The Lady of the Lake: Behind the Scenes

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Enjoy Some Cato POV!

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Set during Chapter 10 of The Lady of the Lake when Cato wakes up from the Tracker Jacker Stinging

The Choices We Make

I start awake and reach for my sword, even before my eyes open.

It's not there by my side and immediately my instincts jar even more. That's not right...I'd never go to sleep without my blade being in arms reach.

I open my eyes, and blink up at the stone ceiling above me, which is wrong in and of itself. Not to mention the rushing sounds of water and the blanket draped over me. Slowly I sit up, and take stock.

First glance of my surroundings reveal that I am indeed, alone, although there are obvious signs of another Tribute all around me, from supplies to the blanket itself, and the bound leaves around my arms and legs.

I touch the bindings and peel one back to reveal a bite mark, although one already well on the way to healing. I recognise it as a Tracker Jacker and my memory supplies flashes of scrambling awake, hearing Glimmer screaming, Clove shrieking, Marvel bellowing and Darrien yelping as suddenly the air was full of insects stinging.

Tracker Jackers then…

But this hadn't happened at the Cornucopia...again my mind supplies images, flashes of the determined face of the Girl from 12, high in the tree, and Loverboy's voice "Let's just wait her out."

We'd all fallen asleep...no one had been assigned guard duty, because that was the boy from 3's job. We hadn't even thought about it…

Stupid!

And somehow we'd been stung by a horde of Tracker Jackers, which somehow I was sure was Bitch on Fire's fault.

I rub a hand through my hair and consider my surroundings again, considering what else I remember.

I close my eyes for a moment and I see the woods swimming around me, and a boy with fair hair shaking the girl from 12, begging her to run. I remember seeing a body on the ground, the once lovely face marred, fair hair caught in the bush she'd fallen in. Glimmer.

She is dead then.

And lover boy helped his girl escape, holding me off with a spear, those blue eyes frightened but determined. I'd been furious at the time, and I was still angry that he'd turned, but…

A soft sound outside, just audible over the rush of water, a soft voice humming something. Obviously the Tribute returning to their little cave...maybe to finish the job off? Well….we'd see about that.

I jump off the bed, and scoop up my sword, leant against a stone wall nearby, and take up a post in the most shadowed part of the cave, near the entrance.

A moment of silence, anticipation, waiting, and then a slender shape steps into the cave, relaxed, with a backpack slung across one shoulder. I see the red blonde hair, and pale skin and instantly I'm absolutely furious.

Schuyler.

The Girl from 4.

She steps forward a pace, and I see her spine stiffen as she realises I'm not where she left me. Another step and she's moved past my position, providing me with a perfect target.

Exposed.

Vulnerable.

I lift my sword, but even as I do it, I know I can't kill her. She has answers, she can fill in the blanks, she can tell me what she's done and why I'm here.

I step out of the shadows and rest the edge of my blade against her throat. I feel the tiny jump she gives as the cold metal touches her skin, and I smirk slightly, feeling back in control.

Oh yes, this I'm familiar with.

"Well, well...if it isn't the little fish?" I drawl feeling tension, humming through my arm as it presses the sharp steel against her neck.

"Cato," Her head turns slightly and I see the nervous dart of her tongue across her lips. Her eyes are dark with terror and her voice shakes a little as she says my name, "Let me explain…"

"Please do," it's an effort to keep my voice even, to not shout at her, or shake her, " Please explain how the last thing I remember is that piece of shit Loverboy with a spear levelled at me, and then I wake up here, wherever the fuck here is. I'm sure it's a simply fascinating story."

Anger seethes under the surface, fury at her, at Bitch on Fire, at Loverboy, at myself...

She turns to face me and I see that she's a little thinner than she was, sweet face a little less round, and her eyes larger against her pale skin, which pales even more as I glare at her.

All I need from her is information...and then I'll kill her, I tell myself.

"You passed out...after injuring Peeta. I brought you here."

She brought me here?

"Why?" I snarl, and I dig the blade in a little more, causing her to wince.

"You were sick. The Tracker Jacker stings…."

Something snaps inside me and I lower the sword, only to grab her by her neck, just like I did back in the Training Centre, on the rooftop, feeling her pulse humming against my hand like a frightened bird, "It doesn't explain why you helped me!" I shout at her, furious, " What do you want!"

What does she want?

What game is she playing?

How dare she try and play me!

"I couldn't leave you there!" she grabs helplessly at my arm, those big green eyes pleading as she struggles to breathe, " Cato, please, I'm not your enemy!"

"Everyone is the enemy," I remind her, and clench my hand tighter, restricting her airflow even more and causing her to gasp for air, " You've forgotten that we're in the Hunger Games little fish?" I taunt her as she struggles, " I warned you what would happen if our paths crossed."

