I will go down with this ship

[victorbychance]

It's raining a little, but Peeta won't wait any longer. He's at the front porch, wrapped up in a coat, peering out into the gloom for the return of his hunter. When he sees her, wading through damp grass but carrying victory in the form of three rabbits, he ducks inside to get the dry clothes he set out for her. He always does this when it rains, makes sure she has something warm and dry to change into after the hunt. She will step inside and kick off her socks and shoes, and he will help her strip off her outer clothes and wrap her up in a glow of wool and firelight. Only this time, he has something special for her.

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[stillplaying]

Most of the time being in the woods brings her the kind of peace that she can't find anywhere else. Katniss can easily pass the entire day within the familiar trees. There she's safe. There she can almost forget the tragedies that had happened in her life. There it's like very little has ever changed. But today hasn't been that kind of day. The rain had made her retreat earlier than normal, before she felt entirely ready to go back in.

There's a frown on her face as she nears the house. The rain is cold and wet and causing blood to drip from her rabbits onto the meadow as she walks. Her leather coat does little to keep her warm by now and her hair looks as wet as if she had taken a shower. But the frown turns into relief when she steps on the porch and Peeta's already there to help her remove the wet garments. It's enough to get her to flash him a brief smile of gratitude. Like always, she echoes now-familiar words: "You don't have to do this."