AN: I'm loving the reviews!
Katniss
I tiptoe through the woods quietly, my bow and arrow following the sound of animal footsteps. I aim and shoot. There goes another rabbit. I pick the rabbit up and put it in my game bag while thinking I'm not as good as I usually I am. I got three rabbits and five squirrels today. Normally I get a lot more but my mind is understandably not into hunting because I keep thinking about the uprising in District 8.
After the beeping had went off a week ago, the Mayor had come rushing into his office in a panic and made us promise not to tell anyone what we knew. Obviously, Peeta and I agreed and tried to forget about it but I think everyone at the party new our minds were elsewhere. Peeta and I only talk about it when we're out of our camera-filled houses and we had told Haymitch about it a few days ago but I think he already new.
I arrive at the lake and sit on a log. I empty my game bag on the floor and start skinning the animals while looking at the small little cabin to my right. This is my favourite part of the woods. My father used to bring me here when I was younger and we'd swim in the lake and splash around quietly.
"I thought you'd be here," a familiar voice says and my father reveals himself.
"You thought correct," I reply and he sits next to me on the log and empties his own game bag, which is filled with about fifteen animals.
"I see you didn't do as good as you normally do," he says in a kind voice and I shrug. "What's on your mind?"
"A lot of things. There's an uprising in District 8," I tell him, knowing I can trust him more than anyone… well, maybe- just maybe, except Peeta. "I see," he says like we talk about uprisings all the time.
"And you know President Snow came to the house a few days before the victory tour?" I ask and he nods. "Well, he says I need to convince the other districts that I love Peeta." I sigh and he looks at me.
"Do you?" he asks and I look away.
"Do I love Peeta? Yes. In what way? I really don't know. Sometimes I-" I pause. Should I tell my father this? Wouldn't it be weird telling my father how I feel? But maybe he can help me, give me advice.
"Sometimes I want to kiss him but I don't know if it's because I love him in that way or if I just want to. I have explained this to him and he tells me not to worry but I feel so guilty because he loves me. I don't know why. I've been so horrible to him and he still loves me!" I find my voice is getting louder and louder so I shut up.
"He's a great kid and there's worse guys out there," he says.
"I don't think there's anyone better," I reply and he smiles.
"You two need each other and I think you might love him. But that's my opinion. If you don't want to marry him then don't," my father says and I sigh and drop the squirrel I'm skinning.
"I have to marry him or Snow will hurt one of you. He'll either blow up the mine or make Prim get reaped. I can't let that happen and like I said if there's no one better than Peeta then there's no one at all!" I take a deep breath and say what I've been thinking we should do, "I think we should run away."
My father stares at me. "I don't know, Kit-Kat," he whispers and I huff.
"Dad! It's the only thing to do. We take to the woods and make a run for it!"
"Katniss, think about this! They could catch us and turn us all into Avox's- or worse… kill us!" He does have a point…
We stay in silence for about five minutes before my father stands up. "I'll go to the hob and sell this wild turkey," he says and puts the chicken in his game bag, leaving the rest of his catch with mine.
"Okay. I'm going to stay here for a while longer," I reply, he nods and then leaves me wondering about my options. Stay? Or run away?
I make a fire and cook a small squirrel. After eating it I stamp out the fire and pack all the skinned animals in my bag. I start walking through the woods at a slow pace. My bow and arrow in my hand. Finally, I get to the fence. I slide under and stand up.
Maybe I should talk to Peeta about all this, I decide and head to the bakery. I see Peeta walking into town and run to catch up with him. "Peeta!" I yell and he turns around with a smile on his face. "I need to talk to you," I pant and he frowns.
"Why? What about?" he asks in confusion.
"I have an idea," I say.
"Go on…" he presses and I sigh.
"We run away!" he searches my face to see if I'm serious and finally realises that I am.
"Maybe we should talk to Haymitch about all this," he replies and I sigh.
"So, you think it's a bad idea too?" I ask.
"I didn't say that. I'm just saying we need to discuss things with Haymitch. We don't want to make things worse for everyone," he says and puts a hand on my shoulder. He opens his mouth to talk but stops at last minute.
"What?" I ask as a confused expression takes over his face.
"Can you hear that?" he asks and I listen carefully. The sound of a big talking crowd coming from the square fills my ears. We start walking towards the sound without talking.
When we reach the square we both realise something bad is happening. We try to fight through the crowd but it's too thick. Peeta stands on a crate and helps me up. I look around and my eyes fall on a weeping Prim and my mother. Panic rises in me. "Katniss," Peeta gulps. "… Get out of here!"
"What? No," I say and jump off the crate. I fight my way through the crowd until I'm at the front and I can see what's happening. My father's wrists are bound to a wooden post, the wild turkey he killed earlier lying at his feet. He slumps on his knees and looks lifeless. Oh no! I hear a scream and everyone looks at me. That's when I realise it came from me. I clamp a hand to my mouth and stare wide-eyed at my father. He's dead!