Child Of The Mockingjay

Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

            I shivered.  The air was cool against my bared wet skin. Wet from tears and sweat; that is.

            My previous screams still echoed throughout the room, the nightmare was still fresh in my mind.

            Nalin is okay, it was just a dream, Sienna. Ma and Pa don’t really think that, it was just a dream, Sienna. Everyone is safe. Everyone except you, of course.

            The door slid open, and two silhouettes entered the room. At first I thought, oh gee, here comes Alleah and Snow to kill me now to save me the torture. I dismissed it, that wasn’t their style, no; instead they would much prefer a big show and game. No pun intended.

            My curiosity was answered when two sets of strong arms were wrapped around my shoulders. I snuggled into the limbs of my parents.

            My mother started it this time, my father joining in strait away.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when again they open, the sun will rise.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray

Forget your woes and let your troubles lay

And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you...

No more tears, Sienna.

            “We love you so much, Sienna. We won’t let anyone hurt you.” Ma whispered in my ear.

            “It’s not up to you anymore,” I whispered back defiantly.

            When she didn’t reply, Pa had to take over. “Sienna, you will be coming back alive. You can win, we know you can. Everyone in 12 knows you can! Why do you think they didn’t return your salute at the reaping. They know you will be returning to 12. They won’t let you die.”

            “But...”

            “Sienna, you’re talented. You can win over the audiences; you can beat the other tributes! You’re talented with knives and with a bow. A sword isn’t too different from a knife. You know the plants and foods from the forest, and from the botany books you read, you know more than from the forest! You probably know more than anyone from the districts about mutts, and more than the other tributes. If I can teach you to camouflage and Ma teach you to perfect your weaponry, you could possibly be the most terrifying tribute the Games have ever seen.”

            I met him with silence. I did know all of those things, but Pa could always make things like that sound way more impressive than they really are.