Katniss follows the small wisps of light, wandering aimlessly in the dark, foggy night. The path is dimly lit, but this is a forest she knows all too well. But something about it is different. Even as she travels the path, she feels lost and confused, as if the path has a mind of its own and has been leading her down a path she has not traveled before.
And if the path is not unfamiliar enough, the forest changes again. This time, the foliage is turning to gemstones. The leaves begin to turn to crystals, the trunks of trees appearing to be encased in gems. There is a breeze that makes the crystal leaves bump into one another, filling the otherwise silent night with music. The notes form lines of music and the lines form an entire symphony. There is something eerie about the music that she hears. It is almost like a sirens call. It calls her forward, guiding each step she takes with caution.
Finally the path begins to open up into a clearing lit only by the full move above. Katniss steps from the forest, feeling so exposed and vulnerable. At least amongst the trees she had cover. Something makes her fur stand on edge. Perhaps it is the music the crystals are singing to, perhaps it is the chilled breeze that wraps around her, or perhaps it is what stands before her.
Ahead of her looks like a cemetery. Crystals and gemstones rise from the ground and appear to look like tombstones that are flickering in the moonlight. As Katniss steps closer, the cries for help have all but disappeared. But what comes in their place is the figure of something, or someone, that she has never seen before. The way she drags her feet make scrapping noises along the clearing floor. Her eyes have no pupils and yet, she manages to stare her down. Her hair seems to float as if she is underwater. It takes Katniss several long moments to really take in the spirit before her. Surely this was not the one calling for help. Katniss admires her for a moment, admiring the beauty that she emulates and the horror that Katniss knows befalls her.
And as she takes in her surroundings, she seems Moira just off to the left. She knows the mare well, and she only makes eye contact for the briefest of moments. When Katniss turns her attention to the spirit, the white void where eyes should be is staring back at her. It sends shivers down her spine and makes her feel uneasy. But the warrior is ready for a fight should a fight be what this spirit desires.
She listens quietly as the spirit begins to speak. At first she is confused. Which is worthy? Which is true on the inside? She looks to Moira to see if the other mare has any idea what this spirit is talking about. But before she can speak, she is speaking again, asking them to answer a question that will somehow give the spirit the knowledge of who is true and worthy.
And when she asks her question, she wonders if this is some sort of test or trap. Why is this mare asking this question of them? What will she gain from their answers? But Katniss knows her answer. She does not have to think for she knows what she will say. “I should hope to never be bestowed this gift for unparalleled power leads only to destruction and ruin. Too many times it only causes more greed and selfish acts. I have worked too hard to befall that trap.” She pauses a moment, not wanting to leave the question truly unanswered. To say that she would reject such power was not exactly the answer the spirit was looking for…or was it? “…but if such a gift was forced on me, I would use it to serve others. To bring peace where war once was. To fill the bellies of the starved. To protect those who have no one to speak for themselves. There is so much good in this world and to use the power for anything other than cultivating more good seems foolish.” So many would use the power for riches, glory, or fame. Katniss wanted none of that. She wanted Metaphor back. If she could bring him back with such power, it would only prove a difficult choice. Katniss knows that necromancy is a dark art and nothing good will come of it. Such a temptation would be so hard to resist. But deep down, Katniss knows that she can only use this power to help others - not herself. It wasn’t about her anymore, it was about the greater good.
