his features mimicked my own. How could we barge in there, the children surrounded by Peacekeepers, knowing some of them could potentially get hurt? Or worse, killed.

"Cato! Katniss!"

We both turn to see Gale and Finnick charging towards us, when the bombs begin to go off.

Cato knocks me to the ground, his large frame protecting me from the shards from the fire. He waits until the coast is clear, and the fight begins. I scramble to my feet to see some of the children are injured. My heart shatters, undersized body parts strewn across the area when I see rebel medics fly in, hoping to save some of these children. A wave of Peacekeepers heads towards us, and I start shooting arrows, while Cato and Gale begin shooting several rounds of ammunition. And that's when I see it, the shirt tail that sticks out ever so slightly, the pale blonde hair braided into a similar fashion to mine, and a rebel medic uniform covering her body: Prim. I fight my way towards her, screaming her name as I take down Peacekeeper after Peacekeeper, trying to reach her. She registers hearing her name called, turning to see me, my named formed on her lips. I'm almost there; she's just within my reach when the next wave of bombs goes off.


I'm floating on a body of water; my body is consumed by fire, but the water does not quench its burning effect. Their voices ring loud and clear throughout the sky: Prim, Peeta, Cinna, and my father, all telling me it was my fault that they are no longer here on earth. I reach out to them, my arms ablaze try to touch them, but they aren't there. Only their voices are, and I cry out, wanting to see them, touch them again. That's when he appears. His curly blonde hair, short and muscular build, the same bright blue eyes of my sister and mother. I smile at him, finally able to see him again.

"Peeta… Oh my Peeta…"

My fiery hand touches his face, but it does not burn him. He simply stands beside me in the water, his blue eyes looking into my dull grey ones.

"Katniss, you have to live on. You mustn't dwell on the dead; you have your whole life ahead of you to live."

My heart shatters, and I begin to cry.

"But I want to be with you, and Prim and my father."

He shakes his head at me, smiling softly as he touches my hand. And I scream; his touch makes my skin broil in pain, as if the fire becomes deadly and makes me into a fire mutt.

"You get to live, for all of us. Return to the land of the living, my sweet Katniss."

I scream in agony as he leaves me. I am being consumed by the fire of his touch.

I am truly a fire mutt now.


I find Snow in the rose gardens, shackled to his bench with blood dripping from his mouth. I have not spoken since I woke up, nor have I slept without horrible nightmares of losing Prim and Peeta and my father.

"I figured you would find me, Miss Everdeen."

I merely stare at him, taking in his ragged appearance from the last time I saw him. He's thin, his face has hallowed out and I am glad at his suffering.

"I am truly very sorry to hear about your beloved Primrose."

I turn immediately and begin to walk away. How dare he speak of Prim? My darling, my sweet Prim... Oh my dear Prim…

"Miss Everdeen, I thought we agreed to never lie to each other?"

I stop dead in my tracks, turning and facing him once more. His face is somber, his snake like eyes searching my features for any sign of emotion.

"I want you to know, and remember something Miss Everdeen: why would I waste the precious lives of Capitol children? I had every intention of giving up, signing a cease fire and submitting myself to the rebels. Remember, Miss Everdeen, that I would never lie to you. I'm sure Coin would be more than willing to explain to you where those bombs truly came from."

I stare at him for a while longer, before turning and heading into the mansion.


The whole council of Victors is in an uproar; Coin has proposed having a Capitol Hunger Games, using children who had relatives of power in the Capitol. Annie and Finnick have decided against it, along with Beetee. Cato, Johanna, and Enobaria have agreed that it would be the best way to truly end the war, a symbolic reminder and a slap to the face of the Capitolites. Coin looks to me, expectant of my answer. I look at Haymitch, and he merely nods, knowing exactly what I'm thinking.

"Yes, for Prim."


I shot President Coin in all of Panem on national television. I quickly reach for the nightlock in my mockingjay suit, but instead I bite down on a muscular hand. I look up to see Cato wrapping his arms around me, while everyone around us is in an uproar. Coin's body is slumped in an undignified fashion over the rails of the balcony, blood pouring from her temples. That's when they drag me back to the room, with me kicking and screaming, biting and clawing at unknown forces.

"She's gone bat shit crazy!"

"Oh my god Katniss! You shot the wrong President!"

And before I could register anything they were saying, the whole world went black.


They said I was insane, not truly knowing what I was doing the day I killed Coin instead of Snow. But I knew what I was doing; I had overheard Gale and Haymitch talking after I had seen Snow, and his words had confirmed my worst fears.

"Paylor told me they used the bombs Beetee and I created back in Thirteen; they looked like sponsor gifts and detonated twice."

"You better hope Katniss doesn't find out, boy. She'll never forgive you if she finds out you created those."

Haymitch was right; I wouldn't, and couldn't forgive Gale for creating those bombs. Because of him, my Prim wasn't here. Because of Coin, those bombs had been released.

Coin had been sending me a message that I would never truly be free and I would have to submit to her. She would tame the Mockingjay, by taking the most precious thing, the one thing she had treasured most of all, and destroying it. Haymitch said they were sending me back to District Twelve, that it had been two months since the bombings, and a month since I had killed Coin. I only stared off in response; going back to District Twelve, where all my ghosts could haunt me.

"You know Sweetheart, Brute Boy has done nothing but wait patiently outside this room for a month straight. Never sleeping, never eating. He just sits there and waits until you will be able to come back to him."

Cato; the one thing that Coin had not taken from me. My career, my Cato, my sanity. I look at Haymitch, and for the first time in a very long time, I speak:

"I want to see Cato."


I refused to sleep in the upstairs of my home in Victor's Village. Her ghost haunted every inch of the house, her laugh still hung in the air. Greasy Sae and her granddaughter came over every morning to make sure I ate; I'm sure the only reason she's doing it is for the public aid. Once he finishes overseeing the construction of the medicine factory, Cato makes his way over, making me dinner and cleaning me up. I can only stare off, unable to truly register everything he says to me. My Prim, my darling Prim is still in this house. She's in the flowers that are planted outside, the soft breeze that comes in through the open window. But still every night, Cato stays with me on the couch, his strong embrace keeping the nightmares at bay.

I eventually come back to life. I begin to sing, my voice crackling since I have not spoken in months. My voice rings out through the empty house, the birds outside the window falling silent as I sing the songs of my people, of my father, of my Primrose. I begin to hunt again, finding a renewed sense of self while out in the woods. That's where I realize it; that's where I realize that life goes on, and that I want to spend every minute of it with Cato.