AN: Hey everyone sorry for the delay but here's chapter three. Just so you know there is a POV shift in this chapter and in future chapters there will be more of this. It will mostly be half Katniss half Peeta with some 3rd person here and there. Anyways enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Woods

The songs of mockingjays woke me the next morning. I turned to my side and found Peeta still asleep, his arm wrapped protectively around my waist.

The air was cool around us and I realized he was shivering gently. I sat up carefully, as to not disturb him, and a fabric slipped from around my body. It was Peeta's jacket. I guessed that I'd gotten cold during the night and Peeta, always thinking of others before himself, must've taken off his jacket and wrapped me in it even though he himself was probably freezing the rest of the night. I rolled my eyes, now he'd probably catch a cold. Stupid Peeta and his overly caring nature.

I shifted again and this time a pair of deep blue eyes stared back at me.

"Morning," Peeta mumbled sleepily. I took in his current appearance. The sun glinted over him and his ocean eyes sparkled, his hair and long lashes glinting back the golden sunrays. He was wearing only an undershirt and his very well defined chest was clearly visible to me.

I felt myself blush as I realized I'd been staring for too long. "Oh hey um good morning," I stuttered out.

Peeta chuckled at me and pulled himself up and into a sitting position making his muscles flex. I dragged my eyes up to his face again. What was wrong with me today? I handed him back his jacket thanking him profusely.

I stood up, wanting to get away from Peeta for the moment. Everyone else seemed to be getting up as well. Cato and Clove were just waking up while Rue, Vixen, and Thresh were sitting around the old campfire dividing Vixen's stolen food among us.

We ate, then packed up and headed out into the woods once again. I wondered what was happening in the Capital, in District 12. I thought of Prim. Surely she'd be worried by now. There was no way that the districts didn't know what had happened in the arena, after all it was broadcasted live all over Panam. Just another embarrassment to the Capital I'm sure. Suddenly I wanted to go back. To run home and hold Prim, to see Gale, even my mom, but I knew that was impossible. We had no idea where the arena had been in the first place and now that the smoke from the sky wall was gone we didn't even know where the rest of the arena was. We were completely lost; our only since of direction was forward.

Rue's voice broke through my thoughts, "That's weird. I don't recognize any of these plants."

We all paused and looked around at the foliage. It was unlike any I'd ever seen before. It looked almost tropical but it wasn't. The trees had grown to such a towering height that I doubted any of us could reach the top. The sunlight was blocked by the plants causing the ground to become darker and damp.

I spun around searching for the path we'd come from but it was gone. We were completely surrounded by the tall brush.

"Does anyone recognize anything," Cato asked.

Everyone shook their head and at this took a step closer until we were huddled in a tight circle, everyone wearily observing their surroundings.

"Well there's no use just standing here is there," Thresh boomed behind me.

"He's right," Peeta added. "Let's keep going."

We continued to trek forward; the thicker plants making it harder to pass. Peeta and Cato stood in front hacking at the undergrowth with swords and keeping watch. I stood directly behind Peeta and Clove was right behind Cato gripping on to his non-hacking arm tightly. Behind us Vixen and Thresh walked at a good pace, Rue once again perched on Thresh's shoulders.

As we journeyed deeper into the woods the noises started to change. The familiar chirping of small birds was replaced by loud squawks and whooping howls. The only recognizable noise was that of the occasional mockingjay singing some distant tone, but even those became less frequent. I didn't like it at all. The forest was my element and I couldn't feel more out of place here if I tried. I could tell the feeling was mutual however and that made me feel better and put me slightly on edge at the same time.

We finally decided to stop when we found a gentle brook. We built a small campsite and took a dip in the water laughing and splashing at each other even though I could tell it was more forced then the easy feeling in the cave. Craving that sense of comfort I sat down next to Peeta who was sitting on a boulder on lookout duty.

"I don't like this place," I confessed. "I hate not knowing what's out there, only that it's probably dangerous."

Peeta turned to me and breathed out much calmer then I would've expected. "It's not all bad. I know your worried and uneasy being here," he paused looking for the confirmation that he didn't need to know he was right and then continued, looking out again towards the bank on the other side of the brook, "but if you look around it's actually quite beautiful."

"I hadn't even thought of that," I answered sincerely.

He smiled and proceeded to point out several different species of flowers that I'd missed. Small purple buds littered the floor and long hanging multi-colored species clung to the trees. Peeta's eyes sparkled as he pointed out his favorite and described how beautiful they'd be to paint. My mood immediately brightened and I opened up to him, talking about my favorite flower and telling stories of home as if we weren't lost in some distant strange wood with the Capital after us. And it felt good, better then I'd been able to feel in a long time.

Suddenly he froze something catching his attention up in a tree. He stopped motioning for me to remain quiet and I looked up. A few branches above us sat the most beautiful bird I'd ever seen. It had a black head with a white circle of feathers around its eye. Its body was a beautiful turquoise color and under its stomach was an array of orange plumage. The most sticking element however were the two huge black feathers the stretched from its body and ended in small circles farther down the branch. Peeta motioned for me to scoot back so that our bodies were pressed against the trunk of the tree and I watched in awe as the small creature moved from branch to branch and finally rested on the ground where we were.

