Apologies for the long wait, but here's the new and somewhat long chapter!

I don't own anything that belongs to Suzanne Collins.

Enjoy.

I woke up to another brown paper bag resting on the front door.

When you are struggling to survive, you become rather skilled at rationing food. We hadn't even finished the loaf from yesterday.

Mr. Mellark did not leave a note with today's bread, but I knew he was going to keep his end of the deal. So long as the fences were guarded by Peacekeepers, he was going to deliver bread every day, and once the games were over I was expected to repay his family with the game I hunted in the woods.

I set the table like I always do on weekends when school is out and slowly bring a pot of hot water to boil. I decide to add some dried lavender to the pot for flavoring to enjoy with the warm raisin bread we were given. Reaching into the cupboard for the jar containing the dried lavender I find it empty.

I wondered what we ever did to deserve this life.

There were only eight tributes left.

Both Careers from District 2, the fox faced girl from District 5, Rei and her district partner, Thresh from District 11, Peeta and Avalyn.

I had overheard Mayor Undersee and Darius discussing the brutal nature of the last three kills in the Arena. Glimmer's death at the hands of Rue, Rue's death at the hands of Marvel and Marvel's death at the hands of Avalyn.

The two men were certain that the sequence of events and the particularly brutal nature of the battle between Marvel and Avalyn had satisfied the Gamemakers for at least a night or two.

Despite this, I had decided to head to the justice building to see if the screens showed any footage of Peeta.

As I approached the square I notice a number of merchants huddled in small clusters, none paid much attention to the screen as it only displayed footage of the sleeping tributes.

There in the front row sat Peeta's mother staring at the screen with a blank expression.

Although everyone respected and loved Mr. Mellark and his three sons, his wife was not well liked in our District. Everyone knew she often beat her sons and yelled at her husband. Her lack of compassion and scowled face intimidated us all, and out of fear many choose to avoid the bakery if they see her in the shop.

I found myself approaching her and plopping myself down on a seat her right, leaving one chair in between us for good measures.

She turned her face and upon recognition, she snickers.

"Katniss…Katniss… Katniss." she says enunciating my name with hate shaking her head. I never met her gaze and even though I was intimidated, I felt my body become erect and taller under her scrutinizing gaze.

We sit in silence for what seems like hours but it could have only been a minute or two. She extends her hand in my direction staring at the screen. Quite confused by this I stare at her until she turns her head to meet my gaze.

Lowering her hand to the seat between ours she began to scan every inch of my body with her cold and judgmental eyes.

She began at the bottom and smirked when she noticed my hunting boots and the loose sole on the left boot. Her eyes then scanned up my bony legs which were covered by my muddy hunting trousers. Her face twitched in disgust when she noticed my nails chewed to the skin and my hands covered in smudges of dirt. She scanned over my father's hunting jacket with the flimsy patchwork on its elbow and finally her eyes began to judge every angel of my face.

She observed my colorless and chapped lips then proceeded to scan the indents of my hollowed cheeks. Her disapproving gaze traced the arch of my small nose and observed my unruly eyebrows.

She suddenly met my grey eyes with such intensity I felt a cold sweat drip down my spine. Her hand reached over and touched my greasy braid gently twirling the end with her fingers.

At this moment I want to kick myself for the rush of blood that is headed straight for my cheeks.

I knew what Peeta's mother was doing. She was looking to see if she could understand what it was about me that Peeta had found so intriguing. She was desperately looking for something special.

"You're not even that pretty."

She had found nothing.

I opened my mouth and desperately searched for something to say but I come up with nothing. Feeling defeated, I clench my teeth and my jaws tightened as I swing my head away from her and back to the screen, releasing my braid from her hand.

"He's a good boy," Peeta's mother begins but I am too ashamed to face her.

She was dead on with her observation. I wasn't beautiful like Avalyn, or wealthy like Madge, nor did I possess a pleasant personality like Delly.

I did not deserve Peeta's kindness. I never did, and I never will.

"But, just like his old man, the boy is dumb as a brick." She comments pointing to Peeta on the screen. He was asleep, desperately trying to squeeze in a few hours of rest while Rei kept watch.

Her insensitive remark made my blood boil but before I could scream at her out of pure hate, she continued.

"He is not a survivor… being kind, doesn't get you far in this fucked up world."

Shocked, I turn to face her. I had never expected such profanity from her.

When my eyes meet her gaze, I notice a pool of clear liquid build up in her eyes but she quickly regained her composure and stoic demeanor, eyes turning cold once again. Extending her hand once again towards me she demands in an authoritative tone "The Letter."

I find my hands slipping through the inside pocket of my hunting jacket as I search for Peeta's letter. I don't know why I gave her the letter, but I did.

She gently opens the envelope and reads over each word carefully. I notice the slight crooked smile that forms on her lips, reminding me of Peeta as he too had the same smile when amongst his friends.

She carefully places the letter back into the envelope and licks the edges hoping to seal it back shut but she fails as the glue had long dried. Placing the letter back into my hand she stands to her feet.

"Just like his old man… dumb as a brick," she repeats before heading back to the bakery.

