"Katniss!"

I find myself crouched under a tree, with my hands over my ears, trying to block out the sounds of… well, everything. I can't believe this is happening.

Any of it.

"Katniss! Where are you?"

After Posy was… taken, Hazelle and the boys withdrew from the world. Huddled together, with blank expressions, just… staring off into space. But no one took her loss harder than Gale.

I stand up suddenly, dirt and branches falling to the ground. Gale took Posy's capture the way I would have taken Prim's. I know what he was going through. He blamed himself, and there are only blurred lines to distinguish guilt from grief.

"Katniss!"

He thinks that if he hadn't suggested running away…

"Please, Katniss! We need you!"

She would still be here.

I take off at a run back to our camp, where I can hear Prim calling for me.

"What is it, Prim?" I call.

And then I see her face. Her eyes red and puffy, tears streaming down her face, gasping as she struggles to breathe. My blood turns cold.

"Hey." I kneel in front of my little sister, trying hard to not show my dread. I gently take her face in my hands and wipe away her flowing tears. "Just breathe, Prim. What is it? I'll protect you."

She violently shakes her head, and just points off into the clearing. I follow her finger but don't get up. I won't leave my sister here like this. She closes her eyes and takes a few shaky breaths.

"It's Posy."

Stone-faced, I stare at the ground, looking anywhere, everywhere except…

I can't even bring myself to say it's her.

I feel tears building up behind my eyes, but I don't let them fall. Not yet.

There is too much crying already.

I need to be strong for them.

Like Gale would be for me.

I close my eyes as Hazelle's face crumples and she dissolves into tears. I can't take this anymore. I grab my bow and run off into the woods.

I'm not sure how long I stay out there. Running, sitting, climbing trees… but never shooting. Because if I did, all I would be able to see is her.

Where are you, Gale?

"Where are you?!" I scream. "How could you just leave us behind? We're your family, Gale!"

Family.

A bitter laugh tears itself out of my throat, and I press on.

Night falls. Everything is dark as I trudge back towards our camp. I spent the day hunting but not hunting, running but not running, seeing but not seeing. Living but not living.

But at least now I have a plan.

Our decision to leave the District was rash and stupid. Well, at least the way we did it. The Capitol will either hunt us down or not. They'll find us or they won't. But we can't rely on the fragment of a hope that they will stop looking.

Because we know in our hearts that they will never stop.

I know that it will be hard to win them over. Especially right after we found Posy. But it's also the best time. Hazelle will do whatever is best for her remaining children. How is it that only a few months ago she had four, and is now only left with two?

Gale is not dead, I remind myself. But as of right now, he is as good as.

One reason I tore through the woods today was to make one last attempt to find him. But he didn't come. So now we have to leave him.

I'm sorry, Gale.

I outline my plan to the camp as quickly as I can, which is not too hard. The tragic events that have befallen us since we left have strained me, leaving my voice terse and my words short. But let's face it – I was never one for words anyways.

And nor was Gale.

I see faces change from confusion, to uncertainty, to fear, and then… Determination. And a deep, deep rage.

I know that they are on my side.

I lead the way as we hike through the woods. One, because I am the hunter, I have the best instincts and sense of direction. Two? Because I want to be left alone. And the others are smart enough to recognize and honor that.

Finally, after long hours of trekking, I hold up a hand. We've reached.

I stand on the overlook and look out over the blackened ruins… of District 13.