Chapter Text
Katniss expels a puffy cloud of air then releases her bow string. There’s silence for a moment as the arrow flies.
“You got it,” Gale exclaims as he stands up from their blind.
In the distance, gobbling can be heard as several turkey hens flee, a large gobbler lay still in the snow with an arrow sticking out of its side.
The snow crunches under their boots as they approach. Katniss pulls out her arrow as Gale picks up the bird by its feet. “This is going to make a great Christmas dinner, Catnip.”
“Nope,” Katniss says, shaking her head. “That bird is going to make several meals for the next few weeks.”
“But,” Gale tries, as he loops the turkey strap around its feet and neck.
“Don’t worry, I’ll give you your share. You did help me track it, and now you can carry it.”
“What about Christmas dinner tomorrow?” Gale asks as he lifts the strap over his shoulder.
“I’m not wasting all that meat on one meal,” Katniss says as they start walking back to town. “I need to make sure we have food for the rest of the winter. Who knows when I’ll get a chance to hunt again.”
“Are you coming to our party tonight? You mom and sister are planning to be there. I heard them planning it with my mom.”
“Nope. I’ve got to get a decent night sleep so I can come back out hunting in the morning.”
“Come on, Catnip. The new government has given us tons of opportunities, better pay, more affordable food, better houses even. You don’t need to hunt every day. You really need to spend some time with your friends and family.”
While it’s true that the new Panem government has provided better lives for all of Panem. After the war was over and President Snow was executed, a new government was created with representatives from each of the districts. Katniss still has a problem trusting that things won’t go back to the way they were before the revolution.
She and her family nearly died of starvation after her father died in a mine explosion. Ever since, she’s been very frugal with food and with money. Gale used to be as frugal as she is, but ever since he fell in love with Leevy Johnstone, he’s been different. Katniss is tired of the same old argument. She needs to make up for her lost revenue since losing her best client.
Her best client, Haymitch Abernathy was dead. Gone these past few months. He was a victor and a war hero, but no one paid him no mind because he kept people at a distance. Just like she tried to do.
He paid Katniss extra coin for good game meat on a regular basis. She missed the old drunk codger. When he died not many people went to his funeral, only Katniss, Peeta Mellark, and the old Capitol Escort, Effie trinket attended.
“Let’s just get this turkey in cold storage so we can go into town to trade the rest of our haul,” Katniss gripes, ignoring his plea.
After the oohs and aahs from her mother and sister over the turkey, and disappointment in their eyes from the news of Katniss’ plans for it, she and Gale head to town to finish their trades.
After trading at the now legal hob, and other merchants in town, Katniss and Gale head to Mellark’s Bakery for their last stop of the day. Even though Seam folks are now welcome in the front of the bakery, trades are still conducted at the back door.
Katniss climbs the steps to knock on the door, while Gale stands at the bottom of the steps digging around in his game bag for his trade. She wishes she could have gone to the bakery on her own, but Gale said he needs to get something too.
The youngest Mellark, Peeta answers the door. Peeta has been in charge of the bakery for four years now, after his two older brothers married girls who inherited their own family businesses.
“Merry Christmas, Katniss,” Peeta greets with a warm smile. “Are you here to trade?”
Katniss is momentarily blinded by his warm easy smile. It always takes her a second to snap back into the moment. She really enjoys when they spend time chatting, but first there’s trading to do. She needs to stay focused.
“Yes I am here to trade,” she says as she holds up a pair of fat squirrels.
“You always get them through the eye,” Peeta says, rubbing the back of his neck.
“She sure does,” Gale agrees as he walks up the steps behind her.
Katniss clenches her jaw and levels Gale a shut up look. She needs a good sale. “I know how much you like squirrels, so I got an extra one for you, because I know tomorrow you’ll be closed. I wanted to make sure you have enough game meat to last you-"
"One day,” Peeta says, smiling, his blue eyes sparkling.
Gale covers a laugh from behind her.
“A lot can happen in one day,” Katniss defends. “Besides, you could always bring a dish to one of your brothers’ homes. I’m sure they could use the extra game meat. How many nephews do you have now?”
“Two with one more on the way,” Peeta says brightly.
“See, I’m sure they could use the extra meat.”
“Okay, hold on; let me get the bread for you and some coin for the extra meat.”
