Now that the war is over the world as Katniss knew it is vastly different. She and the survivors have to make do, and begrudgingly the Hybrids are now allies. Katniss is living her life in this post-world but the bubble she's been living in is about to burst.
Thank you to Norbertsmom for beating and please remember I do not own the Hunger Games!
March, 80th Year AFR
District Twelve.
It was still dark outside. Katniss hid in the bushes waiting for the Peacekeeper to shut down the fence and make their final round before they got off duty. She could see the guard tower in the distance. Cerise's six-hour shift was ending. She was waiting for Terra to come to the post. The newer Peacekeepers took their job seriously, Terra was formidable and they would not take kindly to finding Katniss sneaking into the woods.
There were four Peacekeepers who were appointed to fence tower duty: Cerise, Terra, Purnia, and Darius. During the war, most of the male Peacekeepers were drawn to the frontline. Only three male Peacekeepers were left in the district to help defend District Twelve: Darius, Cray, and a young Peacekeeper Darius named Beanpole.
Purnia and Darius were more lax about the rules and they never went to check on the border. The electricity at the fence never went down. Cerise and Terra were newer Peacekeepers and were stringent about checking the border. The guard on duty was supposed to turn off the electricity by sections and check the fence to make sure it wasn't damaged by a wild animal trying to get through. Cerise and Terra's fervor to complete their duties gave Katniss that window she needed to go hunting.
The electricity shut off with a woosh and she made her move.
Quickly she slid into the woods and ran to the tree where she had her bow and sheath of arrows hidden. Briskly she took off deeper into the woods. She wanted to make the distance between herself and the tower.
Residents were prohibited from going into the woods. The Capitol forbade it after the war because of the fear of the Hybrids. Strict rules about going outside of the district perimeters were enforced with heavy fines and jail time. Although none of those creatures had ever been spotted near the border fence of the district. Katniss was careful, but in all of her years of hunting, she had never seen a Hybrid. Nor did she want to, her mind always flashed to the interview with that poor driver. The howling sound he described still terrified her. Hunting in the woods could land her jail time, even Darius would hand her over.
Katniss risked it, hunting was how she made her livelihood. She no longer had to worry about her mother and sister as they took control of the Apothecary several years ago and were living a comfortable life.
Typically, she had under an hour to hunt and check on traps. Her next window to get back into the district was in three hours when the Peacekeeper would take a break. Today, however, Katniss was beginning her week-long stay in the woods. She made this yearly trip to assess the hunting grounds and the traps she and Gale made last year. Normally, she made this trip with Gale, but Delly was pregnant and with so many kids, he had to stay behind.
Katniss wasn't bothered; she'd made this trip alone a few years ago when Gale's twins were born. Her best friend looked more like a mama duck leading her hatchlings around town than a fierce hunter.
It was the first time since winter began where she could travel deeper into the woods without being impeded by the snow. Katniss hoped to be able to make good catches. She loved the spring.
Loved the way the earth awakened from its long winter nap. She relished the sounds of the chirping birds as they returned from the south. She loved the crackling sound of rushing water as the snow and the ice melted away. Katniss loved the way the warmth of a spring morning sun heated her cold face.
In a few weeks, the scents in the woods would change. She'll be able to smell the sweet delicate honey and citrus scent of green buds as they blossom on the trees. Thrilled, Katniss pressed into the woods. The deeper she moved into the forest, the more spring became apparent. The outdoors was Katniss's second home.
Every year she looked forward to this trip. It was her chance to get away from the district and reconnect with nature. She made her way deep into the forest. She traveled for three and a half days before making her camp. She caught a squirrel and ate it by the fireside marveling at the night sky and the crisp clean air.
Happily, she went to sleep optimistic about the adventure that awaited her tomorrow.
The next day Katniss was looking for the mark she and Gale left the last time they were in the vicinity.
Last fall she and Gale traveled farther into the woods seeking deer. She trekked along the virgin territory as she got lost. There were spots where the trail she and Gale marked grew cold. She noticed the spot that was teaming with birds. Katniss marked the area and as she traveled backward she found the trail again. She tucked the location of the birds in the back of her mind. Once more, she set out to check on the traps Gale set to see if they were still in good condition.
