Third Person's POV
Glancing up towards the sky, she realised that it was getting later in the afternoon. The sun was getting lower in the sky and Shade couldn't sleep in a tree because, well, she couldn't climb with her shoulder burnt to a crisp.
It just felt heavy as it hung from her body and she could hardly move it. No. She didn't want to move it, for fear of the pain that would come back.
Shade began walking at a steady yet slow pace. Her legs still ached from jumping out of the tree and she nearly screamed when her stomach rumbled loudly. She was on high alert again and she wasn't expecting that. She rubbed her right hand over the hungry stomach but to no avail.
Deciding to rest for the moment, she cursed and tossed her bag down against the trunk of a tree. She leaned up against the base and then slid down to rest.
Pulling her hat from her pocket, Shade put it on in preparation for the night's chilly air. She had removed it earlier because of the heat from the fire but now the chill was back despite the roaring inferno from earlier.
She wasn't going to be able to make a fire and she could tell that tonight, it was going to be cold. The Gamemakers would be sure of that. She slowly pulled her jacket around her shoulders and leaned back against the tree. She draped the blanket over her legs and she was about to shut her eyes when she felt something fall on her feet.
Opening her eyes quickly, her hand went to the handle of her sword but she sighed in relief. The wolf's white fur shimmered in the moonlight as she stood before him. She frowned and looked down.
A large dead rabbit lay near her boots. Her eyes flicked to the wolf and his tongue was lolled out of his mouth and his fluffy tail swished side to side in greeting. When she didn't move to pick up the rabbit, he whined and nudged her boot with his nose.
"Alright, alright! You mangy lump of fur!" She swatted at his nose and he barked before bouncing back a few feet. She smiled slightly and shook her head at the wolf. At least he was friendly. Shade groaned and slowly stood up, her legs and back aching from the long day filled with running.
She tottered slightly but regained her balance easily with the help of the tree behind her. She picked her pack up and slung it over her good shoulder. She weakly grasped the rabbit in her left hand.
"Well, come on!" She waved her free hand and the wolf bounded over to her.
"I honestly don't understand why you feel the need to follow me..." She said and looked down at the ridiculously fuzzy creature. He only panted up at her, his face pulling in up what appeared to be a grin. Shade only shook her head again and the two quietly made their way through the tall grass, the wolf a few feet ahead. Bending down, she picked up a few stray pieces of wood for a fire while cradling them to her body with her right hand.
When she bent down to pick up the last piece she would need for a proper fire, Shade heard a loud string of curse words. Her hand stopped midair and she turned her head in the direction of the noise.
Upon listening, the curses came again but a groan accompanied it which was much louder than the curse words. She placed the wood down on the ground and reached into her belt. Drawing her sword out, she carried it in her right hand. Creeping through the trees, she avoided anything that would make noise when stepped on.
I don't think that's such a good idea... A voice said and Shay stopped in her tracks and looked around. Where had that voice come from?
No one else was in the clearing but she could have sworn that she had heard someone talking to her. I'm just tired... She thought to herself. She shook the thought off and continued on. When she stepped into the clearing, Shade about fell over from surprise.
Of course it would be him.
Cato was sitting against the base of an oak tree. He was clutching onto his leg, his face in a twisted in pain. She noticed that his skin was a few shades lighter than normal, his face slightly drained of its color.
When Shade entered the clearing fully, she saw him tense up immediately. For about two seconds, two fleeting seconds, he was different. Cato was no longer in the Games.
Instead, he was replaced with a small blonde boy who was quietly whimpering. His big blue eyes were red from the tears that ran down his cheeks and he looked like he needed his mother. When she looked into his blue irises, her heart immediately melted and she felt a strong wave of motherly protection wash over her.
She wanted to protect this unspoiled child from all the dangers of the arena. From the Reaping. From the Games. From everything and everyone.
Then, in the blink of an eye, he was back. The beautiful little boy was replaced with the six-foot, four-inch Career from District 2. His monstrous form lay in the smashed ferns, his face fighting to stay in a semi-normal expression instead of a pain filled one.
"Perfect timing, Twelve. You can come finish the... job...!" He swallowed thickly, his voice catching in his throat from the apparent pain he was in. Her eyes looked over his sweaty form and they widened as they found the large hole in his pants.
