Hi all, I hope you like this chapter I worked really hard on it. Thank you for your kind words and for following along on this story. Don't worry Peeta will be okay...I promise.

PS... I don't own the Hunger Games / nor Peter Pan.


Finnick helped her push the lynx off of Peeta. He immediately bent down to listen to his breathing. Peeta wasn't breathing his body felt odd to her touch, he was becoming cold and clammy and his chest did not rise and fall. Katniss was beside herself with worry. Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes and pain laced through her soul as the realization struck she was going to lose him permanently. She clutched his hand wishing he would breathe, and chanted brokenly. "Please, do not leave me, do not leave me Peeta."

She noted Finnick was pounding on Peeta's heart. Jo sprinkled dust on Finnick hands and right over Peeta's heart creating a small spark when Finnick hands pushed onto his chest. Angrily she thought he was beating up Peeta she shouted getting up to push him out of th4e way. "What are you doing?"

Annie gently put her hand on Katniss shoulder as she spoke, drawing Katniss away from harming Finnick. "Let him, we saw this once at the home. A boy was dying and this doctor that was visiting did the very same thing. The boy lived."

Time was suspended the forest quieted as it witnessed the death of the boy Katniss left the island for. Helplessly Katniss watched as Finnick pumped on Peeta's chest.

"Jo, please, do something?" Katniss whispered.

Jo hovered over Finnick's hands, then settled on his chest and pressed her ears over Peeta's heart. She shouted to Finnick as she began to glow brighter than the sun, "Keep going."

Jo began providing her dust, over Finnick's hands as he pushed down creating a spark. Finnick then put his mouth over Peeta's breathing into him, before returning to push on his chest with Jo creating that electrical arch that flowed into Peeta's body. This happened several times until suddenly Peeta coughed and his body twitched, before he took a deep breath. His chest rose and fell, Katniss immediately flew to Peeta, she hugged him, and tears fell from her face. She felt Peeta's arms wrap slowly themselves around hers. "I thought you were dead, you died."

"That lynx was heavy." Peeta sputtered as he coughed.

Katniss laughed at his joke, she buried her face into his neck, breathing in his familiar cinnamon and dill scent, feeling the warmth that retuned to his body. His hands soothingly stroked her back. Gently they sat up. All of the Lost Boys were in awe of Finnick.

"Thank you," Finnick said to Jo.

Jo twinkled brightly as she spoke, "I did it for her. She needs him."

A wave of understanding passed over the lost boys as they watched their old Pan and the boy she'd chosen. Katniss did not want to survive with out him, she could, but she'd chosen to live with him. They kept their distance as they watched her interact with him, giving them privacy.

Katniss asked Peeta, "Can you sit up?"

"Yes," Peeta said as Katniss gently guided Peeta to sit up. Yet even as she did so she climbed into his lap putting her head on his shoulder. His arms were wrapped around her. Katniss wanted to kiss him, she wanted to somehow be part of him but she did not know how. All she could do was hold on to him. This was part of the change that gradually occurred within her, this was more than just a physical desire this was a spiritual connection she couldn't explain. Peeta was part of her, and that part recognized she would be lost without him.

A Jabberjay and a Mockingbird flew down from the very nest she'd been trying to protect. The Jabberjay cleared its throat.

"A Jabberjay,' Mitchell said.

The group looked up to find the small bird sitting on a branch just above where Peeta and Katniss were huddled together.

"Is there something you wish to say?" Gale asked of the Jabberjay.

"My thanks to you and your friends, for saving the lives of my fledglings," The small bird inclined its head.

"No thanks is needed, we were happy to help." Gale said.

"No debt shall be unpaid. We the Mockingbirds, the Jabberjays and the Mockingjays are indebted to you. On the day should you ever need us sing this note."

The four little notes brought a smile to the faces of the boys.

"What do you call the song?" Mitchell asked.

"We call it Rue's song." The Jabberjay replied. "Remember if you need us just whistle the song and we shall come to your aid." The Jabberjay flew away back to the nest.

Jo said, "That was the emperor's family we saved."

Gale said, "We should continue."

"You guys move forward," Katniss said, as she helped Peeta stand.

"I stay back here with them," Finnick uttered as he took the sword out of the lynx cleaned it on a large blade of grass and gave it back to Pan.

"Thank you," Gale uttered.

There small group moved forward, slowly at first until Peeta came back. Katniss however kept his hand entwined with hers as they moved forward through the jungle. The warm damp air made their clothing sticky. They stopped often to rest, and to drink water from the river that they had to cross to head into look out point.

It would not have taken so long but they were all concerned for Peeta. Jo sat on his shoulders from time to time petting him on the face as if her were a pup in need of encouragement.

