***Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games nor its characters.***
**Heads up; Acts of murder, violence, death along with profanity will be in this chapter.**
**Still rated M for a reason. You have been warned dearies.**
Song Suggestions; A Picture of Me Without You by Lori Morgan.
Return of the Mocking Jay
Chapter 5
Hitching a Ride on a Pale Horse
A Year later, District Twelve;
Katniss is at her lodge in Twelve. She's talking to Aries. Aries thought to himself:
"Mr. Everdeen was right."
Mesa came back into Aries life six months ago while he was at school in the capitol. After a year & a string of the world greatest losers & jack asses, Mesa was about to give up on men when they ran into each other again. They've been dating for nearly five of the six months. Aries asked Katniss if she would be his best chick for his wedding.
Katniss said yes in turn invited Aries & Mesa out to Twelve so he can pop the question. The last time he was out there Katniss showed him her favorite spot in the meadow under the stars. He thought Katniss had the greatest idea ever & knew it was her gift to them. Aries already has talked with Mesa's father who only muttered:
"About freakin' time. For the love of God & all that is holy Aries, make sure she's sees the light."
Yet Aries is concerned. Lately he had noticed something different about his friend, Katniss. Even at her worst (and you can believe him that he's seen her at her worst), she always had a lot of light on her. No matter what the circumstances were Katniss made the best of it. She always shined. Lately most of her light is gone. He also sees the candles his brother tells told him about. He knows now its soon. He's going to lose a good friend, his best friend. He knows he's going to have to live on without the only link to his twin.
Things have really been progressing lately in her home district. Even to the point that some of the former capitalist have abandoned their outlandish clothes & are little more friendlier to her. She is polite to everyone who is polite to her yet she never lets her guard down. Paylor still has a detail out there to protect her. Haymitch ever the mentor checks in on her especially after he returns from the Capitol. All the other districts have made great strides in their own way yet she is proud at the work she has done to bring Twelve back to life. Her goal is to get Twelve back to where is was before the Dark Days, before the games that killed so many.
Katniss is preparing for her guest to come out here for along with Aries & Mesa, Mesa's parents & Doctor Hadley are coming out too. Katniss goes into the bathroom & she sees them above her head, the three candles.
"For the love of all that's holy! He's just asked me to be his best chick. Can I just for once have one fuckin' thing that geneually puts a smile on my face. He's the one of the few friends I have left! Didn't I do everything you wanted to redeem myself. Please let me just have this one thing for Aries sake."
The candles disappear, for now. Katniss figures she has an additional six months before the end. She doesn't know when or, how. Katniss just knows she will never see 25.
"Thank you."
Two days later everybody arrives at the lodge. Doctor Hadley does not like what he sees. He gives her a check up. All the numbers are within reason yet he can tell, something is wrong. To him she looks a lot older than her 23 & 1/2 years. Her skin has a grayness pall on her. So he has her promise that she will go to to see him in District Two next week. He going to run some test to see what is the matter. He's knows its not mental. Just by talking to her for five minutes any fool can tell its not that. For now he'll wait after all he's gaining a daughter soon.
In the early evening Aries takes Mesa on a walk to Katniss favorite spot in the meadow. Has the start to stars show up in the evening sky, Aries gets on one knee & pops the question. Mesa answered yes. Everyone at the lodge knew the answer when Aries let out a battle victory cry. Mesa's father looks to the heavens;
"Whoever you had help her see the light, thank you! !"
Two Weeks Later, Hospital- District Two;
Katniss good to her word, came in for a visit. Doctor Hadley ran the test & was dumb founded. Not a thing is wrong with her. He thinks has he pinches the bridge of his nose in thought;
"Then why is she looking like she's a death's door for Pete's sake. There has to be something I missed & I don't miss much."
Just then a chair slides across the room to get his attention for, he alone in his office. The chair stops only to fall on its side for no reason. Doctor Hadley says a name he hasn't said in over two years. Since he treated the Mocking Jay in the 74 th arena.
"Cato?"
Has if on cue his oldest son appears & speaks solemnly to his father:
"Let nature take its course dad. Oh yeah, you can tell Mesa's father from me you're welcome."
"Why her? And just for the love of god did you do to Mesa to get those two together?"
"With Katniss, long story. With Mesa shoved litterally every loser in district two's history her way until she's see seen the 'light'. That her & Aries were meant to be. Boy talk about stubborn."
Doctor Hadley chuckled.
