The Future Mockingjay🕊️

Chapter Four

"Hey little one. Wear this" I said, handing over Prim's reaping dress, now a perfect fit for Willow. It makes me a little sad because it reminds me that Prim is gone.

"Wow. Was this Aunt Prim's dress? I would have loved to see it on her" she said wistfully. An ache in my heart squeezed tears out of my eyes, but I blink them away. Although Prim is not here, I remind my kids about her by telling stories.

I braided Willow's dark hair into a braid, and turned her around to face the mirror. A gasp escaped her.

"I look beautiful, mommy. Like you." she told me, eyes still fixated on the mirror.

I smiled at her. It was 11 in the morning. The reaping, as usual, starts at 2 in the afternoon.

"Let's go see how your brother looks, shall we?" I asked, guiding her towards the door.

"Thyme! I look like mommy! Do you look like daddy?" she shouted, obviously excited.

"Yes! Look at me!" he shouted back in respond.

"Hey, Thyme. You look...like your father...a lot" I said gasping in surprise at Thyme's looks. He looked as if he could be a mini Peeta.

"Thanks, mom. Could we go to the woods today?" he replied.

That puts me back in reality. Today, is the first annual Symbolical Hunger Games. And my kids both have a chance of being reaped and put into the arena that gave me my wild nightmares. And I can't protect them.

"No, darling. Not today. You have to be ready in the square by 2." I felt a burst of fear shoot down my spine. "Let's eat first, then proceed there, okay?" I asked, trying to get rid of my fear by telling myself it's one slip against thousands.

"Sure!" they replied.

I hesitate. "Willow, do you want to celebrate your birthday today? It'll be an early birthday. " I suggested it to her.

"No, it's okay. I'll be back before you know it, mommy. It's only one slip, right? What are the chances of me getting reaped?" she said simply.

I relaxed and smiled. "Of course, sweetie. I'm just...worried..." I trailed off, having nothing to say anymore.

Willow takes my hand. "You don't have to worry about me, mom! What about you? You need to look presentable too!" she ends the conversation, dragging me to my room and laughing. I join in.

"Hey, Katniss." he says. "Ready?"

I check the time. It was already 11.30.

"Not yet, as you can see." I said with a light laugh. "But you are, I can see. I'll go get ready. You can go ahead and prepare lunch for the kids while I get ready!" I treat him with a dazzling smile, but he shoots me a weird look. Not myself for being so cheerful, I guess. "I'm fine, Peeta. It's one tiny slip. Just one." I said, with a slightly smaller smile, and ushered him and the kids out.

I leaned against the door, took a deep breath, and took a warm shower. After that, I wore a soft silk dress the colour of the sunset, Peeta's favourite colour, which really reminds me of my mother. I wonder how she's doing. I hope she's happy there. Looking around, I found my Mockingjay pin, and pinned it on my dress for good luck.

Then, I went downstairs to eat lunch with the rest of my family.