The Preserve (in a different part of the woods!) [Thursday evening]

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

It was beginning to become habit to take a walk through the woods in the evening, armed with her bow and arrows. She now knew many of the plants, thanks to Karla's instruction, and it was easy to shoot down small birds or rabbits, too, now that she knew where they hid most.

She was still on foot, her tread light and soundless on the dead leaves, as she moved quietly through the woods, looking for game.

[for one specifically, but it's an open post if you'd like.]

Comments

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

A very familiar four-note song came whistling out of the trees.

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

Katniss answered it without thinking, the last note dying on her lips as she looked up into the trees. She hadn't heard that song since the Games, and there were only two other people -- that she knew of -- who'd use it.

And it seemed unlikely that there'd be mockingjays here.

She loaded an arrow, just to be safe. One of the possibilities should, rightfully, be safe in his home in the Victor's Village. The other had died, and after her dream the night before, Katniss was a bit on edge.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

It was in Rue's nature to be cautious, but she was anxious to see Katniss again, so she rustled the leaves in a decidedly unnatural way and whistled again.

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

Katniss caught the rustling of the leaves, and raised her arrow in that direction. She was halfway through her returning whistle when she caught sight of the source of the sound, and very nearly dropped her bow and arrow. "Rue," she whispered.

But she couldn't be hallucinating. She was awake, wasn't she? And she'd had plenty to eat and drink, so she wasn't imagining things.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

Rue's smile lit up her whole face. "Katniss! You won! I knew you would."

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"Peeta and I both did. How are you here?" Katniss asked, staring up at her. She wanted to believe, she did, but she was careful. She did smile, though, just a little bit.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

"There was a light, and then a gateway," Rue said quietly. "I felt like I had to be here, to see you. Where are we? Is Peeta here?"

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"You're on an island called Fandom," Katniss said carefully, not wanting to confuse Rue more than she had to. "It's far away from Panem. Peeta's not here. I'm not sure how you are. I saw you -- "

Her voice cut off abruptly, and Katniss crossed her arms around herself.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

Katniss scrambled down out of her tree. "I know," she said. "But I'm all right now."

Aside from being dead.

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"...how?" Katniss asked, taking a hesitant step towards her. "I was there, Rue. Did the Capitol fix you?"

She wasn't sure that was possible, or why the Capitol would do such a thing. Maybe as a trick, to confuse her mind.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

Rue gave her a small smile. "Oh, I'm dead," she said. "The Capitol has no use for a Tribute from District 11. I'm also here." For a moment she looked uncertain. "Did you not want to see me?"

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"Of course I did," Katniss blurted, giving her a wobbly little smile. "It's just -- the Capitol has done some things. I wanted to be sure you were real."

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

Rue reached her hand toward Katniss's. "I'm real. This isn't a trick."

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

Katniss reached her hand out to brush Rue's fingers, which certainly felt like real, human fingers. "I believe you," she finally decided softly.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

"I've missed you," Rue said, reaching out to wrap her thin little arms around Katniss's waist.

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

And now the tears Katniss had been carefully holding in threatened to spill over, but she held them in longer, and held Rue close. "I've missed you too, Rue," she said quietly. "You helped me and Peeta win, you know."

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

"Did I?" Rue gave a trilling little laugh. "How?"

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"We used your song. And Thresh -- he let me go, when he caught up with me. Because of you," Katniss said softly. "I think you may have helped change the Games forever."

Saying such things was nothing short of treason, but Katniss couldn't bring herself to care when Rue was here, alive.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

Rue gave her another little hug. "I'm so glad, for you," she said, "but I think you might be giving me too much credit."

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

Katniss smiled down at her. "You don't even know. I'm here because the Capitol is mad at me for ruining the Games, and it all started with you, Rue. It's so good you're here." A thought occurred, and she paused. "Are you back forever?"

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

Rue shook her head. "I don't think so."

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

Katniss's smile faded a little, and she shrugged. "I should have figured." Another pause, and then she snapped her fingers, grinning at Rue. "What's a treat you never get in District 11? Your favorite thing to eat? They have incredible food here, and it's for everyone."

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

"For everyone?" Rue said, grinning back. "Do they have fruit?"

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"All kinds. Fruit I've never even heard of," she said, nodding swiftly.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

"And I don't have to pick them?" Rue looked positively gleeful. "Which is your favorite?"

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"I like these little green ones with black seeds," she said after a moment's thought. "I think they're called kiwis. The outsides are furry!"

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

"You're making that up!" Rue said with a giggle. "Furry fruit!"

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"I promise!" Katniss said, actually laughing. "And there's spiked fruit, too. All kinds of things!"

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

"Why aren't you as fat as a--" Rue paused for a moment to try to think of something fat, "--juicy peach by now? I would have never stopped eating!"

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"I only got here a little over two weeks ago," Katniss admitted. "I haven't had time to try everything. My friend Luke showed me the small breads they have, too. There are some with cheese pollen, called Cheetos. They're very weird."

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

Rue wrinkled up her nose. "They sound icky. Cheese pollen? I think some of that shot out of the shower at me in the Capitol."

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

Katniss had to laugh. "I know! They have little cream-filled cakes, too, called Twinkies. I just like the name," she admitted.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

"You are teasing me," Rue decided with a grin. "Kiwi and Twinkeis and Cheetos. These aren't real words."

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"Their words are all so different here," Katniss said, shaking her head. "They don't even have the same plants. I haven't found any katniss or rue."

Primroses, though, seemed to exist.

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps it's full of plants from District Ten or another place we haven't encountered," Rue mused.

[thegirl-onfire.livejournal.com]

"Or Thirteen," Katniss said with a raise of her eyebrows. "Come on. I'll show you how big the oranges are here."

[mockingjay-song.livejournal.com]

Rue hopped a little bit on the tips of her toes. "Lead the way."