"Katniss, son. Hasn't she paid the piper enough? She lost everything dear to her. Her family, her home & the love of her life to free us. So many of us want her to stay, most of the world loves her. Why take her away?"
"She's done everything she was suppose to do for volunteering for Prim. Peeta was never the love of her life. It's her time, Dad. Aries already knows."
"When?"
"It will be soon but I came to ease your conscious. I came to tell you, you're still sharp as ever. That you didn't miss a thing. Look at the reports, again. Bye Dad."
With that, a solemn looking Cato disappears. The open minded Doctor looked at the result reports again to see that his son was right. He didn't miss it. Katniss Everdeen only had a short time left. About, two years max. For what she had there is no cure & no operation will ever save her. For Coin's government killed her the night she became the Victor of the 75th Hunger Games when she was rescued from the arena with the other Victor's with a second part of a two part series of a slow acting poison. Both Coin & Snow wanted her dead. Seems that they only wanted Peeta to win the Hunger Games after all. He contacts Katniss to have her come in, fast.
Two days Later, Hospital-District Two;
Katniss & Haymitch arrive with her guard detail in tow. Upon finding out the results, Doctor Hadley contacted President Paylor. She in turn looked into Coin's secret files on the poisonings then after finding the proof Coin worked on behalf of President Snow has a double agent until the rebellion was winning muttered;
"Damn. Those sons of a bitches! Those assholes just couldn't leave her alone."
Under Snow's government the poison was known as Black Thorn, the unknown properties of this poison is a two shot series process. The first shot was given to Katniss, with the sedative upon winning the 74th Hunger Games on Snow's orders. Upon entering the blood stream, the poison goes into a dormat state until the second shot is admistered to its victim. The second shot, which activates the toxins from the first shot. Katniss was administered the second shot when she was being treated in 13 after being rescued in the 75th arena. Upon receiving that second shot the poison comes out of its dormate state to ever so slowly mutate so no anti-dote known will ever work for its victim yet its death is very painful. For the full effects to show in test, the stuff would've been in her system for over six years now.
If Paylor read the documents right (and she did), Alma Coin personally added the second part of the Black Thorn toxin to her meds in her IV has Katniss slept on one of her visits to the medical center while Haymitch was checking on the other victors per Coin's orders. The only reson why the poison was detected now is because of the healing meds Katniss was given after the rebellion, delayed the poison from taking its full effect. Until now.
Katniss Everdeen will indeed, be the last victim of the Hunger Games. She's been sentenced to death since the age of 17, by two presidents. Paylor sent everything over to Doctor Hadley.
Upon being informed of her death sentence, Katniss looked at Haymitch;
"Contact Paylor. Remove the detail that's traveling with me has of tomorrow. Only the guards that are watching both houses can stay."
Haymitch left the room. Katniss looks at the Doctor;
"Don't worry Doctor Hadley, I'm going to be best chick at Aries wedding. I promised him & I have never went back on my word to a friend. I'm not going to start now. "
"What are you going to do now, Katniss?"
"Enjoy the time I have left but I need your help in something."
Doctor Hadley looked at the back to back victor, a slip off a girl who was the voice of the rebellion, who any man (has his friend Brutus said when he was talking about her) would be proud to call her his daughter, said;
"Name it."
Haymitch was outside the office, called Paylor. Where he told Paylor what Katniss wanted & ended with this;
"Upon her death Madam President, I'm moving to Katniss's lodge outside the Capitol. Find somebody else to babysit those damn worthless idiots in twelve. I don't want to be part of any district ever again."
"You got it Mitch, actually I was about to ask you to do a big favor for me this year but with the Mocking Jay, it can wait. For now. You know how I always am with good friends."
With that their conversation ended. He tells the protection detail they will be getting their new assignments upon returning to twelve. To get their things packed & ready. The detail knew then, the Mocking Jay was dying.
Haymitch looks up mutters;
"You just couldn't let one out-live me, could you. She paid her dues even more so than any of us ever could. Why Sweetheart, why her? Was that just too damn much to fucking ask of you, to let her live?"
Has Haymitch goes back into the doctors office in thought;
"I just hope those two assholes who did this to her, never rest in peace for what they've done."
Katniss looks at Haymitch & smiles;
"Ready to go Haymitch?"
"Lets go home Sweetheart."
