Frowning, I furrow my brow as I make my way towards the Hawthorne, a limp rabbit in my hand only then just as I approach the shack, the icy winds blowing through, tousling my blonde roots and causing my body to shudder. My ears perk up at Hazelle's sharp cry, pleading begging as I watch the faint outline of Rory burst out of the rickey shrunken shaken and into the dead of night, concerning me.
Urgently, I feel my feet drag through the snowy depths below me, the crisp crunch of snow collapsing in on itself. Quickly, I make my way towards the Hawthorn's' establishment, finding a shaking, quivering, quaking Hazelle at the doorway, watching on in horror, hands on her mouth as Rory flees into the unknown.
"Rory wait Rory!" Loudly, Hazelle screams out, calling out for her son.
"Hold your horses Hazelle, going out there is suicide." Sternly, I state the fact to her as I pass her the meat.
"But Rory…!" Pained, Hazelle whimpers.
"Where's Gale?" I question her, he may be out there and maybe hopefully bumped into him.
"Inside resting…he I just…" Panicked, Hazelle whispers sniffling her tears, brushing her fingertips through her facial features trying to blink back the tears threatening to fall.
"I'll go after him." Surprised, we perk up at Gale's voice seeing him stand up shakily, releasing a shagged breath making me frown, my eyes narrowing noting the numerous stains of black across his staggered features.
"You're in no condition not with your lungs!" Sternly, Hazelle steps forward placing her hands out on his chest, looking up at her son, sternly refusing him.
"I'll go after him." I offer making both their eyes widen.
"Are you sure?" Worried, Hazelle whispers placing her hands on my shoulders.
"Don't see why not." Casually, I shrug.
"Will…" Gale begins.
"I should go." I reason turning my back to them as I force my aching shuddering shivering body to move through the frostbite storm. My eyes narrow noting the heavy trail of footsteps beginning to fade as I dash after them, making my way towards a familiar gate.
"Having fun up there?" Casually, I shove my hands in my pockets, my speed slowing, deciding to take my time as I make my way towards the gate, looking up at the shuddering shaking mess that is Rory Hawthorne clinging to the top of the fence. My ears ring from his teeth chittering chattering, clashing down against one another from the sheer frosty nature of the wild winds.
"S-Shut up!" Stuttering, he yells at me making me arch a brow almost amused by his act of defiance.
"Come here…" Tiredly, I sigh when seeing his hunched over form, his body curled up against the fencing, fearful of dropping down as I offer my arms out, outstretching them towards him.
"I'm not going down!" Stubbornly, he shouts, his grip tightening on the fence.
"Who said I was going to let you?" I propose making him still in his struggling turning to look down at me.
"What?" Stunned, he blinks taken aback by my small smirk and glint in my grey hues.
"Come on take my hand, here we go." Gently, I coax him as I easily manage to climb up the gate, swinging myself over, feeling his eyes gazing at my back. I then reach the top of the fence, prying him off the top and dropping him down on the other side making him releases a startled scream only for it to be muffled by the heavy snowy platform below us.
"T-Thanks…" Shakily, he whispers holding hugging himself as I simply shrug, continuing onwards towards the forest.
"Well come on." Smirking, I call out to him making his startled steam grey eyes meet my shade of blue.
"What!? Where?" Baffled, he demands from me, rushing over to my side.
"You wanted to get over this fence for a reason." I gesture to the forest.
"M-Maybe…" Shyly, he admits making me chuckle.
"Come on, walking helps me think, it'll help you." I offer patting his back, making him stagger forward a bit.
"I don't need any help!" Stubbornly, he huffs making me chuckle.
"So, you just ran out of your house for no reason?" Smirking, I arch a brow at him as he bows his head pouting.
"It wasn't for no reason!" Grumpily, he growls out, irritation laced in his tone as we wander through the forest, my ears listening to the crisp crunch of the fallen foliage below us, similar to glass shattered from our feet, hearing the gushing waters flow by. We walk along the riverbed of the forest.
"Then why don't you tell me?" Gently, I offer as he sighs shakily.