Angry flesh easily caught her eye and the blisters were weepy with a milky liquid. He narrowed his eyes at the girl and tried covering the wound with his hand, only to end up hissing in pain from touching it.
That doesn't look good... Shay heard the voice again and only glanced over her shoulder but didn't say anything. She didn't want Cato to think she was crazy.
Cato cursed quietly under his breath. He could hear someone coming. He heard their quiet footsteps and the Career was able to contain the whimpers to his throat. He had been taught to block out pain at the Academy, but this was a whole new pain. This was a constant pain. They never really had to deal with burns.
"Where are the rest of the Careers?" She asked, her right hand gripping the long sword he had seen before. Her hazel eyes scanned the surrounding forest but nothing caught her eye.
"Not here." He hissed.
"Well obviously. They just left you here?"
"No, we were separated by the fire..."
"And they haven't come looking for you?"
"No..." Cato didn't like where this was going.
"So they did leave you!" Shay exclaimed, having a strong sense of triumph wash over her. She smirked upon seeing his discomfort after everything that he had put her through. He deserved it and besides, it was nice to know that someone shared the same pain that she did.
He didn't know if he should be relieved or more worried that it was Shade that walked into the clearing. It was a bit comical to see her standing in the woods, a woolen hat crooked on her head and her face covered in dirt and mud.
She seemed to be doing well enough. Despite her rugged appearance, she looked healthy enough, save for the paleness to her cheeks but maybe that was only the light playing tricks.
And Cato wondered if he should be worried. Shade had cut down Blight easily enough. She didn't even seem fazed when they had her caught up in a tree. Her stature had remained cool and calm, as if she had expected them to show up eventually. That cool demeanor was on her face now but Cato saw surprise flood her eyes upon finding him.
Looking her over, Cato noticed something odd in her other hand. "What's that for?" He asked as he nodded towards the dead rabbit in her grasp.
"Food..." Shade slowly hid it behind her back and the Career grimaced.
"You really eat that crap?"
"Some of us aren't fortunate enough to receive real meat from sponsors so we have to hunt for our food!" She explained as she placed her things on the ground. "Or, your mentor might just be stubborn and not send you food because APPARENTLY, EATING IS FROWNED UPON IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT!" Shade yelled up at the sky, trying to make her point to Haymitch.
"Hey! Keep your voice down!"
"Why? Nobody is in this area. We're alright, big boy..." She said as she gestured to her surroundings with her sword. It was silent between them for a moment before Cato's curiosity got the best of him.
"You... You caught that?"
"Yes...?"
"Yes?"
"Yes!" She exclaimed and he groaned before messaging his temple. She was... weird.
"Are you all there?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you crazy?" He raised an eyebrow in her direction and she frowned.
"No...?"
"No?"
"Exactly!" She exclaimed and he groaned once more. She was so confusing and he was tired. Tired and confused didn't mix well. Cato didn't have time for her shit.
She dropped her pack on the ground, along with the rabbit, and began walking towards him. He tensed and tried standing up but failed miserably. He was only on his feet for a few moments before he face planted in the dirt. This earned him a snort from Shay and he pushed himself back up against the tree.
"What are you laughing at? Go ahead. Just do it! I saw how you killed Blight. You didn't even hesitate..." He said, getting into her head at the last moment.
If she was crazy, he could work with that. Psychological warfare was an easy game to play. Shade flinched when he mentioned the District 7 Victor. Looking down at her hand, she looked into the reflection of the long sword.
She still looked like herself, despite the dirt and crime. Despite the red eyes and flushed cheeks.
Her hazel eyes still seemed soft at times but it wavered easily. Just as easily as they softened, they would harden and turn into an emotionless brown wall. She wasn't a pawn in their Games. At least not yet anyway.
In disgust of that thought, she tossed the sword to the side. It stuck upwards in the dirt, handle to the sky. She made to move closer to Cato again but he only snorted. Noticing the sword that lay a few feet from the wounded Career, she moved over to it. Cato grumbled and reached for it but she only stepped on his hand as it closed around the handle of the sword.
An audible curse escaped his lips as she applied pressure to his knuckles. Despite the pain, he didn't let go. Shade bent down towards the sword and Cato thought she was going to break his fingers.
Cato was surprised, however, when she wrapped her fingers around his and gently forced his palm open. He only glanced up at Shade whose eyes were hard as stone and her face was determined as she stared down at the blade. She lifted his sword off the ground and tossed it over by her own. The blade landed sharp point down in the dirt and Shade was proud of herself.
