Greasy Sae. Ripper. Madge and her parents. Even the new Head Peacekeepers; all dead. I pull at the black stockings that cling to my thighs as Gale, Haymitch, Finnick, Plutarch and I trudge our way through the sands covering the outskirts of District 13. "There is no District 12" I can still hear those awful words reverberating in my head as clear as the periwinkle sky above us. I had chosen to abstain from speaking with Gale, not that it would change anything; he was just someone to blame at the time. So was Haymitch, but dialogue between us had literally become monosyllabic on both our parts. "There is no District 12" I can only hope that Prim and my mother are safe, as Gale told me earlier, though it's getting harder to trust anyone now. "Stop dragging your feet!" Haymitch snarls, and I grind them into the tawny sand just to annoy him. It has the desired effect; he looks as if he wants to scratch my eyes out.
The other three in our ragtag entourage say nothing to intervene. Their patronizing pleas and verbal chastisements have not been uttered since we left the hovercraft. Almost two days ago. We could not make the entire journey via said aircraft because we had to throw off the President, who was hot on our trails. We couldn't lead him straight to District 13, now could we? "Honeysbee, how far are we now?" I ask innocently. I could see him grimace at the nickname I'd dubbed him as lately. "If we make haste, we should arrive at the gates by nightfall." he sighs. "We'd be making a lot more haste if the Mockingjay would stop dragging her feet" I heard Finnick grumble. Before I can start my rant, Honeysbee cuts in "We're all tired, so let's everyone stop taking offense to what the other does" Haymitch nods "The sooner we get there, the sooner we'll be out of each other's company" This silences us, but does nothing to alleviate my growing fatigue. Nor Gale's either, because he soon stops to rest of his own accord. Not being able to deny him in his current condition, Haymitch does the same; the tacit cue for us to follow suit, though none would admit this. "Katniss, the food" Finnick says impatiently. I smirk, feeling empowered that I have some control in this dismal situation. But it fades too quickly, driven off by the image of when I'd fed both myself and little Rue in the first arena, how she stared at her leg of groosling questioningly.
I ration out the dried fruit and leave the bread for Finnick to distribute. Though the Quell was over, he still fondled them for a few seconds before handing me mine first. My thoughts go back to the others; Johanna, Peeta, and Enobaria. Are they still alive? Maybe they're dead by now. No, not Peeta. If anything they'll keep him alive and torture him. I stop thinking, because I don't like the fact that moisture has slipped down my cheeks. Gale scoots next to me and I turn my back to him. He strokes my arm "They're fine" he says, as if reading my mind. I relax and nibble a little more on the pale green roll before passing it to him "Here, you need it more than me. And besides," I add in a low tone, "It's not as if I could eat anyway"
"Katniss--" Honeysbee begins, but I cut him off "No, I don't want your pity! Haymitch and Gale are from the same district and you aren't babying them up, are you?" I fume. He frowns slightly but this shuts him up. Gale doesn't hold his peace, though "Katniss, I don't know why you're acting like this! Everyone here has done all they can to help you and you act like such a…" rage does not allow him to finish, and the others pick up where he left off. "Bratty" Finnick mutters "Ungrateful" Honeysbee adds.
Haymitch finishes with "Little ingrate that we're all continuing to despise" I calm because I realize they're right. However, I already have a ready rebuttal "I thought you weren't talking to me, anyway Haymitch" I snap. "Just like you aren't talking to your boyfriend?" He quips, causing my cheeks to redden. "Gale isn't--" I stop, but the damage is done. He retreats to the most private area amongst the vast sandy desert: behind a large dune. I follow and sit next to him, neither of us speaking. I find myself getting angry again, because really he's to blame. I have enough to deal with trying to figure out my emotions towards Peeta, and here he comes to complicate the matter. He is, again, the first to speak "Katniss, who am I?" it's a ridiculous question that I would normally give a ridiculous answer to. But I know Gale better than to look on the surface of his inquiry. "I don't know, Gale, really." He does nothing to hide his distaste. "So you love the boy?" Not Peeta, just 'the boy'. "No" I say uneasily. His gray eyes flicker "So you love me?" I don't respond, and he reacts worse than before. His eyes narrow and it's as if I'm sitting with a stranger now. I touch his arm, but he brushes me away. Not being able to bear his new silence, I plant a kiss on his lips. They've chapped in the merciless sun, but have also warmed considerably. Before I know it we're done, and I don't just mean with the kiss.
