Capítulo 1: Chapter 1
AN:
Before we start, "…" means talking, and '…' means thinking.
"Only goblins again," Katniss can't help but sigh when she retrieves her arrows. 'No wonder Gale chose to work the mines.'
It was a typical day for Katniss Everdeen. The woods were full of goblins to hunt, and she killed plenty of their worthless kinds. Taking out her knife, she wonders if it is even worth harvesting their cores with how little they are worth. There are days when she wished to live in District one or two where the monster had cores worth a small fortune, but she can never leave Prim behind. 'If mother blacks out again, she won't survive without me.'
It doesn't matter how many times she does this. The smell of the goblin's insides is impossible to get used to. 'And I thought Prim's goat's droppings smelled bad.' Pushing back the vomit in her throat Katniss does her best to ignore the foul smell as she extracts core after core. 'This should be enough to buy food this week.' Straightening up, Katniss is glad to bid goodbye to the smell. 'Now, I just need to gather those herbs, and I can return.'
She has taken this route countless times. Katniss knows every nook and cranny where those herbs grow. She can do this job in her sleep. Black Chervil for fevers grows in the shade under the willow trees. Mercy Fennel for pain relief grows along the stream. Finally, Ivory Catnip, which helps fight infections, can be found near the waterfall. Katniss fills her backpack with the herbs praying none fall through the holes in her bag. She has been meaning to buy a new one, but then Prim needed new shoes last week, and her home had a hole in the roof that needed to be patched last month. But Katniss hopes she can buy one soon as most of her equipment is falling apart. Her bow is nearly as old as she is, her boots worn down, her leather chest piece needed to be replaced years ago, and her backpack that soon won't be able to hold anything. At least she can smile when she sees a small number of Orange Rosemary women pay a small fortune under the belief that it will help them get pregnant.
"Fools," Katniss mutters under her breath. She just can't understand why people are so desperate to bring children into a world overrun by monsters and strangled by greedy capital nobles.
Walking home, she enjoys the silence of the woods. Usually, Katniss can't hear herself think with people coming in and out of her house, but she can truly relax in the wood. Even if monsters like the three goblins blocking her way live in the woods. Katniss sighs as the goblins charge at her. Raising her bow and drawing an arrow, Katniss fires at the first goblin. It still surprises her how time stops and a pair of ghostly dice rolls across her vision. The church says it is God's blessing to the world, boosting the damage his loyal followers deal to evil monsters. Katniss doesn't buy. She can still see the dice even though she left the church when her father died.
Every weapon hits a different number and type of dice. For Katniss, her bow would usually deal a one eight-sided dice worth of damage, but thanks to her crest, she gets an extra dice. Crests are a never thing Katniss refuses to buy the church's explanation of devotion on. All she knows for sure is that everyone is born with a crest, and they help people live their lives. Katniss herself has a hunter crest increasing the damage of certain weapons in her hands and adding her in tracking prey. Her mother and sister both have the healer crests. Crests don't impact what jobs you can do, but most people still find a job that allows them to use their crest's gifts.
The goblin dies instantly with a critical hit that doubles the number the dice land on. Katniss repeats the process bringing down the other two goblins before they get close to her. 'I thought I didn't have to do this again.' Katniss moans as she starts to recover the cores from the goblins while being assaulted by the worst smell imaginable. 'It better be worth it.'
<0>
An hour later, Katniss smiles, seeing the flimsy wooden wall protecting her village. District Twelve may not be a wealthy district consisting of mainly villages and one small town. Still, Katniss never tires of the view of her village. One of the guards at the gate is too drunk to even notice she has entered, while the other is fast asleep. Katniss used to worry about monsters attacking her village. Still, she has realised that nothing dangerous ever happens in District Twelve.
Her first stop is the Adventurers Guild, located in a rundown old barn in the centre of town. It is a miracle there is even a guild in this village since only Katniss and one other person work for this village's guild. Gale used to and her friend Madge as well, but both have retired to live together near the coal mines.
