CHAPTER 3. Family
Days dragged on.
Every morning, Katniss rose from bed before sunrise and walked, on silent hunter's feet, along the streets of the Seam until she reached the gap in the chain link which was furthest from the town.
The stifling summer heat, and the heightened peacekeeper surveillance during the Games, meant that she had to be extra cautious about slipping under the fence into the forbidden woods.
Visiting peacekeepers were stricter, but they rarely ventured far from the merchant's quarter if they could help it, so it wasn't hard to avoid running into them.
Once outside, she followed a tight schedule.
The woods were always plentiful during the summer. Berry bushes and apple trees were laden with fruit. Gale's snares and traps were always full of game.
She would have liked to spend her morning walking around, enjoying the smells and sounds of a forest which was bursting with life, but she only had a couple of hours before inspections began and someone noticed she was missing.
She had to make every minute count. So, she rushed through the forest, filling her hunting bag to the brim, and occasionally stopping to drink water from the small canteen which hung from her belt.
Things were always better once the Games were over. The extra peacekeepers went back to the Capitol, and security became less strict.
No one minded if she stayed in the woods for a little longer then. Head Peacekeeper Cray and his deputies were some of her best customers, after all.
By the time she reached the fence and went back into the district, the entire town had woken up.
The miners were already hard at work, the shops in town were open, and the vendors at the Hob were getting ready to exchange their wares.
Her first stop after crawling under the fence was the black market.
Her heavy bag banged against her hip with every step she took along the roundabout route which kept her hidden from the peacekeepers' curious eyes.
Most of her visits to the Hob began with a stop at Greasy Sae's stall. The old woman was always fair in her trades, and more than a little generous when it came to serving the portions of day-old soup she used as payment for Katniss's goods.
After having breakfast, Katniss would walk around the market and conduct the rest of her trade. On regular days, she completed her trading route by visiting some of the merchants in town.
Sometimes, she included head peacekeeper Cray into her list of house calls, but she preferred to leave that part of the trade to Gale. She had never liked the way old Cray ogled her when she walked past him; like a hungry wolf, licking his lips as he waited for young desperate Seam girls to fall into his clutches.
But these weren't ordinary days. So, Katniss did all her trading at the Hob and went straight to Gale's house when she was done.
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By the time Katniss stopped by to deliver Gale's share, Hazelle was already elbow deep in warm, sudsy water. A gentle smile curved her lips as soon as she saw her son's hunting partner.
Katniss smiled back.
"That's a heavy looking bag!" Hazelle said, pointing her chin to the canvas sack hanging from Katniss's shoulder.
"Yeah, we had a good day today!"
Turning serious, Hazelle asked, "Are you getting your fair share?"
Even though Gale was no longer able to go out into the woods every day, he and Katniss had struck a deal. He would set and keep his snare lines, supervising them on Sundays, and she would give his family a portion of whatever she caught each day.
Katniss nodded. "Like I said, it's a good day."
Satisfied, Hazelle went back to her wash.
Katniss watched her for a moment. Hazelle Hawthorne was hard-working and tough, but she was also a gentle soul who never failed to show her appreciation for the young huntress and for everything she did to help her family. In return, Katniss treated her with nothing but admiration and respect.
Hazelle had lost her husband the same day Mrs. Everdeen had lost hers, but she hadn't allowed her grief to cripple her. Instead, the laundress had fought against adversity, keeping her children close to her heart as she plowed through her sadness.
Whenever Katniss had a dark day, she thought about Gale's mother and how she hadn't given up; how her fire and determination had united her family, making it stronger.
Katniss sometimes wondered what that was like; having a mother who could be trusted to care for you instead of a woman who was, at times, little more than another mouth to feed.
As years had gone by, Katniss had managed to provide for her family. Thanks to her efforts, Prim and her were healthier and better fed than most people in the Seam. But, just because she'd found a way to survive, it didn't mean that she'd forgiven her mother for giving up on her and her sister after their father's death.
