Okay, my first attempt at a Catoniss fanfic so I apologise in advance for how awful this is. I've always shipped Peeta/Katniss and Clove/Cato but I had a dream last night about Catoniss and it really stuck with me. I was dying to get home from school so I could write this fic and I've never been this inspired before.

Basically everything has happened as according to the book so far. Katniss, Peeta and Cato are the only tributes left. Mostly shipping Cato and Katniss but theres enough of Peeta to keep Everlark fans happy. Thanks for reading!

Peeta and I carefully tread through the woods, weapons raised. Every time Peeta steps on a dry twig or stumbles I bite back an insult; I know he's not trying to be loud but he's making it very easy for Cato to track us. Just thinking about Cato, the strong, handsome boy from district 2 makes me shiver. How he can throw a spear 200 metres. How he can snap a neck an effortless ripple of his muscular arms. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I had hoped Cato wouldn't be the last tribute left. But the odds have not been in my favour since the beginning of the games.

An arrow is nocked in my bow, ready to be released at the slightest inclination of attack. I snap my head back and forth, listening intently with my right ear. I scowl. The hearing in my left ear has deserted me since the explosion which destroyed the Careers food. It makes me feel even more vulnerable than I already am. I watch Peeta from the corner of my eye. He is wielding a sword over his head, poised to strike. His jaw twitches. We catch each other's eyes and I grimace. Peeta nods reassuringly, though I see his arm shake slightly. Peeta is not a born killer, unlike Cato; he is a baker's son. He is the boy with the bread, the boy who saved my life, the boy I will never stop owing. I realise I'm still looking at him and quickly avert my eyes, blushing. I can almost sense his smile.

Suddenly I feel Peeta tense beside me. Before I can aim my bow Cato bursts through the trees directly in front of us. He is sprinting full force at us, his blue eyes wide with fear. His usually perfect face is pink from exertion and his blond hair is matted with blood. He pales when he sees me but doesn't stop. My arms are paralysed, my mouth open in an o of surprise. Peeta is likewise frozen. Cato barrels into us, knocking Peeta backwards. I see his sword hurtle from his hand and disappear into the forest. Cato pushes me in front of him and I stumble forward. I try to turn back and help Peeta but Cato bars my way.

"Go Katniss, run damnit!" Cato yells, pushing me harder. His eyes are pleading and I have no choice but to start running. I heed his warnings and force my tired legs to move. My muscles are aching in protest, my legs as heavy as lead. I can hear Cato's heavy panting directly behind me. I look back to Peeta and although he's trying, his injured leg won't hold up much longer. A sweat has broken across his forehead and he's gasping for breath, trying to hobble after us. I slow and Cato stops with me. He follows my gaze back to Peeta. I look on helplessly. Cato doesn't have to ask. He takes one long look at me.

"Go Katniss," he says and sprints back for Peeta. I try to pull him back; I'm afraid he's going to kill Peeta. My mouth opens to warn Peeta but before I can get the words out Cato has an arm under his elbow, supporting him back to the Cornucopia. Peeta's face mirrors my confusion. Just 2 minutes ago we were sworn enemies. Peeta's survival means Cato's death. Why is he doing this? Is this one of his games? I have no time to ponder because suddenly, from behind them a red-coated beast leaps from the tree's, it's sharp fangs dripping with saliva. I stifle a scream and sprint towards the cornucopia, my long braid flying behind me.

I make it to the golden cornucopia and swing nimbly onto it, using the handholds to pull myself to a safe distance. I search desperately for Peeta and Cato and I finally spot them. They are nearing the cornucopia but the beast had narrowed the gap between them. To my horror I see another dozen or so close behind, all foaming at the mouth. They are like no animal I've ever seen. They are similar in size to a bear but run twice as fast. They have wolf like qualities but there is something unnatural about them I can't pinpoint. They must be mutations, created by the Gamemakers to make the final brawl interesting. I fight back the urge to throw up. Cato and Peeta have almost made it to the cornucopia. I get on my knees and beckon them.

