Disclaimer: The Hunger Games Trilogy is property of Suzanne Collins. This is a parody fanwork by fans for fans. No money was made off of the creation of this fanwork.

Spectator

By Fanfic Allergy

Chapter Thirteen

The morning comes and I turn on the television while I start my day. At the top of each hour there's a quick recap of what's happened, if anything, by a young reporter with bright green hair and matching ivy tattoos on her cheeks. The person reading these is always young and always far too cheerful for my tastes. As much as they annoy me at times, I prefer Caesar and Claudius. But they only take over in the early afternoon and through Mandatory Viewing. The rest of the Games are narrated by novice newscasters.

Thankfully not much has happened while I've been sleeping. Both Prim and Rue have gotten up and done their morning routines. Thankfully the Gamemakers don't show tributes pooping and peeing, probably to preserve the delicate Capitol sensibilities which can watch someone be brained to death with a rock but can't stand to watch someone take care of a bodily function. Still, it's something. I don't know if I could stand to watch that.

Prim climbs another tree and shouts down that she thinks she sees water. I hope so for her sake. The berries yesterday staved off some of the worst of the dehydration, but both she and Rue need water. As they walk toward where they think Prim saw water, they whistle the four note theme. Occasionally one or both of them will spot a plant that they know is edible and gather it. Good for them. The more food they can gather, the less they will need to rely on sponsors or their supplies to survive.

From where he camped a few miles away, Peeta gets an early start. From the circles under his eyes, I suspect his sleep was plagued by nightmares. I feel sorry for him, from what Madge told me and what I've observed he's a kind, gentle soul. But kind, gentle souls don't last long in the Arena. Peeta seems to understand this, but he doesn't like it. I don't think any of us likes it. It's just one more thing that the Capitol takes away from us.

Peeta seems to have given up trying to whistle Rue and Prim's tune and is instead following the mockingjay song. He's getting closer, according to the announcers, his longer stride and fewer stops have gotten him less than a mile from the girls. When he hears the whistle again, he picks up his pace, trying and failing to duplicate that simple tune. He just can't seem to get that low final note but he keeps trying anyway.

The girls finally hear him, or rather hear the mockingjays stop repeating their tune an hour later. I can see the relief on my sister's face and even Rue looks pleased. They call his name, urging him to find them. I want to scream at them that it could be a trap, but I know my sister, she's not wary enough to suspect that people don't have good intentions.

When they catch sight of him, Prim drops all pretense of waiting and flies toward the older boy. A smile blossoms across Peeta's face and he catches her in his arms and hoists her high over his head, swinging her around in circles. Prim spreads her arms wide, trusting him fully to keep her from falling. It's a breathtaking sight.

He lowers her gently to the ground and gives her a large hug. He's as relieved as she is that they've reunited. The commentator is cooing that they must be so close because Peeta is dating me. That's not it at all, it's just that my sister really is that loveable.

Rue has been hanging back shyly and Peeta finally notices her. He untangles an arm from Prim and motions for Rue to come join the hug. She only hesitates for a moment before running over to him. He pulls her to him and the three stay there for a few minutes just basking in the joy at having found each other.

It's Prim who finally pulls away. "Where have you been, Peeta? I was afraid something happened to you."

"I told you I was going to get supplies," he says.

"But you didn't say it would take that long!" she protests, stamping her foot. "We were worried that someone killed you!"

A pained expression crosses Peeta's face. "Well, you can see I'm fine."

Prim inspects him. Other than a few scratches from sleeping under a bush, he's uninjured. "Well, if you say so." She doesn't sound convinced but she's giving Peeta the benefit of the doubt.

"I'm glad you two found each other and are okay," Peeta says, changing the subject to distract my sister from him.

Prim huffs and places her hands on her hips. "I almost wasn't! The girl from Ten found me and if weren't for Rue's quick thinking I wouldn't be here."

I can see the guilt that flashes across Peeta's face. "I'm sorry I wasn't there, Prim," he says contritely. Then he turns to the dark skinned girl from Eleven. "Thank you for being there for her when I wasn't."

Rue blushes. "It's okay. We're a team, right? You'd do the same for me."

"Of course I would!" he answers and I know he means it.

Rue seems to know it too because she gives him another hug and says, "Then don't worry about it. Nothing happened and we got another pack out of it."

