A/N Now this one took me a good few days to write due to a very large headache but never mind here it is. Gotta say this one is a little bit dark but this is the hunger games series after all.
This one is a Gale POV. Enjoy!
Disclaimer i do not own The Hunger Games.
Chapter 3 The Woods
The sun is already high in the sky as I feel someone shaking my shoulder, trying to coax me into conciseness. In my hangover haze, I think it's my mom or maybe Katniss come to wake me, so the smile vanishes the moment I open my eyes and see Peeta staring at me. The smell of bread is overpowering around him and I admit its not un pleasant. I let out a yawn as I sit up on the leather sofa, my head isn't hammering as much as I thought it would be but I bury my head in my hands. I think a morning in the woods would clear it.
From in-between, my eyes I see Peeta gazing down at me, a reserved look upon his face as he asks, "Where's Haymitch?"
I just shrug and mutter about him going upstairs to pass out. He nods and leaves the room, the sound of his footsteps, too loud, on the staircase. I reach over and slip my shirt back on, as Haymitch's previous words come back to me. 'Can you stop thinking about your own goddamn feelings and try to put yourself in there shoes!' His words really had got to me and then the memories had brought the tears as I sobbed myself to sleep. I know he's right; I have no idea what she and Peeta are going through. I take Haymitch's advice and imagine losing Posy, Vick or Rory the sorrow I feel is immediate but I know that it would be even worst if it really did happen.
I remember back a few years ago when Vick was eight. He got sick and caught a fever, in those days; it wasn't uncommon for people to get bad infections and drop dead in the streets. Of course, most people in 12 died from starvation or overwork in the mines. Those few days had been some of the hardest. My mother had spent a lot of time with him. I had looked after Posy and Rory as much as I could but I still had to go hunting, trade in the hob and do my schoolwork. On the forth day of the fever, Vick had gone very pale. I had carried him to Katniss's mother and begged her to look at him; after she examined him, she had sent Katniss and me into the woods to find some herb. I had no idea what I was looking for but she knew and found it in less then an hour. It would have taken me so long that it could have been too late for Vick. The relief I felt the day his fever broke was so overwhelming that I let out a small sob with everyone else.
'But she will never feel that relief' I think to myself. I'm still not sure if it was a capitol or rebel hovercraft that dropped the parachutes but I can't help but blame my stupid brain for coming up with the idea. Another wave of grief and sorrow comes over me as I remember Haymitch telling me who was lost in the explosion, and then the nightmares came.
The sound of Haymitch's yelling drifts from above me before I hear a set of footsteps coming down the starts and moving into the kitchen. A few moments' later Peeta returns to me, a glass of water and a plate with a few slices of bread set upon it. "Would you like some bread Gale?" he asks me. I search my head for how I feel about it him, I never really hated him. It was more jealousy then hatred I felt before. He's not a very different person now. He still looks the same, same blue eyes, same blonde hair, same burn scars on his arms and it seems he still has the same kind heart. But every so often you can see his muscles tense for a moment before they relaxes, I do feel sorry for him, no one should have to go through what he's been through.
I nod and accept his offer. The bread is good and hearty, with nuts and raisins and smooth rich butter spread on it. He joins me, sitting in the chair Haymitch was in last night before he stumbled upstairs. We sit and eat in silence. It's not awkward or a comfortable silence but something in between. When I finish, I put my plate on the floor and look at Peeta who has also finished.
"Thank you Peeta" I say looking into those clear blue eyes.
"Your welcome Gale" he says back using the same formal tone that I used.
I think back to the last time we spoke, hiding in Tigris shop. It was strange feeling almost as if we were friends. I try to put myself in Katniss's shoes back when he threw the bread to her. Imagine myself in the rain, behind the bakery, so hungry and exhausted. Then a stranger shows me some kindness that no one else has showed me. All I can see is how id owe them and how I could return the favor. Is that what Katniss had thought? I'm not sure but I think she probably would have. She hates owing people. She doesn't owe me a damn thing everything we have or had, I correct myself, was always shared evenly but I fell like I owe her so much right now that it hurts.
I'm brought out of my thoughts by the sound of Peeta's voice. "So what are you planning on doing today?"
"Hunting" I say with a shrug, "help with the rebuilding, maybe try and see her. I can't bear to think of her over there by herself"
"I thought I saw someone go over there before I came here, maybe a doctor?" he suggests.
"She doesn't need a doctor," I say with anger, "she needs her friends, she needs her mother she needs…you."
"She needs you too" he whispers
I just shake my head, "no, no she doesn't. She wouldn't be able to look at me without thinking of Prim"
He doesn't correct me, knowing that he can't change how I feel or just not willing to admit that I am right.
Peeta stands up collects my empty plate before saying "Gale remember what Aurelius said? We can't see her. She's still in shock; we have to wait for her to come to terms."
"I remember," I whisper. He just nods and makes he's way back upstairs, 'probably to check on Haymitch' I think to myself. "I remember". My words reverberate around me. I remember her asking me for knowledge, I remember her singing to a Rue, Remember her shouting at her mother to give me medicine, Remember her kissing me as I lay in a haze of Morphling and I remember the look on her face when I gave her the last arrow.
I stand up, slipping my jacket on, collect my bow, quiver, and blot out the door. I spot the dead rabbit id shot yesterday and hang it from my belt an idea already formed in my head. I will go to her. I need to.