By mid-afternoon, Katniss noted deer tracks. She made a mental note to let Gale know of the tracks. A good deer could feed his family for many months. It was as she was marking the tree where she saw the tracks that she spotted another set of tracks. She hunched down to get a closer look.
At first sight, Katniss frowned. These were large, larger than her feet. She looked around looking for droppings but didn't find any. Animals that hunted were very careful about their tread and masking their scent. Her father was very adamant about this fact when teaching her how to hunt.
Katniss was careful of her movements around the forest. She moved the way her father had taught her. She looked for advantageous shots and never stood downwind so that her scent wouldn't be picked up by her prey.
Bears were hard to track because they often walked on the soles of their feet so they often did not leave prints unless they walked in the snow or muddy patches. Also, they tended to place their hind paws on top of the tracks they left with their front paws. The deeper the impression the larger and heavier the bear.
The print was large and it did resemble a bear's, though the more Katniss looked at it the more she thought it almost looked human. However, the claw marks looked like that of a bear. Standing up Katniss listened to the forest.
The woods became quiet. Eerily so.
Katniss held her bow tightly in her hand, an arrow knocked, ready to fly if need be. She needed to be alert. Mother bears with their young cubs were especially dangerous at this time of the year.
If there was a bear in the vicinity, she needed to leave.
Katniss made it back to camp and packed up. Tonight she was going to spend her night in a tree. With a bear around she couldn't take the chance of having one walk up on her while asleep. She found a tree with a thick trunk and a sturdy branch. She climbed and made her bed for the night. She took out some of the jerky she had packed and ate it with some freshwater she had purified with a chlorine tablet.
The next day as she washed up she had the oddest sense as if she was being watched. Katniss reasoned it could be the bear. If it was hungry it would smell her food supply. She quietly left some jerky behind to keep it off her tracks as she got away. She quickly packed up and began making her way back to the district. It was a good three-and-a-half-day walk at a brisk pace.
On her way back, Katniss began to relax as she neared the district. Although, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched. Katniss double-backed her trail and checked for animal prints but could not find anything. Katniss was on high alert. It began raining and it slowed down her return.
When she finally got back to the fence, she didn't make it in time to get into the district, it was mid-afternoon. Purina was on watch and Darius was next. The next window would be early the next morning when Cerise took the shift. It stopped raining and Katniss was glad. With extra time she decided to travel to the more familiar haunts. She planned on doing this in a few days with Gale, but it wouldn't hurt to scout ahead.
She went to the lake where her father's cabin stood. She saw the banks were nearly thawed. She wouldn't be able to fish yet she had to wait a few weeks more. She had a dugout canoe but couldn't use it yet.
Her father carved a canoe out of a tree. It was buried under the snow ladened water. Katniss would have to wait until it got warmer. She moved forward to check how deep the snow was where she and Gale met up often. In the higher altitudes, the snow hadn't melted. The path was still blocked.
By the time she finished checking the traps she was tired and wanted to catch some sleep. Normally she would've enjoyed her time outside, but this time around her hunter's radar was off. She just wanted to be inside of her district, safe and sound. As Katniss headed back she thought she heard the low growl of an animal.
She knocked an arrow and aimed toward the sound.
Bushes rustled, but then everything went silent. She heard two growls, then a roar, louder than any animal she ever heard before. That was followed by a breaking of sticks and a large thump. Two animals were fighting. Katniss didn't want to find out whatever was out there. Her instincts told her to run and that is what she did. As she made her escape, she heard another roar as if the animal was mortally wounded.
Katniss ran faster to get away from the fray. Only when she reached a safe distance did she stop running. However, she kept on moving, seeking a safer spot. She came to the fence, but she still couldn't get through and the night was falling.
"Dagnabit," Katniss muttered to herself.
Katniss walked around in the dimming light trying to choose a tree to spend the night in. With predators around, she didn't want to sleep on the ground. She couldn't stay close to the fence. She had to find a spot to sleep within a certain distance from the guard tower as they had radar. She didn't want to get caught.