"I…I offered to go hunting but stupid Gale was against it. Said I was too young to hunt when he was my age he was hunting like a pro so were you and Katniss!" Furious, Rory confesses to me seething, his blood boiling as I note him kick a pebble near the riverbed aside.
"You're not wrong there." I give him that, remembering those days of us just hunting him and Katniss while I hunted in a different section of the forest, preferring the silence, the isolation and not being the third wheel.
"Then what's wrong with helping out?" Lost, Rory questions me as I sigh sadly at the age-old question I will never understand.
"Nothing. You and me Rory we're birds of a feather." Softly, I smile down at Rory, his eyes widening at the thought.
"What's that meant to mean?" He asks me fascinated.
"What it means is both of our siblings are idiots." Cheekily, I whisper elbowing him lightly making him gawk until erupting into a small fit of giggles from my playful smile.
"You can say that again all Gale does is whinge about Katniss and Gale it's stupid. All I did was offer to hunt so he could focus on his job and mum could too. I mean he works at the mines, he's tired as it for him to hunting while I'm at home doing nothing is stupid!" Gushing, Rory confesses to me angry etched into his tone.
"And you feel helpless and guilty for not helping out." Easily, I gather as we continue on our little trek around the forest.
"Exactly!" Relieved, he smiles at me making me chuckle.
"So, he snapped." I add on.
"Yeah for no reason I just wanted to help what's wrong with it?" He repeats the question as I sigh shaking my head, still not quite sure on both my sister and Gale when it comes to hesitation for the family helping out.
"Like I said before it's nothing. It's the fact that they feel like they are failing as siblings, I think it's also a pride thing." Bluntly, I tell Rory.
"What do you mean?" Intrigued, Rory quirks his head to the side as I smile softly at his innocent reaction.
"They have always looked out for us but the challenge of us being independent from them makes them fearful of not being relied on anymore. Being left behind if you will." Calmly, I attempt to explain the age old question.
"That's stupid." Bluntly, Rory deadpans stopping in his tracks as I stop in mine, turning to see him frown making me chuckle.
"Yes. Yes, it is." Fondly, I smile down bowing my head removing my hands shoved into my pocket to place them on his shoulder.
"What did you do about it?" Interested, he questions me stepping forward to stand by my side as I drape my arm over him.
"Hunted." Simply, I shrug stating the fact.
"You still did it?" Amazed, he gushes at me starry eyed making me chuckle bowing my head bashful.
"I knew bits and pieces from my dad but when he passed…Katniss and I had to hunt for our family, she hunted her way and I hunted my way. I remember her being so bitter over the fact that despite my messy kills, I got a higher profit than hers." Calmly, I explain to him a sad smile on my lips at the thought of him.
"My dad was a miner too. He never hunted though Gale had to learn himself. I miss him…Posy asks me what he's like sometimes. It's sad she never got to meet him. I miss him…" Honestly, Rory confesses to me making my eyes soften understanding the pain well.
"I know what you mean. Prim asked about him when we were kids. I barely remembered much except for the lessons he taught us." Sadly, I sigh at the memory.
"Did you know my dad?" Rory asks me.
"Afraid not kiddo. Though from what Gale told me he wasn't a bad guy." Optimistically, I offer.
"Gale told you about him?" Surprised, Rory stops in his steps as I turn wating for him to catch up.
"Yeah what about it?" Confused, I furrow my brow offering my hand out as he follows me, using the steppingstones in the water to allow him passage over the other side.
"When dad died. Gale refused to talk about it to anyone." Saddened, Rory tells me as he catches himself in my arms as I steady him.
"Huh…he probably told Katniss about it." Easily, I dismiss ruffling his raven curls.
"What was your dad like?" He queries making me freeze in my steps at the thought of him.
"He was…a troublemaker." Struggling, I attempt to phrase it not wishing to use the word rebel not out in public anyway.
"Troublemaker?" Rory furrows his brow.
"Yeah heh, mum said I got his trait of attracting trouble. He was…kind but also stern, Katniss took a lot after him." Lightly, I smile at the thought.
"What about you?" Rory raises a brow.
"Who knows…I don't remember much about him apart from the essentials he taught me. I know according to mum I look like him, sometimes it was painful for her to see me." I recall my brow furrowed at the memories resurfacing.
