The Missing Pieces: Chapter Seven
Noel Dube (aka Kato Everdeen)
"Pick it up and start again
You've got a second chance to escape it all
It's just medicine"
Time stops during dire times, and sometimes it just stands still when you're least expecting it. It creeps up on you and in the amount of time it takes to blink, what was once despair has become hope, what was once fear is now courage.
I clipped and pinned the mockingjay to my breast before smiling to Cato who looked impassive at the recent turn of events. I was confused as to why he wasn't happy for our fortune- I had a bow, we could now have fresh meat, and protection- and then it hit me. Despite how generous the gifts were, they had completely neglected to consider Cato entirely. Why hadn't they sent him anything? He was just as much part of this as I was. My face fell and I bit my lip in confusion and frustration, not wanting to seem ungrateful on camera for the rest of the world to see. It surely wouldn't bode well if I were to need sponsors ever again.
"We're in luck, now aren't we." Cato said appreciatively.
I paused to get my emotions in check before replying, my voice sounding almost sultry. "I suppose so. I'm just glad I don't have to worry about breaking my ankle as much any more." I prodded the boots that were now being accustomed to my grateful feet.
"Its nice knowing people are still betting on us."
"Im guessing some people never stopped. I mean, I am a pretty good bet in the first place, and with you in tow, I don't think we could do any wrong." I said, fighting down a laugh at the ironic undertones of the situation.
"Don't flatter yourself, les not forget who had a higher kill count last games."
"If knowing you played the games better than me last year makes you sleep better at night then so be it." I cooed back, with a wink. Inside I was worried and somewhat disgruntled by his mentioning of the number of kills he scored last games. Was it a competition to him? Was he still as enveloped in his career mindset that he didn't realize that what he said was perpetually sickening?
"You help me sleep well at night. I think I might sleep better if I'm in your good graces by evening though." Cato said, sheepishly.
"Don't you worry about anything." I said back with a wink.
Silently we agreed to forage for food and possibly find options of shelter. With my newfound bow in hand, comfortable shoes on me feet, and an affectionate form of reassurance known as Cato by my side, we made off in the opposite direction of the felled trees, staying on the outskirts of the remaining forest, ignoring the plateau, as we were aware it would hold little to nothing for us. The air tasted thin and wet, and it was a struggle to fill my lungs with enough oxygen by the time Cato suggested we take a rest. So far we had shot a single rabbit, found five tracker jacket nests, and several bushes of poisonous berries, but nothing that could contend for shelter, nor drinking water.
Our luck was wearing thin and I was beginning to feel the effects of dehydration. Fear flooded my brain yet again as I internally flinched at the memory of how I nearly died last year thanks to dehydration. We had spent a good four hours walking at our own pace in search of food and shelter without so much of a drop of water along the way. The only source of water I could think of was the pool we had left by which we were married, and I had a feeling it was as of now closed off, considering there was an entrance to the tribute's building within ten yards of it.
Not having to fear drawing enemy tributes to us, we openly lit a fire to cook our relatively small rabbit. Food was scarce here too, and it was incredibly worrying. Between the two of us there was absolutely nothing left, and I felt Cato hadn't eaten his full share. He even insisted that I had his extra haunch. "For the baby." He said, the planted a greasy kiss on the top of my head, grinning.
I burped softly, bring a hand to my mouth and blushing slightly in embarrassment. Cato just laughed.
"The baby says thank you." I mumbled between my fingers, which fueled Cato's laughter even more.
When is laughter slowed, he placed a hand on my stomach gently and said "you're welcome. Just promise not to eat like a disgusting pig the same way your mother does." he said, his eyes glinting.
"Thanks darling. Lets just hope the kiddo's eating habits come from your side of the family. I think Effie might die if she gets mine." I said wrinkling my nose at him.
"Yes well, we'll have to keep you alive to ever find out who's manners she gets."
"I don't think you should be so broad about manners, especially when you just called your wife a disgusting pig." I said stoutly, sporting a smug grin.
"Can't say I didn't make you laugh though." Cato said, looking defeated, but his eyes twinkled with triumph. "Come on, I think we should continue looking for water. And something for dinner. I wouldn't mind slightly larger portions this time, either."
"shut up! You'll eat what you get and you'll be happy doing so. Unless you plan on wrestling us up a bear, because I promise you that we'll get pretty large portions of that."
"Alright, if that will make you love me more, then I'll do it."
"Don't bother, if I loved you any more my heart would explode. We aren't designed to harbor such large quantities of emotion." I said, standing up, more aware than ever of the dull aching in my tongue and mouth that was barely producing any saliva at all, not helped at all by the think rabbit meat.
"Lets go find some water, I'm parched." Cato murmured.
"Yes lets." I groaned back, slumping my shoulders forwarded dramatically, then popping my bow up over my back.
Having walked for most of the day, we finally slumped to the base of a large maple tree whose discarded leaves littered the rotting forest floor. Confident that we were out of range of the last earthquake zone, I buried my head in Cato's chest, ignoring the smell of sweat and dirt, my fingers mindlessly playing with the leaves and soil that littered the ground.
"Don't worry, there has to be water around here somewhere." Cato said, his voice rumbling in his chest.
"I guess so." I said. I brought my hand up and placed a dirty finger on his nose, rubbing a black streak onto the top of it, then grinned. "Meow." I said mockingly, and let out a dry giggle.
"It's so cold. Thanks for that." He growled, before submerging his hand into the ground and pulling out a handful of soil and sprinkled it carelessly over my head. "I think thats a good look for you." He said with a smirk, marvelling at his handiwork.
"You're an ass." I said and narrowed my eyes, and copied his motion, topping his blond hair off with a heaping pile of pungent and moist soil. My eyes flew open and bugged slightly, widening in shock. The soil was moist. I sprang to my feet, remember my encounter last year with mud and searched anxiously around the area for a source of water, a trickle of a stream or a puddle. Anything.
And found nothing.