The Strongest Ally

"CATO!"

I heard her call my name. Her voice sounded rasp, almost like a loud croak. I dashed towards the clearing where the Cornucopia was placed, regretting the moment when I told her to get our bags where the feast was held. I know she's fast and intelligent enough not to get killed by the other tributes itching to get their precious bags; I have placed such a great responsibility on her shoulders. I told her I'll be at near radius from her, hiding in the bushes for a kill. Her voice called my name for the second time again followed by an ear-splitting scream that I am not aware that she could utter.

Clove is a strong girl. She is the bravest girl I have ever met. She knew what she was doing when she volunteered at the reaping; brown eyes that flared with bravery, I know she would be a perfect ally for me.

But during the pre-games, Clove proved to me that she isn't just a mere ally for me neither just a friend in the games. She is more than that.

I stormed my way to the group of bushes in front of me, not minding if they were scratching my skin with their long sharp tendrils or thorns that began to prick me like needles. At this moment, my mind is set on reaching Clove in time. She was calling me; screaming my name as if she is already dying. God, I hope she is still all right once I get to her. It would surprise me if I find her dead at the Cornucopia. Not just caught me by surprise, it would make my world crumble down. Only Clove's presence kept those pieces from falling down to me.

Is this my weakness?

I am almost at the clearing, the gold colored Cornucopia shining before me like a trophy made of real gold. I pushed through the thick berry bush and met the sun's glare into my eyes. I looked away from the skies and turned to the Cornucopia. A rustling of leaves on my left caught my attention; I held my sword protectively before me. Is that the girl from district 12? The rustling passed and my thoughts came back on finding Clove. I will get back to that tribute after I find Clove.

I pushed a bush in front of me and to my utter shock found Clove sprawled on the grassy ground, blood enveloping her body. I run as fast as my feet could carry me and almost dove beside her limp body. She is still breathing, but she looked so worn out and pale that almost gave me the impression that she is already dead.

I lowered my sword on the ground. I can be vulnerable just this once, knowing that the other tributes have already left the feast as all their bags have been already claimed. "Clove?" I whisper her name, like the rustling of leaves above our heads.

She stirred in my arms, her eyes slowly opening. I looked down to her face; the shadow from the Cornucopia making her face darker. I ignored the slimy feeling of blood on my hands as I held her head down to my lap.

Clove is dying. A blow to the head must have caused it.

"Cato?" she whispered my name, her voice almost crackling. I silence her, holding to her already limp body. I wanted her to feel she is not alone, that I will always be here with her even if she is already fading away.

"Rest. You will need it." I lied.

Clove forced a smile on her lips, her eyes almost blank and emotionless. I regret the day that I will not ever see the sparkle in her eyes. She was radiant when I saw her in her gold dress during the Chariot event. She was sparkling gold; her eyes twinkling as we waved hands to the audience. I imagined her again with her orange colored dress during the interviews; how she flirted with me, commenting how brute and handsome I looked in my suit. I reckoned she was mocking me.

I have grown being complimented by my strong demeanor yet I am too embarrassed to accept the fact of being commented as handsome. Only Clove made me feel like that. During my trainings in our district; I was the perfect bet to win the hunger games. I am strong, very powerful and not easily distracted with killing people. I was known to be a young boy without any glint of fear and vulnerability, that I am a person who finds being weak nauseating.

"Cato?" her voice trailed off.

I looked down to her face, regretting the moment when I have to see her eyes look into nothing. I smiled at her weakly. "Stop being stubborn Clove!" I cannot show weakness, especially that I am being filmed at the moment.

I went to the games with a strong demeanor. I will walk out of the games with a strong demeanor. Even if I don't want it to be, it just had to be.

"Sorry. I cannot go home with you." her voice sounded distant.

I fought the tears back. I cannot be weak. I cannot cry. I cannot let her words waver me. I am Cato of District 2. I am the deadliest tribute around. I am strong. I will be the victor of this hunger games.

"You're coming home with me!" I exclaimed at her but she just smiled to my face and before I could tell her not to think of leaving me, her eyes began to still; empty and lifeless. I gritted my teeth as I closed her eyes.

The last image of her when she told me to come to her rescue if she gets into trouble in the feast shook me with such intensity that every inch of my life began to rattle; thirsty for revenge.

As I lowered Clove's body down to the ground, the sound of the canon boomed in my ears. I stood up and saw a hovercraft almost coming to where I stayed. I looked at Clove's body for the last time and imagined the first time we met during the reapings. Clove stood at the platform, a strong demeanor radiating with her as she looked at the audience with her fearless eyes. When our eyes locked to each other when we shook hands, that was the time I felt a strong attraction to her.

Clove is different. She is strong. She was strong.

I turned my back from her dead body and dashed to the woods before me. The only things on my mind right now is to kill those other tributes, avenge Clove's death, win the games and go back to district 2; to the place where I first met her.

"I will win for Clove!"

This is my only way to show how I cared a lot for her. Even if she cannot see it anymore.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HUNGER GAMES; ITS STORY AND CHARACTERS BELONG TO SUZANNE COLLINS.