Katniss had never interacted with Hazelle while Mr. Hawthorne was alive, but she had no reason to believe they hadn't loved each other. They'd had four children together, after all. And still, becoming a widow hadn't broken Hazelle's spirit. Not the way it had broken Mrs. Everdeen's.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Hazelle, Katniss left Gale's canvas sack, full of meat, fruits, and greens, on top of the kitchen table, and headed home.
Reaching the small house she shared with her mother and sister was one of her favorite moments of the day.
The place was cool and clean. The smell of freshly brewed mint tea and toasted bread hung in the air, and the faint murmur of Prim's voice came in through the open window.
Katniss chuckled to herself. She's talking to Lady again.
According to Prim, soft words soothed the goat and helped her relax, making milking easier.
Katniss was convinced that the goat was relaxed because Prim's hands were small and gentle and not because her voice had any magical powers, but she knew better than to contradict her baby sister.
Besides, that goat was the best thing she'd ever bought. It was a little gold mine which provided a regular supply of milk and cheese for the family, and it made her sister happy. If Prim wanted to talk to the goat, Katniss wasn't going to stop her.
After storing the game and greens she'd brought home, Katniss washed up, scrubbing her hands and face to make sure that all traces of the forest had been cleared away from her skin.
Once the goat had been milked, and the day's catch cleaned and stored, Katniss and Prim headed out to the Meadow.
Most merchant children spent their summer break working in their families' businesses, learning the trade that would become their livelihood once they grew up. But Seam children had no such worries. Their parents usually worked in the mines. There was no family business to pass down generations, and children had to age out of the reapings before they were allowed to begin their training as miners.
It was always strange to think that, for a few weeks in summer, you were better off being Seam.
Upon reaching the Meadow, Katniss found a pleasant spot under a maple tree and sat down under its shade.
As usual, Prim followed her sister, at first.
Unlike Katniss, the youngest Everdeen was cheerful and outgoing. It never took long for her to find Penny among the other children and to make her way towards her friend.
Katniss didn't mind being left alone. She'd always been a bit of a loner and, other than Prim, she only enjoyed the company of two people -none of which were available to sit by her side on these warm summer days.
Besides, her head hadn't stopped spinning since she'd seen the Tribute Parade.
She had spent most of her time thinking and worrying about things which were completely out of her control. She was exhausted and grateful for the chance to sit down and mull things over.
Her mind flew back to Gale, and she wondered how he was doing.
Did his days feel as long as she imagined? Or was he so busy with his training that time flew by undetected?
She hoped for the second.
The thought of Gale being trapped underground every day filled her heart with sorrow. It was a cruel and unbearable notion that riddled her with anxiety and invariably led her to consider her own situation.
What would she do when her time came, she wondered. Would she have to follow in her father's footsteps? Would she end up spending her days inside the dark tunnels that smelled of death? Or would she manage to find some alternate solution that would keep her above ground?
She dreaded the mines. But she hadn't come up with a way to avoid them yet. And, lately, she had been too busy thinking about the Games.
And about Peeta.
He was never far from her thoughts. It was almost as if he'd been injected into her system and she couldn't rid herself of his presence.
The thought of him, all the way away in the Capitol, filled her with a kind of sadness she couldn't quite explain. It was like an oppressive loneliness that weighed down her soul and left her breathless.
Everywhere she went, she heard people talking about the tributes of District 12 and their performance during the parade.
The vendors in the Hob talked about Tessa's poise and bright smile.
The girls in the Meadow giggled and whispered excitedly as they recalled Peeta's strong arms and piercing blue eyes.
No one seemed capable of keeping their opinions to themselves and, as days went by, Katniss grew increasingly restless.
The mandatory nightly broadcasts she watched were no help. They showed the same reports over and over. But she kept watching, because the few glimpses she got of him every now and then, were the only thing which eased her sense of hopelessness.