She was two for two.
Shade looked back to him knelt down at his side. Realizing that her left hand had been on his own the entire time, she flushed before quickly removing it. Despite her red cheeks, Shade moved to pull back the shreds of his pant leg when he covered the wound with his hand.
"Let me see." She demanded but he made no move to remove his hands. "Let me see!" She repeated, her voice angry and forceful. Her hazel eyes locked onto his stony blue ones, her anger flaring. Cato's eyes were hard as well and any form of mischievousness was gone. He was dead serious.
But so was she.
Gathering her hand into a fist, she punched his hand that was on top of the wound and his face twisted up in pain again. He groaned, his eyes shutting tightly and he hissed between his teeth. "Damn it! Let me see!"
"God, you're a crazy bitch!" He cried and Shade smirked triumphantly as Cato moved his rough hands away from the wound. She slowly moved her hands over the fabric and peeled it back. His burn was very similar to her own and his skin was black in some spots. It wasn't pretty. "It's really that bad?" He asked and she hadn't realized that her face had been turned down in a scowl. Looking up to his face, her forehead relaxed some and he swore he saw her eyes soften for a moment.
"It looks like a third degree burn..." She explained slowly as she rose and walked back over to her bag. She reached inside and found the leaf package filled with the paste. Looking at the package for a moment, Shade sighed. This was the only cream she had and she didn't even have that much to begin with. She still needed to take care of herself.
Shade slowly slid her jacket off, trying valiantly to not wince as it slid over her burned shoulder. Cato's eyes watched her form the entire time. He just didn't trust her. As she slid her jacket off her left shoulder though, his eyes widened. She had a large burn that rivaled his own. His eyes darted back to her face to see that it revealed nothing and he was a bit impressed.
So she had high pain tolerance. Cool.
She placed her jacket next to her pack and the rabbit before she pulled the hunting knife from her boot, lilac cream in hand. Squatting next to Cato, she looked at his leg once more. Peering down at the ugly wound, she wrinkled up her nose. He tensed when Shay brought the knife up and she only laughed quietly.
"Relax!" Shay smirked up at him before silently cutting the fabric around it. When she pulled out the leaf wrapping however, he narrowed his eyes. "It helps, I promise..." She told him and unfolded the wrappings. Dipping her fingers into the ointment, the purple liquid was sticky and cold. She advanced forward and bent over his leg, ready to apply the cream. Just as her fingers were about to touch the sensitive skin, a hand tightly grasped her wrist.
Her eyes dangerously flashed up to his blue ones, offering up a challenge.
"If it hurts... I swear, I will-"
"If it hurts, I'll kiss it and make it better..." She said, her voice dry and humorless. She yanked her hand from his grasp and grumbled under her breath before moving back to his leg. She began to apply the lilac substance and the smell invaded her nostrils. At first, Cato's leg muscle was tense under her touch but he then relaxed and when she looked up at his face, his eyes were closed and his breathing was steady and peaceful. The pain must be ebbing away.
After the wound was covered with the purple cream, she wiped the remaining substance that was on her fingers onto her own shoulder. "Do you have any bandages?" He asked, nodding to the bag on his shoulders.
"No."
"Alright, just don't move your leg for awhile..." She commanded. Moving to make a fire, she left Cato in the clearing and returned a few minutes later, her arms full of wood to fuel the flame. She assembled the logs into a pile and after a few minutes, had a small fire burning. Despite what happened earlier in the day, Shade was grateful for the warmth it brought.
Sitting down in the grass, Cato watched as she quietly skinned the rabbit and began cooking it over the fire.
"Why are you helping me?" Her eyes flashed up to boy across the clearing and she didn't really know how to answer. Instead, she just opted to look up at the sky. The artificial stars in the sky twinkled and her lips weakly twitched up into a smile. The large moon shone brightly in the night, lighting up their surroundings so someone could easily see in the night.
"I don't know! I-I'm a good person..." She replied sarcastically, causing him to chuckle slightly. "Haymitch is probably screaming at me right now to just 'Kill the weak bastard when he's down!' but I haven't yet. There goes all my sponsors... But, it's not like I had any to begin with, especially after the fishing incident..." She said, her voice emptying of all humor and she rubbed the back of her neck. Cato only snorted and leaned his head back against the trunk of the tree.
