HI! :D

Yes I haven't updated. I'm incredibly sorry. I kept retyping this chapter, I kept changing then changing back. I was finally satisfied with this. I'm pretty proud of it.

Fluteorwrite - Thanks for correcting me on my mistake

THANKS to you who reviewed! I'm HAPPY :)
Also thanks to all of you that story alert and such.

Please enjoy ^.^

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES. SUZANNE COLLINS DOES.

CHAPTER 12

'He cares for me…Katniss. Get your head the game. Right now the priority is Rue.' Katniss mentally snapped herself out of it. She had reached the Cornucopia and hid behind a bush. No sign of Rue or Clove. She could run and grab the bag then hide again, but it wasn't a throughout plan.

Something broke her thoughts, it sort of sounded like a muffled cry. Katniss searched for the source of sound. It came from behind the tree. 'It must be Rue,' Katniss thought, 'But what if it's a trap, what if I get caught…' It is a big risk, Clove could lunge at her any second. Katniss took in a deep breath; she's going to take the risk. She is going to save Rue. She will.

Katniss ran towards the tree, and she indeed found Rue. But she was tied around the tree, and there were scratches all around her. A piece of cloth was tied around her mouth not allowing her to talk.

Katniss untied the cloth around her head, "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Katniss you have to go back, this is a trap!" Rue exclaimed, but Katniss didn't listen. She was untying the ropes.

"Figures, but I have to save you from Clove's grasp." Katniss frustrated, used her knife to cut the ropes.

"There…" Katniss sighed. Now they just had to run back.

"If we are going to escape, then we have to hurry." Rue threw worried glances around the arena. Katniss ran for the bag, grabbed it. "Let's go-" Katniss was interrupted by Rue's scream

"KATNISS!"

But it was too late. Katniss was tackled on the floor, Clove was on top of her forcing her to stay still.

"You did come, Fire Bitch." Clove sneered, she grabbed Katniss and threw her against the tree, before Katniss could react Clove had immediately tied her up. Rue on the other stood there, slowly and quietly backed away.

"You better stay 11," Clove demanded. She snapped he fingers and the two wolves came.

"Watch her, make sure she doesn't run away. Do not eat her." Clove ordered them. The two wolves circled Rue, keeping a very close eye on her just like Clove said.

"Now talk." Clove turned to Katniss.

"Talk about what." Katniss stared back at her.

"Where the hell is Cato?" Clove demanded an answer.

"Why in the world would I know?" Katniss spat. Clove didn't believe her for a second.

Katniss did understand why Clove was so attached with Cato.

"Why do you care?" Katniss questioned back. Clove seriously wanted just kill her, but she needed the information first.

"You don't need to know, you jut have to tell me where he is!" Clove's voice was rising, "If you don't who knows what may happen to your face." Her face glowered with evil, her knife in one hand and her other hand tracing her face. "Where shall I begin?" Clove sneered, the knife leveling Katniss face.

"Are you choosing not to talk? Last chance." Clove was ready to strike. Katniss stayed silent, she was not going to give away the place that kept her safe from her. She could easily give where Cato is, but she didn't know where he was. He may be roaming the arena or he maybe in the cave. Mostly likely the cave…

"I don't know where he is." Katniss snarled.

"Oh I think you do," Clove raised the knife the sharp edge piecing through Katniss's right cheek. It made a curved line down her cheek. Blood dripped down her face and fell on the grass. She held in her scream, biting her tongue. Katniss will not show Clove that she is scared of her.

"Still not talking?" Clove frowned, "Shall we do your eyes next?" Before Clove could do anything, the knife was snatched away.

"What the-?" Clove turned around to face Thresh. Her eyes widened, she never expected for him to come.

"Let her go," His voice low and demanding.

"Who are you tell me what to do?" Clove looked at him, "I could easily kill you." She was being over confident.

"I could throw you to that tree," Thresh pointed the big tree pin point in the forest, "And you will die." Clove didn't doubt that.

