The fall festival was supposed to be a time of happiness, of laughter. And yet, there was a part of the festival that was tailor made for her, it seemed. She had studied many cultures over her many years, and she had learned so many ways to honor those that had passed on. So many worship or celebrated death with alters, candles, and vigils. Tonight, Katniss would honor those traditions. She would honor her loss and pray to the gods that he traveled safely into the afterlife.
In a quiet corner of the markets, away from most of the hustle and bustle, was a quiet tent lit with candles of all shapes and sizes. There were pictures of fallen heroes, of mothers, of fathers, of friends, and of enemies. But each was honored in a beautiful way and today, it was her turn to mourn the loss of someone who meant so much to her.
Stepping up to one of the unlight candles, she grabbed a small stick that had been left smoldering in an urn close by. Taking the stick, she gentle lit her candle, watching as the flames flickered to life. Placing the stick back into the urn, Katniss looked at her flickering light for several long moments. “He is beautiful, Metaphor. So vibrant and full of life. He wants nothing more than to help people and be just like you. He’s listened to hours of stories about your, wishing that he could have met the person who meant so much to his mother. He is perfect, he is yours.” She lets her eyes close softly, wishing, hoping, praying that Metaphor got her message, that he will look down on his son from time to time. Kibou was growing with each passing day, looking more and more like his father with an attitude cut from the exact same cloth.
With a heavy sigh, she turns her back on the flickering candle and begins to head out of the tent. But as she slips through the doorway, she so rudely nearly bumps into another. Startled, she halts and takes a step back, her eyes searching for those of the unfortunate soul who has found themselves in her path. “My apologies…I was not watching where I was walking…” Her thoughts had been clouded, her mind preoccupied. She should have been paying more attention. She should be looking to the future and not on the past.