I had spent all day sitting in the square watching the games. The square was filled by the time the merchant stores had close for the day and the miners had made their way to the justice building to get a glimpse of the game.

As the audience grew so did concern for the longevity of Avalyn's life. She was not looking good. Not good at all.

Some were debating whether Peeta and Rei should just abandon Avalyn as her death was imminent while others disagreed and hoped for her recovery. She had been asleep most of the time, floating in and out of consciousness only to be fed by Peeta and her gauze changed by Rei.

My attention turns to the screen as I watch Rei squirm at the sight of Avalyn's wound, lowering her shirt back down.

"I think her wound is infected."

Peeta looks back with a defeated look, shaking his head. "We used up all the alcohol we had," he comments throwing the empty bottle away in frustration.

"Even if we had any left, I don't think it would do her any good," Rei sighs as she plops next to Peeta a little too close for my liking. "I think the Career's knife was laced in poison."

I'm confused by Rei's observation, and so is Peeta as he raises his eyebrows in a questioning manner.

Rei begins to brush her long blonde locks with her lean fingers meeting Peeta's gaze.

"When I was changing her gauze, I noticed this green pus forming and discoloring her wound. I mean, her wound is so shallow, I don't think Marvel would have done that on purpose unless he wanted to see her suffer."

"What do you mean?" Peeta questions, peering over his shoulders at Avalyn his expression laced with concern.

"Think about it Peeta, the wound is too shallow to kill her. There must be something else. Marvel must have drenched that knife with poison, so when it penetrated her body it seeped into her bloodstream." Rei's face turns red with anger as her fingers catch a knot in her tangled hair.

"That bastard wanted to take his time with her, he knew she would be weak and wanted to prolong her death." She spits out in pure hate and defeat.

"We'll figure out a way to help her."

"Help her?" she snorts. "Look at her, there is no helping that."

Rei was right, I doubted Avalyn's recovery. If there was anything I knew about healing, I knew that if an individual was poisoned they must get help and appropriate medication right away.

Alcohol was not helping her; it was simply keeping her wound from becoming infected. If Avalyn was going to recover, she must have medication sent to her by sponsors right away.

I turn my head away from the screen and watch Madge braid Prim's hair in an intricate pattern that I had so often seen on merchant girls. They called it a 'French braid.' It suited Prim's beautiful and delicate blonde hair so well I found myself smiling.

"My father told me that the butcher's son has been going around town knocking on every door trying to raise some donations for Avalyn's medication."

Gifts delivered to tributes in the arena often came from Capitol sponsors who were wealthy enough to afford them. Especially now, there were only eight tributes left, the gifts must have soared in prices and I doubted any merchant was willing to spare a coin for a former disgruntled lover of the butcher's son. Especially one from the seam that was practically dead.

I snort "How's that going?"

Madge doesn't respond.

I must have fallen asleep on my watch because when I wake up I notice that it has started to rain heavily. The cave that we have sought refuge in was kept warm by the small fire I had built earlier, illuminating the dark cave in a warm tint of orange… my favorite color. It's sometimes hard to stomach the fact that I was in the games.

Rei sleeps on the other side of the cave in her sleeping bag her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. I find myself smiling at how peaceful she looks, because when she is awake, she is anything but peaceful.

I shake my head and smirk when I hear Rei mumble something in her sleep. It was her habit, she was a sleep talker. I look around at the other occupant of the cave and stiffen instantly when I realize Avalyn was missing.

I panic. Did she die while I was asleep and the hovercraft had managed to take her body out of the cave without Rei or me noticing? Impossible. But where could she have gone. She must be around here somewhere I convince myself fearing the worst.

I frantically get up to my feet and scramble to the opening of the cave ignoring the heavy rainfall that will surely soak right through to my bones.

We had watched Avalyn wake up and drag herself out of the cave. The pain that shot through her body was evident on her contorted face and her soft sobs as she made her way out in the rain.

I was confused at what she was trying to do, but felt a lump grow in my throat as she frantically scrubbed her hands with the falling rainwater. She was rubbing each of her fingers desperately trying to clean them of some filth that was clearly only visible to her.

She had eventually given up, tucking her feet as close to her body as possible wrapping her arms around her knees letting the rain soak through to her body.

Peeta bursts through the cave looking disheveled and anxious. I can tell he is surprised and instantly relieved when he finds Avalyn not too far from the cave entrance with her knees pulled to her chest, drenched.

Peeta slowly makes his way over to her and without uttering a word, lowers his body besides hers, pulling his knees up to his chest mimicking her position.

Avalyn places her hand on his arms and begins to whimper. "His blood… it's all over my hands, it's not coming off."

"Here, let me see." Peeta whispers softly taking her hand in his carefully observing her thin fingertips. He begins to clean her fingers, one by one, rubbing them between his under the rain. He takes his time with each nail, knuckle, and the length of her fingers, her palm. He rests her hand back on her knees and moves to grab her left hand as he takes his time cleaning it. He places gentle kisses on the tips of every finger on her left hand before turning to face her, holding her hand in his.

"All clean."