The sun filtered down overhead peeking through the foliage until at one point the earth beneath them changed. The red clay ground changed into a packed dark brown, the giant ferns and decomposing leafs, to tall grass with dandelions, to moss and mulch like tree debris. It was no longer jungle like, it slowly morphed into a forest. Giant pine trees, red oaks and other low lying bushes filled the space, with their minty fresh smell. It was cooler as well in this side of the island. The cool breeze filtered from the peak of the Ever Mountain and flowed down onto the land.

Everyone in the party was relieved when the left the stick hotness of the jungle changed to the sweet dry cool air of the forest.

Katniss noticed the cooler environment was better for Peeta, though she did not let go of his hand. As they moved along she felt Peeta stiffen. "What is it Peeta?"

"Was there a fire here?" Peeta asked.

Katniss looked around at the landscape her memory surfaced. She'd forgotten about the fire it was so long ago, right after Peeta left. Some of the tree trunks still held the burn marks. The larger trees had sections were no branches grew. The earth grew darker as they moved forward. The scorched earth spoke of the tragedy that happened here, though new underbrush grew and tender saplings sprouted from the earth, there was no mistaking something horrible had occurred here. Katniss became quiet as memories began to emerge in her mind.

"What happened here?" Peeta always had the ability to read Katniss face. Her silver eyes gazed into his blue ones, showing him the pain she felt.

The Lost Boys all came to a stop as the evidence became too hard to ignore.

"I don't remember this," Gale said perplexed. Never Island sometimes made you forget things, which is why repetition was important. Lists of trivial things helped them remember the past.

"That's because Katniss hid it from you," Jo flew from Peeta's shoulder to stand on a leaf. Her tiny face a mask to hide the calamity.

Gale turned to her his gray eyes full of questions. "What happened?"

Katniss looked to the floor, "This land was once the dwelling of the Never Tribe, a great people, mighty warriors with kind hearts. We played war, all the time. The Chief of the Never Tribe was great friends with the Pan. After Peeta left he decided to include Snow, to cheer me up."

Katniss looked around she could still smell the burnt wood, feel the heat of the flames as it licked and consumed the forest. She could hear the cries of the Never Tribe people as they tried to escape. She could still see Jo desperately trying to sprinkle them with dust so that she could fly them to safety.

"I remember them," Mitchell said quietly his little face up turned toward the wind, as a strong wind blew shifting the leaves of the forests. Suddenly a small whisper was heard and it grew until the spot the stood was filled with the haunting songs of the tribe. Their noses were filled with smell of the tribal fire lit to provide light and warmth to the village.

"Katniss," Peeta said squeezing her hand his wide blue eyes filled with wonder as the leaves danced with the rhythmic pulse of the music they heard.

Katniss sadly said, "I didn't mean for this to happen. Snow did not play by the rules we established. He wanted to conquer them and annihilate them from Never Island." She became choked up unable to say anymore.

"Where was their village located, is it near?" Annie asked in a horrified voice.

Katniss pointed to the trail that would take them to the settlement where the Never Tribe existed.

"Through there, was where their community existed for years." Jo said on behalf of Katniss.

"Can we pay our respects?" Annie whispered as the song affected all of them each remembering a sad occasion that brought them here.

Mutely they all nodded, Jo took the lead. They all followed silently. The song gently ebbed away until only silence reigned. This part of the island was devoid of noise from animals, plants or fairies. Nothing came here unless they wanted to pay homage to the proud Tribesmen who lived here. The space opened up and around them they saw the remains of the homes where the Never Tribesmen lived. Some were burned to the ground others were singed shells, only one residence was perfect, the one that belonged to the Chief and his family.

"What happened?" The twins asked.

"Snow tracked them through the forest, found their village. He waited until the middle of the night. When Snow attacked he set fire to their homes. He and his pirates tortured the Never Tribesmen they could get their hands on." Katniss said with a haunted look upon her face as she relived the past.

"Why is that home still standing?" Thom asked.

"Snow left it as a reminder that he can get to us." Jo said, "This is why Katniss forbade us to play war with Snow."

Gale's face paled. The evidence was a silent testament to the lost boys that Snow was not a Pirate to be taken lightly.

"Did anyone survive?" Thresh asked.

"I hid the survivors. They are waiting to be brought back to the island once Snow is gone." Katniss said.

"What are you going to do about it," All eyes turned to Peeta. Katniss was not surprised by Peeta's passionate voice. Gale looked surprised.

"I'm speaking to you Gale, what are you going to do about this, you are the Pan aren't you?" Peeta asked his voice was direct and it held a challenge.

Silence descended over the group. No one ever spoke that way to the Pan. Peeta defied the Gale as Pan by questioning his power. The only one who'd done that was Jo, but she was a fairy and Jo held a very wide rebellious streak. All eyes turned to Katniss then to Gale. Katniss waited with abated breath to see what Gale would say. They all hoped Gale wouldn't challenge Peeta to a duel.

Gale drew his sword.