"Wolves kill them!" Clove was completely raged. Thresh had easily untied Katniss, and as soon as he did, Katniss shot an arrow at one of the wolves, it hit its tail. Thresh fought off the other one, while Clove grabbed Rue and locked her head between the crook of her elbow and the side of her body (headlock). Rue grabbed on to Clove's arm, trying to pull it away. Katniss and Thresh were too busy fighting the two wolves to notice Rue was in trouble.

Clove had no chance in fighting off all three of them, but she had captured the weakest of them. Clove planned to kill Rue and she was going to, Clove took her knife and stabbed it into the little girl's body. Clove dropped her and ran. Thresh and Katniss noticed that Clove was running away, Katniss turned around to find Rue on the ground.

"RUE!" Katniss ran towards her. Rue was on her side curled up as if clutching her wound. Katniss took a look at the wound and she knew it couldn't be healed it was too deep in her stomach.

Thresh ran after Clove to kill her which left Katniss and Rue.

Katniss gently lifted Rue's upper body onto her lap so they made direct contact.

"Are you ok?" Her voice was barely a whisper. 'She's asking me that? I should be asking her.'

"I'm fine." Katniss answered.

"You have to win Katniss," Rue said.

"I will. I'm going to win for the two of us." Katniss sweared. Katniss on the verge of crying, she takes her hand and grips it.

"Katniss… please figure out your true feelings for Cato..." Rue whispered. What does she mean… my feelings…

"I will." Katniss replied. There is a silent moment.

"Sing." And Rue breaks the silence. Katniss doesn't know any songs, but there was one. She sang it when Prim was sick. It was soothing and a simple lullaby.

Katniss took a deep breath and began:

Deep in the meadow, under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when again they open, the sun will rise

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

A cloak of leave, a moonbeam ray

Forget your woes and let your troubles lay

And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place I love you

Rue's eyes had already flutter shut. The canon shot.
Katniss gently laid Rue down and kissed her temple. Tears streamed down Katniss's face. She stared at the lifeless body, it was just lifeless.
Katniss left and came back with flowers, she decorated it all around Rue, covering her wound. She stood up once again and stared at her.
'She may look like as if she's sleeping in a meadow.' Katniss despised the Capitol, what do they find so entertaining in this?
She presses three fingers to her lips then to the air. She couldn't stay, they would have to collect her body.

Katniss couldn't save her, she hadn't notice her in trouble. The least she can do now is win, and figure out her feelings. Katniss did not understand what she meant. What feelings does she have for Cato?
Actually Katniss has quite a lot, but she was too depressed to think.
She solemnly walked back, letting her instinct lead the way.

Katniss had reached the thick vines and just walked through it. Once she entered the cave, she dropped down onto the floor in more tears.
Cato wasn't in the cave after all, Katniss felt as lonely as ever. She blamed herself for not saving Rue. She couldn't do anything.

Cato didn't go to the Feast, he didn't want to. He just walked around the arena, trying to figure out things out.
During his walk he heard the canon. There were so many possibilities, but the one bursting through his head was Katniss.
Cato decided to go back to the cave, surely the Feast was over by now. As he walked back he noticed that he was passing the same tree over and over again. Cato wouldn't admit it, but he was clearly lost. Dusk was approaching, it was dark enough for them to show the person that died that died today. He looked above at the screen. The anthem sang through the arena and Rue's face showed.

'So she died… should I go back? Knowing Fire Girl she'll blame Rue's death on herself… why the hell do I care?' Cato debated, 'Cause I do care… life is not going to be easy…' Cato ran back to the cave, oddly enough this time he knew exactly which way to go.

The large, thick, lush green, vines appeared in front of him. He brushed them apart to the side and walked into the cave. Cato almost tripped, he looked down to find Katniss lying there curled up and sleeping. He crouched down, brushed away her hair. There was cut on her face and stained tears on her face. Cato comprehend that Katniss cried herself to sleep. It seems that there was trouble at the Feast. Cato didn't want to wake her up but it was cold sleeping on concrete, so he picked her up; bridal style, then carried her back to her sleeping bag and tucked her in. Cato will have to find out what happened tomorrow.

