The wolves closed in around me. I was running like my life depended on it - I guess my life really did depend on it - but they were faster. Rue's mutt, with the luminous eyes and small build, lunged for me, but a new wolf pawed her aside. This wolf was strong and had the most menacing expression of them all. It had wavy, ashen fur that looked blond, and blue eyes that gleamed with malice. On the collar, the number 12 had been engraved in coal. A scream rose in the back of my throat. I realized in a flash that Peeta had joined the mutts. That meant - wait - "NO!" I yelled. I ran in desperation. Then a realization hit me. Why run? Peeta was dead, if he had become a mutt - there was nothing to live for. The mutts that were Rue, Foxface, Thresh, Cato, and Peeta overtook me. Peeta's claws readied themselves at my throat as the dream shifted.

I was in the bombing. District 12, my home, was collapsing in waves of fire around me. This was the only home I'd had, and I was watching it be destroyed. I ran to my house, where I lived now in the Victor's Village with Prim and my mother. I burst through the door and found two corpses. They were the bodies of my family, mutated by burns. I ran back into the attack, to see Peeta's seared corpse in front of me. A wave of fire swept over me...

"NO!" I woke up yelling. The wolves - the mutts - Peeta - fire - "AAAAH!" I couldn't help it. I looked around my surroundings. I was in our bed - Peeta's and mine - in our bedroom. Peeta was by my side in our room. I was tangled in the sheets.

"Katniss, was that a nightmare?" Peeta's soft voice washed over me. "Are you ok?" I looked at him with wide eyes.

"You - mutts - bombing -" I started. I began sobbing before I could explain. I was a wreck. Why did he love me? He slid into the bed with me, and wrapped his arms around me. "You're ok. I'm right here, Katniss. Alive and well, and your mother is in her house - just fine. Don't worry."

"I just - there were these mutts, Peeta. The mutts that looked like the dead tributes. They chased me, and then you were - oh, Peeta, you were one of -" I burst into tears. I couldn't even finish telling him a nightmare without getting weak. I didn't know why he even loved a weakling like me. "I'm sorry, but the thought of you - you know, killed - that was all it took to break me. I just gave up in the dream after that. They killed me. I didn't want to - want to live without you." The words hung in the air.

" I can't live without you."

Peeta broke his patient silence he had kept while I was telling him about the nightmare. "Katniss, I'm right here. I will always be right here for you. I love you more than anything, and nothing - the Capitol couldn't even - will ever change that."

His sweet words made me feel like I was melting inside. I curled up a little closer to him. We held each other tightly. Right now, the world could end, and I would be happy. Peeta's arms were the only safe place I would ever have. The inky black landscape of the night, dangers everywhere, was distant. Nothing could hurt us here. Peeta had his arms wrapped closely around me. His lips were warm as he placed them atop mine, his hands pulling me close as his lips pressed onto mine with a sweet passion behind them. He broke away with his lips, but his strong arms held me tight. I whispered into his ear softly, "Never, ever, let go of me."

His voice was sleepy yet sweet as he held me tight and said honestly, " I wasn't planning on it. I'll never let you go."