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Katniss-hold-pearl

The pearl in Katniss' palm.

"Sometimes when I'm alone, I take the pearl from where it lives in my pocket and try to remember the boy with the bread, the strong arms that warded off nightmares on the train, the kisses in the arena."
Katniss Everdeen[src]

This pearl was found by Peeta Mellark inside an oyster while he was diving for seafood in the 75th Hunger Games arena. He gave it to Katniss Everdeen as a gift and promised that he would protect her. Although a small token, the pearl was a clear message of love from Peeta, and Katniss knew it; she kept it close by her and constantly protected it, as Peeta had vowed to protect her.[1] While residing in District 13 following her rescue from the arena, Katniss kept it in the drawer that held her clothing and few possessions.[2]

History[]

Catching Fire[]

Peeta-oyster

Peeta finding the pearl in an oyster.

After Beetee made a plan to shock the water in the arena of the 75th Hunger Games, the tributes decided to make a feast of seafood. This included diving for oysters, and when Peeta pried one open, he found the pearl. He told Finnick Odair that when enough pressure was placed on coal, it would turn into pearls.[1] This was an inside joke between him and Katniss, referring to Effie Trinket's mistaken pronouncement before their last Hunger Games, which confused pearl creation with the creation of diamonds.[3] Katniss closely guarded his gift, thinking that it was the only gift she could truly accept. She knew that her mother and Prim would know to return the pearl to Peeta if she died protecting him, as she was positive she would.[1]

Mockingjay[]

Katniss later brought the pearl to District 13, waking up in the middle of the night and looking at it. She kept it in a drawer in her unit inside a silver parachute that also held the spile, which she had received in the arena.[2] Just before the bombing of 13, Gale Hawthorne went back to Katniss' room and retrieved it, along with her hunting jacket, her mother's wedding photo, the plant book, and the contents of her dresser drawer.[4]

Katniss also brought the pearl on her mission to assassinate President Snow with Squad 451; she kept it in a pocket in her uniform throughout the Battle of the Capitol.[5] When Katniss dropped the keys to unlock Peeta's handcuffs in her pocket, she heard them clinking together.[6] After that, the pearl was returned to Katniss's house in the Victors' Village, along with her other belongings.[7]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Catching Fire, Chapter 25
  2. 2.0 2.1 Mockingjay, Chapter 3
  3. The Hunger Games, Chapter 6
  4. Mockingjay, Chapter 10
  5. Mockingjay, Chapter 18
  6. Mockingjay, Chapter 21
  7. Mockingjay, Chapter 27
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