Katniss is being watched within the confines of her home. She is pretty certain and she told her hunting partner Gale when they were in the woods thinking that it would be kept confidential. What did Gale do...open his mouth...in front of the town meeting about the Capitolites who were moving into the district. Now because of Gale, everything is up in the air! What will happen? Also, who is watching Katniss? What do you think?
A/N: I do not own the Hunger Games and shout out to Norbertsmom my beta and bestie
December 80th Year AFR
Victor's Village, District Twelve:
Peeta's hand found hers, a simple act of unity and of support.
Peeta understood how much Katniss hated to be in the spotlight. Her name on the lips of the gathered group is all Katniss could hear as she stood at the back of the meeting. She wrapped her other hand around her middle.
"I knew it!" Billy said loudly. "Didn't I tell you Leaf?"
"You sure did," Dusty replied for her husband. Leaf nodded his agreement. "If someone like Katniss doesn't feel safe-"
"Don't listen to them," Peeta said softly. He stood next to her, his brother and father suddenly were standing by her making a protective circle around her.
"Do you need to get out of here?" Rye asked, looking like he was about to pick her up and run out of there.
"Nope," she answered, determined to stay until the end.
"Son," Mr. Mellark said, turning to Peeta.
Peeta gently lifted her chin and studied her face; he no doubt noticed the fierce look in her eyes. "She's okay," Peeta said as he dropped his hand from her face.
Rye and his father looked like they weren't comfortable with just Peeta's assurances.
"I'm okay," she said, setting her face into a scowl. Katniss knew no good would come from the moment Gale looked at her. His words were damaging. She knew he was trying to protect her, but it was a mistake; they didn't function like that outside of the woods.
They knew how to protect themselves in the woods, they had weapons and the enemy was clear. Outside in the streets of the Seam or in the Merchant Quarter, they didn't know how to deal with wagging tongues and the court of opinions. The only person in the room that Katniss could depend on was Peeta. She learned that he could defend her against nightmares, the invisible things that caused wounds in the soul and spirit of a person.
Gale couldn't even protect her when Delly stood and declared her name. Delly's actions caused Gale's words to hold merit.
"What do you need me to do?" Peeta asked.
Katniss closed her eyes. The room was already tense, like a stick of dynamite waiting for someone to light it. If she said more or the wrong thing, the room would explode, Katniss wasn't willing to add more fuel to the fire. "Let's see what happens?"
"Are you sure?" Rye asked.
Katniss raised an eyebrow.
Rye backed away, hands raised.
Katniss wasn't a simpering mess of a person. She also wasn't like Mrs. Leaferton who constantly complained about everything and suspected everyone. Katniss was an expert hunter. If she didn't feel safe in her home in the Seam it was something to be concerned about.
Her mother, Haymitch, and Madge's mother valiantly tried to take control of the meeting, but the outrage amongst those who were congregated was out of control.
Mrs. Leaferton banged her cane against the floor and this caught everyone's attention.
"We've got to do something, there are a lot of us that live by ourselves. If they're stalking your girl, Bonnie, clearly none of us are safe."
"I personally know what Gale said is true!" Tibia said standing akimbo, her chin held in the air defiantly.
"How can you say that Tibia," Maysie said.
"Maysie, papers can be faked. I heard from my cousin Marty that with the right amount of credits anything can be bought in the Capitol," Tibia said, adding fuel to the fire.
"How do we know that these Capitolites coming here are good people?" Mrs. Anderson asked.
"That's what I've been saying," Billy said. "We don't know who they are? What if they're Hybrids?"
Billy's words were like a bomb going off in the room.
Gale's eyes flew to Katniss. No one knew about what they had heard or seen outside the fence. She gave him a slight shake of her head to let him know that he should keep his mouth shut.
"Hybrids?" Clancy questioned, the humor in her voice could not be disguised.
"Don't laugh, Clancy," Dusty said. "Listen to what Billy has to say."
"You might think I'm crazy for saying that." Billy began.
Katniss rolled her eyes heavenwards. If there was someone who knew how to spread fear, it was Billy Robins.