Avalyn nods her head, resting it on his shoulders shivering under the rain.

"Are you cold?" Peeta asks softly, and when she nods, he wraps his arms around her body pulling her close to him before gently stroking the side of her shoulders in an attempt to keep her warm under the now drizzling rain.

At the mouth of the cave, I see Rei smile and shake her head before disappearing back inside the cave.

"Ladies and gentleman, I think this is the exact moment, the whole of Panem fell in love with Peeta Mellark"

For the first time in my life, I find myself in complete agreement with Claudius Templesmith.

It was rather downhill from that point for Avalyn. Sitting out in the rain had taken a significant toll on her weakened body. Peeta had carried her back into the cave and placed her inside Rei's sleeping bag and added more wood to the fire to keep the cave as warm as possible.

Avalyn's teeth clattered as she shivered wondering the fine line of consciousness.

Peeta looks defeated as he sits crossed legged with his head in his hands. He suddenly slams his fits on the floor startling Rei.

"Why haven't the sponsors sent anything?" his demands turning to Rei, his faced masked with frustration.

"This is… just too cruel," he says slamming his fist to the ground again.

Rei shrugs but doesn't respond to Peeta. We all know why the sponsors are not sending anything. No one is willing to fight for a girl who is already half dead. The sponsors, the district, we have all abandoned her. She was a lost cause.

The sound of Claudius Templesmith's voice startles the tributes as he announces the first feast of the games. Feasts were nothing more but a ploy to gather the tributes and to induce another bloodbath to add to the excitement of the games.

Claudius declares that at the feast the Capitol has decided to be very generous. Each tribute needs something desperately he says, and that will be provided at the feast which is scheduled for dawn the following day.

"Avalyn's medicine… that's what he meant when he said every tribute needs something desperately," Peeta states turning to face Rei "I have to go get it."

Rei bursts into loud hoot and hollers at Peeta's words. "Are you just crazy or do they breed idiots in District 12," she questions in between her laughter.

"First she volunteers while possessing no combative skills for a random in the district she barely knows because she's heartbroken" Rei begins the tone in her voice lacking the usual kick further emphasizing her dismay.

"Then you go off and drag her sad ass into our alliance and make me baby sit her while you play prince charming." Rei shoots up to her feet stomping over to Peeta, glaring down at his seated figure.

"Come on Peeta, wake up! Have you ever seen the games? The feast is a guaranteed ticket to the white coffin that brings our bodies back to our district."

"Rei just settle down for a second and stop yelling at me," Peeta responds his voice firm as he stands to look her in the eyes. "Regardless of what you say, I'm going to go get the medicine for her."

"For what?" Rei demands clearly frustrated as she flings her arms in the air.

Taking a step closer to Peeta she sneaks a glance over at Avalyn who continues to shiver in the sleeping bag. "She's a goner Peeta, a day… maybe two even with the medicine," she says in a hushed tone.

"Look," Peeta begins resting his hands on Rei's shoulders "I can't sit here and do nothing."

Rei flings Peeta's arms away as her voice takes on an accusatory tone. "So this is about you wanting to be a hero."

"No Rei it's not," he says rubbing the bag of his head, a nervous habit I have come to notice. "It's about staying true to who I am."

Before Rei can question his statement he continues, "When I was reaped, I promised myself that no matter what happened in the arena, I was going to stay true to myself," he explains "That I wasn't going to let them change me."

Rei turns to face him again with a questioning look, unmoved by his explanation.

"If this was back at home and a friend or one of my brothers was sick, I would do anything to help them. I would never think twice, no matter how futile the effort was."

I admired Peeta's determination but found myself in complete agreement with Rei. It was rather idiotic to risk one's life for a medication that merely eased Avalyn's death. He was walking right into his own in the process of trying to "save" Avalyn.

"You listen carefully Peeta," Rei demands clutching at his collar practically spitting in his face. "You want to march right into your death, be my guest. You're doing this all on your own, I'm staying right here. The moment the canon goes off and your face is plastered all over the sky I am promptly ditching your friend. Do you understand me?" she states firmly her voice breaking as she tries to contain the anger bubbling up inside her.

Peeta nods before walking towards the fire adding a few more logs to the dimming fire.

"She doesn't deserve you."

I am taken back by Rei's statement as is Peeta. He looks back at Rei who stands in the same spot with her back turned to him.

"The girl you love, the one from back home," Rei says as she turns her body towards Peeta, her eyes meeting his gaze. "Or anyone for that matter, you're too... good."

She walks over to Peeta and without warning she lowers herself, pressing her soft lips gently against his. Peeta's eyes are wide open at first from shock but within seconds his eyes close, as he kisses her back his lips gently moving against hers.

I feel betrayed.

Rei eventually pulls away resting her head against his forehead, a mischievous smile crosses her face.

"Don't flatter yourself; I only did that to make her jealous."

Oh it worked alright.

I hope you guys liked this chapter.

Just and FYI that the scene with the rain was inspired by the movie Casino Royale a James Bond movie which I highly recommend and love.

Action filled chapter next, so stay tuned!

Let me know your thoughts, and as always please review because I appreciate it so much!