Disclaimer: I don't own the hunger games Suzanne Collins does.
AN. Chapter 2 has been updated recently.
As it turns out Katniss did help with the birth of the fifth Hawthorne child, but I didn't get that from Katniss.
John Hawthorne came in to the hob the next day, proudly announcing the birth of his son Sam.
"Three letter name" he says "decided to shake it up a bit."
"How's the mrs.?" one of the old miners asks.
"Fine as always, won't take long for her to get back to her nagging" he jokes. "Those Everdeen girls patched her up good again. I don't know what we'd do with out 'em."
This pikes my interest. "You know the Everdeen's?" I blurt out unable to stop myself.
He turns to me in surprise "yeah, everyone knows the Everdeen's. Two of the nicest people in the seem. Anyone ever need fixing up, they go there. Doesn't matter if you can't pay in money or straight away either, they'll take care of you still."
"Oh", I say dumbly unable to think of a suitable reply. But inside my mind is wondering about the implications of that sentence. She lives with her mother, that's obvious. Most likely it's just the two of them if I'm reading between the lines correctly. Father out of the picture, deadbeat dad like mine or deceased I don't know. No siblings.
As it turns out Hawthorne's information on the Everdeen's becomes useful when I receive a deep gash on my palm a few weeks later. I haven't seen Katniss in a while. The last time I saw her was the week before she helped deliver the Hawthorne baby. My duties were changed to help accommodate and prepare for the upcoming harvest festival.
It's a strange concept a harvest festival. We don't have anything like it in 2 and I have to have it explained to me. Apparently there's a feast and it's the last chance for many family's to eat well before the harsh and unforgiving winter. It's a good idea I think, lots of families need it.
There's some dancing and lots of stalls where you can buy something called 'hot mulled wine' or a slice of warm sweet apple pie. It'll be a chance for people to let their hair down and just enjoy the moment, not thinking about the worries of yesterday or tomorrow. It'll be fun I think, even if I can't join in it will be nice to see the usually dreary district so lively.
As well as the food and dancing and music, the mayor makes a speech on stage. Coincidentally that was what I was building, when I accidentally slashed my hand.
I make my way over to the seam before backtracking to the hob. I don't actually know where Katniss and her mother live, so I'll have to ask Sae for directions. She's amused at my injury and laughs when I wince as she unwraps the spare bit of cloth I put around it to help staunch the heavy flow of blood.
"You'll need a few stitches in that boy," she says as she inspects it.
I roll my eyes. "As if I didn't already know" I retort.
She raises an eyebrow at my cheek, but thankfully gives me the directions anyway.
I walk slowly through the Seam as I feel kind of dizzy. I know it's from the blood loss, but it doesn't make me feel better or any less vulnerable. I can feel people staring at me as I'm walking by. They're suspicious at why I would be down this end of twelve and quickly scurry away as if I'll catch them doing something they shouldn't be.
Even though people in the hob know I won't turn them in, most of the district is still wary and they keep a safe distance. That's something I don't think will ever change. It's ingrained in to their very being to be afraid of the Capitol and it's enforcers and with some of the things I've heard that have happened in other districts I think that it's a wise idea. I used to be like them once, so I know how they feel.
When I finally make it to the Everdeen house I briefly study the outside before knocking on the door. The house itself could do with some repairs, although most houses in the Seam could do with some work. There's a post missing from the railing on the porch and a few roof tiles are loose. The stairs creek and I can tell the house was once painted but time and weather have worn most of the paint away. Besides that though, the house seems welcoming, as there's a few wildflowers in a glass on the windowsill and the wonderful smell of stew is coming from the gap under the door.
A woman who looks to be mid thirties answers the door. At first I think I'm at the wrong house. Her blue eyes are tired but friendly and her hair which is the colour of wheat hangs in a loose braid over her shoulder. She looks like a townie.
"Can I help you?" she asks.
"Er.. I'm looking for the Everdeen's" I mumble sheepishly and hold up my hand in explanation.
"Oh, well you're at the right house. Want to come in and we'll take a look at it?" She opens the door wider and invites me inside.
She guides me to the table and I sit down on one of the simple wooden chairs. As she bustles about getting everything she needs to sow up my hand, I take notice of my surroundings.
Everything is simple, and basic although I can see a few homely touches like the pile of books on the side and the boots by the door.
It's easy to see why most people come to the Everdeen's to get fixed up. Mrs. Everdeen has a soothing presence and works quickly but efficiently to fix my hand. She doesn't ask questions and appreciate it because I can tell she's curious about what happened, but can obviously sense my embarrassment over it.
About halfway through stitching my hand the door bangs open and Katniss walks through. Her game bag is heavy so I can tell she's been out in the woods. When she sees me she freezes.
"Darius?" She says incredulously.
"Hey Katniss" I reply.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for you wonderful company of course " I tease but then gesture towards her mother with my uninjured hand.
She walks over curiously and then smirks. "How'd you get that?"
"Oh you know, the usual, fending off the hoards of women that just go crazy for the hair. A few got a bit vicious."
She rolls her eyes but I see her lips twitch. "Why didn't you go to the apothecary in town?"
"A reliable source told me that this was the best place in the whole district. Don't want the idiots at the apothecary ruining my hand, got to keep looking my best for the ladies."
She snorts and shakes her head. "Hmpf."
"You're done" mrs Everdeen says tying off the bandage she wrapped my hand in. "You need to change the bandages everyday and come back in a week to have the stitches taken out. If it gets infected come straight here, don't wait."
"Alrighty then. Thanks mrs Everdeen. See you later Katniss."
She waves distractedly from where she's cutting up the rabbit she recently caught. As I get out go my chair I place a pile of coins on the table as payment. Mrs Everdeen's eyes widen at the amount but I wave her off.
"A job well done" I say, and she nods her head in acceptance.
She quickly scoops them off the table and puts them in a jar on the side before Katniss can see. I paid a lot more than than the job was worth, but I felt guilty when I saw the mostly empty cupboards when mrs Everdeen was looking for medical supplies. I know that if Katniss knew I'd paid more, she would kick off about not wanting to accept charity, she has too much pride to accept pity money. I'm glad mrs Everdeen doesn't have the same problem and sees the gesture for what it really is, just an act of kindness, I don't want anything in return.