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18th Game [action/video]

[She's been so busy lately that she hasn't noticed the time fly by. Busy with teaching Foo Foo, busy with hunting and providing for her family, busy helping Richard finish the extra wing to the house before first snow, trying to learn filial magic, busy stealing every spare minute of time with Prim and Teddy and all those others she holds there. She hasn't noticed the time pass. Hadn't realized that it's already November.

It's been a year since Peeta's left. Over a year now. And though she misses him every day, misses him even more when she wakes up on the couch screaming from night terrors, she's... still alive. Found something - someones - else to live for. And maybe that boy who had asked about finding a way to bring others here might actually succeed. Maybe she could bring him back. The boy that loves her. Where everything is actually real.

More than that, though, she's realized what time of year it is again. Has it really been two years, then, since the end of the rebellion? Since losing Prim?

But Prim's no longer lost. She's here. And if Katniss has her way, she'll stay here forever.

It's this realization that makes her more reluctant to leave that morning. But she has responsibilities. Things she has to do. Including teaching that stupid sabertooth moose lion how to actually hunt his own food rather than snatching her squirrels from her bag. Foo Foo has, at least, grown incredibly skillful at that. So at some point mid-morning, Katniss makes her way to House 56 to pick up the beast and continue their way in the Eastern Forest.

Once again, her hunt with Foo Foo isn't nearly as successful as her hunts alone. She loses more squirrels to him than she manages to retain. And when she finally spots a rabbit - perfect for tonight's dinner, perfect to make one of Prim's favorite stews - he lumbers in the way of her shot. Frightened, it runs into the bushes. Annoyed, Katniss lets her arrow fly into the trees.

Some seconds later, she pulls out her journal. With the video feed on, she focuses on Foo Foo.]

How is anyone supposed to teach something this stupid to do anything?

[She doesn't even feel remotely guilty when the young animal looks up from his interest in the rabbit-clad bushes and gives her a goofy, happy grin. It seems one enjoys these outings more than the other.]

Dumb mutt.

[Sometime later in the afternoon, she's back in the town. Having to pick up food is becoming more and more an uncomfortably common task on the days she tries to train Foo Foo. But this week more than ever, the week of her sister's death, she feels the need to spoil her. To go to the items shop and find little gifts that might make her happy. Or pick up fresh bread at the bakery and sweets at the grocery.

Anything for Prim. Anything.]

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That is a good start. Rewards are helpful, especially for animals. I would encourage you to use praise as well, when earned. Praise can often be a very good motivator, especially from someone you respect.

[He takes a breath for a moment]

It should also be considered that your styles of hunting will likely vary. A saber toothed moose lion is a formidable predator, and usually goes after larger game.

[For all a saber toothed moose lion is a formidable predator, Foo Foo always seems more than happy to steal her squirrels. His "reward." One she was starting to doubt he even deserved most of the time. But he'd need far too many squirrels to support his growing bulk than even Katniss wanted to hunt in a day.

That thought made her smile just a little.]

Deer. I've seen them in the forest. Even caught one myself.

[The meat it had provided had kept her, Peeta, and Rue fed for months.]

[It was so bizarre they had just deer. Not a cat deer or a deer fox, or any other of the varieties]

Straight deer is it? Well, it is a bit odd, but I believe that is quite suitable.

[He flashes a smile]

[It's not at all strange to her. The odder creatures in the world, the hybrids and genetic mishaps, are dangerous. Muttations, tools once used by the Capitol to keep the Districts in line. She's still apprehensive any time she runs into that monkey-like thing that follows Aang around sometimes. It might be harmless enough, but every time she sees it, she can't help but think of the creatures in the clock arena.

But the man's words make her glance back at Foo Foo - muzzle still in the bushes - just for a second. Most people here seem accustomed to the animals in the forest. They're from a world similar enough to her Earth.]

Are you from Foo Foo's world?

[The phrasing was a bit amusing to Iroh. He supposed it had to do with the fact that he was new, but being asked if you are from Foo Foo's world would sound funny regardless.

He chuckles at the question]

You could certainly say that. It would be his world equally as much as it is mine or any others.

[It had sounded better to her than asking if he was from the same world as Sokka. Things between them still weren't entirely okay. Even if she had volunteered to help with the stupid animal... It wasn't the same. They weren't the friends they used to be. She still wondered if they ever would be again.

But his response made her smile. It was a silly question, wasn't it?]

You have strange animals there.

[He gives her an amused sort of look at that. From what he had been told from Sokka was that animals were different here, and that their world was the exception. Here was further proof of that.]

Strange is a matter of familiarity. I personally find just a deer odd. Granted, I have seen just a bear before, but it is more of a rarity than say a platypus bear or an armadillo bear.

[She's seen creatures that are more than a bear. In one of her earliest memories of the Hunger Games. How old was she when she had been made to watch that fight? Four? Five? The tributes, all freezing in the arena. And the white bears with the monstrous, poisonous rattlesnake fangs and this quick, intelligent eyes. It had been skinnier than the bears she knew from lessons in school. But not from malnutrition. There was a whip-like dexterity to it. Something that made it more lethal. Killed so many of the tributes before they ever had a chance to die from the cold. Or from each other.

