Everlark Continues

Chapter 1

Katniss Everdeen lay down on the meadow her eyes closed peacefully trying to find "the life of a victor" as Effie had once said to her. But she couldn't shake the feeling of sadness that would creep up on her from the back of her mind randomly. Prim, Finnick, Cinna, Rue and everyone she could remember from 12 seemed to flow into her thoughts out of nowhere – which changed her mood vastly. Cinna, Finnick and Rue was hard to deal with but Prim... the most recent of those deaths. The grief of Prim was unbearable for Katniss as the bond of a sister is one of the strongest there is. Primrose's smile and positivity came to her in her memories and Katniss didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sight of her, she just felt so real. However, deep down she knew her sister was never coming back; she needed to accept that.

Katniss let out a long sigh as her mind began to recall the events of the Hunger Games. The horror of becoming a murderer just to survive still messed with her head, as it did with Peeta, and she began to think of Rue some more. She was too innocent, too young... just like Primrose. They both didn't deserve the pain and fear that occurred in their lives – Katniss just hoped they found their peace now they rested in the afterlife. Even Katniss knew herself, if it wasn't for many people, she wouldn't be sat in the meadow watching the flowers sway in the warm breeze. That was a det she would never be able to pay off.

She let out a deep breath and continued to stare at the meadow as the sun glinted down on her face; Katniss swallowed tightly, focusing on her thoughts.

"Katniss?" Came the familiar call of Peeta Mellark from a distance.

Katniss let out a small grin – Peeta's voice was one of the only things left that seemed to calm her and brighten her day... she didn't even know why either...

"Yes?" Katniss shouted back.

Peeta scanned the meadow before finally locking his gaze onto Katniss, who sat under the old willow (her dark hair blowing softly in the breeze). He smiled to himself as he began walking towards her, almost as if he could feel her smile too.

Katniss closed her eyes, and she took in the smell of pollen, heat and lush grass. She even thought she heard a mockingjay from afar... but that was probably just her imagination.

"How come you're out here?" Peeta smiled sitting beside Katniss as he watched her with intrigue.

"Oh, you know... the usual, trying to find the life of a victor," she smiled opening her eyes to look at him.

A sense of sadness buried its way out of Katniss' smile however, and Peeta, being Peeta, immediately sensed this – his own smile turning solemn.

"Katniss, come on, I know when something is wrong,"

"Nothing's wrong Peeta,"

"It... it is Katniss, you don't have to hide it from me you know. You can talk to me I promise I'll-"

"Nothing's wrong with me Peeta!" Katniss yelled.

Peeta looked at her sadly (his eyes filled with emotions Katniss couldn't even pick out anymore), and Katniss felt guilt strike her heart when she saw his face.

"I... I'm sorry Peeta," Katniss sighed, "It's just I..."

"I know, I shouldn't have said anything I'm sorry," Peeta smiled weakly.

"Don't be," Katniss mumbled barely loud enough for Peeta to hear.

It was silent and the pair could feel the awkwardness and slight tension building between them.

"I... I think we should head back now if it's alright with you Katniss," Peeta sighed rubbing his arm slightly, he knew Katniss needed time and he'd give her that.

"Yeah,"

"Hey um, should I come over later? I- I mean just to make you some food, plus I could do with the company," Peeta asked.

"You could if you want, but I'm not feeling hungry and I probably won't be hungry later,"

Peeta looked directly at Katniss as started walking through the lush meadow with nothing but concern. He wondered why she looked like a walking skeleton lately, she hadn't been eating... Of course! How could he have missed it? He'd have to stop by in the morning, lunch and dinner now to check if she was, not that he was complaining of course. Peeta took a sharp breath trying not to make it obvious to Katniss that he was worried about her (which was virtually impossible) as he began trying to pinpoint the exact moment she last ate. It had been two weeks since they returned from the capital now... surely she'd have eaten something, but he hadn't seen her eat. Then again, he'd been constantly asking her 'real or not real' questions about district 12, both hunger games and the rebellion. Maybe even so much he'd stopped paying attention to taking care of her, he felt sick at the thought.

"Katniss?" Peeta asked tentatively.

"Yeah?" she replied her eyes fixed forward.

"When did you last eat?"

"Peeta, please tell me this isn't your latest worry?" Katniss scoffed, but Peeta could see the fear printed on her face.

"Please just answer me,"

"It's stupid,"

"You have eaten since we came back, real or not real?" Peeta asked as he stopped walking and looked at her.

"Real,"

"You haven't been skipping vital meals since we got back, real or not real?"

"Peeta, do we really have to do this of course I've been-"

"Real or not real?" Peeta almost shouted looking deep into Katniss' eyes.

Katniss sighed knowing he'd won. She couldn't lie to him with his only technique of finding out what was real or not real, it helped him get better from his hijacking... If she lied to him now, it would break their trust, friendship and his only way of getting closely back to normal...

"Not real," Katniss frowned.

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Writer:

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