"I saved you!" she gasps out, feebly punching at my arm, "You ungrateful ass!" the last word comes out as a squeak as I grip even harder for a moment.

"What makes you think I needed your help!" I roar at her, but I know I'm really shouting at myself, angry at failing so badly, " I'm a tribute from District 2. I was born for this!"

I was supposed to be the pinnacle of training.

This was supposed to be my Games.

But…

I'd be dead right now if Sky hadn't saved me. Left unconscious, stung, poisoned, delirious. I would have died if I hadn't gotten back to the Careers.

She saved me.

Why?

I shove her away from me, sending her tumbling to the ground, but instead of lying there, gasping as I expected, she scrambled up, drawing a blade from her belt. It's shorter than my own, in between a dagger and a sword and she holds it in between us like its a snake.

"Put that down," I scoff at her, "You look ridiculous."

"I'm not dying without a weapon in my hands," she declares, panting, and clearly frightened, and all at once I've had enough. I don't want her to look at me like that any more, "I haven't survived this long to just…"

I walk towards her, and she swings wildly. It's pathetic really, wide of me, but it gives me a good opportunity to parry the blow and disarm her, sending the blade spinning out into the tumbling water.

She backs up, even as I try to close the distance to her, until her back is flush against the wall. Her eyes close, and she seems to shrink, frightened and waiting for me to kill her.

And again something snaps in me.

But this time all I can feel is a rush of protectiveness.

"Stop that." she stays hunched, eyes squeezed closed, "Schuyler….."

Those green eyes open again, wary, frightened, but now curious too.

"Cato…" oh the wariness, like a feral kitten unsure whether I'm going to pet it or hurt it, "What…"

"I'm not going to kill you," I inform her, sheathing my sword, and I realise it's true. I don't want to kill this infuriating, beautiful girl in front of me. She saved me, at risk to her own safety, "I owe you, much as I hate to admit it. A life for a life. I'll save your hide and then we'll be even and I can claim your kill."

I can't be the Victor if she lives, but I can at least kill her with grace, dignity and peace. I don't want her to suffer, and I shudder at the thought of another getting their hands on her.

Sky doesn't understand, and her confused questions make me roll my eyes.

"So...now what?" she asks, still wary but now more relaxed. I reach out and tug the pack from her shoulder and heft it. Empty, I realise with disappointment, and drop it back to the ground.

"Now, you tell me what you have to eat. I'm famished." I inform her, moving back into the cave and enjoy the soft peel of laughter she gives, following me in.

We eat in silence, but it's not uncomfortable or oppressive. Instead I think both of us are watching each other, curious, but unsure, with all sorts of questions and wonderings that we don't know how to ask.

Night falls outside the cave, and Sky settles down on the ledge where I'd lain, snuggling in under the blanket.

For a moment I consider the soft sand floor, and while I'm sure it would be suitably comfortable, I only hesitate for a moment before moving over to the ledge where she is settling down.

Sensing me, she looks up, a small shaft of moonlight spearing across one cheek, illuminating pale skin, and a questioning look.

Slowly I lift the blanket, keeping my eyes locked on hers, waiting to see if she'll object. Does she feel this too? This strange...connection between us that makes her both fascinating, infuriating and...doomed? She is my competitor in the Hunger Games, she's a Tribute, she's playing the Game like I am.

When the time comes for me to kill her...I'll make it gentle...I'll make it kind.

It's all I have to give.

I slide onto the ledge behind her, wrapping my arms around her and enjoying the soft warmth of her in my arms. She's stiff only for a moment, but she relaxes as I rest my lips against the nape of her neck, settling down.

"Cato…" she whispers, "What…?"

I can't explain to her what I'm feeling, my gratitude, my resentment, my appreciation, my determination that she should die as peacefully as possible.

I know she won't understand.

"Shut up," I rumble, mumbling the words into the soft skin, and the fine wisps of hair, "Just go to sleep Little Fish. You're safe with me for now. I swear."

She appears to trust my word, relaxing against me even more.

"You're a very strange boy," she murmurs, and I make a noise of amusement, hugging her closer.

It's strangely comfortable, her soft weight against me, the warmth of it. Her heartbeat against my hand, the rise and fall of her body as she breathes, slowly deepening into true sleep.

"You're mine 4." I say quietly, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

She makes a soft sound in her sleep and I smile slightly.

I'm not dead.

I was saved by the Girl from 4.

I'll save her, and then I'll give her the death she deserves, powerful and peaceful. She'll never be forgotten.

Tomorrow I can return to my Pack. They'll welcome me back, since I am back to full health.

I'm getting closer to Victory.

These are still my Games.

NEXT CHAPTER: Open to Requests!