So this is my first, and probably only Hunger Games Fanfiction. I'm only posting this because I had an assignment for school to write a short story, and I decided to do a fanfiction, specifically for the Hunger Games. Anyway, I know it isn't all that long and great, but it is what it is. Enjoy!:)

Peeta

The rocks were slippery as I stumbled down the side of the river. My heart was beating like crazy and I was moving as fast as I could. Call me a coward, but I wasn't ready to die. Cato's heavy footsteps pounded and squeaked as he raced after me, yelling angrily.

"You can't run forever, lover boy!" he shouted, and his words rang true as I slid on a rock and fell painfully on my side. I groaned, rolling onto my back just as Cato's wicked grin stood over me. A tracker jacker sting bulged on his cheek.

"Well well, the little traitor couldn't get away?" I watched as he pulled his sword out of its sheath. Trying to run away was no choice, but the thought of earlier, and Katniss managing to escape the alliance with the bow was what kept me strong. Even though I had risked my life, she would survive.

With another smirk, he brought up his sword over his head and slashed down at me. I covered my face with my arms and squeezed my eyes shut as I felt pain like a hot wire go through my leg. I tried not to cry out, but a muffled pained sound escaped me. I felt as if he had cut my leg off, and wouldn't be surprised if he did. Opening my watery eyes back open, Cato had a look of victory stamped on his face. He squatted down so that he so close that his breath fanned my face.

"I'm just going to leave you with the cut, lover boy. Have fun dying," With that, Cato disappeared from my sight. I tried to sit up, but my leg was sending up hot flames throughout my body.

I knew why Cato had left me. I could get nowhere with a leg like this, so finding food or shelter was going to be near impossible. Either that or someone will find me and will kill me.

The next few hours, or days, whichever since I had lost track of time slipping in and out of a daze was painful. I had tried crawling onto land, but shooting me on the spot would have been less painful. I used my nearby resources wisely, using mud and moss to camouflage myself with the riverside. I would slowly pour water into my mouth from the river that I was half in, careful not to wash away the camouflage on me. But besides that, I had no food.

It wasn't until I heard footsteps sliding over the rocks that I became the most awake I were since Cato had cut me. I squinted, knowing the passerby wouldn't be able to notice me unless I made any sudden movements, and tried to make out the figure. They were only a few feet away from me, but my heart nearly stopped when I became familiar with the silver bow strung across her back, and mussed up braid.

I lifted up my head, and spoke, my voice rough "Katniss,"

She pulled out an arrow on instinct when she heard me, holding up the bow. But when her widening eyes found mine, she lowered it. "Oh my god, Peeta,"

She ran up to me sliding, and tried to help me up in a sitting position. A groan escaped me, and I shook my head. "Cato, he cut my leg pretty bad,"

But for the first time since Cato left me to die, with Katniss now by my side I had that strength I did when Katniss escaped the alliance; a new, nurtured energy to keep me going.