"What if they disguise themselves?" Billy paused to look at those in the room. "No one in this room has ever seen one of those monsters. Yet they were used in the Arena and they killed everyone and got loose."
"Billy has a point," Mrs. Leaferton grumbled.
"We didn't win against them," Dusty said. "The Capitol made a deal with them. But they never told us, the citizens of Panem, what deal they made with those monsters."
There were nods of agreement.
Katniss wanted to disagree with Billy. She didn't believe there were Hybrids inside the district. Outside in the woods, yes, one hundred percent. However, she couldn't discount what he said. The Capitol never divulged what the peace treaty between Panem and the Hybrid Nation consisted of.
"My point is this," Billy said. "If the Capitol created those monsters - they can fabricate a few papers for the right amount of credits. What do we really know about these so-called widowers and men coming into our district by alarming numbers?"
"Billy Robins you have got to stop telling your fantastical tales," Bonnie said with a stern voice. "I understand many of you have concerns about all of the Capitolites moving to our district. They have strange customs, don't speak like us, and don't dress like us, but they want the same thing. They want a safe space to create a home. Perhaps fall in love." Bonnie looked at Rye.
Rye saluted everyone and took a bow.
People laughed at his antics.
Bonnie continued, "They chose our district because of its strong sense of community." She scanned the crowd as she finished talking.
"That is wonderful, Bonnie," Mrs. Leaferton said.
Katniss waited for the counterargument.
"However," Mrs. Leaferton said.
There were groans from a few of the people in the room who didn't agree with Billy or those who didn't want to hear the elderly lady speak because she tended to ramble.
"Now hear her out," Maysie said. "We want to give everyone a fair chance to talk."
Mrs. Leaferton stood leaning, on her cane, her nose in the air. She scanned the room, daring anyone to cross her. "Have any of you asked, why these Capitolites would choose to move our small outlying District?"
Several people's eyebrows lifted in surprise at her question. Some leaned in, wanting to hear more.
"District Twelve is the smallest in the nation. The electricity is spotty at best. In the winter, a lot of us heat our homes with our stoves or fireplaces because we don't even have central heating. The folk in the seam have cold water in the pipes. I can count on my hands how many people have hot water pipes in their homes. There are even some who don't even have running water; they go to the communal pump for water."
People murmured their agreement to Mrs. Leaferton's words.
"So I ask, why would they leave the comfort of the Capitol and come here where it is, as Caesar Flickerman said the backwater district. When they could go to one of the richer Districts like One, or Three?"
Mrs. Leaferton stirred the pot. People began questioning why were the Capitolites coming to the district if they believed their district was rural and uncouth.
"I think we need to settle down and think judiciously." As Bonnie spoke, she glanced at Katniss with a withering glare. Bonnie was not happy by this turn of events. Katniss and her mother didn't always agree. When Katniss decided to move into the house in the Seam by herself, her mother didn't want her to leave. Oddly enough, her mother didn't think it was safe. Currently, her mother was giving her that I-Told-You-So-Look.
"Bonnie's right, we need to think with calm rational heads." Maysie's formidable blue glare caused Billy to sit down. "The people coming from the Capitol just want to start over again, just like Graham and his boys did," Maysie said.
"But what if Billy is right?" Tibia asked.
"What if Billy is wrong?" Clancy countered.
"So how can we substantiate what your daughter said to all of us," Mrs. Leaferton questioned.
Katniss winced. People had a way of twisting words.
Rye cleared his throat. "I say we gather a group of us to go to the forest to check it out?"
"Are you volunteering?" Will asked.
Rye glanced at Peeta before nodding. "Yup, Katniss is one of the first people who welcomed us to the district when we first moved here." He then winked at Rooba whose eyes widened. "It's partially because I've become partial to squirrels and turkeys."
People chuckled at Rye's audacity. Rooba took no offense as there were times she too traded with Katniss for things like honey.
In the room, there were quite a few people who traded with Katniss. None would report her activities because of the high cost of living. People heavily depended on the fresh vegetables they gardened and whatever protein they could get their hands on. Sugar and honey were high-demand commodities. Katniss was sought after for the game meat she caught cleanly.