"You tried to go fishing?"
"Spear fishing, actually. I don't recommend it..." They lapsed back into silence again but Shade's attention was focused on browning the rabbit that was held over the flames.
"I see the fire took a nice chunk out of you, too..." Her eyes darted up to him again after they had been reclaimed by the flames. His blue eyes were intently looking at her shoulder. Her face heated up and she placed a hand on it, trying to cover it but it was too painful.
"Uh, yeah. I got caught sleeping in a tree when it happened..." Shade replied honestly, feeling a second blush creep up her neck. It was kind of embarrassing, having to admit to a Career that you almost died because you decided to take a nap in the middle of the day.
He listened intently before nodding and she gently rubbed her shoulder, wincing slightly. They both grew silent and the crackling of the small fire between them was the only sound.
There was suddenly a sharp intake of breath and Cato grabbed her dagger from where she had left it when she was fixing him up. He pointed it in her direction and her forehead creased with worry.
"What?"
"Shh! Don't move!"
"What?!"
"Don't move! There is a mutt right behind you!" It took a moment for his words to register and she slowly turned her head, fear filling her gut. Shade was prepared to get her head ripped off but when she saw who it was, she only laughed quietly.
Her fuzzy wolf companion stood between the trees behind her, his tongue lolled out of his open mouth. Cato looked at her like she was crazy and continued to hold the knife up.
"It's alright, he's friendly..." Shade said as she ripped off one of the rabbits front legs and held it out to him. The amber eyed beast walked over to her and gingerly took the piece of meat in his teeth before lying down beside her and chewing on it. She patted the top of his head and he swished his tail in a silent response. Ripping a back leg off the rabbit, she rose and walked over to Cato. She held the piece of meat out to him and he only looked at it.
"Really? It's not poisoned. You watched me make it..." She grumbled and set it down on his lap. Returning to her spot, she took her own share of food before reclining back, the fluffy wolf by her side. Cato's eyes never left the creature and Shade sighed.
"How has he not killed you?" Cato asked suddenly as he took a huge bite out of the rabbit leg. He chewed and nodded, seeming to like what he was tasting. Maybe rabbit wasn't so terrible after all. She only shrugged and continued to chew her own food for a few more moments.
"I don't know but he's pretty intent on following me..." She explained and watched the wolf snap the bone in half. He munched on it quietly and the air between the both of them was empty. After a while, Shay yawned and stretched her sore back out. It still ached but it was nothing compared to when she had fallen out of the tree. "Was Kaz alive? You know... When you were still with Clove and the other Careers...?"
"Yeah. He seemed fine. Happy even..." Cato replied quietly, his blue eyes trained on the flames.
"Good... I'm surprised he isn't dead yet..."
"Yeah, that makes two of us..." Shade thought about his remark for a moment before quietly laughing. Her laughter picked up and she shook her head before looking at the ground.
"You are terrible..."
"I know..." Cato replied and let a slow smirk spread across his lips. She only shook her head again, hoping that her movement would keep the blush away. Shade laughed quietly again and Cato's lips twitched up in a slight smile. "It's just one of my finer qualities!" He said as he finished his rabbit leg and placed his hands behind his head to relax.
Suddenly, Cato felt a yawn escape his lips. He fought back but in the end, the loud yawn came out and probably startled half the forest. He smiled in contentment, loving the feeling of the warmth of the fire on his skin and the fullness of his stomach.
"If you're tired, you can sleep..." He looked up at the girl across the fire. She was sitting with her back against a tree, watching him with careful eyes. He narrowed his own eyes slightly before smirking.
"Hey, you know my leg still hurts and you said that-"
"I'm not going to kiss your leg!" Shade protested loudly and then slapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes darted to the tree line and she listened for anyone who was approaching.
"It doesn't have to be my leg! You know... These hurt, too..." He pointed at his lips which were turned up in a smirk as he watched her squirm uncomfortably.
"Shut up!" She growled and Cato smirked again. She was so easy to make mad and it was fun to watch her cheeks flush from his sly words.
"Oh come on! Odair gets some but I don't?" He teased again and watched as her nose wrinkled up.
"Leave Finnick out of this!" She snapped right back and she crossed her arms over her chest. He only chuckled and shook his head. She would be fun to mess with. The wolf suddenly made a quiet groaning noise before standing up, walking over, and sitting in Shay's lap.
