In the Future Crane lost his power. Haymitch has discovered Ryker's abilities. In the Past, Katniss has been captured but by who? And now we discover who it is.

I do not own the Hunger Games

The Past

When Katniss woke up she registered that she was lying on a soft mattress. Her vision slowly cleared as her senses gradually roused. Katniss looked around trying to gauge her surroundings. There was a guard standing by the bed watching her his hand on the pommel of his sword. His eyes were trained on her. Katniss felt her hands were tied by rope. She didn't bother moving; it was futile to waste her energy. She could disappear into a door. Katniss turned her eyes toward the voices in the room.

Finnick stood in front of a man. They were by the arched window. The shutters were opened to allow the light inside. They had to be up high in a tower or within a stone keep. The closer to the ground the windows decreased in size until they became narrow defensible slits. Katniss could not tell who it was as the light was blinding her as it descended in the horizon.

Frustrated, she turned her attention to her surroundings.

The room was richly decorated with tapestries, a large fireplace sat directly across the bed and there were two ornate chairs facing the fireplace. Someone wealthy lived here, there were many candles everywhere. She wondered if she was inside the palace. Her eyes swept the room for Haymitch but she did not see him. And she also wondered where Peeta was. She pondered if this was the palace King Snow would most likely have them in chains, torturing them along with Peeta's brother.

In order to hatch an escape plan Katniss needed information. It was imperative that she and Haymitch escape.

Katniss turned her attention back to Finick and the man. Finnick reached up to rub his face. Someone had double-crossed them, and Katniss surmised it had been Finnick who had betrayed them. Katniss wondered why he would turn his back on Peeta and Haymitch. Katniss also questioned why the men tackled her to the ground. Could it be because Finnick told her they were magic? It was the only explanation for why she was roughly taken down. She lifted her head to get a better look but the guard immediately turned to her.

She laid her head back down, and her frustration mounted.

They were speaking in hushed voices. Katniss closed her eyes and concentrated. She wondered if she could hear them if she paid closer attention. The sound of the crackling fire faded, and the sound of the wind coming in through the window dimmed. Suddenly it was as if some leaver had been pulled and their hushed voices magnified. She could hear what they were saying as if she was standing next to them.

"I don't think this will fool him, Finnick. He'll know this lad is not the one," the man in the shadow said. He moved slightly and Katniss saw the edge of the man's head, he was shorter than Finnick with dark blond hair. "I do not know what scheme you and the old-".

Finnick cut the man off, "Listen to me your royal highness, this boy is no ordinary lad."

The man scoffed. "Finnick, I've known you the entirety of my life. I let you call me by my given name, Ryder when we are not in mixed company. I consider you a brother and with my dying breath, I would avenge your death. But I cannot find it in my heart to believe what you speak."

The man Finnick was speaking to was Ryder Mellark, Peeta's brother. Ryder turned to face the window and Katniss could see he was slightly taller than Peeta, but he had the same stocky build as the Mellark men. His nose was flatter and his eyes were a dull blue. He was handsome, but not as good-looking as Peeta.

A raven perched itself on the window. Katniss quirked an eyebrow as she peered at the strange black bird. Ravens were curious creatures by nature, but they would never fly to an open space where humans were present. The raven in question hopped down onto the floor and waddled to a large trunk.

It began to cry out. "Caw." Suddenly the raven cry began sounding like her mentor's voice.

Katniss was perplexed.

Her eyes widened as she watched Haymich transform himself into his human form. She closed her eyes not wanting to see him naked.

"I don't know Ryder, I have a feeling about him," Haymitch said.

Katniss questioned what Haymitch was up to. Katniss asked herself why all of the subterfuge. It was apparent Haymitch knew what was going on but did not bother to enlighten her.

"Haymitch," The man named Ryder turned to her mentor. "Why the need for cloak and daggers."

Finnick tossed a look over his shoulder. He found her awake and cockily winked at her.