My feet move swiftly to her house and see the back door open. 'She's still in the kitchen' I think to myself. Moving to the open door, I get a surprise when I see Greasy Sae standing at the kitchen counter, her granddaughter at the table reading a book. "Hi Sae" I say in my shock.
"Ah hello Gale" she response with her bony grin. "Didn't know you were back, thought you'd take that job in district 2."
"Couldn't do it," I say with a shake of my head. I lift up the rabbit. "Brought this for her, thought she'd like some game"
Sae smiles, thanks me and take the carcass. "How is she?" I ask. Her smile falters a little before she shrugs. "Still in shock, I think. Aurelius sent me here to keep and eye on her and make sure she eats"
"Can I see…" I begin to say until I here a loud bang above us, then I here her voice screaming. "She's dead you stupid cat!, she's dead!" then I hear the unmistakable wailing of buttercup joining her own loud sobbing.
Pain, grief, sorrow, guilt and other emotions run through me as I turn and bolt from the house. I run as fast as my legs can go and then push them even further. I trip a few times, my face slamming to the dirt, covering it with mud, grass and ash. The tears started to fall in the kitchen and are in full flow when I go under the fence and hit the woods. My footfalls continue to thunder through the woods, scaring away game and kicking out dirt behind me. I trip and fall again but this time my head hit's something hard and I can't bring myself to get up again so I just curl into a ball and scream out my sorrow.
I must have slept for a little bit because the sun is behind me when I open my eyes, I sit up, slowly run my hand over my forehead and winch when I feel a large bump above my left eye. Looking around, I winch again when I see where my legs have taken me. The hard thing my head hit was our boulder, our meeting place that overlooked the valley, the place were we use to mimic Effie Trinket and I would rant about the capitol, the place I used to be happy I think to myself. The blackberry bush behind hangs heavy with fruit and I take a handful and sit on the rock eating them slowly. I think back to the last time we were here.
It was back when the rebels where shooting 'propos'. We sat near here and a group of Mockingjay's had gathered above us, then Katniss sang 'The Hanging Tree'. I remember the sound of her soft beautiful voice singing as all the birds fell silent to listen. I hum the song to myself, as I feel a tear fall down my cheek remembering how I thought that I could really relate to the man in the song. If I'm honest, I can still relate to him.
'Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree'
My voice is too harsh, too shaky to sing but I continue to sing as the tears fall. My eyes gazing into the distance.
'Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree'
The handful of blackberries falls from my grip and my hands start to weave odd shapes.
'Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where I told you to run, so we'd both be free
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree'
My eyes closed tight as I am surrounded by sorrow at not only my own loss but also everything as I sing the final verse.
'Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree'
My voice fades away as I try to suppress the sobs. When my eyes open again, I am looking down into my lap and I see a noose lying in my hands. My shock at what ive created stuns me, I remember my hands making shapes but I do not remember digging out the rope from my bag. I think for a second before throwing the noose into the valley, watching its progress until it drops beneath the treetops below.
I get up and walk back to district 12 disgusted with myself. Along the way I strip a few bushes of there fruit and pick up some mint leaves. Chewing them as the fence comes into view. It still feels strange to be walking back to the fence with my bow hung over my shoulder. I laugh a little when I stop to listen for the dim hum of the fence before remembering that it will never again be live.
I come out in the meadow, happy that it one of the few places in 12 that is not covered in ash. Dandelions, poppies and other flowers sway in the gentle wind as I look all around me. In the distance I hear the sounds of people rebuilding, a stray laugh calls out in the distance. I make my way back pass my old house towards the merchants square where I see a lone figure moving around the front, of what remains, of the old bakery. I already know who it is before I get close to him.
I hear Haymitch's words again, 'you could give him a hand'. This whole day has been hell, ive wept more then I should and while ive been feeling sorry for myself. Peeta has been looking after Haymitch, the others who came back and even me, but who has been looking after him. His family and friends are all dead.
"Peeta!" I call out about ten feet away from him. He gives a small jump, his hands ball into fists as he turns to face me.
"Hi Gale" he says as I stand in front of him. I can see the slight redness around his eye and see that he has been crying aswell. He must have seen the same thing around my eyes but he does not say anything about it. "Been hunting?"
"Yeah, couldn't see any animals but I got some fruit" I say pulling out a few strawberries and offering some to him. He takes a few and bites into the flesh and chews as the juice runs down his chin.
I look towards what is left of his old home. "Haymitch said you were going to rebuild it", he just nods "want some help?" I offer, my hand outstretched.
He looks into my eyes, what is he looking for? Does he think I'm joking? Does he see the man I was before? Full of anger and hate or does he see the young boy who almost single handily took care of his family after his own father was blown to bits. He takes another moment, gazing at my hand before looking up at me. A small smile breaks on his face as he nods and grasps my hand in his.
A/N "The Hanging Tree" I don't know about you guys but I love and hate that song. Gale and Peeta friends? Hummmm what do you think? Why not let me know your thoughts in a review?
Couple things Ive gotta say before I finish. Firstly ive written a new one-shot Fanfic called "Birthday Surprise" so why not check it out and leave me a review. Secondly ive recently become a boyfriend again so now I don't have as much time as I did before for writing this but I will try my hardest to keep this updated.