"Hey!" She protested but couldn't do anything as the beast put his whole weight down on her. She grunted and dug her hands into his fur, trying to push him off. Instead, he let out another huff before he laid down on the ground, his head between his paws. Cato only snorted in amusement before adjusting his sitting position.
He suddenly felt something drip onto his head and in curiosity, looked up. Another wet droplet landed on his cheek and trickled down. Reaching up, he touched his fingers to it and frowned. Then, there was a flash of lightning, followed by a bone rattling clap of thunder. It suddenly started pouring rain and Cato lost the good mood he had before.
His lips dropped down into a frown and he just let his spiky hair get soaked. There was a loud hissing noise and he watched their fire go out and darkness engulfed them. The sky flashed again and the thunder rolled. As the noise quieted down, he heard a whimper and squinted through the darkness.
The lightning quickly lit up the sky once more to reveal Shay, eyes closed and hands over her ears. The wolf was nowhere to be seen and she had her legs pulled up to her chest.
"Twelve?" The girl didn't answer, instead she shut her eyes more tightly. Cato's patience was rapidly emptying and he frowned once more. What was wrong with her? "Twelve?" He repeated but again she didn't answer and another round of thunder and lightning flashed through the arena.
He sighed and wiped some water from his eyes before trying to stand up. He pushed himself up using the tree trunk and straightened out his stiff leg. He grunted as he placed weight on it and he was surprised to find that the pain had lessened.
Taking a few unsteady steps forward, he began walking towards the shaking female. Her hat and hair was now thoroughly soaked and the golden strands stuck to her face, making her look like a drowned rat. On his way past, he picked up both their swords and held them in his hands.
Upon reaching her, he stuck her lighter blade into the ground beside her. She didn't seem to notice how close he was and he noticed that her shoulders were shaking slightly. From the cold rain or from something else entirely, he wasn't sure.
Cato was unsure what to do, so he gently tapped her good shoulder with his blade. She flinched and opened her eyes. The lightning flashed at the perfect moment and lit up the sky, showing a scowling Cato with a gleaming sword in his hand.
He's coming for you... The voice from before cooed, making her spine tingle. She looked up and it appeared that Cato had stepped right out of her nightmares. She opened her mouth but the scream refused to escape her lungs.
"Twelve?" He asked, his voice confused. He took a step forward and her eyes widened with fear. Cato stepped back for a moment when he saw the look in her eyes. The terror. Normally he would be pleased with himself for bring terror to people's hearts but this was different. He reached a hand out in an attempt to calm her down.
He's gonna hurt you!
"Get away from me!" She screamed and stumbled away from him. The voice was telling her to get away and she still scanned the surroundings for the person who was screaming at her. Not watching where she was going, she slipped on some leaves and fell into mud, sending it spraying in all directions. It covered her face and torso, some even getting into her hair.
Cato stepped out from behind the tree he had been behind, swords still flashing in the lightning. For a moment, she could have sworn that the liquid dripping from the shinning blade was blood. When she looked down, she realized she was covered in a dark substance. Her own blood. Looking down at her hands, she saw the dark substance again which felt sticky and her hazel eyes widened. She tried wiping it on her clothes to get rid of the gross feeling.
"Don't!" She screamed and began backing away from him. A feeling of dread filled her stomach and she shut her eyes tightly again and her hands knotted up into her dark golden hair.
Cato stepped closer to her and her eyes were shut again, her shoulders shaking. He was still uncertain as to what to do and used his sword as a support as he knelt down beside her. He groaned as his leg protested but it relaxed when his knee touched the muddy ground. He reached out, his large hand wrapping around her small wrist. He pulled her hand away from her ear. He swallowed and the rain continued to trickle down his face.
"Shade?" Her hazel eyes slowly opened and her nose wasn't wrinkled anymore. She looked up at him in wonder. He had just used her real name. Not Twelve. She swallowed and wanted to tell him what was wrong but couldn't. She hated storms. They were her biggest fear.
Your blood is all over him... The voice called out and she looked down at his clothes. The wet suit was covered in the dark substance and her eyes widened. Her fears continued to make her believe that the mood was the scarlet liquid.
"Blood... Blood..." She pointed at his clothes with a shaky finger. Cato looked down at his muddy clothes and frowned. What blood?