"I'm sorry…" Guilty, he apologies.
"What for?" Confused, I furrow my brow.
"For beginning it up you seem sad…" Apologetic, Rory whispers making me smile softly at him, a sad smile as I place my hand on his locks, ruffling them as he looks up at me.
"I was but I got over it. You can't let opportunities fly by as you mourn…" Tightly, I smile not wishing to discuss my mother's break down to the poor boy, he would have no clue on how to handle it. I didn't and I was tasked with making sure she was kept alive.
"So how did you do it? How?" Eagerly Rory probes wishing to change topic no doubt, a transaction I am too happy to ignore.
"One-word Rory, haggling." Proudly, I beam brightly at the memory.
"Haggling? Oh yeah Gale said you were the master haggler!" Excited, Rory gushes making me chuckle.
"I guess I am. Kat was really bitter over it until she swallowed her pride when she, me and your brother worked together, we hunted, and I would then haggle." Calmly, I reveal to Rory wide eyed at the thought as I chuckle remembering how bitter Kat was towards it all.
"So, what should I do? Gale doesn't have time to teach me…" Sadly, Rory bows his head huffing, puffing out his cheeks like a chipmunk making me chuckle.
"I could…" I offer.
"You don't mind?" Surprised, he raises a brow at me.
"Don't see why not. I have time." Shyly, I offer making him smile happily.
"Thank you Will thank you so much!" Eagerly, he pounces on me making me freeze in my steps holding in my urge to flip him over, feeling my muscles tense up at the thought.
"No problem now come on let's get you back home, your mother is worried sick." Gently, I whisper to him making his eyes soften.
"Alright…" He gives in.
"You make sure to apologise to her alright? You had her worried sick." Sternly, I remind him making him groan as I playfully tousle his black locks, making him whine, placing his hands on his hair, glaring playfully at me making me snicker. Together, we head back to the Hawthorne establishment.
"Willow thank you so much!" Grateful, Hazelle runs towards me, bringing me into her arms making me chuckle, awkwardly patting her back.
"It's fine how's Gale?" Concerned, I question my brow furrowed.
"He's…resting I'm sure he'd be happy to see you." Optimistically, she offers as I note Posy and Vic sleeping next to one another on the floor, making my eyes soften at the two.
"Eh might as well see how he is if you don't mind that is…" I offer nervously.
"No, please come in, come in!" Eagerly, she insists as I follow after her, heading up to Gale's room, needing to talk to him, to set things straight…
"Gale, Will's here…" Gently, Hazelle calls out as we peer into his room, my grey blues softening at the matts laid out for each of the Hawthorn's. I sit Gale sitting on his own bed, black stains littered all over his features, my chest aching at the sight of his painful shaky hollow breathing. I note Hazelle gently lay down a bowl of cold water, looking over at me as I nod, taking the fabric in her grasp, dipping it into the chilly waters below.
"…Hey." Shakily, Gale greets me as I slowly lower myself to his side, crossing my legs over the other as gently, I dip the damp cloth on his face, attempting to clean himself up, grimacing at his painful hello, causing him to erupt into a fit of coughing.
"Hey, brought Rory back…" Weakly, I tell him as his cough suppresses, his pained steam grey meeting my greyish blue.
"Thanks…" Softly, he smiles up at me as I return with a small smile of my own.
"You look like shit." Bluntly, I tell him making him release a small chuckle only then for my eyes to widen when he erupts into another fit. Concerned, I help him stand, patting his back, feeling his hands coil around my arms, clinging to me as I guide him through it all.
"Heh and here I thought I looked like an angel." Weakly, he jokes emitting a small chuckle from me.
"As if angels exist." I shake my head dismissing the thought.
"I don't know I'm looking at one right now…" Surprised, I feel my muscles tense up, my eyes widening at the sudden rush of heat in my cheeks as I turn to gawk down at the smirking Gale.
"Very funny, you tried that line on Kat bet she'd love it." Pained, I wince, bitterly remarking the line as I note his grey hues softening from my response.