The door creaks open, and Katniss can already smell the alcohol in the air. Haymitch, the only guild employee in town, is slouched over his desk, looking like he is dead to the world. Walking over to him, Katniss takes a bucket of water and dumps it over his head. She can't even remember the number of times she had to do this. Haymitch usually is drunk, but Katniss will never complain since he would usually give her a few extra coins by mistake.
"You again," Haymitch frowns, glaring at her. "Can't you move to another guild and let me drink in peace?"
"I would if I could," Katniss shrugs, dumping the cores on the table. "Just make it quick, and you can get back to drinking."
"Fine," Haymitch groans. "Give me a moment… not bad for these parts. Eighteen cores, low-grade goblin cores… that will be one small copper each for a total of eighteen small copper coins." He hands her the money, and Katniss keeps quiet about the two extra groins in her hand. "Now get out so I can get back to my bottle."
"Excuse me,"
"Great, now what?" Haymitch moans as they both look towards the creaky door. "If you are looking to post a quest, tell her." He points to Katniss. "If you are looking to register, find another guild. Or if you are already an Adventurer and looking for work, she can show you where the board is but don't expect much."
The boy in question, Katniss, has already nicknamed him Blond and Gorgeous. He has short messy blond hair and blue eyes that remind her of the sea she had the luxury of visiting when her father was still alive. He is much taller than her, stronger too, with muscles showing against the tight shirt and trousers he is wearing. A sword is hanging from his hip, but Katniss is warier of what his powerful arms are capable of doing to her. Then she blushes when she imagens what his finger can do for her.
"Don't I have to process my request through the guild?" The boy asks.
"Not here," Haymitch chuckles before downing a bottle. "I don't care less about what happens as long as I can drink in peace."
"Okay," He looks to Katniss for confirmation, so she nods her head.
"I doubt he can see straight right now, so don't bother," She tells him. "But if there is anything I can do to help, I will give you my undivided attention."
"While I need an escort back to town," He says, walking closer to Katniss. "My last one found a girl he likes and refuses to leave, and I don't have time to wait for him to be dumped. Are you available to escort me back to town? I can pay you ten silver coins for the work and cover the inn expenses because I doubt you will be able to make it back here before nightfall."
"Deal," Katniss nods her head, thinking of the profit she can make selling her Orange Rosemary in town. Then about being alone with Blond and Gorgeous. "I just need to drop some things off at home and let my sister know what is happening. Can I meet you back here in ten minutes?"
"No problem," He smiles. "Take your time. The horses are still resting from the journey here. Oh, and my name is Peeta, by the way, Peeta Malark."
"Katniss," Katniss replies. "Katniss Everdeen."
"I look forward to working with you, Katniss," Peeta says as they part ways.
<0>
Katniss returns to her home, finding her mother and sister still busy treating the villages with potions and scrolls. Her mother is dealing with the majority of her work well. Prim runs around bandaging the odd wound and fetching the things her mother requires. Prim is the first to notice Katniss and quickly jumps, wrapping her arms around her sister's neck.
"Welcome home," Prim smiles. She could pass as Blond and Gorgeous's younger sister with her blond hair and blue eyes. "Did it go well?"
"It sure did," Katniss returns her sister's smile. "I got all the herbs, enough coins to last us a week and even a job that pays well, but I will be gon tonight and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon."
"Do you have to go?" Prim's frowning face is almost enough to make Katniss tell Peeta to find someone else to escort him back to town.
"I can't," Katniss tells her, letting go of her sister. "This job pays enough to feed us for a month. Don't worry, I will be back tomorrow. It is only going to be one night."
"Okay," Prim nods, still frowning. "Stay safe."
"I always do,"
Katniss greets her mother before heading into her home. It is just as rundown as the Adventurers Guild. She places the herbs her mother asked for in the storeroom. Puts the coins she earned in the door and goes upstairs to pack a change of clothes and something to sleep in. Once done, she says goodbye to her mother and Prim before heading back to Peeta, thinking of his strong arms and long fingers.
