"Do you think it'll distract them?" Seneca Crane nods to a seated President Snow, fixated on his white rose lapel.

"I'm sure they will figure it out soon enough," he mutters. "They've been so...crafty."

"The heat should help them relocate towards the Cornucopia. They weren't supposed to colonize into completely different corners."

"And as for the star-crossed lovers?" Snow asks with a jilted smile.

"I'll do my best to keep them inseparable," Seneca replies with a slight raise of his chest.

"Until I say so?" Snow suggests.

"Until you say so, sir."

The seal of Panem flashes onto the screen, beginning the recap of tonight's events. Progress has not been made. No tributes have died. No cannons have been fired. The camera feed turns to Katniss and Peeta talking in the water bed. While he cannot hear what they are saying, Gale clenches his fist as he stares at the screen before him.

"Ow!" Prim yelps. "You're going to break my hand, Gale!"

Gale releases his grasp, apologizing profusely. Prim massages her throbbing hand as he makes his way outside. Gale slams the door behind him, grabbing his hunting coat and gloves left inside a wooden niche beside the Everdeen's house.

"Don't leave!" Prim demands, running after him. "I bet it's not what you think! I know my sister! She does whatever she can do to survive."

Gale stops, back still turned.

"Get back inside, Gale. I can't watch this alone."

He turns around, facing Prim's despondent face,

"Why are we watching it in the first place? How sick does someone have to be to watch kids kill each other? If not kill, then starve? I can't take it anymore. The Capitol is full of sick, malicious people. They shouldn't be considered human. I'm going out to hunt, don't wait up," he replies with a heightened tone.

"Katniss. Do it for Katniss, Gale. She can win," Prim replies softly.

Gale gives Prim an endearing look then continues on his onward into the forest.

"I'm sorry," he mutters under his breath.

"Peeta," I say softly as he swims over to look at what the Gamemakers sent us. The look on his face was uncertain. It was a mix between bewilderment and curiosity.

"Since when do Gamemakers send notes?" he responds, now appearing slightly jilted as if he were really hoping it was food. It seems he hasn't been so lucky at finding food as much as I have.

"Since now, apparently. I think our dynamic has really messed with the Games," I say.

We both lay motionless in the water, wondering what ever it is they mean. The heat seems to be getting even warmer, the water less cold than when we first went in.

"We should head towards that main source of water, you know, the one by the Cornucopia. I bet it will be cooler over there," he insists.

"It could. But we don't know who else could be there. The Careers? This could be a trap for all we know," I reply. "But it's a risk worth taking. I'd rather die from a quick blow to the head than from heat exhaustion."

Peeta gives a perplexing look, but agrees nonetheless and we makes our way out of the water.

"What do you think 'more' means, Katniss?" he asks, curiously.

"More action? More excitement? More…oh no," I say as I stop in my tracks. "Gale." I can't help but think of his pain, watching this. The star-crossed lovers scheme. We've never discussed our relationship, nor have I ever considered anything more, but I can't help but feel guilty. Peeta and I have never kissed, I've never even had my first kiss. All I know is that it might be soon. I have to survive.

"What?"

"Nothing. Let's set up camp. I think we can make a great team," I say with an encouraging smile as I clasp his hand into mine.

I could almost make out a smirk on his face as we make our way hand in hand to find camp closer to where the Games began.