"Katniss Everdeen, the famous Mockingjay, and her boyfriend, Peeta Mellark," Shepard says, and then shakes her head, "That's not fair, sorry. I never met the guy, and as far as I know they were just playing it up for the cameras. But I knew Everdeen, a little. They threw her in with us outworlders, for couple of arenas, then she stopped coming back, and..."

Shepard motions with one hand, a chopping, tossing kind of gesture. Thrown out, like the rest of those who died and never returned. Gone, dead in truth, as far as she or anyone else knew— or, Shepard hoped she was dead. There were worse things than death, for a rebellious tribute, and Katniss was too clever for her own impulse control.

"She was a good kid. Decent shot too— we watched each other's backs, once in a while. Shame how it shook out. You know her?"