Katniss was a mere five years old then. It was Christmas and Aunt Julian was ushering her to get to her feet and make snow angels while she still could. It was while she was grabbing her coat when Katniss started to the door, swinging it open and threateningly making the door hinges come off. She vaguely remembered that it was a starry night, with little twinkles in the sky that reflected those in her eyes. It was late at night and the atmosphere was somewhat quiet but to little Katniss, every hour was playtime. And so she rushed to each house, demanding a little gingerbread or caramel lolly until even Miss Goodheart, the kindest old lady in the neighbourhood, had a look that warned Katniss to stop pushing her luck too far. She was starting home, definitely elated about the pockets full of little trinkets-though they were not given very wlllingly, when she remembered the snow angels. Entirely forgetting her candies, she shrugged out of her coat and got down flat on her back, flapping her hands against the snow to make the outline of wings. Giggling like crazy, she sought to grab a clump of frosted snow to make the shape of a head and started to get up when…
'Whoosh!' the icy feeling of having snow trickle down her back made her more startled than anything at all. It was only when she realized that she was covered by a pile of very heavy snow did she realize that she couldn't breathe. Small, fragile hands clawed at the snow and Katniss poked the top of her black head out, yelling, kicking and all the while panicking. 'Aunt Julian! Help me!' but there was no reply. The feeling of panic was setting in and Katniss was scared. More than scared, petrified. She had always been a fighter but nobody ever mentioned calm under pressure. Just as she thought of Mommy and Daddy and Prim and how mad they would be at Aunt Julian considering that fact that she was going to die, a strong pair of arms pulled her out from above and Katniss let out the breath that she had been holding. The first thing she saw was a pair of eyes so blue it resembled lapis lazuli and turquoise mixed together. It held unmistaken mischief and as she got higher and higher, her feet sloshing the snow, she saw that her saviour was grinning down at her with a friendly smile. The kind that people at the Welfare Committee had. You know, the ones that was reassuring and kind all at once.
"Hey, little Kitty. No one as small as you should be wandering alone at night. Especially if a pile of snow happens to plonk on your head." the boy with the sunny smile teased, administering a motion that suggested she was being hit by something. Katniss laughed. It was impossible not to. But she stopped when she felt a shiver go through her small frame, shaking her to the core. Instantly, the boy had her in a piggyback ride and ran towards…Where was he going anyway? Katniss noticed he was running towards the direction of her house but she knew that she had never seen him in the neighbourhood before. Besides, from the way heat was emaniciating from his trench coat definitely gave off signals that his family was rich. Nobody could afford one like his. Even Katniss's was in tatters. So he probably lived in the upper classes, nearer to the town. But she was surprised when he made a left turn just past her house and kicked open the front door, setting her down on the couch and turning away to look for something. She was mildly confused right now but sought to leave it as it was, preferring to enjoy the comforts and warmth instead. She curled into a ball, setting her head down on a pillow and closed her eyes. Moments later, she felt a comforter being lain on her and looked up to see the fringe of the boy's ashy blond hair flopping into his eyes.
A while later after setting it straight, he was about to hurry into the kitchen when Katniss grabbed him by the hand and pulled him down to face her at eye level. "Wait, what's your name?" Blue eyes regarded her for a moment before saying "I'm Peeta. Peeta Mellark. We just shifted here. I know you live next door though because I saw you knocking on the front door. And I followed you." Katniss looked at him a little while longer and then realization hit her. This was the boy whom all the girls were talking about. The boy from the South who would be in the upper class. The one whom Lauren Zegers, most popular girl in class, had met at the bakery. She had said he was cute and adorably sweet. Sweet is right. It was when Katniss was thinking when the front door tore open and a thunderous voice reverberated through, making Katniss shake. And she knew it wasn't from the cold either.
"Rotten good for nothing! Didn't I tell you to pave the walkway? You've got snow in my shoes!" Almost in an instant, Peeta had her hidden in the back closet, with the clothes shrouding her completely. Katniss didn't know what was happening but whatever it was, it wasn't good. "Peeta! What is this?" a plump woman with thick eyebrows and heavily-lidded eyes came into view. She glared at Peeta and the couch, alternating views. "I was sleeping on the couch," Almost instantly, a hand shot out and slapped Peeta, causing him to reel backwards and hit the closet that Katniss was in. It rattled and opened just the slightest fraction. "What did I say? I said NO sleeping until all work is done!" the crazy woman screeched. Katniss could see Peeta clearly now. His face was deathly pale but he kept it utterly brave. However, his eyes reflected fear and Katniss could only helplessly pray that the woman would just stop. After a few bated seconds, Miss Don't-You-Dare-Ruin-My-Shoes stormed out, not looking at Peeta so much as once to see if he was injured.
Katniss strained her ears. The moment she heard the sound of heavy footsteps dissipate, she nimbly got out of the closet, aware of her footing. Tip-toeing to face Peeta, she noticed a bruise under his right eye that was already molting. She was about to touch it to see if it was lumpy when Peeta urged "Get out of here while you still can! Do you want her to catch you in her house without permission?" His voice was whispery but Katniss could hear the silent panic. "But," she started to protest like any five year old would do when they were bossed around. "Go! It's better for you and me if you're gone. Now!" his voice raised just the slightest notch. Katniss believed him. She turned away, looking for the door and proceeding to run towards it as silently as possible.
Outside, she felt the cold rush of icy wind and the gale winds, whipping her hair all about. She sucked in a deep breath and all at once, she realized that Peeta would never have this kind of freedom. Just being tortured at home and forced to do things that any normal five year old shouldn't be doing. Before she even knew what she was doing, she had rushed back inside, long trench coat trailing after her and kneeled down. "Wha..I told you to go didn't I? How many times must I-" Peeta scolded, only to stop short when Katniss wrapped her skinny arms around him and gave hima bear hug. Then she left, leaving behind a much startled Peeta. And it was as she was running in the snow when she vowed to herself never to forget the boy with the turquoise blue eyes.