Peeta nods, but I can see that he's unconvinced. I also can guess that he's going to be blaming himself for not being there. I know that is what I would be doing if I were in his shoes.

Prim interrupts Peeta's brooding. "Do you have any water? We haven't had any since before the Games started."

"Yeah, a little," Peeta says with a nod. "I don't have much so you'll have to be careful with it. No telling when we'll find more."

"Prim thinks that she saw water off that way," Rue says pointing toward the west.

A ghost of a smile crosses Peeta's face. "Good. When you're done, one of you will need to climb a tree to see if we're still on track."

Rue nods. "I'll do it now. Then get my water."

While Rue's climbing, Prim asks, "What really happened back there? No lies. You promised."

"I had to kill the girl from Four, I didn't want to but she came at me with a knife and I just reacted." He bites his lower lip and I can see from his expression that he's fighting to hold back tears.

Prim must see it too because my sister gives him another hug. "You did what you had to do to survive."

"I know. But I wish I didn't have to kill her. I wish," he says in a voice thick with unshed tears, "I didn't have to change who I was just to survive these Games. I'm okay with dying just so long as I don't let them change me. I've been telling myself that ever since my name was called. Now, I don't know if I'll still be the same man that I was when I entered."

Prim pulls back and stares into his face. "Just so long as you keep saying that the Games made you do this, it'll be okay. You wouldn't have done it otherwise."

"I don't know, Prim. I'm afraid of what your sister will think of me now that I'm a killer." I'm confused. I don't know why my opinion would matter.

"I think Katniss would understand," she says solemnly. "Especially since she knows you're doing this to keep both of us alive."

Peeta pulls back. "Remember, Prim, only one of us gets to go home," he reminds her gently.

She looks up at him sadly. "I wish it didn't have to be like that."

Peeta manages to get his emotions back under control although I can see that they're simmering just under the surface. "Me too. But unless they change the rules, it's how it's going to be," he says fatalistically. "So don't get your hopes up. I mean to make sure that you can go home to your sister and that's that."

My eyes widen at his very public declaration. First that he even told Prim about his intention to make sure she survives. And second that he would say it where the whole country and Capitol can hear it. It plays up the whole tragedy of the Games. I'm even surprised that the Gamemakers aired that little conversation, but maybe they didn't think it was inflammatory enough or maybe they're only saying what everyone already knows: twenty four tributes go in, only one comes out.

Prim just nods at him, like they've had this conversation before. They likely have, since it's clear that they intended on teaming up from the start. "Katniss sent me some string," Prim says changing the subject.

"Good!" Peeta says, his voice actually full of genuine pleasure. "You really did well at the knot tying station in training so we should be able to snare some good food. I'm also glad Katniss was able to raise enough money to help us out. Sending that string to you was the best thing she could do."

"I know. I hope it didn't cost too much, though." She looks concerned. I can guess she's worried I won't have enough for when the baby arrives.

"I'm sure she had lots of help," Peeta soothes.

"Yeah, Gale," Prim says with a sniff.

"He's your sister's friend, Prim," he chides her gently.

"I suppose. But he's not as good as you," she says heatedly.

Peeta smiles at my sister. "Thanks for saying that. But I'm just glad that she's got someone to rely on while we can't be there, you know?"

Prim wrinkles her nose at him and takes a sip of water from the bottle Peeta hands her.

Rue rejoins the two on the ground and Peeta hands her the water. She takes a grateful sip before speaking. "Prim was right. There is water. I can't see how much but it's about five hundred yards or so that way." She points with one arm.

"Let's grab our stuff and get going. I'd like to get water and then see about finding a secure place to make camp."

The girls nod and grab their gear. Rue takes the lead with Peeta bringing up the rear. They don't say anything while they walk, intently listening for the sound of water. After about twenty minutes they start to hear water running over rocks and then Rue gives a little cry as she spots the glint of water through the trees.

