I didn't disappear, I swear! sorry to disappoint you. I'm sure you were waiting for the day that I would.
Never mind that, I've got a story to tell.
Also, Merry Christmas everyone! and a Happy New Year to all who want it!
Katniss brought her prep team to her mother, who was known as an excellent healer.
Gale sat next to Katniss, and placed his arm around her shoulders. "She'll fix them up." Katniss have him a nod.
Plutarch and Fulvia sat down on the bench across from them, and remained silent.
"I guess we've all been put on notice." Katniss finally said.
"What?" Asked Fulvia. "No. What do you mean?"
"Punishing my prep team's a warning." Katniss told her. "Not just to me, but to you too. About who's really in control and what maidens if she's not obeyed. If you had and delusions about having power, I'd let them go now. Apparently, a Capitol pedigree is no protection here. Maybe it's even a liability."
"There is no comparison between Plutarch, who masterminded the rebel breakout, and those three beauticians." Said Fulvia in an icy tone.
Katniss shrugged. "If you say so Fulvia. But what would happen if you got on Coin's bad side? My prep team was kidnapped. They can at least hope to one day return to the Capitol. Gale and I can live in the woods. But you? Where would you two run?"
"Perhaps we're a little more necessary to the way effort than you give us credit for." Said Plutarch, unconcerned.
"Of course you are. The tributes were necessary to the Games, too. Until they weren't." Katniss replied. "And then we were very disposable-right, Plutarch?"
That was the end of the conversation.
Katniss's mother found them. "They'll be all right." She reported. "No permanent physical injuries."
"Good." Said Plutarch. "Splendid. How soon can they be put to work?"
"Probably tomorrow." Came the reply. "You'll have to expect some emotional instability, after what they've been through. They were particularly ill prepared, coming from their life in the Capitol."
"Weren't we all?" Said Plutarch.
Katniss was released from Mockingjay duties for the rest out the day.
At lunch, Zelda sat across from Katniss and Gale.
"Hello." She said, her voice lacking any cheerfulness.
"Good afternoon." Katniss replied. Gale merely nodded his greeting. Zelda smiled slightly, and looked down at her food, not touching it.
"Something wrong?" Katniss asked.
"Hm?" Zelda looked up, disturbed from her thoughts. "Oh, it's nothing." She looked down again.
"It's safe to tell us, you know." Katniss pushed slightly. Zelda sighed.
"It's… It's Link."
Oh.
"I just wish I knew what the Capitol is doing to him. That and what the rebels will do to him if we are able to get him and the others back."
Katniss smiled sadly, and placed a comforting hand over Zelda's. "You know, I made Coin give the captured tributes immunity of they wanted me to be their Mockingjay. Link is on the list."
Zelda looked up at her. "Really?" She practically whispered. Katniss silently nodded. "Thank you…" she looked down again. "It comforts me knowing this, but… I still can't get the terrible images out of my head. I don't even know is he's still alive…"
"Okay, one," Katniss started, "the Capitol must keep Link alive if they want to use him. Two, Link is a very strong person." Katniss's talking slowed down. "I've watched him. He can hang on to a belief for a million years if he wanted to. If he believes that he will be able to see you again, then that mere thought will be enough to power his will to live. He loves you, Zelda."
Zelda sighed. "Thank you. That really helps."
Gale pulled up his sleeve, taking a look at his schedule. "I've got training next."
Katniss looked at her own schedule. "Me, too." Katniss remembered that training equalled hunting now. They left to drop off their trays, then ran to the armoury.
They hunted and cleaned game for two hours. They handed over the meat to a friend of theirs who worked in the kitchen.
Katniss found her Compartment, stretched out on the bed, and slept, exhausted from hunting. That is, until Prim woke her for Reflection. They followed directions to the Collective, which was simply enormous to hold thousands of people, perfect for an assembly like this.
Katniss caught sight of Finnick, who held a short, thin rope. He was rapidly tying knots, then undoing them. Katniss crossed over to him. "Hey, Finnick." He took no notice of her. Katniss nudged him. "Finnick! How are you doing?"
"Katniss," he gripped her hand. "Why are we meeting here?"
"I told Coin I'd be her Mockingjay. But I made her promise to give the other tributes immunity if the rebels won. She's announcing it in public so there are plenty of witnesses."
"Oh. Good. Because I worry about that with Annie. That she'll say something that could be construed as traitorous without knowing it." said Finnick.
Whoops. Katniss forgot about Annie. "Don't worry, I took care of it." She squeezed his hand, and approached Coin who stood at the front of the room. She rose her eyebrows at the front of the room. "I need you to add Annie Cresta to the immunity list." She told her.
The president frowned slightly. "Who's that?"
"She's Finnick Odair's… She's Finnick's friend. From District Four. Another victor. She was arrested and taken to the Capitol when the arena blew up.
"
"Oh, the mad girl. That's not really necessary." Said Coin. "We don't make a habit of punishing anyone that frail."
"No? Then it shouldn't be a problem to add Annie."
"All right. Do you want to be up here for the announcement?" Katniss shook her head. "I didn't think so. Better hurt and lose yourself in the crowd. I'm about to begin." Katniss made her way back to Finnick.
Coin called the audience to attention and told them that Katniss has consented to be the Mockingjay, provided the other victors-Peeta, Johanna, Enobaria, Annie, and Link-would be granted for any damage they do to the rebel cause.
But then the president continued speaking. Words that Katniss had not heard. "But in return for this unprecedented request, Soldier Everdeen has promised to devote herself to our cause. It follows that any deviance from her mission, in either move out deed, with be viewed as a break in the argument. The immunity would be terminated and the fate of the five victors determined by the law of District Thirteen. As would her own. Thank you."
In other words, if Katniss stepped out of line... everyone... Peeta, Johanna, Link, and even herself... were all dead.
Not a very Christmasy ending. Oh well. R&R plz!