Darius is a peacekeeper that you literally only meet once. I had to write something in his POV for english class so bam.

 Patrols from the Capitol have become much more abundant in the last few days. It is rumored a celebrity would be here today. Not just any celebrity, but snow.

I've never been a big fan of Snow. Growing up in the Seam, I've always had the blunt end of his order. Blowing up district 13? Everyone else thought it was a fantastic idea, but the people of District 12 were still scrubbing the 'graphite' powder out of their skin weeks later. Not to mention the stench of burned skin and singed hair that stuck to our clothes and made our eyes water.

I shake my head. It's not time to be thinking like this. My fingers anxiously fiddle with the worn cherry blossom charm in the pocket of my Peacekeeper uniform. I smile, remembering the day that I got it.

Seven years ago. I was still young, maybe thirty. Hyacinth, my oldest son of three, entered our neat little home near the square. He had nothing but the little charm, the red ribbon wrapped around his finger, and a decent sized bag slung over his shoulder.

"Where are your schoolbooks?" I inquire, busying myself with making tea for tonight's meal

"Traded 'em." He smiled. "At the Hob. Got some nice things. Think you're gonna like this." He put the bag, probably full of meat and other goods, on the mahogany table and walked over to me, the little charm in hand. This was the first time I'd ever seen anything outside of district 12

"They grow in a place called Japan. Very far. I'd like to go there someday." He explained to me. I gave him a stern look At his age, he should've known that that comment could be detrimental to my job, to our family.

With his muscular build, he could've passed as my brother, but his soft, soothing forest green eyes contrasted from everything even slightly menacing about him. The gene was passed on by his mother, who had left this life prematurely, tuberculosis claiming it. The medicine worker in the Seam, possibly the best in the district, Mrs everdeen, was with her until her last moments

Although we were very well off in the square, Hyacinth insisted on working in the mines. He was planning on running away to the North, so he was 'building up his strength.' As soon he turned 18 he began working at the mines. Then there was the explosion.

I shake off the tears in my eyes as I nod a hello at my fellow Peacekeepers. I smile, pretending not to notice the white rose petals littering the street. The sun is just beginning to come up, the time that Katniss would normally be returning from her hunting trip. Normally. Today isn't a normal day, though. Today is the day that she begins her tour around Panem. Sadly, that means no fresh game today. She's probably in her nice big house, away from all of this fuss and mayhem.

My assumption was proven wrong when I arrive at the hob in search of duck stew at Greasy Sae's, and instead stumble upon the young girl, her pockets full and eyes careful as she tries to decide what to buy. Part of me is angry at her for having that much wealth, but I know it's well earned. She ambles over to the next aisle of the hob, the one where Greasy Sae sets up, and I hope to catch her there. After looking around for a minute or two I head to that isle myself. Sure enough, Katniss is hunched over a small, damp blue bowl of brown-broth soup. Her hair is in its usual braid and her pin is glistening proudly on her chest. That's probably the only proud thing about her. I put on my goofy smile, although my heart is beating rapidly, my palms are sweating like Niagra Falls, and walk over to Sae's stand. She returns my smile and gives me some of the gross looking stew. Although it's absolutely revolting, it's probably one of the best things in District 12. I know Katniss is aware of my presence, but I don't talk to her until she acknowledges it. She looks up.

"Aren't you supposed to be on a train?" Great. The first thing that I've said to her in a year and it's an insult. Thankfully she takes it the way I meant it, as a joke. She smiles at me.

"They're collecting me at noon." Her face suddenly falls, probably at the realization that she has to leave home again. I try to lighten the mood by looking around like I'm going to tell her a secret, then whispering loudly.

' "Shouldn't you look better?" I joke and play with her braid a little. She brushes my hand off.

"Don't worry," her voice is thick with sarcasm, she spits the words out like venom. "By the time they get through with me, I'll be unrecognizable." A pang of guilt hits me. I can't help but pity her. I try to bring the mood up, my way for dealing with anything serious.

"Good, let's show a little district pride for a change Ms. Everdeen, hm?" I mockingly shake my head at Sae. A bright voice chirps my name behind me and I spin around to see Aster and his friends. I lay a couple of coins on the counter and take note of Sae's request for the bowl back. I'll take it back during rounds, I'll just have to remember to put that on my agenda.

"What was that about?" Aster's piercing blue eyes were trained on the paper in his hands, he always had one. It must've been an arrest report. He was a go-to for revision on papers, but sadly that meant he always had his nose in a paper.

"Just talking to a friend, is there a problem?" I bark in a circumspect tone. It's an inside joke between Aster and me, two Peacekeepers that never really take on that kind of voice unless something is greatly wrong, or we're joking.

"No, I'd just rather you talk to me." His voice is light as his eyes break away from his report and gaze into my own. I smile and take his hand, walking with a new spring in my step.