She had arisen before the sun, much like she had done every morning. She always started off her day with an apple dipped in honey or peanut butter while washing it down with a glass of caffeinated drink they called coffee. While she had never drank such a drink before coming to Novus, it was quickly becoming a staple to her morning diet. Her long days required energy, energy that the coffee was able to provide her.

So after her breakfast and her soft goodbyes to Kibou, she and Finnick set off on patrol. It was uneventful, as it is most mornings, but Katniss doesn’t complain in the least bit. It’s nice to not have to worry about battles and bloodshed, about who would be the next to die. It allowed her patrols to go by so much quicker and it allowed her to spend more time with her soldiers.

It was nearing noon when she made it back to the barracks, happy to see that her soldiers were awake, fed, and training. Meandering through the blocks of soldiers, she watched them idly as they practiced where to inflict the most damage. Katniss had a citizen trained in anatomy of the horse to come and help teach them the weak spots. They were doing well and training seemed to be going better than expected.

But it was her name, called out on the wind, that caught her attention. It wasn’t a voice she could recall hearing before. Curious, she turned to see the brown and black mare coming towards her. She politely excused herself, leaving the XO in charge while she went to see what the mare wanted. She recalled her name being Luvena, but she hadn’t met the mare formally.

Stepping closer to the mare, she could see that she was several hands taller than her with a vastly different body type. Where Katniss was tall and muscled, Luvena was shorter and rather frail looking. But where Katniss had scars that told stories on every inch of her body, Luvena’s hide seemed flawless. “Yes?” Her voice was soft as she looked down at the mare, her eyes searching hers. “What can I do for you?” If she remembered the ramblings of her son correctly, this mare was a medic. Kibou had always longed to be a medic so even if he hadn’t met them all yet, he knew each and every medic by name. She seemed to fit the description he had given. What would a medic possibly want with a soldier?

@Luvena

Katniss watches the mare carefully, trying to figure out what she might want from her. She still thought that perhaps Kibou had spoken to her and she wished to train him in the arts of medicine. While she appreciated the desire to ask for permission, her son was growing up and he was old enough to start doing things on his own. Perhaps she was asking as a formality.

However, when she began to speak, Katniss realized just how wrong she was. Luvena was not here to discuss teaching her son about medicine. No. She was here to ask about battle plans, something Katniss should know a lot about. She nods her head as she listens quietly, knowing the mare has a point. In regimes before the current one, no one had cared or wanted to put any sort of plan in place. Over time and with experience, Katniss had realized the need was there. And so, she had drafted something to bring to Ira. Luvena couldn’t possibly no about this yet, so Katniss would go easy on her.

When she finishes, Katniss can see the passion in her eyes. She can see the way the topic has brought her great strife in the past and she knows that the mare only wishes to avoid that same fate in the future. In fact, it was quite admirable that she took it upon herself to raise the question. It showed a willingness to protect her court and Katniss admired that.

Katniss offers the mare a soft smile, hoping that she might cut some of the tension. “I too have had the same thoughts recently, though without the experiences that you have gone through.” She does not want to dismiss her past experiences, but let her know that she is serious about this issue, even if she has not gone through similar experiences. “In fact, I have drawn up a proposal to bring to Ira when I meet with him in a few days time.” The proposal was already drafted and safely kept in her small hut she lived in just outside of town. She had just been waiting for the right time to bring it up to Ira. His reign was just beginning and there was already so much for him to do. Katniss only wanted to give him a few days to collect himself before she brought this particular matter of state to him.

Katniss motions for the shade of a nearby canopy. “Come, I’d love to hear your ideas. Perhaps you have thought of things that I have not. My draft can always be amended.” The sun was out at full force and the canopy offered a bit of shade and comfort. Katniss wanted to make sure Luvena knew that she was giving her full attention to the issue at hand.

@Luvena

Katniss was thankful that she seemed open to joining her in the shade. While most of her morning was out in the hot sun running drills, at least this would be done in the shade. There was no point getting all hot and bothered when they could have a friendly discussion beneath the shade of the giant oak tree.

As she handed her the folded piece of parchment, Katniss took it and began to unfold it. Eyes began to scan the paper, reading every word that had been written so perfectly. With each line she read, she would nod or mutter a “mmmhmmm” in understanding. He admired her work. She had put much time into making this list and preparing for this meeting. Now it was up to Katniss to also do the same.

Just as she was going to begin to share some of her plans, Luvena spoke again, this time offering that perhaps, they should build up their stores of herbs, bandages, and remedies. “Perhaps the medics can have a weekly or monthly task to bring back items you would need. I’m sure we can find a place for storage. I’m not even sure there is a clinic here in Denocte. Perhaps we can build you one.” While she wasn’t a contractor, she had enough brute strength to help build something sturdy as a makeshift hospital or clinic. There could be an added room for excess storage, much like they had an armory or storage for surplus food.

Katniss sighed softly. “I will bring all this up to Ira. I wanted to run drills, per say, to teach basic first aid and defense to all of Denocte. It would not be too far a stretch to ask the soldiers and medics to take this task further to have drills designed for just them.” She folded up the piece of parchment before looking back at Luvena. “Can I keep this? So I do not miss your points when I speak to our Sovereign?” She hoped she wouldn’t mind. Katniss wanted to do right by her. She didn’t want to miss anything because really, they were all good points.

@Luvena