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𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦

chapter thirteen !

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In the meadows laid Juniper Wildsong in Coriolanus's lap. The breeze was free and the sound of the children from the Covey was heard in the background.

Life couldn't get any better. Everything had gone to plan, Coriolanus and Juniper were finally able to be together, alone without being separated.

Juniper couldn't help but feel grateful as they lay there, enjoying in the warmth of one other's embrace. She gazed into Coriolanus's eyes and softly whispered, "I never imagined a love like this could exist."

Coriolanus smiled, his fingers gently tracing circles on Juniper's palm. "Every moment I've spent with you is a blessing, my love," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity.

Together, they watched the sun slowly descend towards the horizon, casting a golden glow over the meadow. The breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers, creating an atmosphere of serenity that seemed to reflect the peace they had found in each other.

Juniper sat up, "What if this was our life, Coryo?" She asked suddenly, her gaze was focused on the glistening lake as the sun reflected through the water. "Out here."

"Waking whenever. Catching our own food. Living out by a lake — I mean, would you still feel a need for the Capitol even?" June soften her face as she looks over to Coriolanus.

A young boy runs over to the, giving June a flower he had picked out from the ground, "Why thank you, my dear." Her voice was sweet like honey as she took the flower.

She twirled the flower as she examined it, "It's a little bit too early to go picking, Maude Ivory." Juniper warns. "No." The little girl replies.

"No." June laughs to herself as she hears the girls respond. "Early for what?" Coriolanus asks not understanding. "To eat the roots." June explains, "Pretty little thing but it's determined."

Juniper gracefully twirls the flower once more showing off its beauty. "Some people call it Swamp Potato. But I think Katniss has a nice ring to it." Juniper smiles as she talks.

"What do you think?" June asks Coriolanus while she still looks at the flower. He doesn't say anything — actually he gives a weird glance over to her when she speaks.

"What are you to lovebirds doing?" Lucy Gray teases as she walks up behind them. "Oh nothing." Juniper smiles softly. She cups Coriolanus's cheeks and presses her lips upon his.

"Alright that's enough." Lucy says before anything else could happen that she didn't want to witness. "Your just jealous." June scoffs as she pulls away from his lips.

"Me? Jealous? Oh sure." Lucy Gray rolls her eyes before spinning around to head back into the small barn while the others.

"Are you okay?" Juniper asks as she notices how Coriolanus looked, he wasn't as happy as he was when they first met.

"I'm fine." He says as he gets out of a trance. "You know you can trust me out of anyone in the world, Coryo." She smiles as she holds her hand to his left cheek

"You can trust me to." Coriolanus replies almost in a whisper tone. Juniper smiles before planting another kiss on his lips.

𓆙

"I think..." Coriolanus paused for a moment, "She's in love with me." It sounded like he struggled to say the words out loud. He confided to Sejanus — the only person who knew about this secret relationship.

"Well do you love her?" Sejanus asks his best friend. "I don't know.." Coriolanus replies as he sits on the edge of his bed.

Sejanus sat down next to Coriolanus and placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "It's okay, Coryo." he said gently, Coriolanus nodded, grateful for his friend's understanding.

𓆙

June she walked onto the stage, "How's everybody doing?" She asked as she held onto her guitar but she only got a handful of cheers of excitement.

At that, she chuckled. "I'll be performing a brand-new song I wrote tonight. It's about someone very important to me." She addressed the speaker at the microphone.

She glanced over to where Coriolanus sat, their eyes meeting. From her place on the stage, she can see he was smiling at her. She smiled back at him before looking away, starting to play the guitar.

"Everyone's born as clean as a whistle. As fresh as a daisy and not a bit crazy.
Staying that way is a hard row for hoeing. As rough as a briar, like walking through fire." She saw several folks in the audience slow dance while she sung and flowed gently.

"This world, it's dark, this world, it's scary. I've taken some hits so no wonder I'm wary. It's why I need you. You're as pure as the driven snow. Everyone wants to
be like a hero. The cake with the cream or the doer not dreamer."

"Well, doing's hard work, but it takes some to change things. Like goat's milk to butter, like ice blocks to water. This world goes blind when children are dying. I turn into dust, but you never stop trying. It's why I love you."

Coriolanus paid particular attention to her, she looked so beautiful up their on the stage. He was unable to look away from her, his smile was always beaming. Even his friend, Sejanus, started to notice how he was acting.

"You're pure as the driven snow. Cold and clean. Swirling over my skin. You cloak me. You soak right in down to my heart. Everyone thinks they know all about me."

"They slap me with labels and spit out their fables. You came along and you knew it was lying." Juniper continues to sing while strumming her guitar. "You saw the ideal me and, yes, that's the real me. This world, it's cruel with troubles aplenty."

"You asked for a reason, I've got three and twenty. For why I trust you. You're pure as the driven snow. It's why I trust you. You're pure as the driven snow." Her words echoed as everybody cheered for her.

June grinned broadly when the audience erupted in cheers. Her smile vanished the moment she spotted Coriolanus making his way through the throng and toward the lengthy hallway. She hurriedly put down her instrument and left the stage to go after him.

— alisha has something to say !

i finally have the good quality of tbosbas, hooray ! almost didn't update today 🤗

snowlndsontop another chapter is published !