Disclaimer: I don't own any rights; the hunger games and all its characters are property of Suzanne Collins.

We're sitting there for what seems a long time, none of us daring to speak in case one of the careers is still nearby. Rue is watching me, not wanting to talk, but not really comfortable with the silence either. In the end, it's the boy who alters the silence. 'Thank you for saving me from them.' I just nod.

'Why did you do it?' Rue asks suspiciously, not really trusting my motives. 'I thought you were such good friends with the Careers. What happened?'

To be honest, I don't know. I must have gone mad I think. Because with the stunt I just pulled, I've really brought myself into a lot of trouble. Now the careers will not only come for my live. They will also make sure to prolong my suffering before I die. I attacked Marvel; it would surprise me if he were to survive, especially after that injury I inflicted on him. But i could not let them kill the boy. And at least I've gotten rid of Cato.

'I just don't like killing innocent children.'

She seems satisfied with that. For now. 'Alright.' She shifts her gaze to the ground below. 'I think we better get going, before one of them comes back,' she says to the redhead, as she begins to climb down again. He follows her lead without questioning. Once her feet hit the ground, she stops and gazes up at me. I haven't moved an inch yet. 'Don't you want to come with us?'

'Were do you want to go then?'

She points towards the east. 'To the river. I think that's our best option. We need water if we want to survive. And water attracts game as well. You have a bow…maybe you could hunt?'

Smart girl. I must say, I'm impressed. There is just one thing. 'The river will also attract other tributes,' I state, letting myself fall onto the ground next to her when I've reached the last branch of the tree. She nods. 'I know. But it's better then staying here and waiting. We'll have to go there eventually, so why not now?'

'I guess you're right.' I brush the dirt off my pants before I turn towards the indicated direction. 'Are you certain that's the way to the river?'

She's about to answer me when we hear the cannon. We tense as we listen to that awful sound, all three of us knowing what it implicates. I can only wonder who's life has ended this time. Maybe it was Marvels. I haven't heard his cannon yet.

'We'll soon find out,' Rue says, before she turns her back at me. I hear the boy inhale sharply when I follow her. 'Oh, you're hurt.' He's pointing at my upper arm. I hadn't realised I was hit. I inspect the wound; although there is blood, it is only a shallow cut. It doesn't even hurt. 'Must have happened when we were running from the careers,' he says a bit timidly. I shrug. 'Probably. Come, we better hurry up before we lose track of Rue.'

Dusk has already made its entry when we arrive at the riverbank. We're thirsty, but we have to make a quick safety check to be sure there are no other tributes camping in the area, before we can refresh ourselves. We're lucky today. Still I wonder how long we'll manage before one of them takes us down.

After I drank from the clear water the river has to offer, I take care of the scratch on my arm after a second observation. It is really not that big of a deal, but like any open wound, it could get infected. So I wash it thoroughly, hoping it will be sufficient to prevent any infection.

'Look what I've got.' It's the boy from four, caring two dead fish in his hands when he approaches me. They are not big, but they're good enough to serve as dinner. 'Guess we won't go hungry tonight,' he grins, and I cannot help but smile myself. 'Were did you get them? Don't tell me you caught them with your bare hands.'

'Hey, I'm from district four, remember? Fish trade? My father learned me all kinds of tricks when it comes to fishing,' he boast. Then his voice gets a serious tone. 'Thanks again for you help. If it wasn't for you I would have been a goner. My name is Thomas by the way. Thomas Obrin.'

'Katniss Everdeen. I'm from district twelve.'

He smiles a bit shyly, not looking up from his work. 'No need to introduce yourself, I know who you are. You and your district partner made quite an entrance at the parade. Very nice outfits. I wish my stylist had been that brilliant.' He takes a knife he probably snatched from the Cornucopia out of his pocket, and starts to clean the fish with experienced hands.

'Were is Rue?' I ask, suddenly realising it is just the two of us sitting here. He shrugs. 'Probably picking some berries or something. She said she would look for something eatable. Don't worry,' he adds, guessing my thoughts. 'She will be careful. Rue is very smart you know.'

When Rue returns, she has two hands full of berries. We eat them together with the fish. Then we help each other climb up into a large tree with thick branches. With the sun away, and no fire to warm us, it's rapidly getting cold. 'I would kill for some blankets,' I hear Thomas whisper. To compromise the lack of any other source of heat, Rue lays a hand around his shivering shoulders, pulling him close to herself. 'Shall I start a fire?' Thomas offers after a while. I shake my head. 'Better not. It will only attract unwanted guests.'

Hours seems to pass before we hear the anthem play. We gaze at the sky to register the fallen ones. The first one they show is Marvel. So he is dead after all. Next in line is the girl from three, the girl from four, the boy from five, the girl from six, the girl from seven…When they've showed the last fallen tribute and the sky turns back to normal, I can only sigh from relief, although I don't now exactly why. I shouldn't care if he's alive or not.

'So, your district partner still lives,' Rue conclude softly. I only nod. That's all. I don't want to talk about Peeta.

I'm back at the Cornucopia. This time without a bow, or any other weapon for that matters. But I'm not alone. I search desperately for a way out as the careers are closing in on me. 'Were are you going fire girl?' Cato sneers, as his arms reaches out for me. They are covered in blood. I take a step back, hurried by my upcoming fear. My back bashes into another wall of muscles. 'You've killed me,' Marvel hisses with reproachful eyes, pulling the arrow out of his bleeding stomach with one hand while catching my arm with his other. 'You've broke the one rule.'

'I'm sorry,' I stutter, backing away from him as well. What's going on? Were are Thomas and Rue? Have they killed them? Then I see the girl on the ground. First I think it's the girl from seven, only, she isn't. It's Prim. Staring at me with glassy eyes. 'No!' I scream.

I want to run to her, but Clove is faster. She tackles me before I can reach my little sister. 'Were is your loverboy now?' she purrs demonically as she towers above me. The sharp point of her knife is everywhere, cutting trough skin and muscle without mercy. 'This is what we do to traitors!' I hear them all laugh as I scream in agonising pain. My face, my body…everything suddenly seems to burn. The foul smell of smoke enters my nostrils. 'Wake up,' I hear dead Prim screaming. 'Katniss, wake up!'

I do as I'm told, only to see my nightmare has taken on a new en even more frightening form. Behind a screaming Rue, who's desperately trying to wake me, I see flames. The forest is on fire!