Disclaimer: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, two of the best books I've ever read, are owned by Suzanne Collins and I don't have any rights to them except the right to read them and love them. This is a companion fic to Firestarter.
Chapter Eight
Madge's POV
My head snaps up as Gale jerks awake. We both stare, wide eyed, out across the clearing. The Capitol has found us! We both stand quickly to our feet and survey the area. As I'm looking in one direction, I feel strong hands lift me up. "What are you doing?!" I cry out to Gale.
He throws me over a hedge and yells, "RUN!"
Does he really think I'm going to leave him alone? I get an arrow notched and I turn back to look through the hedge. Gale stands with his back to the tree and shooting arrows one after another. I can't help the admiration I feel as I watch him until I notice that he's out of arrows. A Peacekeeper sees him and trains his weapon on Gale. My breath catches as Gale raises his chin and faces the enemy head on. Everything slows down to where the only thing I hear is my heartbeat.
And then, suddenly, an arrow flies through the Peacekeepers throat and time speeds up again. Katniss, I think as I breathe again. I hear a rustle behind Gale and this time I don't freeze. I jump from the hedge as I aim and shoot. My arrow flies over Gale's shoulder to sink into the Peacekeeper's chest. Gale turns in my direction and I can see the shock written all over his face. I swing my bow over my shoulder and grab Gale's hand. I squeeze it hard. I hear another rustle, and I go for my gun. I shoot in the direction of a white uniform and I know Gale is doing the same. Then we run.
I follow the direction that the rest of our crew is running towards. I hear a scream and I look back to see that Finnick's Annie has been shot. Without breaking much of his stride, he throws Annie over his shoulder. He throws his trident into a Peacekeeper, yanks it out, and keeps running. I whip my head back around as Gale and I run forward. I stumble as I hear someone behind me scream, "Run, Katniss!" I chance another look back and I see Katniss and Peeta running behind us. Then she stops and turns causing Peeta to stumble past her. After a piercing battle cry, she takes aim and shoots arrow after arrow like Gale was earlier.
I feel all the moisture in my mouth dry up in fear for my friend. Peacekeepers are shooting at her and one of those bullets is bound to hit her. Peeta tries to tug her away but she wrenches from his grasp and moves closer to the Peacekeepers. What can she do? She's out of arrows! However, she runs at them and when she comes to a Peacekeeper that she's already shot down, she grabs the arrow out of the body and shoots it at another. Is it any wonder why everyone is rallying behind her I think in wonder.
Vanzant and the soldiers turn around and start shooting as Katniss goes on a one woman charge. I take their lead as I turn around as well and start shooting. I won't let them take her. I try and target the Peacekeepers closest to her and I can't help the grim smile of satisfaction that lifts my lips as I notice them running away from us. Or, rather, running away from the wrath of Katniss.
A hovercraft appears shining its bright light and the soldiers start targeting it. Something hits and I see smoke rising from the craft. The craft starts to dip and swerve. This must register with Katniss because she turns around and starts to run. She trips over something, but it doesn't keep her down. I see her eat up the ground towards us as Gale tugs on my arm. We're all running flat out in the other direction. We just make it outside of the clearing when we hear the explosion. I look back as Katniss and Peeta overtake us. I sigh in relief and run as fast as I can behind them. I know this will only delay them from hunting us further.
***
Several hundred yards later, people start to collapse and I collapse with them. I grab my cantina and drink greedily. I try to not to drink too fast though because I cough as I drink too much. I lower my canteen and take stock. The soldiers seem to be okay. There are a few with injuries. I look over to see Finnick and Johanna wrapping Annie up.
It's then that I hear Peeta behind me. I've never heard him angry and I can't help but eavesdrop on his conversation. "Just what in the hell were you trying to prove, Katniss?"
"What are you talking about?" Katniss returns as she lifts her canteen for another drink. I roll my eyes. What does she think he's talking about?
I'm slightly shocked as I see Peeta yank the canteen out of her hands and takes a gulp for himself. "You going off like some kind of… I don't know. Like a person with a death wish! We just got each other back. Are you that hell bent on throwing it away again?"
I see Katniss's eyes wide in shock. "No, Peeta, it's not like that. Just some kind of rage bubbled up inside me and I just didn't think."
"Surprise, surprise," Gale murmurs loudly and it pulls Katniss's eyes to him.
She narrows her eyes as she stands up to face him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
I sigh and then I stand up and peek around Gale. "You don't ever think. You just rush head long into any situation. We were all running and then all of a sudden, we hear this cry. We turn around and there you are taking on all of the Peacekeepers." I know I've never seen anything like it in my life and I hope I never see anything like that again. She was running without care to herself. Though I admire her spirit, we could have lost her in just a few moments.
Katniss squares her shoulders as she looks back at me and says, ""Well, they just would have chased us. They probably would have killed us. Do you enjoy being hunted? Because that is exactly what they will do every minute of every day. We are their playthings, their prey, their entertainment and the thorns in their sides. If we don't take a stand, if we always run, then how will we ever take back what is ours?" I think about her words and I know that she is right. I may not agree with her methods, but she is right. The group gets quiet and then we move away from Katniss and Peeta as they talk quietly.
I rub my arms for warmth as I walk away. I hear Gale next to me and I look up. There's a pained look in his eye and I take a look back to see Katniss and Peeta embracing. No matter his acceptance, it doesn't mean he will get over Katniss overnight. I feel a small pang in my chest at this but I can't help but feel for him. "That scared me," I tell him softly.
"But she's right, you know," he says and I look up to see his eyes are like stone. He's not looking at me but he's taking in the scene around us. "As long as we keep running, they'll keep hunting."
"I'm not saying that we can't take a stand, Gale," I tell him as weariness creeps over me. "We can't just take on the whole Capitol with a few arrows and a small force. We have to be smart, and we have to plan. Because what's the use of fighting for a better future if we can't even see it? If we can't even make sure that we will succeed enough for others after us?" His eyes looked shocked at my little speech.
"You know, I never thanked you for back there," he tells me softly.
I shrug. "You did the same for me." I know he's trying to distract me from my point so I make sure to continue it. "We're all fighters when someone backs us in a corner, Gale. And though passion keeps us going, planning and a quick mind gets us to the finish line."
His lips lift in a smile. "Just when I think I have you pegged, you surprise me."
I feel a blush heat my cheeks and I look away. But I can't help the smile in my voice as I say, "Get used to it."
A/N: I know this chapter was a short one, but I was eager to get to the next. Please be kind and leave a review.
