BELOW IS ANOTHER PARAGRAPH OF MY BABBLE THAT YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO SKIP (I'D PREFER IF YOU READ IT THOUGH). SUZANNE COLLINS DOESN'T DO THESE. BUT WE'RE NOT THE AMAZING CREATOR OF THE HUNGER GAMES. WHICH MEANS WE DON'T OWN IT. CONSIDER THIS OUR DISCLAIMER. A POINTLESSLY LONG ONE, BUT A DISCLAIMER NONETHELESS!"

Hello!

So we put our first chapter up last time and we got reviews and we were so excited and we read them all and we replied to them all and we were so happy andwe took your advice and we wrote more!
So without any further ado, we present chapter 2 :)

Love,

The MockingJayzz

Chapter Two: Allied

I can hear the sound of rain pelting on rocks. I can't see a thing, but I'm sure that has something to do with the fact that my eyes are asleep and not the result of a horrific injury. I'm not sure where I am or what's happening around me, but my mind is starting to work, and I can vaguely hear a muffled voice.

"Katniss?" Peeta sounds worried. "Do you think she lost a lot of blood?"

"No, she's fine. Rest is what she needs most, and I doubt she'll get any with you shouting her name every ten seconds."

My eyes flutter open in surprise. Who's that?

"Katniss - how are you feeling? Are you hurt?'' Peeta looks down at me, a relieved look washing across his face.

I shake my head and felt a great pain, just above my eyebrow.

"I wouldn't move if I were you." There it is again. That voice. I've never heard it before. I look to my right and find Foxface staring at me.

Everything starts to make sense. I was at the cornucopia, about to be killed, when Foxface saved me. I remember axes and blood. And my forehead being cut. Then the canon shot signalling that Clove was dead. And I ran to the cave with the medicine for Peeta … I saved him!

I turn my head, trying to get a good look at hit injury. "How's the leg?" I recall Clove punching me on the windpipe, and I'm glad to find that my voice is back to normal, along with my breathing.

"Much better thanks to you … and Haymitch, of course," His tone of voice suggests that he still hasn't forgiven me for the sleeping drugs.

"I guess the fact that I killed the other girl didn't help at all, did it?" I'm beginning to see that Foxface is a big fan of sarcasm. "Anyway, sorry for interrupting your little reunion, but we need to talk. I filled Pete here in on what happed at the cornucopia, and now you two are stuck with me – so where to from here?"

'Pete' sighs. The expression on his face tells me that he's been dealing with this for a while. "Katniss still needs rest, and I'm hungry, so I suggest we eat, and also take the opportunity to update each other. Katniss and I know nothing about you, so if you're planning to stick around, we need to know what you know."

"That sounds good. Except for one thing – I enjoy mealtimes in silence, so if you don't mind, we'll postpone the meet and greet. Now … what's for lunch?"

An hour later, Foxface is still eating. Peeta and I have finished. I'm sitting with my head on his shoulder, and he has his arms around me. The cave is silent except for the sound of Foxface's chewing.

I move slightly, so that my head is lying on Peeta's chest. It feels good to hear him breathing regularly. His chest moves up and down in a healthy rhythm, and his body is just the right temperature. The infection is long gone.

I breathe a sigh of happiness, and Peeta responds with a smile. He then takes his arms away and helps me sit up. Foxface has finished eating, and it's time to talk.

"So what do you want to know about me?" she asks, taking a seat opposite us. "I'll cover the basics: I was living a normal life in district five. I went to school, I spent time with friends, and I did everything else a teenager does. My life had ups and downs, and I wasn't rich. I didn't have a carefree life, but I was pretty happy. Then my world was turned upside down when my name was picked.

"I decided to leave without the emotional goodbyes. I thought it would make things easier for both me and my family. I spent a couple of days feeling sorry for myself, but soon I realised I had to try. And that's what I'm doing now."

We sit in silence for a moment, none of us sure what to say. I wonder how the viewers are reacting to Foxface's story, watching us from their comfortable homes in the Capitol. Are they upset? Do they genuinely care about us? They must know that at least three more people will die before the Hunger Games are over. They must pity us.