They slow down, becoming wary of walking into a trap and Peeta breaks off three branches, one for each of them, to use to poke the ground ahead of them. They spread out but within arms' length of each other. It's a smart move because Peeta's stick finds a patch of quicksand. In the wild, quicksand is rarely deadly, it's just not deep enough to go over someone's head in most cases. However, this is an Arena and the Gamemakers like to put deadly surprises around places like lakes, streams, and pools to trap and kill unwary tributes. Peeta carefully finds the edges of the trap and marks them with a series of symbols low to the ground on the trees nearest the hole. They continue like this for the rest of the way to the edge of the woods, finding two more quicksand pools along the way. When they break out into the sun and take in the water source they all breathe a collective sigh of relief. It's a spring flowing into a decent sized pond with water lilies, cattails and katniss surrounding it.

It's a survivalist's dream.

The girls pull out their water bottles and get to filling them up while Peeta looks around and takes in the terrain. The spring is located in a small depression in the surrounding terrain. Further to the west there's a sharp cliff jutting up out of the landscape. There are a few dark spots that might be caves along the cliff and I see Peeta eyeing them with interest. It makes sense. Like Thresh's wheat field, this is a defensible location with water and food nearby.

Prim gives a little cry and immediately Peeta tenses up, ready to leap into battle. But she's not hurt, she's excited.

"Look, Rue!" she says pointing into the pool. "Fish!" My heart leaps. That pond has just gone from dream to heaven.

There's a knock on my door and I tear myself away from the Games to answer it. It's Madge bearing a large paper bag. "You're early," I greet, glancing at the clock to make sure I haven't accidentally lost track of time and find it's only eleven.

"I figured you wouldn't have eaten breakfast yet," she answers, reaching into the bag and pulling out a blueberry muffin and placing it in my hands. "Tell me I'm wrong."

I stare at her then make a rueful face. The fact is, she is right. I haven't eaten. I got so caught up in the Games that I forgot to eat when I first got up and that was hours ago. "Thanks," I say and take a bite. The muffin is soft, moist and delicious and suddenly I want to shove the whole thing in my mouth. I restrain myself and step back to invite Madge in.

I go into the kitchen area and pull out our old teapot to make some tea. Mint, not the expensive stuff sold at either the apothecary or general store.

Madge follows me and sets her bag on the counter. "So guess who I saw on my way here?"

"I don't know. Who?"

She pouts at me. "You're supposed to guess!"

"You know I never play these games."

"Fine," she gives in with an eye roll. "I saw Gale."

"You know he came over here the night of the interviews angry at me about Peeta," I tell her.

She nods her head. "I guessed. Pretty much got confirmed when he cornered me wanting to know what I knew about Peeta. If he was a stand up guy. That kind of thing."

I sigh. "He's acting like a possessive ass."

"I don't know," Madge says thoughtfully. "Maybe that's part of it. But I wonder if part of it isn't genuine concern."

"Why do you say that?"

"This is Twelve, Katniss. A lot of Seam girls and women have merchant lovers, the ones that aren't brave enough or desperate enough to go to the Peacekeepers. I think in his own overprotective way he's trying to look out for you."

"I don't need or want him to look out for me. I can look out for myself!" I can feel the annoyance in me rising.

"Are you going to stop looking out for Prim?" she asks pointedly.

I glance guiltily at the screen where Prim is making a net out of the string I sent her while Rue is gathering up various plants to eat and Peeta stands guard. "I don't know if I can stop. She's my little sister."

"And as much as I hate to say it, he's the father of the baby you're carrying. And you're his best friend. He's not going to stop caring about you overnight just because you've had some fights." She pauses. "I am assuming you two fought."

I laugh. "I think that's putting it mildly. I don't want to marry him and he won't stop pushing me." It's just so frustrating.

"I think that's because Gale's always been the responsible one. Look at him with his brothers and sister. They're almost like they're his own kids," she points out.

"Posy especially," I say in agreement.

"Exactly. Now he's having one for himself. Naturally he's going to be a little protective and that's going to spill over to you."

"But he should know that I don't need protecting! We've been hunting together for years," I exclaim, exasperated.

"Doesn't matter. Not to him. I don't say I agree with it, but if you look at it from his perspective it makes sense."

It does make sense and I hate that it makes sense. But Madge is a good friend for pointing this out to me. "How do I get him to look at things from my perspective?"

She raises her eyebrows and her lips twitch upward. "If I knew the answer to that, do you think I'd still be single? At least you're one up on me, you've got two someones who want you."