“Perfect,” Katniss says, nodding.
When her trade is done, Gale steps up with a rabbit from his bag. “A small bag of cookies, please.”
“Sure thing,” Peeta says, taking the rabbit into the kitchen.
After Peeta leaves, Katniss gives Gale an incredulous look.
“They’re a present for Posy,” Gale defends. “She’s really into the spirit of Christmas, especially the presents,” he says with a laugh.
After Peeta returns with the bag of cookies, Gale tucks them into his game bag.
Katniss and Gale turn to walk back down the steps, but Peeta speaks up before they get very far, “Hey, Katniss. Could I ask you something?”
Katniss looks back to Peeta, but he’s looking at Gale.
The two men seem to come to some kind of silent agreement and Gale says, “I’m going to head over to the sweet shop for more presents for Posy. I’ll meet you out front, Catnip.”
Katniss is a bit stunned by their exchange, but shakes her head and walks back to Peeta. “What did you want to ask me?” she asks, hesitantly.
Peeta stammers for a minute, “Would you, ah,” he rubs the back of his neck again and looks down at his shoes before blurting out, “would you go out on a date with me?” He looks back up; his blue eyes plead for her answer as his cheeks turn red.
“Oh, I-I don’t date,” Katniss stammers out before running down the steps. She runs down the alley between the shops and almost collides with Gale, who could not have made it to the sweet shop and back already.
"You know you were cold toward Peeta,” Gale tells her.
“I was not.”
“Katniss, listen to me. that Merchant is decent folk and you treat him…”
“Like what?” Katniss asks, narrowing her eyes.
“Like that,” Gale points to her face. “You need to stop pushing people away. One day you’re going to find yourself all alone.” He walks away toward the sweet shop, shaking his head.
Katniss brushes what Gale has to say aside. Just because he forgot what life is like when you don’t have enough food to eat, she’ll never forget. She heads toward home without him.
“Come on, Katniss,” Prim begs from her seat at the dinner table. Her fingers tangled in the ribbon she’s trying to tie. “I need your help wrapping these gifts for the Hawthornes.”
“Sorry Prim,” Katniss replies from her spot on the floor. “I need to finish the fletching for my arrows. It’s supposed to be unseasonably warm tomorrow, so I can’t miss a day of hunting when I don’t know if I’ll get another break this winter.”
Mrs. Everdeen sets the stew she’s been cooking to simmer and walks over to help Prim out, deftly tying the ribbon in a well-practiced bow.
“Thanks mom,” Prim says, before turning back to Katniss.
“But Katniss, tomorrow’s Christmas. You can’t spend the day hunting; you were out there all day today. What about presents?”
Katniss sets down her work and looks up at her sister. “Prim, You’re eighteen now. You know we don’t need presents, right? It’s just a made-up holiday the new Capitol thrust upon us to get people to spend money on frivolous gifts nobody needs anyway. We can celebrate the new year next week, like always.”
“That’s not true, Katniss. It’s not a made up holiday. We used to celebrate with daddy. Right mom?”
“That’s right, Prim,” their mother agrees with a nod.
“Well, that was a long time ago,” Katniss huffs. “Things have changed, if you haven’t noticed.
“So you’re not coming to the party at the Hawthornes tonight?” Mrs. Everdeen asks as she ties the ribbon on the last gift.
“Sorry, nope. I already told Gale I wasn’t coming. I’m going to get to bed as soon as I’m done here so I can head out at the break of dawn and spend all day in the woods,” Katniss explains.
Prim turns back to her mother. “Mom, make her come with us, please.”
“I can’t make her go,” Mrs. Everdeen says as she caresses Prim’s cheek. She heads back to her stew pot and begins to ladle several servings into a crock, leaving just enough in the pot for Katniss’ dinner. “Put the gifts in a sack, please. Katniss has a mind of her own, always has. If she doesn’t want to go, we can’t make her, but I think she’ll be missing out on some good fun.” Mrs. Everdeen looks over at Katniss with a pointed look. “If you change your mind, you can borrow one of my dresses.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s not likely,” Katniss says. “Someone needs to make sure we have food to eat around here.” And with that, the conversation is over.
Prim and Mrs. Everdeen head over to the Hawthorne’s home as the sun sets. Katniss cleans up her work, eats her stew, and heads off to bed.