Memories of the Mockingjay

Chapter 6: Shimmering memories

Peeta's POV
I was just setting a loaf of banana bread down on the table when Cinder came home, early from school again. She looked like her mother when she scowled, I couldn't help but smile,  "You're home early, Cinder."
I glanced over to her to see if she heard me to see her glaring at me, before dropping her bag to the floor and storming up the stairs to her room. I frowned, wondering what was wrong. She slammed the door as I made my way up the stairs. I was about to knock on the door when I sighed, sinking to the floor with my back pressed against the wall. I held my head in my hands. I had felt OK until now, but this sudden surge of memories had washed over me. My ears were filled with the barks of mutts and the screams of jabberjays. "It's not real." I whispered to myself, identifying the mutt memories in my head by their shimmering quality. I calmed my breathing, steadying myself against the wall and rising to my feet. I glanced at my wristwatch, it had been 45 minutes.
I brushed some non existent dust from my legs as I went into my bedroom, retrieving the box from on top of my closet. I entered Cinders' room, perching on the edge of her bed with the box in hand. "Cinder, what's wrong?" I asked when she refused to meet my gaze. I sighed, I couldn't help but feel useless. Katniss would have known what to do, how to make her feel better, but I couldn't. "Your mother would know what to do." I couldn't help but think out loud, I shouldn't have mentioned her, memories were coming back.
Finally her eyes met mine, I had piqued her interest.
"What is she like?" She asked, her grey eyes lighting up just like Katniss' would.
I told her the truth, "Cinder she is the most beautiful woman I've ever met. She was capable of earning the trust of crowds, by speaking a few words." I paused as my mind rushed back to the Capitol, seeing her propo videos on Snow's television, seeing her enthrall the rebels. I was suddenly brought back to our time, blinking away the memory as I nudged the box towards Cinder.
"Open it." I told her as she picked it up.
"What is it?" She asked, a small smile tugging at her mouth.
"Open it." I repeated, chuckling lightly, she was like a copy of Katniss, stubborn and curious.
She opened the box, to reveal her mothers (technically her grandfathers) hunting jacket. I knew it was far too large for her, but I thought she'd like it nonetheless, and the way her eyes lit up, I think she did.
"It was your mothers." I explained as she held it up in front of her, she pulled it on before throwing her arms around me, "I love it, thank you so much." She said, before adding: "Dad, can I ask you something?"
It was of course relating to Katniss. "What was her name?"
It suddenly hits me like a brick wall how much I've kept from her and Rye. They don't even know their mothers name.
So I told her. "Katniss, Katniss Everdeen. The girl on fire, the Mockingjay, the Capitol darling."
I realised my eyes were brimming with tears as memories flooded back, the reaping, the games, the tour, the quell, the Lightning tree, the Capitol, the rebellion, the calm before the storm, and the Capitol uprising that ruined our lives.