"Hurry Cato," I cry as the first mutt bounds forward. My stomach hurls as I realise what is unnerving about the mutts; their eyes are unmistakably human. Bright green and oval shaped, narrowed in rage. Shaking off my unease I reach forward. Cato boosts Peeta up and I pull him to safety. Peeta collapses behind me, taking wheezy breaths. I don't have time to check on him. Cato scrambles up the side of the cornucopia and jumps for my hand. I stretch as far as I can and his hand locks firmly around mine. I breathe a sigh of relief as I clasp both Cato's hands. He looks just as relieved as he smiles up at me. Abruptly I feel a tug on my hands and Cato yells in agony. Simultaineously, I hear the crack as his knee is pulled from the socket. I can see the first mutt has its jaws clamped around his leg and is snarling hatefully. My mouth becomes dry when I see the collar hanging around the mutations bulky neck; it reads district 5. I swallow. The bright green eyes, the red fur. The mutt is Foxface.

I shake myself off and heave Cato upwards as hard as I can. His brow knits in pain and a weak cry escapes his lips, red with blood. His eyes are screwed shut. I look helplessly to Peeta. He is spread eagled in the middle of the cornucopia, chest heaving. Blood has soaked his trousers; his wound must have re-opened as he was running.

"Peeta," I scream, tearing my vocal chords. "Help me Peeta!" He still seems to be in a daze and cannot hear me.

Frantic, I turn back to Cato. His eyes are going out of focus, his eyelids drooping. The mutt is still hanging to his mutilated leg and the other 21 mutts are eagerly yapping at its heels, baying for blood. I feel myself slowly being dragged further towards the edge. I try not to show my emotions to Cato. I attempt to look calm, to reassure Cato. To my surprise, he is laughing quietly.

"You're a terrible actress."

"What?" I say, taken aback. Cato just chuckles, shaking his head from side to side.

"Let me go Katniss," he croaks. I shake my head furiously.

"I'm going to bring you down with me if you don't let go Katniss. You and Peeta have a chance of surviving this, I never did. Just let me go and you can go home, you can see Prim, and Gale." I jump at their names. How did Cato know about my sister? He had always seemed heartless, a killing machine. Hadn't he portrayed himself like that for the interviews? What really confused me was his mention of Gale. I had never mentioned Gale to anyone but Peeta; it wouldn't have fared well to tell the Capitol of my best friend Gale when Peeta and I were supposed star crossed lovers. How did Cato know about Gale?

Cato seemed to able to read my mind and smiles feebly, despite the obvious pain in his leg. The mutt jerks on his leg again and Cato slips another 3 inches. His face is deathly white against his red lips; a small trickle runs down his chin. I gulp back unexpected tears.

"No," I whisper, almost inaudibly. Cato pulls his left hand from my grasp and dips even further. I try to regain my hold but he jerks away from me. I feel my muscles shake as I try to keep hold of him. My hands are slick with sweat and his hand is slipping from mine. "Don't Cato, don't do this." I grit my teeth in an attempt to keep hold of him. My forhead is beaded with sweat and I'm hovering over the edge of the cornucopia.

Cato smiles sadly and his hand slips from under mine. He falls backwards and lands hard on his back. He is immediately swarmed by mutts, yelping excitedly. His anguished cries pierce the night, mingled with the frenzied barks of the mutations. I clench my teeth in rage and pick up my bow, lying forlornly at my feet. I take aim and fire an arrow into the skull of one of the mutts attacking Cato. It rolls heavily onto its side, its brown eyes lifeless. I swallow back bile as I see the number 11 of the collar. But as Rue's mutt falls to the side another 3 take its place. I shoot another between the green eyes and bring down the largest with two arrows. From the glimpses I catch of Cato I see him swinging his sword wildly and bringing down three mutations together. I know he won't go down without a fight. I take down my fourth beast right through the eye, like I did the squirrels when hunting in district 12. I notice my arrows are dwindling but I continue to shoot them into the throng of mutts. Too soon, the quiver is empty and I take my hunting knife from the lining of my jacket. There are 10 mutts left and I see Cato's sword lying forgotten in the grass. His cries are getting less frequent but each sends a pang through my heart. I take aim as I've seen Clove do at training and let the knife whistle through the air. It embeds itself in the back of a yellow mutts head and it keels over. My lip trembles as I realise there's no way to save Cato now. We are both weaponless. My eyes fill with tears and I turn away from the mutts, unable to watch anymore. Cato's whimpers catch my attention.

"Katniss," he cries. "Katniss. Katniss." I slump to my knees and curl into a ball. I'm shaking uncontrollably. I put my hands over my ears, trying to block out his helpless calls but I can still hear Cato calling my name. "Katniss, Katniss, Katniss." He's not calling for help. He's calling for comfort. I feel hot tears spill down my cheeks and soak my shirt. I'm begging to hear the cannon, to know his suffering is over. But there's no sound but Cato calling my name in death.