Katniss felt warm, which caused her to wake up. 'Is it morning already?' Nope there was no light coming through the opening.

"…You're awake?" Cato sat up from sleeping. Wait. How did Katniss end up her? Then the memories flooded back in and her eyes started to fill with water again.

"I…I couldn't save her Cato… I couldn't!" Katniss screamed, tears fell down her cheeks. Cato didn't know how to react.

"What happened?" He asked, Katniss didn't answer. She just stared at the floor, sobbing.

Cato lifted her chin, "What happened?" He asked again.

"C-Clove… killed her… and I didn't even notice…" More tears came. Cato pulled Katniss into a hug, she tensed up in surprise but relaxed. It was comforting. Katniss silently sobbed in his chest, Cato stroked her hair which calmed her down.

Katniss's crying seemed to stop so Cato decided to ask again, "What happened?" Katniss didn't answer, "Tell every detail." Katniss pulled apart. She stood up and took a bottle of water that she filled up and splashed it on a cloth, then wiped her face. Katniss untied her braid and ran her fingers through her tangled hair.

"I found Rue tied on a tree… I untied her, then went to get the bag with my District number on it. Clove tackled me… I didn't notice, before I could do anything she tied me up… She asked where you were and I said I didn't know… so she gave me this cut." Katniss grabbed the ointment, there was barely anymore, she used some on her cut. Her voice quivered at the part of Rue dying. Katniss explained everything…almost everything. She didn't tell her the promises she made with Rue.

"I didn't even notice, Cato!" Katniss exclaimed, "She died…and I couldn't do anything."

"Stop blaming yourself, just stop." That was all Cato said.

"How can I?" Katniss argued, "It is my fault." She stated.

"You gave her a peaceful death," Cato continued not allowing Katniss to talk, "You sang to her and put her in a bed of flowers. So what you couldn't save her? You tried the best you can." Katniss heart eased up with those words.

"I hate your logic," Katniss tied her braid back.

Cato pretended she didn't say that, "What happen to that big guy then? Tre?" He never was good at remembering names.

"Thresh." Katniss corrected, "And I have no idea…" She sat down in front of Cato.

"Didn't you say you took your bag from the Feast?" Cato said.

"OH! I have it," Katniss reached in her jacket pocket. She opened it to find berries.

"Berries?" Cato peered in the bag and took one. Katniss eyes widened, "DON'T EAT IT!" she took away the berry and put it back in the bag.

"It's food." Cato bluntly claimed.

"Yeah, deadly poisonous food. They're Nightlock berries, " Katniss explained, "Once it goes in your mouth you are gone." Cato observed her emotions.

"Well if I ate it, then I'm gone from this competition. So why did you save me?" Cato asked.

"Didn't you ask a similar question before? I answered right? So the same answer." Katniss replied.

"This is different Fire Girl, you know what happened between us." Cato stated, "You know I killed Lover Boy, you know I kissed you, there's a bunch more." Katniss stared at him. Maybe the reason has changed. Maybe it's not just because it will haunt Katniss if she didn't stop him. There was a bigger reason, unexplained for.

"I know… I just don't want to tell you…" Katniss whispered and looked down at her sleeping bag.

"Hmm…?" Cato lifted her head up, "A secret?" His face centimeters away from hers. Katniss could feel his breath on her face.

"Yes, a secret…" She muttered, "Your eyes are so blue…" she stared into them, diverting the other conversation

"I guess so…" Cato placed a hand on her cheek, caressing it. She continued staring.

"Cato are you mad?" Katniss noticed a flicker of different emotions.

"No." It sounded like a big lie, who knows why Cato was mad but he just was.

"If you're not angry, kiss me."

So how was it? I couldn't really describe Rue's death scene quite well, I didn't want her to die either D': but... ya... I can't go any further then that or I'll spoil.

Please give me some reviews or PM message me on how this chapter was, or any of my other chapters... I worked on a week for this one so I want some opinions!

Till the next chapter... :O