1:4 – Improper thoughts.
I set out to rejoin Cato, thankful for Peeta's improving health, and pleased at the prospect of confounding the Gamemakers' arrangements. I had thought of converting my plastic sheet into a makeshift dress, but Cato would want to know where I found it. He mustn't know I returned to Peeta, nor of my meeting with Finch … Foxface's real name. I'm risking my life returning to Cato now. He may think I've outlived my usefulness now that Thresh is dead.
As I near the lake I take extra care. There is no sign of Cato where he was hiding earlier. I move to the bushes where I left my clothes. Gone! I search around for any sign of where they went, but all I find is my mockingjay pin lying in the grass. It must have fallen from my jacket when I caught my jacket in the bush. I pin it onto my underwear before moving to where Thresh must have entered the water. Again, nothing. I look for a trail to follow. Where would Cato go now Thresh is dead?
There's been too much movement to and fro to pick up Cato's trail from here. It occurs to me that he will either search for me or for the Gamemakers' bags. But which? I check the Cornucopia, but he's not there. I'm not willing to risk calling out his name. That could be an invitation for an arrow in the back. Cato is well armed while I only have a small knife. I need to find him before he finds me.
I'm starting to get cold. The pleasant sunny morning is turning into a cool overcast afternoon. Storm clouds are forming and heavy rain is coming. I've long since given up trying to preserve my modesty. I'm not the first Hunger Games tribute to lose all or part of their clothing in the arena and nudity isn't frowned on. Although I'm not comfortable with the thought of prancing around almost naked in front of the entire population of Panem, what options do I have?
I find a tall tree not far from the Cornucopia and the shattered remains of the supplies I blew up a few days ago. I climb the tree to get a better view of the area. It's a difficult climb and I gain more than a few cuts and scratches. But the view is worth the effort. I slowly check each direction for signs of Cato. I'm rewarded after ten minutes when I spot a flock of birds taking flight in alarm about half a kilometre away. I watch the area for a while and finally glimpse something larger moving about. I've not seen any animal bigger than a rabbit in the arena, so I'm fairly sure the cause is human. Since Peeta was still unconscious an hour ago it means the person can only be Cato or Finch. I'm fairly sure Finch wouldn't be so clumsy as to alarm the birds, so it seems likely it is Cato.
I watch for a while and catch a few more glimpses of movement. Finally I can identify the person as Cato. His blond hair is unmistakeable. He's heading in this general direction and from the way he is swinging his sword at defenceless bushes, he doesn't seem to be in a good mood. I think I'll stay here for now until he calms down.
He passes beneath my tree without looking up. He ignores the Cornucopia and makes for the lake. He's still in sight when the rain starts. He decides to return to the Cornucopia for shelter. Not that it offers much. I'm in no better position up here. The foliage and branches above protect me to some extent but not against a deluge. A distant sound of thunder makes my mind up for me. I decide to scramble down. This tree could easily be struck by lightning. Fortunately Cato cannot see me from the mouth of the Cornucopia.
By the time I reach the ground the rain is becoming heavy and the thunder more frequent. I'm still uncertain about approaching Cato, so I keep to the bushes around the edge of the clearing surrounding the Cornucopia. I've not gone far when I see a small wooden crate in the bushes. It must have been thrown there in the explosion and escaped notice until now. The crate is broken but the some of the contents are still intact. I manage to salvage ten cans of soup. Then I see I'm in luck; the crate is lined with a white gauzy material. By cutting the lining carefully I make a strip long enough to wrap around my chest. I feel so much better now I've restored some degree of decency.
The rain is getting heavier by the minute and my new top clings to me in a way that leaves little to the imagination. I gather as many of the cans as I can carry and head for the mouth of the Cornucopia. I'm virtually on top of Cato before we see each other in the gloom.
"I've brought lunch," I say, hoping to diffuse the tension before Cato reaches for his sword.
My offer of food and my skimpy attire seems to do the trick. Cato doesn't reply but visibly relaxes. The wind is blowing the rain into the mouth of the Cornucopia, so only a small strip near the back wall is out of the rain. Cato may not be about to kill me, but he isn't inviting me into the dry either.
"May I come in?" I ask when it is clear he isn't going to invite me into his shelter.
"Some explanations first," he replies. "Firstly, where have you been for the last hour or so? Where did you get this food? And why have you returned here rather than head off to join lover-boy?"
"Where have you been, is a more appropriate question? I thought you and I were allies. You were supposed to be watching out for Thresh. Instead he nearly kills me and you are nowhere to be seen," I snap. "I had to swim far along the lake to find a safe landing place where I could be sure I was clear of Thresh. … The food was in a broken crate near the remains of the supplies."
"Hmmph. Yes, alright … I suppose you have a point. I didn't see Thresh enter the water. By the time I did he was too far out for me to hit him with an arrow. I followed the shoreline in the direction you were going but the swampy ground made it impossible for me to reach you. By the time I picked up Thresh's trail he had dumped your clothes in the lake and was nearly back to his own clothes. I managed to catch him by surprise. He won't be troubling us any further. Then I went looking for you and the bags Thresh had taken, but found neither. … Alright, you can come in out of the rain, but leave the knife where I can see it. I see you've found the motivation to remove your trousers."
Not exactly the warmest of welcomes, but at least he hasn't tried to kill me … yet. We settle down and open a can of soup. This is my first meal today and I enjoy every scrap despite the soup being cold. The dry space in the Cornucopia is very small and I have to practically sit in Cato's lap. Not that he seems to mind, and his proximity protects me from the chill wind.
Then he does something I never thought him capable of doing. He removes his shirt and puts it around my shoulders. I feel a lot warmer although his bare chest plays havoc with my emotions. Finch is right … he is good looking and very fit. I battle with the improper thoughts running through my mind. I even toy with the idea of offering to share his shirt, but that would mean pressing close and I don't know if I can trust him … or me … not to let things get out of hand.
I relent in the end and we sit huddled together for warmth. I know sitting this close to him is dangerous. If he chose, he could kill me with his bare hands before I could defend myself. The danger of the situation somehow makes it all the more enticing. I simply sit quietly with his arm around my shoulder thinking about … er … yes, well, never mind what I'm thinking about.
"Do you think the Gamemakers and the viewers will approve of us sitting like this," I say after a while.
"The Gamemakers won't approve … they want us to kill each other, not be friends. The viewers will be more tolerant. They have a soft spot for a little romance. Have you and lover-boy been keeping them happy in that department?"
"Not really. If you recall, Peeta was part of your gang earlier on in the Games. Something I've not forgiven him for yet."
"A snake in the grass he turned out to be … for us both. I thought I fatally injured him when he helped you to escape the tracker-jackers, but clearly he wasn't hurt as bad as I believed. Do you know where he is hiding now?"
"I'm not leading you to him, if that's what you are asking."
"So you intend to betray me when the time comes," he says, placing his hand around my throat.