Beside me Peeta whistled a little tone and the bird turned quickly cocking its head to the side and watching him warily before repeating the same little song back at him. Peeta pulled his hand out from behind him and I saw a bunch of berries. In a flash of motion the small bird was settled on Peeta's hand picking at the group of berries that sat there. He handed me a handful and soon the little bird had jumped to my arm and was repeating the process. As soon as it was done it looked at me tweeted its little song and then flew off disappearing behind the trees on the other side of the creak.

"How did you know," I whispered quietly still awed by Peeta's gentleness.

"Know what?"

"The bird, you knew how to call it over," I said.

He smiled gently, "I heard it before I saw it and replicating calls was how I've seen animals up close, it puts them at ease. That's how we got our pet wolf," he said fondly before continuing, "I figure it works no matter where you are."

I chuckled gently. Peeta would know the right thing to say even when dealing with creatures.

"Hey love birds care to join the rest of us or are you too busy?" Thresh yelled up at us.

We both blushed like crazy and then jumped down from the boulder and walked towards the small camp. A huge leaf tent had been set up and a small fireplace was burning, some sort of rodent was being cooked over the flames and I guess Cato had nabbed it due to the huge wound in the creature's side.

"Is that thing even edible," Rue moaned out.

"I don't know!" Clove ranted. "All I know is that we shouldn't be setting up camp in the middle of some weird forest. Who knows what lives in this place? We should move!"

Cato chuckled at her, "Clove were not going anywhere. We'll be fine."

I watched Clove's eyes grow fierce with rage. Having to dig nails out of my skin once again became a very real possibility.

"Fine. Stay here and die! See if I care," she huffed before turning and stalking of towards the woods.

Before she made it anywhere however she froze and squeaked quietly. I immediately went on alert and moved slightly to see what she had seen. I froze.

Clinging on the bark of the tree stood a huge lizard about the size of my arm span. Greens and reds swirled around like puddles on its skin where it stood face to face regarding Clove.

"Clove don't move," Peeta cautioned.

"I wasn't exactly planning on it," she murmured.

I watched as the lizard opened it mouth, razor sharp teeth rounded it mouth in three distinct rows and its forked-tongue changed colors as well, from yellow to orange to red like a flame.

At this Clove jumped back and that's just about the moment where everything got completely out of hand.

The lizards tongue spewed out wrapping around Clove's arm. She yelped and swung her arm backwards, which caused the thing to lose its balance and be swung around. Clove spun around in a circle and finally the lizards tongue slipped and it sailed in the air crashing right into Vixen and knocking her back a few feet. I watched in horror as she kicked the thing sending it right into the cooker and open flames. The lizard made a shocked sound and jumped, its claws clinging onto Cato's face. He grabbed at the creature and tried to rip it off his face and it ended up being thrown into our tent, bounding of the ceiling, and going back in Clove's direction. Clove kicked it straight on and sent it sailing over our heads towards Thresh.

"I got it!" Thresh yelled. He yanked a huge piece of plant root from the ground and held it up like a bat. As soon as the lizard was close enough he swung sending the animal straight into the air and barreling into a tree. The lizard shook its head back and forth and then stared right at us, hissed, and then crawled away deep into the forest.

I stood there with Peeta and Rue just staring at the rest of our group in shock. Our whole camp had been destroyed by the ordeal. Suddenly Rue burst out laughing. Seconds later we all were, laughing and exclaiming about who looked most ridiculous at which point.

Once we finally managed to control our laughter Peeta turned to Clove.

"Still want to go out into the woods?" he said smiling.

Clove snorted and pulled herself closer to Cato who put his arm around her.

"No thanks I'm happy right here."


A light knock announced the visitor's appearance in the president's chamber.

"Enter," came Snow's reply.

The guard walked in nervously shuffling his feel. The smell of blood and roses filled his nostrils and he wrinkled his nose slightly in disgust.

"Yes," Snow said irritably. "Have you found the tributes yet?"

The man shifted on his feet, "Well you see sir the…the problem is that um..well..they're not exactly in the arena sir."

Snow chuckled and the guard nervously laughed as well. Snow turned smiling at the man who grinned slightly back.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY'RE NOT IN THE ARENA!" Snow yelled slamming his fist into the table and standing to his full height.

The guard shrunk back immediately, "Well they're not there.."

Snow growled turning to look out his window at the rest of the city.

"But you'll be happy to know sir, that we've found tracks and we have a general direction for where they were heading."

"Well isn't that just splendid," the President barked sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"Well about that. You see, the thing is, they are heading towards the direction of well….the district sir."

Snow spun around quickly. "District 14 huh. Well that just won't due. It won't due at all."

"Were going to send out search groups of course and its quite unlikely they actually went that way and either way its over a months travel so they cant possibly have gotten there yet but…"

"No no. Halt all troops."

"President Snow you aren't suggesting we just do nothing are you?"

Snow chuckled a cruel smile forming on his face.

"Oh no soldier I simply suggest an even better way."

The soldier wrinkled his brow, confused. "Sir?"

"Send out the Hound."


AN: And there's chapter 3! From now on I'm not really sure how often I'll be able to update but I'll try to make it as soon as possible. I actually know where Im gonna have this story go now and all the action is yet to come.

As always thanks for all the continued support. Reviews keep me motivated :)