Most relevant information regarding tributes and their training was deemed classified. So, Capitol reporters were forced to spend their days speculating and trying to guess what the tributes, and their mentors, were planning on doing once the Games began.
It was like an endless loop of misinformation and gossip that made her nauseous and jittery at the same time.
For the first time in years, the tributes from District 12 had captured everyone's attention. Apparently, their fiery entrance during the Tribute Parade had created quite a stir among the Capitolites. And broadcasters just couldn't get enough of the couple that had "lit up everyone's enthusiasm for this year's Game."
Every single expert wondered whether the pair from the mining district would be able to achieve anything inside the arena.
Most of them didn't see Tessa as a contender, which was understandable -given the fact that she was a Seam girl like many others. Small, weak and underfed. But most of them seemed to think Peeta might be able to wiggle his way into the final five.
What really had them in a tizzy, though, was the way the two tributes interacted with each other inside the training center. The images the newscasters had managed to secure, showed the district partners wearing matching outfits, sharing a table at the cafeteria, and using most learning stations at the same time.
Alliances between the career districts were the norm, but no expert could recall a union, formed outside the arena, between tributes who didn't belong to Districts 1, 2 or 4.
Were they planning on staying together once the Game began, the reporters wondered? Was there a previous connection between them? Were they friends? Was there more to Tessa than met the eye? Did she have any hidden skills or talents that made her more valuable than she seemed?
They would go on and on, filling the airwaves with their endless blather; seemingly intent on spreading doubt and promoting speculation. It was a blatant attempt to peak their viewers' curiosity and to fuel sponsors' greed. Just another part of their game.
Night after night, Katniss listened.
Anxiety always seemed to get the best of her during these transmissions. She would sit on the couch and fidget, continually tapping her foot against the floor as she played with the end of her braid. Her mind racing as she tried to answer the broadcasters' questions.
She still thought Tessa and Peeta weren't friends, but she was definitely intrigued by District 12's strategy. She couldn't understand why they were so intent on presenting a united front.
Most days ended with Katniss feeling rattled and frustrated. The lack of answers tormented her all through the night, keeping her awake as she tossed and turned until the early hours of the morning. Eventually, her body would give in to exhaustion, forcing her to sleep for a few hours.
But, soon enough, the old alarm clock by her bedside would rattle and announce the new day.
It was time to start all over again.
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Katniss was making her way back to the fence one morning when she ran into a strawberry bush. Red, fat, juicy fruit hung from its branches. She smiled, knowing the mayor would be satisfied.
She went back into the district and made her rounds. It was a hot day, she was tired and thirsty, but she knew she had to make one last stop before going home.
Her tired legs reached the back door to the mayor's house. She knocked. A few moments later, the door opened, and Katniss was greeted by Madge's friendly smile.
"Well, hello, Miss Everdeen," Madge greeted. "Pray tell, what brings you to this side of the world?"
Katniss smiled softly at her friend's formal greeting. "Hello to you too, Miss Undersee. I was hoping I could interest you in some of my wares."
Madge chuckled, keeping up the charade. "Oh, and what would those wares be?" she asked batting her blonde eyelashes.
"Only the freshest, sweetest, reddest, most delicious strawberries you'll ever taste!" Katniss enthused as she extracted one of the berries from her bag with an elaborate flourish.
Madge laughed. "Wow! That's a good-looking strawberry!"
"I told you! Only the best of the best!" Katniss arched her eyebrows in an exaggerated gesture. "So, how many would you like?"
"As many as you've got!" Madge declared, her eyes shining with mirth. Sobering up, she added. "You might have to wait for a bit, though. I need to get money from my dad, and he's kind of busy. Is that alright?"
"Sure, no problem. I can wait." Katniss smiled.
"Good, come on in. Would you like some water? It's scorching outside!"
"Yeah, thanks."