Katniss scowled at him, Ryder did not pay attention to their interaction. Ryder was focused on Haymitch, he ran his hands through his hair.

"We called you because Snow is lying," Haymitch.

"Listen you old drunk, I was stolen in the middle of the night, and brought here. You both know how important this is, to my kingdom. If we can achieve a peace accord…"

"Your grace I know how important this is. I can assure you that," Finnick's words died on his lips as Ryder held up his hand.

"You want me to put my faith in a lad that still has not yet taken a blade to his face?" Ryder argued.

"I tell you the truth, this lad is powerful." Finnick pointed to Katniss.

"It is Snow's intention to kill you and your brother. There will be no peace. I have seen him do this before, lure people into his web of depictions and then strike with force like the venomous snake that he is," Haymitch said.

"Is that what he did to you?" Ryder asked.

Katniss watched Haymitch's countenance change, his eyes became glossy. His shoulders drooped and he clenched his fist as if he was recalling a painful event.

"Who are you, boy?" A new deep voice asked Katniss directly. A man stood up from the chair. Katniss had not seen him there. She'd been focused on the conversation between Haymitch, Finnick, and Ryder. He was tall but he wore a dark cloak. His voice was thicker and raspier than Haymitch's. The hood of his cloak hid his face, all Katniss could see was the tail of his beard.

All three men turned to face her.

"He's the one the prophecy foretold," Haymitch assured.

"He is powerful," Finnick put his hand on the pommel of his sword.

The man approached her, his hand extended toward her. Without thinking Katniss cast a protective bubble around her. The man staggered backward, falling against the chair. The man stood tall, and said, "He's strong, I'll give you that."

"Rook," Finick said. "Please if he is what the prophecy says he will kill Snow."

"He could be an imposter," Ryder said. "Everyone knows Haymitch is nothing more than a drunk."

Katniss was tired of people speaking about her as if she wasn't in the room. She began to concentrate. She needed to show them that she wasn't a weak child. The room faded away and she spotted a door before her. Katniss reached out with her mind and opened the door. One moment she was tied to the bed the next she was walking through the door.

Katniss didn't go far into the future. She could see the men panic. Katniss sat in the chair and listened.

Ryder shook his head, "I don't understand, where did he disappear to?"

"I told you the lad is the one that will destroy Snow," Haymitch said sitting down.

The man named Rook crossed his arms across his chest.

"I've never seen such magic, if he is powerful enough to escape us in plain sight he can take down Snow and his wizard." Finnick's face turned hard, "I for one am spoiling for a fight."

"We will lose," Rook said. "Crane will see to it."

"I thought the only chance we have is to establish peace. I've never seen such magic," Ryder said, searching the mattress. The guard held the rope that once was bound around her wrists.

"Guard search the castle," the Rook ordered. "The lad couldn't have gone far."

"I tell you the lad is the promised one," Haymitch said.

"We shall see," the Rook said.

Katniss decided she needed to understand how she ended up here. She spotted a small string that led to another door. She walked through it and she could see moments after she was knocked out.

"Why did you do that?" Haymitch asked. Kneeling next to her inert body.

"I don't trust him," Rook said.

"You fool, you could've killed our only chance."

"That is no child of Eragon of Everdeen," Rook said.

"Then why are you here?"

"Because Finnick came to me with a wild tale of a lad that threw him twenty feet in the air."

"You are a skeptic," Haymitch said.

"And you, a drunk." The Rook then turned to Haymitch, "Though you're a wiley drunk. Your suspicions about Snow were correct."

"Ryder?"

"Is safe in my palace."

"Good, make sure the lad is comfortable, take my clothing will you."

"Where are you headed now?" Rook questioned.

"I've got to see what my old student Crane is up to…"

Katniss watched as Haymitch became a raven and flew away. One of the guards was about to pick her up when Peeta ran into the room.

"Don't…" he had his sword in his hand.

"You must be the young heir," Rook said.