Finding a good tree, Katniss was relieved. Quietly, she began climbing the tree. She tied herself down to the thick branch and bedded down for the night.
It was going to be a long night.
A piercing howl filled the air and startled Katniss awake.
She opened her eyes glancing about. She peered down and saw nothing below.
"Get a grip, Katniss," she whispered. "Probably a stray dog or coyote."
The howl came again and the hairs at the back of her neck stood on end. It was a prolonged guttural sound that reverberated through the air. It did not sound like any animal she had ever heard. Katniss swallowed to keep herself calm, but her hands shook. The memory of that interview she watched when she was a child came to the surface. She heard another cry, and she looked up to see if she could gauge the time by the position of the stars.
If her calculations were correct, she had two hours before Cerise made her final round before switching with Terra. They made the switch around five in the morning.
"Crap," Katniss muttered.
She could make a run for it to the border and wait until the power went out to get back into the district, but whatever was out there was close. Katniss would have to wait it out until it was time to leave. For the next hour, Katniss kept on looking down to see if she could see anything move below her. The strange part was that the woods were eerily quiet.
Whenever there was a dangerous animal on the hunt the woods became quiet. It's why when she hunted she tried to blend into the woods so that she could easily hunt. Katniss closed her eyes, something was hunting her down and she was sure it had to be a Hybrid.
It was the only explanation.
Tracks that didn't look like bears, there were no droppings either. The feeling of being watched and followed. The lack of noise in the woods.
As the hour approached, she packed up the cords that she used to keep her from falling to the ground. She slipped her headlamp on and proceeded to climb down from the safety of the tree. Her heart raced as her feet touched the ground.
Katniss pressed her back to the tree as she made sure her bow was ready. If there was a Hybrid out there, an arrow wouldn't kill it, but it would maim it and slow it down. Squaring her shoulders, she began moving away from the tree and toward the fence.
She heard a rustling sound to her right and she turned. The light of her headlamp illuminated a section of tall bushes. It was then she saw them. Three pairs of ghoulish green-blue glowing eyes staring in her direction. Then one pair of eyes began to raise up as if standing.
Her father once told her that there were bears that could stand up to 10 feet tall. As the thing stood up to its full height Katniss was conscious of just how short she was compared to a Hybrid. She had to get out of there. It took a step toward her and she let her arrow fly before running.
She heard a roar that blasted through the still of the dawn. The Hybrids were following her. There was a good chance she wasn't going to make it.
Katniss ran through the brush and she could hear the Hybrids as they moved through the forest. Their steps sounded like the thud of racing horses. The sound of snapping twigs and rustling leaves echoed through the woods as they ran.
Up ahead, Katniss saw the clearing where she could easily duck under the fence. Her blood pounded in her ears as she picked up her pace. Her legs quickened their pace as she saw the hole. Katniss didn't want to slow down to hear if the fence was on or not.
But as she neared it she gave a cry when she didn't hear the familiar hum of electricity. Behind her, Katniss could hear the Hybrids as they closed in on her. She only had moments before the fence would become electrified. She didn't want to look back as she hastened her steps. With a burst of energy, her survival instincts kicked in.
Reaching the fence, she dove for the small hole, forgetting she still had her bow and sheath. Weapons were not allowed within the district, but at the moment Katniss did not care. Her only thought was to get to safety. Katniss shoved the bow first and squeezed through the hole just as she heard the whoosh of the electricity as the fence turned on.
She rolled and quickly crouched, bow in hand with an arrow pointing to the spot where she'd just come through. Her breath came out in small white puffs as she breathed heavily.
Birds flew from a nearby nest as if disturbed. Katniss took a shaky breath. She no doubt had an encounter with Hybrids.
When she was sure nothing was coming, she relaxed enough and lower her bow, and slid her arrow into the sheath. Standing on shaky legs, her chest still heaving, she became aware that she was crying. With trembling fingers, she wiped her face.
Even as she stood there Katniss swore she felt as if she was being watched. Somewhere on the other side of the fence, that thing was staring at her. No doubt trying to figure out a way over the 20 foot electrified fence.
That night her nightmares included ghoulish green-blue glowing eyes.