<0>
"You were quick," Peeta smiles from the bench he is resting on. Standing up, he meets Katniss as soon as she appears.
"I only had a few things to take care of," Katniss replies, returning his smile.
"Are you ready to leave?"
"Ready when you are,"
<0>
Ten minutes later, they are on the road. Katniss sits next to Peeta so close their shoulders touch, and whenever they hit a bump in the road, Katniss finds herself almost in Peeta's lap. Peeta's wagon is small, pulled by a pair of horses, but it is typical for the merchants in District Twelve to use wagons of this side.
"So, are you working for yourself or your family?" Katniss asked as they exited the village gate.
"Myself," Peeta quickly glances at her, then back at the road. "My family moved to District Eleven, but I stayed behind in Twelve to run my own bakery."
The road starts to follow a small river with flowers growing wildly in the long grass and the trees of the forest flanking them. Many people have asked to have the grass cut claiming bandits will have an easy time ambushing merchants, but no one has cut the grass. Birds fly overhead, and the pair can hear the song of a Mockingjay from one of the tree branches. It really is peaceful even though the village is still in sight. It is easy to believe you are alone.
"It really is peaceful here," Peeta comments. "I can see why you would stay here instead of finding a better guild to join."
"The peace is a benefit but not the main reason I stay," Katniss tells him. "I have a little sister and mother that need me. If I was alone, I would have left this place behind long ago."
"I two older brothers myself," Peeta says. "I always wanted a sister."
"Well, you can't have mine," Katniss replies, making him chuckle.
"I wouldn't dream of taking yours," He tells her. "You seem like a terrifying person to have as an enemy."
"You bet I am,"
They travel for the next two hours, chatting about their lives. Peeta tells her about his brothers and how he came in second place in his town's wrestling tournament. Katniss tells him about how her father trained her to hunt monsters and her time in a party with Gale and Madge before they ran off to get married. They talk, joke and laugh until they reach the town just as the sunsets. They ride through the gate with the guards demanding to see their IDs, and they are all shockingly sober.
Peeta takes her to his shop in the town square and leads the carriage into the small stable behind. It is not a bad place. A large stone brick building with clear glass windows and a neat and tidy store on the bottom floor. Behind the counter, a girl suddenly jumps up and smiles.
"Finally!" She cries out. "I was beginning to think you would never get back!"
"It's okay, Delly," Peeta smiles as they hug. "My trip wasn't that dangerous."
Katniss feels a pang of jealousy in her gut, but she has long since mastered the art of hiding her feelings, so it goes unnoticed. She watches the two of them hug, suffering in silence until, at last, they break apart. 'Took Them Long Enough.'
"I will be leaving now," Delly says, sleeping past Peeta and Katniss. "My husband promised me a special night, so I can't keep him waiting. Introduce me to your new friend next time."
"See you next week," Peeta calls after her as she sprints out of the door. "Please wait a moment while I go get your payment."
Katniss leans against the wall and watches him go feeling relieved they aren't together. She passes the time by looking out of the window at the people passing by. She has been to the city a few times, but Katniss can never get used to the number of people. Katniss has no idea how she would cope if she was ever to visit the capital.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Peeta returns moments later with a small pouch in hand. "Ten silver coins as promised." He places the pouch on the table. "Please let me show you to the inn. I will still pay for the night as I promised."
"Lead the way," Katniss replies, taking the pouch.
Peeta smiles, moving towards the door with Katniss right behind him. Securing the pouch, she watches Peeta reaching for the door handle, only for…
"Give us all the money you have!"
Two men suddenly burst into the room, knocking Peeta down and pointing daggers at Katniss. They step into the store, with one of them closing the blinds so no one outside can see the crime.
"Comply, and we won't do anything to you!"
What should Katniss do?
1) Jump behind the counter and shoot the men with her bow.
2) Draw her knife and charge forward.
3) Do nothing and surrender the money she just earned.
<0>
AN:
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think so far and if you have any ideas or suggestions.
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