Peeta raised an eyebrow.

"Your brother is safe and I will bring you to him," Rook picked up Haymitch's clothing. "Haymitch said to bring his clothing."

Peeta was poised to strike but Katniss saw the indecision on his face.

"Trust me, you do not want to go against my men." The Rook sounded bored.

Peeta slowly put away his sword. He leaned down taking her hand, he saw the mark on her wrist. He quickly covered it with his hand. "Fine but no one touches he...im, the lad is under my protection."

"Oh," the Rook said.

Peeta grunted in response. The Rook turned away from Peeta, and Katniss watched as his fingers caressed the mark on her wrist. A smile played on his lips before he picked her up tenderly in his arms. He made sure to cradle her head.

Rook shook his head but left the room. The men in the room gave Peeta a wide berth as he walked with her. Katniss smiled at his tender ways. Her heart was filled with warmth. He truly was a prince amongst men.

Turning around she had seen enough. Katniss walked through the door and found herself back in the chamber. She sat down once more in the chair and watched the argument between the four men about her disappearance until the door to the room opened.

The guard had returned.

"My lord, the lad is not in the castle," the guard reported.

"Impossible. How could he disappear."

"I told you he is the one," Finnick smirked.

Katniss decided this was as good a time as ever to make her reappearance. She walked back through the door and reappeared on the bed this time without the ties on her hands.

"By Jove child," Ryder exclaimed.

Rook walked toward her. Katniss could feel his power as if he was trying to intimidate her. "Leave us," he ordered.

"Rook," Haymitch said.

"Leave us," Rook ordered.

"Come along Finnick," Haymitch urged.

"But he's," Finnick whispered.

"He needs to see what I saw," Haymitch said.

He waited until the three men left with the guard.

"Who are you?"

Katniss raised an eyebrow. "My name is Fletcha."

"You are named Arrow?" He said.

"Yes, and you are named after a chess piece," Katniss spat back.

He summoned the chair and sat down. He was showing off, trying to show her he wasn't afraid. Katniss raised an eyebrow. Currently, she hoped he didn't know that he was staring at a girl instead of a boy. The only one who could see her was Peeta but he'd sworn he wouldn't tell.

"Once more, what is your name?"

"My name is Fletcha," Katniss replied, testing to see if he could see her as a female.

"You lie, lad," he said.

Katniss sighed, relaxing now that he couldn't see her true sex. "Alright, I cannot give you my given name. It is far too dangerous."

He nodded. "Good. So you call yourself Fletcha."

"Yes," Katniss said.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, "And do not lie to me, boy. I can tell when you do."

Katniss debated if she should just be honest. In the end, she decided to be truthful. He might not even believe her. "I was sent from the future, to help kill Snow."

"From the future?" He stood and paced. "From your future."

"You can tell that I am not lying," Katniss said.

"What happens in the future?"

"Everyone who came under the pretense of peace is killed. King Mellark never heard from either one of his sons again. My own family was killed by Snow. He found us."

The Rook spun at this, "What was your mother's name?"

The memory of the lightning and the way she was blinded, the screams of her mother and sister. Unwanted hot tears fell from her eyes. "Cassia," Katniss whispered. "Cassia, wife of Eragon of Everdeen."

The Rook swiftly grabbed her by the arms. "How are you a male?"

"I…"

"Tell me," he whispered fiercely. The Rook's cloak fell from his face and Katniss's eyes widened. His right side was disfigured but as she beheld a face she thought was taken from her.

The word tumbled from her lips, "Father."

SURPRISE

This caught my beta Jrosely by surprise though this idea wouldn't be possible without LACR I had no plans to revive her father but you began suggesting it and well this was manifested. ;) Comments inspire writers they give us ideas so thank you LACR and everyone who has liked and commented you make the story richer.

Just hope my bestie is doing ok...if you have a Tumblr go drop a small hug on her page, this story after all for Norbertsmom!

Next week - we find out all about the Rook...