Seven Months Later, District Two;
One of the effects has the Black Thorn toxin as it enters its final phases has Katniss's hair coming out in clumps. So Portia cut it in a very stylish short pixie cut for Aries wedding. Portia save the clippings to give to Doctor Hadley later at Katniss's request. Haymitch enters with a tray with six double shots. He hands it to the Best chick who has the groom & each groomsmen take one;
"Well Aries my friend it about that time. In a time honored tradition from my mentor who was kind enough to let me do the final send off here it goes. Man up! Another one bites the dust."
With that each downs the double shot in a single gulp & places the empty glasses on the tray upside down as they file out to the alter for the ceremony. Haymitch couldn't be prouder of Katniss. The wedding went off without a single problem. After all it shouldn't have any when you have the sitting President of Panem, four victors at your wedding with the Mocking Jay being your bestman or in this case best chick. Later at the reception the father of the groom is dancing with Katniss.
"Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes."
"Okay consider it done."
Upon returning to her home people there for some reason were little more hostile, snide, rude to her for some reason. Things for some reason were becoming uneasy here again. Katniss would never find out why as the candles made their appearance again.
Two Months Later, District Twelve;
The train arrived early that evening with the newly weds. They were going give her some big news while they help her get settled into the Everdeen lodge. Mesa went for a walk in town to get some supplies while Haymitch & Aries were catching up at his place.
Katniss was closing up the lodge for good in twelve to relocate to the one outside the capital. She looks around knowing that she will never be back again. After six months of harassment & death threats the damn capitalists can be freaking happy now. They finally get to get rid of the Mocking Jay, The Girl on Fire while she is barely alive. They couldn't even wait the three months that I had left to live. Oh no, that would be humane for them Katniss muses. She decided to do one last round of hunting for Sae & her granddaughter before the winter hits. She brings out her father's bow & arrows. An hour, four rabbits, six squirrles & two deer later... BANG... BANG...BANG...!
In town they hear the series of three rapid gun fire shots ring out. By the sound, the round were of big caliber. No one owns a gun except the guards at the lodge & the local Guardians here. Haymitch & Aries upon hearing shots run out there after Greasy Sae told them that she seen Katniss going out there to hunt today.
Aries got to the meadow first, yelling her name. He found her. He didn't need to check but did it anyways for when the Guardians came. There was no pulse or, heartbeat. No one can help the Mocking Jay now. For in the meadow at her favorite hunting spot, the body of Katniss Everdeen was found was face down, with three bullet wounds in her back, holding onto her father's bow.
Has Mesa along with some of the townfolk neared the meadow. They heard Haymitch has he arrived;
"Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no... Sweetheart?... NO! ! NNNNOOOOOOOO! !"
Aries grabs Haymitch to keep him from running over to her. It's now a crime scene. Haymitch can't do anything more for the Mocking Jay. At age 24 one week shy of her 25th birthday Katniss Everdeen the Girl on Fire, the Mocking Jay was killed. Shot in the back by three bullets from an assissin that tore through her heart.
Three days later the coroner's report revealed a lot more. Paylor & Haymitch realized nothing was left to chance to give Katniss a shot to survive the wounds. For all three bullets were heavily coated with night lock. Yet where they thought Katniss has months to live she actually had a few weeks. The Black Thorn poison that was in her system was crystalizing her blood.
Yet on the other side, three others look sadden at what they see their love ones go through & for a fellow competitor who fought so hard. They sit there waiting.
One Week Later, the Great Catherial, Capitol:
Since they drove her out of her home, Paylor forced all the people in twelve to watch her funeral in the town square on big screen. She wanted to punish them for not protecting the one who saved them.
Katniss was not to be buried in the meadow in District Twelve. No, Katniss is to be interred in the forest next to her sister Primrose behind the Everdeen lodge outside of the Capitol. For when they drove her out of her home she would never return there, her body included. Katniss would not allow them to claim her nor, her Little Duck as one of them ever again.
Hundreds filed into the huge church on what would been Katniss's 25th birthday. Katniss received a hero's funeral by order of President Payor herself. Thousands lined the street of the Capitol to pay their final respects to their Victor, their Mocking Jay. Haymitch tried to see the irony in this yet couldn't. Per Katniss request, at her funeral when asks to describe her they weren't to use the word brave. Has each Victor & friend that followed who opened the funeral each took the to the podum to say their word;
Finnick: "Courageous"
Letz: "Fearless"
Bee Tee: "Sarcastic." to which Haymitch snorted in laughter.
Johanna: "Defiant"
River: "Daring"
Little Fin: "Spunky"
Portia: "Beautiful"
Venica: "Audaucious"
Octavia: "Reckless"
Caesar: "Giving"
Aries: "Strong" At this his father looked at him & mouthed; You stole my word.