She frowns, grey eyes haunted by the early memory.]

They're muttations in Panem. Any creature like that.

Mmmmmmm.

[He notices her expression change at that, it seemed she hadn't had good experiences with them. He had seen that look in soldiers before who had seen too much bloodshed.]

Well, in my world, they are quite natural. Many serve useful purposes in society, as transportation, messengers and the like. Certain breeds are rather intelligent and can be quite caring creatures. Appa the sky bison is one who certainly has a personality.

I like Appa.

[Most of the time. At least, she likes him now. She had been apprehensive of him at first. The giant creature that could supposedly fly. And then she had actually gone flying with Sokka and with Aang. It was a fear she learned to live with.

Easier to do when the monkey thing wasn't around.]

Yes, they are incredible creatures. Very powerful, yet surprisingly gentle most of the time.

[He strokes his beard]

Although, we've gotten a little off topic. I am sure that you will be able to assist Foo Foo in realizing his hunting potential. Just remember that as with all things, it takes time.

[There was something else he was probably forgetting as well...]

Ah, before I forget. My name is Iroh.

[He inclines his head politely]

Edited 2013-11-11 18:50 (UTC)

[Iroh. The name isn't familiar to her. Then again, she still only knows bits and pieces of the home that Aang and Sokka had left behind. She knows it wasn't an entirely peaceful place. But it wasn't like Panem, either. She doubts any place could be like Panem.

Still, if he knows Appa, that means he must know Aang. She briefly wonders how. But curiosity isn't enough to get her to ask. But that connection is enough to get her to smile in return, if somewhat shyly. Aang is one of the best people she knows. Even if, most times, she still wonders why he'd ever befriend someone as unlikable as herself.]

I'm Katniss.

Nice to meet you, Katniss.

[She must be familiar with Sokka to be taking his pet out. Why he had a saber toothed moose lion as a pet, he couldn't fathom, but considering the weirdness of day to day life, he supposed it was only another drop in bucket.]

I take it you are friends with Sokka and Aang?

[She hesitates for a second. Friend. It's an important word. Something that means a lot to her. She never had many friends in her life. Not nearly as many as she has here. There's no doubt that she's friends with Aang even if she doesn't think that she deserves it. But Sokka?

She still hasn't forgiven Sokka for using her during his death penalty. Even if a part of her was using him in return.]

Yeah. They're- [She hesitates again, just for a moment.] -good people. Especially Aang.

[It seemed as though there had been some sort of problem between them. He wasn't about to pry about that, but her body language gave certain indications. A lot could happen in a relatively short period, things that changed how you viewed people certainly.]

Yes, they both were very influential individuals who helped restore balance to the world.

[She remembers hearing things about that. Small discussions, here and there. Their world wasn't like Panem. She has yet to find one that is. But it wasn't a good place, either. Still, it's a world both seem to have more faith in. Katniss has yet to believe in Plutarch's idea of a republic. She suspects that it'll take her a long, long time until she finally does.]

I've heard. It's... better now, right? Your world?

Yes, steps were beginning to be taken for the first time in a hundred years or so.

[A hundred years. That sounds about right. It only took seventy-five for the Districts to uprise again back home. Seventy-five years of watching their children fight to the death for entertainment. Punishment.

If time passed while she was here, that 76th Hunger Games, that very last one, would have happened by now. There'd be no more Games. No more children dying.]

How do you know it'll stay like that? Good.

In truth, you never know for certain. Conflicts will arise amongst people, whenever there is an imbalance. The world both needed and desired peace. I believe that for a time we will have that. There will still be issues to be solved, but I am confident in the new generation to avoid such conflict again.

[He strokes his beard]

Of course, with my nephew being a strong component to that, I am rather biased.

Your nephew?

[The words are out of her mouth before she even pauses to consider everything else he says. About future conflicts, about worlds needing peace. About different generations avoiding those conflicts. She had been so instrumental in her own world's fight. The Girl on Fire, the Mockingjay the people of the Districts rallied behind.

And then she had killed President Coin. Tried to kill herself. Walked away from all of it, deciding in the moment she had aimed her one arrow at Coin that her own needs outweighed those of her nation.

That others might chose to keep fighting is... surprising to her.]

Yes, you may know him. His name is Zuko. I believe he works at the tea shop.

[He was quite confident in Zuko's abilities to restore honour to the Fire Nation and with the help of Aang to bring balance to the world. They had already accomplished much, but there was a great more they could and he felt would do.]

[She shakes her head. She hasn't met anyone by that name. But then, she doesn't frequent the tea shop that often. Much like she tries to avoid most of the shops here. She has her father's plant book. She has the forest. People here don't take enough advantage of the natural resources.]

We haven't met.

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18th Game [action/video]

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