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." She said and she reached out and began to clean the mud from his shirt. Her hazel eyes seemed to be glazed over as she whipped the mud from his clothes. He grasped her wrists tightly and shook her slightly.
"Look at me!" Her hazel eyes widened and she looked up at him, terrified. He released her wrist but only for a moment and she immediately began to wipe the "blood" off his clothes again.
Reeling his hand back, he poised for a strike and swung. His hand connected solidly with her cheek with a loud crack, her head snapping to the side in the process. Her wet hair whipped around her head and if it wasn't for Cato's grip on her wrists, she would have fallen over into the mood once again.
Her cheek stung like mad but her hazel eyes focused on the crisp green ferns on her right. What had just happened? It felt as though she was going crazy. Her mind changed everything to make it look sinister and deadly. It had been like she was living in her own nightmare.
She realized that her wrists were being grasped tightly and turned back around. "Cato?" She asked quietly and he nodded, something odd moving in his blue irises. His grip on her wrist lessened some and she slowly started coming back to reality.
She blinked a couple times, trying to get ride of the terror filled haze she had been in. She looked down at herself and realized they were both covered in mud. Not blood. But, she could have sworn that the sticky, scarlet liquid had covered her torso just moments ago.
"Let's get out of the rain..." He said over the sound of the rain and she slowly nodded. He began to push himself up from the ground using his sword but his leg protested and he was about to go back down but he felt hands on his shoulders. With Shay's help, he steadied himself before she removed her hands and pushed some of her hair from her face.
Shay was about ready to give him help and support some of his weight but he held up his hand to stop her.
"I got it..." He said, his blue eyes set with determination. He began to move off into the trees, slowly but surely. The female grabbed her sword from the ground and raced back into the clearing from before, snatching up her supplies. She then raced after him, his footprints easy to spot because of the muddy forest floor. She finally caught up to him and another round of thunder and lightning echoed through the arena. She shut her eyes tightly for a few moments, trying to block out her fear.
Peeta.
He had always been with her during storms. And now he wasn't. Shade swallowed the lump in her throat and began walking in step with the Career. She couldn't break down. Not any worse than she already did. She couldn't break down with him around. He would use it to his advantage.
"Where are we going?" She asked, her voice barely coming out as a whisper. She looked up to Cato for an answer, which he didn't. For a moment she wondered if he had actually heard what she said.
"There's a cave up here. It shouldn't be that much further..." He called over the rain once again and her eyes immediately scanned the surroundings for the shelter. So he had heard her timid question. She nodded slowly and watched as he walked through the trees. His back quickly disappeared into the darkness but her feet wouldn't budge. She didn't want to go with him.
She just wanted to curl up into a ball and cry. Cry because of the storms. Cry because she missed Peeta. And Katniss. Even Finnick. She missed his quirky attitude. She missed his flirtatiousness and his unbelievable power to make you his friend without even trying.
You better go before he leaves you for real. Then you'll really be alone and we don't want that do we? Shade turned and looked around, swearing that had heard the voice. No one was around however and her stomach churned.
Go on... Go after him! The voice urged her and she once again looked around. Who was that?
"Are you coming, Twelve?" Her head whipped around and Cato stood between the trees, all humor gone from his features. He had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, startling her. Her heart had stopped in her chest for a moment and she finally remembered to breath. She only nodded and walked towards him, her head down.
See? All better now...
It was only a couple more minutes before the pair stopped outside the cave. It was a couple yards away when Cato stopped them. He made no movement, only held his hand out and didn't move. He slightly tilted his head in the direction, listening for anything inside.
Shade herself used her keen eyesight to check for any movement inside. She also watched for the flickering of flames on the walls but relaxed when she didn't see any. The seventeen year old was extremely tired and was sick of the rain. She would jump every time the storm sounded around and she just wanted to be indoors.
Cato suddenly held up his hand, clenching it into a fist. He slowly raised two fingers before hastily pointing towards the cave. Checking for danger, he began to hobble through the rain over to the cave.
What was that? Career talk?
Shade followed after him, guessing that the hand signal was for her to follow, and stepped into the dark cavern. Her footsteps echoed on the cave floor and it was extremely difficult to see. She drug her feet along the cave floor, careful as to not trip over anything.
Without being able to see anything, she bumped into something warm and tensed. Her grip on her sword tightened and she held her breath.