Peeta is the first to speak. "I guess there's no point going into details. What's done is done. Both Katniss and I also had to leave our families - we can't help that. Now we need to focus on the games. We're in the final five, and we're at a serious point right now. Do you have anything you can tell us about any of the remaining tributes?"

Foxface laughs. "I just saved both of your lives. If we're giving each other tips, I think you two will have to go first. Every piece of information comes at a price, and a meal isn't nearly enough to pay me back. You're still in debt."

"Nobody asked you to kill Clove," I'm annoyed. I know Foxface helped me, but her sarcasm has put me in a bad mood. "But if you're going to be such baby about it, all we know is that Cato and Thresh are probably the strongest tributes this year. Cato hates me especially, and we have no idea at all where Thresh is. Happy?"

"Not really. Everybody knew that from the start. But I admit I've got nothing else either." Her smirk reminds me of why I nicknamed her Foxface in the first place.

"What's your name anyway?" I ask. "We've been calling you Foxface all this time."

She laughs. "You're lucky. If I were anyone else, I'd be offended and kill you right away. Well I guess you can keep calling me that, then. But I get to call you two Pete and District 12 Girl. No complaints?"

Peeta and I look at each other, then we both nod, knowing that there's no point arguing. We're hardly worried about names in a place where we could be killed at any moment.

"Now … it's the three of us against the two biggest guys in this competition," Foxface continues. "You need me, and I need you. Allies?"

There's no point in thinking about it, so again, Peeta and I nod. We know that at this point in the games, alliances only last a short while, and refusing to accept Foxface's offer won't help us in any way. We also know that in order for Peeta and I to win, Foxface will have to die. In order for her to win, we both have to die. But of course, no one mentions that now.

"Only one thing left to do today," I say. "We need to get some food, especially since we have an extra mouth to feed. We should -"

"I hope you don't thing you'll be hunting in the condition you're in," Peeta interrupts. "There is no way I'm letting you outside of this cave until you've fully recovered."

"Peeta, you know I'm the best hunter here," I argue. "Besides, I'm feeling a lot better now, and I think -"

But I'm interrupted again, this time by Foxface. "I agree with Pete. You two should stay here, and I'll hunt by myself. How do you think I've been managing all this time? I'm handy with a knife," she adds, with a wicked grin.

Before I can argue, Peeta speaks. "Yes, that's a good idea. I'll stay with Katniss while you hunt."

"Sounds perfect" Foxface smirks. "I've got my knives, so I'll leave right now." And before I can object, she's jumped out of the cave.

Peeta turns to me. He smiles, and puts his arms around me again. "Do you know how long you were unconscious for? Four hours. Four hours of putting up with her!"

"Is that why you agreed to let her hunt?" Some of my anger fades away, and I smile as I think about what it would have been like to put up with Foxface for four hours.

"Well, I admit that's a bonus, but no, not my reason. I want you to get some rest. You're hurt, and you need sleep. I'll keep watch."

"Peeta, are you serious? You just told me I was asleep for four hours! If any of us need sleep, it's you! And you're not saying no this time. Go to sleep now, and we can talk when you wake up."

"But Katniss, I -"

"No buts. I'll be here when you wake up."

A few minutes later, after lots of argument, Peeta has fallen asleep, his head lying on my lap, and I find myself thinking about Foxface. Why did she choose to save me from Clove? What was stopping her from killing me right then? I know the answer to that question. She wanted to join us. But what does she gain from the alliance? Sure, we have a better chance against Cato with three of us. But this late in the game? She must know that in order for Peeta and I to win, we'd have to kill her. It just doesn't make sense for her to be so eager to join us.

I realise suddenly that I don't trust Foxface. She might be up to something and I need to find out what it is. And if she isn't, then I need to be sure of that before I can trust her.

I get up, and spend a couple of minutes camouflaging Peeta. It's risky to leave him asleep and alone, but I know that if I wake him up, there is no chance of me leaving.

When I'm done, I put on my boots, and walk quietly out of the cave. It doesn't take long for me to spot a trail of fresh footprints on the ground that can only belong to Foxface.

I follow them.

Hope you enjoyed :)
There's more coming.
Review!