Dr. Hadley: "Bright"
Haymitch: "Gutsy"
Paylor then got up to the podum;
"Friend. Katniss wanted us to use another word other than brave. So we did, for most of the words you heard here today, were other words for, brave. She never thought for a moment in her young life that she was brave. Yet her family & friends thought so even when she was redeeming herself we thought so. Now while we wait for the rest of Katniss entourage to arrive, she has left this for us."
At this point a screen drops down & you see the bright gray eyes of Katniss Everdeen. Johanna shakes her head & tears up as she muses;
"Oh. My. God. I can't believe it, of all the things that 'she' would be late for. Brainless, finally did it. She's late to her own funeral."
Haymitch looks at her on the screen like a doting father would his favorite daughter. Aries sees the friend he going to miss. Yet Johanna looks at Finnick in awe.
"You were in love with her, weren't you?"
"Yes in a way. She was the one who understood what its like to lose everything. She was the one who got justice for Fin & my Annie. For that I will always be grateful & love her."
On the video screen Katniss;
"Hi all,
I wanted to see what it's like to be late to my own funeral. Everybody always told me I was going to be late for it so I figured what the heck. You only have a funeral once so, I'm going out has me (at this the four people who closest to her are hold thier sides laughing). And you know how I hate to prove my friends wrong...
Look don't grieve for me. You want to know how to win against those who hate you & are bigots because of where or, who you are? You live & you live well. For those who live well its the greatest revenge against those who tried to make your life miserable. Also Haymitch this time, don't drink the country dry. Save some for the rest of the nation (everybody is laughing) please..."
Yet no one notices two figures that are sitting in top part of the balcony looking on. Probably because you can see through them.
"Katniss, late to 'your' own funeral? Really! For the love of God, of all the stunts to pull. At your own funeral..."
"Well Peeta if you can, I recommend it. You went out has you, I'm going out has me. Everybody always told me I was going to be late to my own funeral. Since I always wanted to see what it was like, I figured what the heck."
"Now that's the Katniss I know! Later."
With that Peeta smiles has he fades away. At this point the funeral directors bring in her casket covered in a blanket of Evening Primrose & Katniss flowers with her father's bow laying on top, as all stand & give a final round of applause. Katniss smiles has she still watches herself speaking on screen as there is a tap on her shoulder. Katniss looks around has she is now outside of the church. She looks over her shoulder to see the pale horse & is rider.
"Time to go, come. They're waiting for you."
Katniss is pulled up behind the rider has an inky darkness surrounds them until night falls at an old familiar place. In a forest clearing where she sees a horn. The rider stops just out side the clearing. He points to the horn:
"Go to them Girl on Fire. Your work here is done, brave one."
"Sir, I was never brave."
"Not brave, when you volunteered for your sister Prim? Not brave when you begged those tributes for their forgiveness? Not brave when you came here to redeem & find worth in yourself? Not brave when you rushed to save four tributes from a fiery death in the last parade? You are by far one of the bravest, strongest souls that has ever walked this earth. Now your time here is done Katniss Everdeen. Go join your family & friends."
With that the pale horse & rider turned & rode away. Katniss looks toward the horn & starts walking toward it.
Later after the funeral, the hearse drove to a place just outside of the Capitol. The guards who were on her protection detail acted as pall barriers has they carried Katniss Everdeen to her final resting place. It was in a clearing behind Everdeen Lodge, facing east toward the rising sun. Katniss was laid to rest next to her sister Primrose. Once there the last service was performed & once it ended, one by one they went by to say their final good bye to their friend.
Has Finnick & his son went by:
"Thank you my friend, for my Annie."
Joanna:
"Thanks for having my back, Brainless."
Haymitch was the last one:
"You were right Sweetheart. Your hair help find the cure for Black Thorn. I'll be there for the party soon Sweetheart."
With that Haymitch was about to walk away when he heard a giggle. He looked over his shoulder to see Primrose there waving with the tribute from 11. Only then Prim spoke:
"She not here Haymitch. She's been redeemed."
In front of his eyes both girls faded into the light. Has he nodded & turned to walk back to his new home for the reception. And for once he didn't drink the country dry.
Unknown Location:
Katniss was sitting in a familiar spot on in front of the mouth of the horn surrounded by woods when there was a tap on her shoulder. She looks up over her shoulder to see Cato Hadley & two others there with her.
"We've waited for you to get here, Fire Girl."