"Twelve?" She suddenly felt something warm on her face and realized it was fingers. Right, she was with Cato. Shade would have to get used to being with people again, after being alone for so long. They lightly touched her cheek and without thinking, reached up and grasped them in her shaky hand.
From outside, she could hear a faint beeping noise and turned her head in the direction.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
She flinched as another round of lightning and thunder rolled in. It briefly lit up the cave and she noticed Cato looking intently outside. Feeling her tense up, Cato gently squeezed her hand.
"Wait here..." He said quietly and she felt his hand leave her's after the sound of footsteps. Shade took in a shaky breath and tried to calm herself down. She was in a dark place, alone, while a thunderstorm was going on.
Cato stepped back out into the rain and followed the sound of beeping. It got louder as he neared the parachute and once he found it he sighed. It was a large package, probably something from his sponsors.
Upon picking it up, he froze. Where a large number 2 should have been printed, a 12 sat in its place. His lips turned down in a frown and he noticed a little slip of plastic on the top. He easily removed it and placed it in his pocket for later.
He entered the cave once again and opened the silver canister. Using the moonlight, he peered inside and he was a bit surprised. The container held a large bundle of firewood with kindling, a thermos, and a white towel.
"Twelve?" he called over his shoulder and his voice echoed in the cavern. There was silence for a moment before he heard her quiet footsteps. "I need the flint you have..." He explained and heard the rustling of clothing before he held his hand out. He felt another hand reach blindly from the darkness and grasped his own before it moved and he felt the sharp edges of the stone press into his skin.
Quickly assembling the supplies for the fire, he struck the flint and the cave lit up briefly before darkening again and again. When he finally got a fire started, he relaxed. The girl had finally taken a seat on the stone floor, her knees pulled up to her chest. He watched as her pupils dilated from the new light source. She had retrieved a dry blanket from her pack and had placed it on the cold ground so she could sit on it.
The warmth of the fire immediately reached his skin and he shrugged off his soaked jacket. He quickly raked his hands through his spiky hair, making it stand on end. Water sprayed in every direction, a few drops even hitting her. She blinked a few times before simply wiping them away, her face emotionless. Cato waited for some smart witted response from her but was greeted by silence.
"What was that? With the blood?" He asked quietly, as he reached back into the canister and pulled out the thermos. He suddenly remembered the note and pulled it from his pocket, not letting her see it.
"I don't know... It was like I was living in a nightmare..." She said quietly and she wiped some mud from her hands. Shade grew quiet but looked up when she felt eyes on her.
Cato's stomach was upset for a moment as he peered down at her. She looked so weak before him. Mud covered her cheeks and any other skin that was visible. This girl was completely different from the girl who he had watched on TV, so confident and charming during the interviews. The girl who had beaten his time in the obstacle course. The girl who looked so perfect and flawless in whatever dress she wore. That girl seemed to be gone. A facade.
"A nightmare?"
"Yeah... They happen to me quite often..." She explained but he hardly paid attention as he was distracted with the note that came with the parachute.
Just hold her, asshole. -H
Cato's lips twitched up into a smirk as he read the note. He thought it was funny how blunt Haymitch had to be, but it got his attention. Glancing over his shoulder, he opened up the thermos. Steam rose from the silver container and he inhaled deeply. Chocolate. Hot chocolate. Taking a small sip, he smiled slightly as the cocoa attacked his taste buds.
"Here, try this. It'll make you feel better..." He walked over and held the thermos down to her. She looked at for a moment before looking up at his face. He only raised his eyebrows before she took the warm mug from him. She lifted it to her nose and took a sniff. Whatever it was, it smelled good.
Bringing it to her mouth, she took a small sip and her eyes widened considerably. It was delicious! She took another long swig of the warm liquid before cradling the container in her palms.
"It's good, isn't it?" Cato asked as he walked around the fire in the center of the room. The flickering of the flames cast odd shadows on his face, making him look more sinister. "It's hot chocolate if you were wondering..."
Thunder suddenly rolled outside, causing it to echo through the cave. Shade suddenly flinched and shut her eyes tightly, her knuckles turning white as they grasped onto the warm container. Cato only watched her for a moment, confusion clearly written on his face. He reached back down into the parachute container and withdrew the large towel. He only used it to dry off his face and arms before approaching her again.