It's meant to come across as light-hearted but I can hear the pain in Madge's voice. It's true, no one's shown any interest in her. Being the Mayor's daughter doesn't lead to an exciting social life. "Give it time. Who knows, maybe Gale will stop moaning about me and latch on to you," I tease. I can't see Gale and Madge being friends let along boyfriend and girlfriend. Not with his class prejudices and her father's position.

She wrinkles her nose. "Thanks, but I'll pass. He's handsome and all, but he's really not my type."

The water is ready and I pour us both a cup of tea. "So what is your type?"

"I'll tell you when I know what it is," she admits ruefully.

I look down at my stomach. "I want to keep Gale for a friend. Even as angry as I am with him right now, I miss him."

"I know." She takes a sip of her tea.

"I want my baby to grow up knowing its father."

"I know," Madge repeats, blowing on the tea to cool it.

I look over at my friend. "Why does he have to make it so hard?"

She sets her teacup down. "I don't know. But from his perspective you're the one making it hard," she points out, pulling two loaves of bread out of the bag she brought and handing them to me.

"I know." I take them and note that one is the same kind of bread that Peeta gave me all those years ago. "You know this whole thing with Peeta isn't helping. Did you know he was in love with me?"

Madge nodded. "I did. Or at least I suspected."

"How?" I want to know. Did everyone know Peeta's feelings for me before I did?

"Remember how I said we used to play together?"

"Yeah?" I answer with a nod.

"He never wanted to play house with me, because I was and I quote, 'Not the girl he wanted to marry' end quote. I finally asked him who he wanted to marry and he got all flustered and mumbled out something about the girl who could make the birds listen. It wasn't until I heard you out singing with Prim in the Meadow a few months ago that I realized who he was talking about."

A horrible thought crosses my mind. "Do you like Peeta?"

"You mean, like like?" she asks.

I nod.

She shakes her head. "No. He's my friend and I can't picture him like that for me. In my mind, he's always been yours even though you never knew you had him."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask.

She shrugs, picking her mug back up and taking another sip. "It wasn't my place. Besides, I didn't have any real proof. That would have been embarrassing if you'd confronted him and he went, 'Oh no, I don't like you. I like Prinny Sparrow,'" Madge says naming a girl in our year whose singing voice is notoriously horrid. "I mean imagine the mortification you would have felt. I was sparing you, really."

"Thanks for that," I say drily.

"Anyway, it's not like you really need to worry about Gale right now," Madge says leaning against the counter. "I mean the guy he's all worked up over has out and out said he's going to die for your sister."

"You saw that this morning, huh?"

"Right before I left, yeah," she says with a nod. "I figured that you weren't going to eat until they stopped focusing on Prim, Peeta and that girl from Eleven."

"Rue." I fill in the name and give my friend a little sheepish smile. "And yeah, I sort of forgot all about food until you showed up."

Madge grins at me. "You're welcome." She pauses taking another sip of tea. "So really, Gale doesn't have to worry much about the competition. At least not from Peeta, because if he's the winner of the Games I doubt you'll have much to do with him and Peeta's pretty much aware of that."

I nod. They're both right, I wouldn't be able to look at Peeta without seeing Prim. It'd take an order from President Snow himself for me to have anything to do with him, much less consider dating him.

"So just wait until the Games are over and things will straighten themselves out. Both you and Gale are under a lot of stress because of these Games."

"Yeah," I agree.

When we sit down, I note that the action has changed over to the Career camp. Clove is sitting up and Cato is anxiously trying to get her to eat something.

"Please, Clove ,you've been out all day!"

She pushes away the soup bowl he's holding. "I told you I'm not hungry. What happened?" she asks.

Glimmer pipes up, "The dork from Twelve did a number on you."

"So why aren't I dead?"

"Rookie mistake," Glimmer answers with a shrug. "Lucky for you. He took out Coral."

Clove looks more annoyed than sad that her ally was killed. "Sucks for her. Also going to really suck for him," she says with a cruel smirk on her face.

"Why's that?" Marvel asks from where he's keeping an eye on the final member of their alliance, Axel.

Her eyes glint with something akin to anticipation. "I'm going to make him wish he was killed at the Cornucopia instead of Coral."

AN:

Written as part of NaNoWriMo in November 2012.

Revised 7/22/13

Beta Read by Rose Fyre.

Tributes killed in this chapter and how they died.
None!

Up Next: The Gamemakers unleash a little hell.