Katniss' face. Bright blue eyes. Peeta. I connected all the dots, feeling dumb for not figuring out sooner. A family. A daughter.
"Ivy. Get Dad. Now. Go" Katniss pushes. Without hesitation, the girl hands Katniss the bow and arrows, eyes locked on me until she runs out of the woods, heading back the way I came.
I take in the scene. She hasn't aged much, only a few wrinkles and tired bags under her eyes. Katniss, with the same braid as her daughter, pointing an arrow at me like her daughter, and giving me the same steely look as her daughter. Could two people be so similar? Aside from Peeta's eyes, the girl was all Katniss.
"What are you doing here?" Katniss breaks the silence, bringing me out of my thoughts. She sounds angry and hollow.
"Visiting. I want to make things right." I answer.
She holds the arrow tighter, drawing it back more. "So easily after 22 years? Thanks for keeping in touch."
"I didn't know what to expect." I suddenly realize what a bad plan this was. Going to the woods, expecting to pick up where I left off with her? I should have waited until she was home, I should of waited until her and Peeta were both home. We stare at each other for a long time, until we finally hear loud footsteps behind us. It could only be one person.
Peeta bursts into the woods. He sees me, and I can see he suspected I was here. He has the same mop of blonde curls and the same blue eyes, only he seems and looks more mature.
"Katniss!" He shouts and runs to her. He puts her slightly behind him, but not blocking her arrow from me. "Gale." Peeta says strongly, staring me down. "Why are you here?"
"Please, Peeta." I plead. He's always been the gentleman, understanding people through only few words. "I just want to apologize, make things better." He takes a moment to determine whether I'm lying, but finally, I see in his eyes he understands, and knows where I'm coming from. I know he would be willing to hear me out, but I also know he won't do anything Katniss isn't okay with.
"Katniss?" Peeta asks, proving my point.
"No." She gets out, her voice wavering. No. She's not accepting me. No. She won't allow it. No. My heart drops. Not because I'm so madly I love with her as I once was, but because I just want to mend the friendship we once had.
"Come on, then." Peeta says, taking her hand, making her lower her bow. She obidently follows, never letting down her guard, as they start to make her way out of the woods.
Peeta catches my eye one last time, silently telling me not to follow, to give her time, and that he really does understand. I'm left alone in the woods with my thoughts after that.