Was she scared of something? Of him? It seemed as though it dawned on him finally. Storms. Maybe... she hated severe weather?
It all made sense now. He sat down beside her and grunted as the ache in his leg returned with vengeance. He supposed the medicine he put on it washed off in the rain. Great.
When she felt someone by her side, Shade opened her eyes.
Cato was sitting next to her and he was holding what appeared to be a towel. She gratefully took it from him but dropped it in her lap for a moment. She slid her jacket off her shoulders and laid it down next to her to dry. Tossing the hat from her head, she also pulled the tie from her hair which easily fell from the sloppy braid it had been in. Her hair had turned a dark brown from the moisture but she knew that when dry, it would return to its original golden color.
She fluffed it with a towel until it was mostly dry. Shay then pulled it up into a bun and secured it with the tie from before. Using the towel, she slowly dried her face and her arms before sighing. At least she was somewhat dry now and the mud was of her face. The white cloth was covered in mud from the both of them and she scowled.
"You're scared of them aren't you?" Her hazel eyes wearily drifted to Cato by her side. "The storms?"
"Yeah..." She replied quietly and laid out the damp towel by her jacket.
"It's kind of a dumb thing to be afraid of..."
"You're a dumb thing to be afraid of...!" The corner of Cato's mouth twitched up. She was starting to get her spunky attitude back so they had made some progress.
"Oh really? Is that a challenge?" He taunted and he was confused when her eyes closed. "Hand me the towel..."
"Why?" She didn't move and instead, Cato had to reach across her to get the damp cloth.
"You missed some mud..." He replied quietly and before she knew what was happening, the cloth was on her cheeks, carefully clearing away any mud that she had missed. His hand was surprisingly gentle as he cleared away the substance and Shade closed her eyes momentarily. She didn't know if she liked the feeling of being cleaned. It made her feel like a little kid again.
His actions stopped and when she opened her eyes, she took in a quick breath upon realizing how close his face was to her's. Letting her eyes fall to the ground, she swallowed nervously. "Thank you."
"No problem..." He replied just as quietly as she had. Shade suddenly released a sigh from her nose and laid down on the fuzzy blanket, trying to get her raging emotions under control. She tucked her arm under her head and settled into her new spot. She could feel Cato's eyes on the back of her head but let the prickling feeling leave as she shut her eyes.
Cato watched as she laid down, her back to him. Did she really trust him? He could easily kill her in her sleep but he thought about it for a moment. She thought he owed her something because she saved him. He suddenly remembered Haymitch's note.
It was some sort of strategy? To have her stick with someone and be in an alliance? Would you even call this an alliance or just an odd agreement not to kill each other in return for her fixing his leg?
He'll never know.
"Sure, it's a challenge, Cato..." She said quietly, recalling their conversation only a few minutes ago. She yawned loudly before going silent completely and Cato wondered why. Her chest rose up and down at a slow pace, signalling that she was asleep. Her face was calm and she looked to be at peace for the first time in a couple days.
This was probably the first time he had ever seen her at ease. She always seemed to be on the alert, her hazel eyes sharp as the blade by his side. She was always watching. Watching what, he didn't know.
"Well, challenge excepted Shay-Shay..." He whispered in a teasing voice, careful not to wake her.
"Are you going to stop talking now or will I have to wait to go to sleep?" She snapped and his eyes flashed to her face and found her hazel eyes still closed but her lips were turned up in a smile.
"Whatever. Go to sleep. Night."
"Good night, Cato..." She replied quietly and her lips relaxed. Cato watched her chest rise up and down again, he was sure she was asleep this time. Lightning flickered outside, followed closely by thunder. His eyes immediately sought out her face and watched as she flinched in fear but she remained silent and her forehead unwrinkled.
Just hold her, asshole...
"I'm turning into a pussy..." He grumbled before reaching over and covering her with his now dry jacket. He tucked it around her small body and his hand brushed some hair away from her face. Realizing what he was doing, he retracted his hand and laid down on his back, eyes on the roof of the cave.
What am I doing? How much longer can this last?
Aww! It's so cute! To fast? Review and tell me cause I don't want it to be one of those stories where they fall in love in two chapters alright? How I see it is Cato is using this to his own advantage so that he can survive longer. I think that he's only trying to trying to help her get through her pathological fear of storms but you can think whatever you guys want. REVIEW!