Chapter 7: Fire and Fire Girl's Attack

Clove's POV

It's the fourth day since we were thrown into the games. Cato's mood was worse than frustrated. Yeah well what can I say? Putting up with Glimmer's flirting, leading the Career Pack and hunting unsuccessfully for that District 12 girl is like ten thousand tons of stone dropped on you all at once. We've been hunting Fire Girl for hours now, with little success. Things couldn't possibly get worse.

Suddenly the temperature rose about ten degrees; I looked up from my knife to find fire spreading out, fast. The Arena is on fire, how twisted can these Gamemakers get? Apparently Cato and the others noticed as well, for they ran in all directions. My legs reacted almost immediately, they sprinted towards the direction we came from.

After sprinting for minutes, I stopped to catch my breath. I remembered about Cato. The Careers split up, so where was he? There were no cannons so none of them died, thank goodness. I called Cato's name over and over until a reply came, from the voice I loved the most 'Clove!' Cato shouted, louder than the time he volunteered for Jaymes . Relief washed over as I sprinted to where the voice came from.

Cato's arms were waiting for me. Sponsors didn't even exist anymore. I went straight into them with so much force Cato fell backwards. 'Whoa Clove, might want to keep running.' He said pointing to the fire that was catching up. 'Where do they want us to run to?' I mumbled and took off, Cato by my side this time.

We almost reached where I remember a pool of water was when Lover Boy, Marvel and Glimmer joined up with us. I have to say I wanted her dead in the flames. Cato's hand was still gripping mine tightly; I think my blood circulation might have stopped. Glimmer noticed and her green eyes were starting to fill with jealousy, I couldn't help but smirk a bit.

We got to the water source where a brilliant surprise was awaiting us: Fire Girl sitting in the pool treating her leg. 'We found her' Marvel shouted, pointing to the pool of water. That caught our attention. We all let out cheers of triumph that caught Fire Girl's attention too. She started running, we chased after her. Then, much to our surprise, she scaled a tall tree despite her burns.

We stopped at the bottom of the tree. Fire girl smiled down at us 'how's everything with you?' She called down a bit too cheerfully. Cato was the only one to answer 'Well enough.' Then after a little pause he added 'Yourself?' 'It's been a bit warm for my taste. The air's better up here. Why don't you come up?' Damn that cheek of her, the Capitol is probably laughing their heads off at us now.

'Think I will.' Cato answers and smiles. Glimmer offers him her bow and arrows, another excuse of hers to flirt with him. He denies it quickly and starts climbing. He didn't reach far when a branch cracked under his weight as he came crashing down, like I did the other night when he came chasing after me. I rushed to his side quickly and Glimmer doesn't miss the opportunity to scale the tree. The branches started cracking under her weight, she has the sense to stop and come back down. She tries to shoot Fire Girl which is pretty useless since she's clearly incompetent with a bow.

Lover boy decides to build a camp her and stay overnight. Night came quick, Glimmer was trying to flirt with Cato again by sitting beside him on a log and continuously asking him questions. It's a wonder how Cato can stand her. Finally we decide to leave her on guard and get some rest. Well the others can get some rest I'm not sleeping with Glimmer awake and Fire Girl on top on my head.

Glimmer's eyes were threatening to close. Then much to my surprise she went beside Cato and slept with her head on his outstretched arm. I felt like exploding. I felt like I was in the first day of training in the training centre all over again, the feeling of reaching into my jacket and sending my sharpest knife at Glimmer was almost beyond my control.

Glimmer fell asleep after a while and Cato started to stir. It was then when I figured out he wasn't sleeping at all. Cato slipped his arm away from Glimmer's head; her head fell with a soft thud onto the ground. He sat up from his sleeping position and turned his head towards my direction. His piercing blue eyes met mine.

He walked over and sat down beside me. 'Can't sleep?' I asked him. He nodded as he lay down beside me. For once since the games started the tension in his shoulders were finally gone. 'You still haven't told me why you volunteered though.' I reminded him, hoping this time he would answer me.

He took a deep breath and began. I could fell his heart pounding beside my body. 'I did it to protect you; Jaymes would have killed you the first chance he got.' Something tells me this wasn't the full answer, that there was another sentence to his reason. He seemed to have detected my doubt and continued, 'I did it because I love you Clove. I can't bear the thought of being without you alive. I'd rather be dead if it meant your survival.' That came as a surprise.

'Well, what do you think I'll do without you? Even being dead-'I started protesting, but I was cut off by Cato's lips that locked themselves on mine. The kiss I had been waiting for since the day I found out I loved him. I kissed him back, my insides were bursting with happiness, it was like Cato and I was the only one in the entire galaxy, and nothing could matter more now. That night was the first night I've slept peacefully since I've been thrown into the arena, with Cato's arms around me.

I woke up to the sound of buzzing and a shocking pain shooting through my arm. My eyes snapped open to find, thousands of wasps flying around, looking for people to sting. Everything happened so fast, Cato who woke up the same time I did dragged me away. I had the sense to stand up and start sprinting to the lake. When we reached the bottom of the tree where Glimmer was sleeping, Glimmer grabbed Cato's ankle. I have to say her grip is iron for Cato almost tripped over. I simply grabbed one of my knives and sent it piercing through Glimmer's hand. She let go of Cato's ankle in pain and Cato gifted with fast reflexes began sprinting again.

When we reached the lake, I was thankful both me and Cato received no more than three stings. Then when the water started looking like orange frothy liquid I realized those mustn't have been ordinary wasps. Tracker Jackers no doubt, once Cato got me into the lake he took off again. It took me awhile to figure out he was chasing Lover Boy who had gained a head start. 'Don't do anything stupid!' I screamed at him.

After a while he came back, tired battered and bloodied. 'Cato Ludwig!' I screamed at him, all my anger directed towards him. Suddenly he collapsed on the ground, probably from the stings. Considering the fact that there were more plum sized bruises on his neck and arms he probably had enough venom in him to pass-out. I went over to his side and started searching for the stings. Slowly pulling them out of his skin, they seemed to shimmer in the morning daylight, possibly the hallucinations. It took a while to find the right medicine in the entire pile of them, but I managed to. I opened the tube of medicine, put two fingers into its jelly-like texture and started rubbing it on Cato's bruises, mine can wait.

I spent the night by his side, running my fingers through his blonde hair, waiting for his blue eyes to open. The anthem had played and Glimmer's photo was projected into the sky. Good riddance she's dead. Exhaustion took over and I collapsed onto Cato and fell asleep.

A/N: The kiss was probably overdue anyway. For those that are following my other story An Accident Started it All I'm sorry to say it's on hold for two reasons. One because I want to finish this first, Two because I have to plan the chapter. Two more chapters to go and GOOD RIDDANCE GLIMMER IS DEAD!