"Gale should go with you; he's a tracker. He'll be able to see if someone's been in the woods that surround Katniss' house," Delly said.
"I volunteer to go with Gale," Peeta said.
"I'll go too," Billy said, staring at Katniss.
"l don't think we need anyone else. The Mellarks and Hawthorne are enough," Haymitch grumbled.
"Does everyone agree?" Bonnie quickly asked. Katniss could tell her mother wanted to put this to bed.
"If we can substantiate Miss Everdeen's claims then we will reconvene to decide what to do."
Slowly everyone began filing out.
"Katniss!" Her mother shouted.
Sighing, Katniss approached her mother.
"Katniss Everdeen," her mother said her name like an admonition. "Something like this should have been reported to the District Council. And not repeated like common fodder to your friends."
"Mother, I told Gale in confidence. I didn't know he and Delly were going to spew my business to the town."
"You should know better," her mother said, giving her a pointed look before turning to slip on her coat. "At least we have a solution."
Katniss knew better than to say anything until her mother was finished. Her mother was upset with her, but that didn't last for long. Her mother didn't carry grudges.
"Will you be coming to Sunday dinner for New Year's or are you going to make an excuse?" Her mother asked while pulling on her gloves.
"I don't know, maybe," Katniss said.
"You should think about it. Hazelle and her entire horde she calls a family will be there. Yes, including Delly and Gale. Oh, I also invited Graham and Peeta." Her mother picked up her notes and slid them into her messenger bag.
Katniss blinked in surprise. She didn't know the Mellarks were going to be at her mother's annual New Year's Eve dinner.
"Oh, Katniss, don't slouch."
Katniss shook her head. "Is that all?"
"It is," her mother said, leaving Katniss alone.
She turned around and saw that the only people left in the room were the Mellarks. Peeta was waiting for her.
"We wanted to make sure you got home safe," he said, holding up her coat.
"I can walk home, you know," Katniss grumbled, she wanted to get home and decompress.
"It's dark outside and I…" Peeta shrugged and he gave her a small smile.
She was disarmed, nothing she could say would have stopped her from walking home with Peeta and his family.
They walked outside; it was dark. "What time is it?"
"It's nearly eight in the evening."
"We were in there for three hours?" She was appalled by that tidbit of information.
"Let me guess, you think that was a waste of time."
"Ugh," Katniss muttered.
Peeta said quietly, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"What's there to tell?" Katniss replied, shrugging. "I told that big mouth, thinking he'd keep his trap shut."
"You don't feel safe in your home; that isn't good." His voice sounded concerned. Snow fell as they walked.
All three wanted to make sure she arrived safely at her doorstep. The entire time Katniss laughed at Rye's cheekiness and Peeta's quick-witted sassiness. Mr. Mellark bemoaned having Rye. Rye threw a snowball at his father, and in the middle of walking home, they had an impromptu snowball fight. Rye lost, Katniss herself delivered the deadly snowball to his face.
Rye and Mr. Mellark stood by the wooden picket fence Katniss added to her home to add more curb appeal.
Peeta walked with her to the doorstep. He had his hands in his pockets; the jovial mood became somber. As he shifted his feet, he stepped on the loose board on her porch and it creaked.
"You've got to fix that?" His breath came out in fluffy clouds. He leaned on it again to make it squeak and groan, checking to see how strong the board was. "I can come over tomorrow with my brother to fix it for you."
"I'll have to wait until the spring," Katniss shrugged. "It's going to be a snowy season."
Peeta glanced around the exterior and took a deep breath of air. "Are you going to be alright?"
"Yes," Katniss said standing in front of her door, but not willing to open it and end her time with Peeta.
"If you need anything, call me," Peeta said.
"Peeta, I don't have a phone in the house."
"I think you need one," Peeta said.
"I hate this," Katniss muttered. "I can take care of myself."
"I know you can, but -" he looked down. "I see us as a team. You," he pointed at her then at himself. "And me."
This came as no surprise to Katniss. "We're a team."
"And when one of us needs help, the other is there. Like when Lucy tried to get me to kiss her underneath that poison berry."