"Only the best of best lines for my best friends." Cheekily, he winks smirking weakly.
"Oh, don't I feel honoured?" Playfully, I retort rolling my eyes at the dummy.
"Is…Rory okay?" Weakly, he whispers wheezing, making my eyes soften pained.
"He's fine just frustrated." I bring up noting his grimace.
"So, you heard…" Defeated, he groans looking up at the ceiling above.
"Why not let him help?" Baffled, I question Gale, placing the damp cloth against his cheek, feeling him lean into my touch.
"He barely knows what he's doing." Frowning, he argues shakily exhaling.
"And you think we did when we were kids?" I remind him making him scowl, pouting at the truth of it all.
"We had help, I barely have time to…" Shakily, he begins as I feel his head on my lap nestling into my lap as I dip the stained fabric into the ice cool bowl, a swarm of oily black junk spreading, staining the icy blue substance.
"I have time." I offer.
"You sure?" Worried, he furrows his brow.
"Gale it isn't that hard to teach a kid how to hunt." Scoffing, I shake my head at the thought.
"You sure it won't go against your schedule?" Apprehensive, he further furrows his brow making me sigh.
"I have no schedule for once, due to Kitty Kat and Peety." I remind him feeling him flinch making me sigh.
Quietly, Gale goes silent at the mention of them feeling his arms coil around my waist, making me briefly flinch causing his grip to loosen, looking apologetic. I sigh, feeling partially guilty for my response.
"Look you barely have time to do it just let me do this." Tiredly, I insist when feeling his grip tighten on me.
"I can do it I can." Confidently, he disputes only to erupt into another fit of coughs making me sigh.
"No, you can't. Gale people need breaks and the mining job isn't easy I've seen it you have too." Seriously, I state the fact to him making him bow his head pained at the sad truth of it all.
"I hate this, I feel so helpless…" Frustrated, Gale confesses to me noting his shaking fist, greedily grabbing the stained sheets beneath him balling into balls of black beneath his fists making me sigh, understanding his anger well but it will lead to nothing more than exhaustion and he should be exhausted as it is.
"Imagine how Rory feels, staying at home." Gently, I point out making him grimace at the sad truth of it, understanding the feeling of unease, of guilt, of helplessness far too well.
"He's keeping an eye on Vic and Posy." Aloofly, Gale attempts to dispute only to grimace from my stern sharp glare.
"No, he's not, my mum is. He knows that, I know that, and I know you do too." Icily, I remind him making him flinch at his weak excuse crumbling to pieces.
"Before I could have…" Seething, Gale shakes his head at the thought trailing off.
"Things have changed Gale whether we like it or not. Things have changed accepting these changes will be better for everyone." Tenderly, I whisper placing my hand on his cheek as his blurry greys meet my stern grey blues.
"I just…I feel like I failed them. I promised myself when…when dad died, I'd keep an eye on them, be the provider, protect them look out for them. First Rory put his name in the tesserac and now this!" Hurt, Gale's voice breaking making my eyes soften, cradling his face in my arms as he places his hand over his eyes, trying to stifle his tears.
"Isn't this a better option than the alternative? I know you were angry; I know you were upset; I know you felt like a failure, but you weren't Gale. We all have to do things for our family whether we like too or not. You can only do so much Gale you're human we all are." Gently, I explain to him as his tearful greys meet my bluish grey.
"You'll teach him?" Hopeful, he whispers.
"I will." I promise him.
"Thank you…" Softly, his voice breaks as he nuzzles into my side.
"Hey, I got to do something besides it'll be fun now rest up you hear me? Rory's got a big brother to impress after all." Cheekily, I wink, placing my fist lightly on his chest making him smile softly at me.
"Yeah…" He nods his head as I stand up.
"I should go. Mum is going to start questioning." Weakly, I smile as Gale reluctantly nods his head, feeling his arms unravel. I leave him, saying goodbye to Hazelle, having put the kids to bed as I turn to Rory stubbornly staying up making me chuckle. I reach over, tousling his coal curls making him whine as I leave the Hawthorne house, heading back home. I can't talk to him not in that state, I'll set him straight when his head is there, so he can understand, so he can learn.