"Come, sit here." Madge gestured to one of the chairs that stood by the kitchen table.
Katniss pulled out the chair her friend had offered and sat down while Madge grabbed two glasses from a cabinet and pulled a pitcher from the large fridge that stood in the corner of the room.
Madge filled two glasses with ice-cold water, handed one of them to her visitor, and sat down.
Katniss took a long pull from her glass and smiled as the cold liquid slid past her throat; she was parched.
A couple of minutes went by; the murmur of the mayor's voice traveled all the way down from his office. It was a weird feeling Katniss thought, hearing such a deep murmur inside a home.
Madge took a sip of her glass and cleared her throat. "So, what have you been up to?" she inquired.
"Um, you know... the usual," Katniss pointed her chin towards the hunting bag she had dropped on top of the table. She didn't want to mention her illegal activities inside the mayor's house. After a small pause, she added, "helping out around the house, keeping an eye on Prim, watching the Games... You?"
"The same I guess. Yeah."
Katniss nodded and took a few sips from her glass.
"So... how about that tribute parade, huh?" Madge prompted.
Katniss's eyes widened in surprise. She was dying to discuss the Games with Madge, but she'd never taken her friend for a Games enthusiast. She couldn't remember ever discussing the topic with her, and she had been apprehensive about bringing it up.
Clearly, she shouldn't have fretted; Madge seemed just as eager as everyone else to talk about the recent developments in the Capitol.
Even the most judicious of people are turning into avid followers this year.
"Yeah, that burning chariot was…" Katniss searched her mind trying to find the right adjective for what she'd seen on the screen. "something," she finished lamely. Her cheeks grew warm. Why was she so bad at chitchat?
"Peeta and Tessa looked incredible, didn't they?" Madge added, clearly unfazed by her friend's lack of conversational skills.
Katniss nodded. "Tessa looked like a mine fairy bursting out of a rock cocooned by fire."
"Yeah!"
Katniss wiped the beads of condensation that had gathered on her glass. She'd never been one to gossip. She didn't know how to talk about superficial things or to inquire about things that didn't seem relevant but, for the last few days, her mind had kept going back to Madge and her pin.
As she sat across the table from her friend, she realized she had no choice. She was riddled with questions, and Madge was the only one who could answer them.
She sighed and ignored the queasiness she felt as she asked, "Madge… that thing… on Peeta's lapel… was that the pin you were wearing the other day?"
Madge nodded. "It's a Mockingjay." A flash of sadness crossed Madge's blue eyes. She cleared her throat and added, "It's a family heirloom."
"A family heirloom?"
"Mm-hmm. It's been in the family for a couple of generations." Madge brought her glass to her lips. After taking a drink, she put the glass back on the table and sighed.
Katniss waited.
Seconds trickled.
It didn't look like Madge was going to say more, but Katniss still didn't have the information she craved. So, as awkward as it was, she decided to prod her friend a little bit more. "And…why would you give it to him?"
"Because," Madge answered, the word falling from her lips like it was an explanation.
Katniss scowled. Was her friend being cryptic on purpose?
The blond girl took another sip of water and looked at the huntress. A soft smile had returned to her lips. A moment later her blue eyes widened, realization quickly setting in. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she apologized, "I thought you knew! Peeta's my cousin."
"Your cousin?" Katniss gawked in surprise.
Madge nodded, barely suppressing the lighthearted chuckle that tried to escape her lips.
Katniss's blush deepened. She took a big gulp of icy water to distract herself from the fact that her face felt like it was on fire.
How did I not know this, she berated herself. I spend every lunch break with this girl. I should be aware of who she's related to.
"Yeah. Well, we're not related by blood," Madge added, "His dad's sister is married to my Uncle Jared, my mom's brother.
"Uncle Jared and Aunt Lorelei never had any children. I've always spent a lot of time with them, so have Peeta and his brothers," Madge took a small sip from her glass. She pressed her lips together as she seemed to consider something. After a moment, she added, "The pin belonged to my mom's sister, Maysilee."