Katniss laughed. "That was mistletoe, and you looked like you were going to jump out of the window if I didn't come to your rescue."
"You kissed me on my cheek and whisked me away."
Peeta sighed and batted his eyelashes. "You're my hero."
Katniss laughed. "Good, I'm glad you said that, because when you guys go into the woods to check. I want to go with you."
"Is there anything I can say to stop you?"
"No."
Peeta sighed.
Katniss grinned as she turned and opened her door.
Peeta didn't leave until she walked inside and closed her door behind her.
Later that night, as she stood in her bedroom, Katniss rubbed her shoulders. It was cold and she held a hot water bottle against her chest. The woods looked ominous despite the newly fallen snow. Something was out there in the woods, she knew it, her hunter's senses were never wrong.
Walking away from her window, she went downstairs, making sure her windows and doors were locked. She began turning off the lights and was at the foot of the stairs to head back up when she thought she saw a shadow slither by her front window. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Katniss thought she heard a creak as if someone had stepped on the loose board on her front porch.
She slowly took her foot off the first step, trying not to breathe, straining to listen. Was there someone outside of her house at midnight? Katniss wanted to swallow but was afraid the noise was going to be loud. She stood in the middle of her living room like a doe in the middle of the forest sensing a predator was near.
Once more, she heard the tell tail sound of wood creaking. Someone was out there.
Katniss wanted to go outside and see who or what was outside of her door.
Taking a deep breath, she inched her way to the door. Her knees shook unnaturally. It was one thing to be in the woods armed with her bow and knife, it was another to be in her home unarmed. Her eyes swept her living room for something she could use to defend herself.
Outside, the shadow loomed at her window. It was tall and bulky. Katniss spied the fire poker from where she stood. Swallowing, she tiptoed quickly to grab the poker. Once she had the iron poker in her hand, she turned toward the door.
Katniss blinked as she saw the eerie glow of eyes staring at her through the window. She heard a low growl.
Her hands trembled so much the poker fell from her hands and hit the floor with a dull clank.
She jumped back and hit her heel on the fireplace hearth. "Mother of fudging pear!" Katniss muttered in the darkness. Temporarily forgetting the intruder outside.
Katniss watched the shadow drop down from the window. They must have heard her. She heard a muffled noise, then a growl.
Then everything went silent.
Grabbing the poker, she stalked toward the door on hunter's feet, making no sound to alert the intruder.
She quickly pulled the door open and raised the poker in the air, ready to strike whatever was out there.
Sitting on her porch, was Prim's ugly yellow cat staring up at her.
Her shoulders deflated as relief poured over her in gleeful waves as she realized she had been worried over her sister's flea-bitten cat.
"Buttercup," Katniss muttered. "Get in here before you freeze."
"Meow," he complained indignantly as he entered her house, shaking the snow off of his fur.
"I suppose you're cold and hungry?"
"Meow." His tail swished back and forth as if annoyed that she was wasting time.
"Fine, I'll find you something to eat," Katniss said. She couldn't deny that having the mangy cat made her feel better.
Katniss chuckled as she looked out into her yard. Just as she was about to close the door her eyes zeroed in on large indentations in the snow.
She held her breath as terror overwhelmed her.
Someone had been outside. They stood off to the side, so that they wouldn't be noticed, but could stare into her living room.
Katniss quickly closed the door and locked it. She gripped her poker to her chest for just a moment. Her heart rate had accelerated at the idea of someone standing in the dead of a wintery night to stare at her.
Fear licked at her insides, but Katniss set her chin. She wouldn't give in to it, determined to find out who the prick was and make them pay for it.
After WW2, there was a sense of relief that the war was over however there was a lot of chaos. During this time period, countries had to start over they had to create civil service programs that today are a given - because of the amount of poverty. In some countries, the total calorie count for the average person was 800 calories a day.
People were weary and crime increased, black markets thrived, and many governments were still being run by the wartime councils that sprouted out of necessity they just changed their names.
For those who lost the war the climb out of poverty was even harder, as there were many prejudices, which I tapped into to tell the tale.