I'm increadibly elated to hear that you all like the spawn of my imagination. As for the grasshoppers, hopefully all questions will be answered in this chapter.

As for when Peeta comes in, its only a few more chapters. Hang in there ladys and gentlemen.

This is the last pre-written chapter...sooo the next update might take a few days. But just remember, reviews make me wright faster ;)

Enjoy!

Im running as fast as my legs will carry me.

As soon as I saw the first grass hopper I knew what was happening.

Once I see Gale I start shouting. He turns to look at me in astonishment, and I run up to him. I don't have the breath to speak, so I point. I point to the giant humming black cloud flying towards us. Gale's eyes widen and he is instantly shouting at the boys to get to the house. Then we are running. I try my best to keep up with them but their legs are longer than mine, and their stride takes them farther. My mind becomes clouded with heat and exhaustion, causing my knees to go weak, but I keep pushing. Then as luck would have it, my foot gets caught in a hole and down I go. I let out a small shout as I hit the ground.

I see Vick turn when he hears my cry. When he sees me he runs to my aid. He helps me to my feet and I feel a sharp stab of pain in my right ankle that makes my knees go weak. Vick simply scoops me up in his arms and continues to run. When we reach the house Finnick is waiting for us with the door cracked slightly, enough for him to see us coming without letting in any grasshoppers. We all quickly scramble inside and shut the door tight. I have Posy run and check that all of the windows are shut while I tend to my ankle.

I inspect it gingerly. I'm lucky, it's only a sprain and can be taken care of simply by wrapping it. After having done so using a piece of leftover calico I begin to prepare dinner. As I am stirring the pot of beans my mind wonders to the chorus of crunching outside and my heart sinks. Grasshoppers were known for their ability to strip crops bare, leaving farmers profitless and forcing them to struggle until the next harvest. I decide to stay optimistic. I tell myself that there will be crops left when the grasshoppers leave. Even if there isn't Gale is a smart man and I know that he won't let his family suffer. I desperately will myself to keep these optimistic thoughts as I set the table and call the children and Gale to eat. One by one the children enter somberly and take their seats at the dinner table. I ask where their father is. No one knows. I quietly tell them to go ahead and eat before walking out of the kitchen.

I search the house over and find Gale nowhere.

Until I reach his bedroom.

He's sitting on the side of his bed with his head in his hands. I've never seen him look so…vulnerable. I take a couple careful steps into the room and after about my third step the floorboard creaks. His head shoots up and I gasp.

"I-I'm sorry Gale. I didn't… I didn't mean to startle you. It…well it's just that supper is ready, and I didn't know where you were….and I… well I got worried….so I went looking for you and when I found you…you j-just l-looked so…s-s-sad and—"

"I'm scared Katniss….for the first time since my Johanna di—" he stops short and takes a ragged breath, "for the first time in three years…I'm truly scared. I'm scared of the uncertainty…..without these crops I don't know how we'll make it through the year… even if there is some crop left, it won't be near enough to support six. I just don't know what to do." He clears his throat and wipes his hand across his face. I walk slowly towards him and sit beside him.

"Gale, you are a smart man. I know that you will figure out something. The Lord has a plan for us all. He will never give us something that we cannot handle, and in the end we will come out a stronger individual." I put my hand on his back and smile, he looks at me and I can still see some sparkle in his eyes. It's that moment that I know it will work out.

The next day the whole family wakes early to help salvage what we can of the wheat. Abigail rides with me on the small wagon and makes sure that everyone gets plenty of water while the men throw bits and pieces of wheat stalks into the wagon, and Finnick searches for leftover grasshoppers to mutilate. It's a long hot day with frustrating results. We are only able to salvage enough wheat to earn the profit to last about a month.

Terrible isnt it? Dont worry! All will turn out right in the end! Or will it? ;)

Reveiws make me happy!vvvv