Katniss knew who Madge's uncle was, he owned the only sweet shop in the district. She had traded with him once or twice, but Maysilee… She'd never heard that name before. She thought it sounded joyful and gentle. It reminded her of the peaceful lake that glistened invitingly on the far side of the woods
She took another sip of water as she wondered whether she should ask her friend about her aunt.
Madge beat her to it. "My mother gave it to me when I turned 15, and I gave it to Peeta... because she was a tribute too."
"Who was a tribute?"
"Maysilee."
"What!" Katniss exclaimed, sputtering the water from the last sip she'd taken all over herself.
Madge chuckled softly, evidently amused by her friend's antics.
Katniss wiped her face dry with the back of her hand.
"The year Haymitch Abernathy won," Madge explained, "She made it to the final five, you know?"
Katniss's eyes were wide as saucers. Up until the last reaping, she hadn't even heard of a merchant being reaped -further proof that she hadn't been paying attention during her history classes- but, a tribute from District 12 making it to the final five, that was something else entirely! She was pretty sure only two other people had managed to do that.
She was hoping there'd be a third one this year.
Katniss shook her head and focused once more on what her friend was saying.
"My mother told me once that Maysilee was one of the reasons why we have a victor in District 12. According to her, Haymitch Abernathy wouldn't have won without her."
"Did he-," A thick lump settled on Katniss's throat.
"Kill her?" Madge finished for her.
Katniss nodded.
"No. He just couldn't save her," Madge sighed. "That's what my mother says, anyway."
The blond girl went silent. She lowered her eyes and began to play with a droplet which had escaped her glass and fallen on the wooden table.
Katniss stared at her friend in silence. Her muscles relaxed, and her heart slowed down. For the first time in days, she felt at peace.
XXXXX
Katniss went back to her house after her visit with Madge.
On her way home, she thought about the things she had left in her hunting bag and the few coins rattling in her pocket.
She smiled. It had been a good day.
Her feet took her to the Seam, but her thoughts stayed with the mayor's daughter. Madge had answered the questions which had plagued her for days, but the story about her family intrigued her.
She felt like she was looking at a puzzle and she didn't have enough pieces to assemble it.
How was it possible that two tributes had been selected from the same merchant family? What were the odds of that happening? Was it a coincidence, or was it something else, like punishment or retribution for something? Had Mayor Undersee upset the Capitol somehow?
Katniss shook her head and chuckled to herself. She was starting to sound like Gale. He was always going on about how the reapings were rigged to make sure the "right" people were chosen.
For the most part, he just meant that tesserae entries were the government's way of ensuring that those who had less, and might become troublesome, ended up in an arena. According to him, merchants who didn't need the help of the government to survive were less likely to complain about the way things were being run.
"Hell, they're all thrilled with the way things are! Their homes are warm, and their bellies are full. They're as happy as can be!" he'd say, clapping his hands loudly for emphasis.
She'd never paid much attention to him. She honestly hadn't seen the point of getting all riled up over something you couldn't change. But now, she wondered if he might've been on to something, after all.
Katniss sighed in frustration. Her theories didn't make any sense, anyway.
Madge and Peeta didn't even share a last name. If the government wanted to punish the mayor, they would have reaped his daughter, not his nephew.
The truth was that Gale's ramblings didn't matter, and her wild theories didn't matter either. What mattered was that Maysilee had been shipped to the Capitol, and she hadn't come back.
What mattered was that Peeta was following her path.
Katniss desperately hoped his trip into the arena had a different outcome. She hoped that, for once, the odds would be in this family's favor.
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AN. I want to thank the lovely AlwaysEverlark for the beautiful banner she made for this story.
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The Hunger Games Trilogy is the property of Suzanne Collins. No money was made off of the creation of this fanwork.