The Careers minus Clove there waiting for her. Glimmer came up to her:
"You owe us nothing. We owe you. It wasn't your fault for my death, I was so tired & fell asleep after being awake for nearly 48 hours straight. I wanted you to know you are not to blame for me."
Marvel came up beside Glimmer;
"You did get me but it was for the right reasons Girl on Fire. I had no business to kill, let alone a child like Rue. You should've seen when she was around here. She really misses you. I do not & I mean it, I do NOT hold you responsible for me."
Katniss looked at the three;
"I thought when you were called home, you have to go."
Cato looked at her;
"In this case we were given a choice to either go or, wait for you."
Glimmer then took over;
"Cato wanted to wait, so we did. We all decided to wait for you."
"Why?"
Cato took back the conversation;
"Because Fire Girl you were the only one who went to bat for us. Careers at that. It's never been done on either side of ours worlds. That takes guts & now I know why 'you' got that 11. So tell me why were 'you' late to your own funeral?"
"Because I could so I did."
Has the three started to laugh a bright light show itself again. Katniss hears Rue;
"Guys come on! we've been waiting for you."
Marvel & Glimmer were the first drawn to it & walked in together. Marvel yells back;
"Come on you two. Times wasting."
"Shall we Katniss."
Cato pulls Katniss up yet, its not the same Katniss that arrived to the horn that looks back at him. Gone were all the ravages from the poison, the short hair & all the patch skin from the burns that happened in the rebellion so long ago are gone. Katniss Everdeen looks like the 16 year old when she was reaped for her first games. Her hair is long again but not completely braided, her skin no longer scarred or, in patches. Her eyes have that eye gray fire that defined & earned her name persona, The Girl on Fire again.
"Just wondering."
"What Katniss?"
"Aries. I know some of it & we were able to repair the friendship but I thought he really liked me."
"He was hooked on you until you said my name in your sleep. Your father & I had to explain it to him. Needless to say, it wasn't a good night for him."
"Oh man, I really liked him too. Dang. I guess I was never meant to have anybody in my life."
"Yes you were."
Katniss gave her trademark sarcastic reply;
"Who? Let me guess, Godzilla?"
Cato decided to show her instead as he drew her into a kiss. It was getting a tad steamy when Marvel decides then to wreck the moment;
"Come on you two, lets go."
Katniss then spoke;
"Marvel you would wreck a bad mood in the middle of a funeral."
"At least I wasn't late for mine."
Katniss looks at Cato as the two walk into the lighted mist;
"He does realize this means payback will be a virgin when I get over there."
"Oh yeah. From both of us."
Meanwhile a pair of park rangers come into the area. They noticed its brighter than normal for some reason. The older of the two ranger spoke first;
"I hate coming out here to this horn."
"Why?"
"Kid didn't you know? This is known has Brutal Cato's horn. (then sighs) Near the end 74th games during the last battle of the final three, Cato the male tribute from District Two last words to the 'Star Cross Lovers' from Twelve were; 'I didn't know I was already dead then until now.' Almost every night up until a eighteen months ago you could hear his voice say that over & over again. Always at the exact time he said it at the 74th Hunger Games. Then it stopped after the Mocking Jay almost died right up (the ranger points to the spot where Katniss sat for five days) there trying to redeem herself for his death. She almost died in the process."
"You mean Katniss Everdeen the Girl on Fire? The one who's funeral was on today, on her birthday?"
"WHAT?! ! SHIT, we got to radio the gates, the flags are to be at half mast."
"Yeah, she was shot three times in the back while hunting in the meadow in District Twelve last week. Didn't matter though. She had less than three months left to live."
"What do you mean she had less than three months left?"
"Snow hit her with part one of Black Thorn after she won the 74th games, Coin with the hit her with the second part of it after the 75th. It was in the documents that for the most part of the rebellion, Coin was a double agent for Snow until she was winning the war. Katniss Everdeen has been the walking dead since she was reaped for her first game, poor kid. It's all over the news."
Has the older ranger looks at the horn;
"And look what she did with the time she had. She had balls, I gotta give it to her. That's was one gusty girl."
They stopped all of a sudden. There was a heavy breeze has the wind picked up then stopped all of a sudden. Has the two rangers saw the full figures of Cato Hadley & Katniss Everdeen smile at each other, turned wave at them then fade away. The area returned to normal but warmer, inviting. For those who were bound there from the 74th Hunger Games both Tribute & their Victors were now welcomed home.
The two rangers looked at each other;
"Did you just see what I just seen?"
**next chapter is the epilogue & end of this story.**