I'm sorry this took so long! I promise I'll try to update more regularly for now on. I just got interested in one of my other stories, See You. If you have time, you should check it out.

I'm kind of running out of ideas, so if you guys have any suggestions to what should happen, feel free to let me know!

~Katniss POV~

"Katniss."

I don't bother turning towards the voice. "Gale."

He sits down next to me on the rock, setting his bow on the ground by our feet. "Look, I'm sorry."

"Yeah?" I snap. I'm not in the mood for an apology, or another lecture. I just want to go hunting, lose myself in the quiet of the forest, and not have to worry about anything except tracks and snares.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." His voice softens. "I'm just trying to protect you, Catnip. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

I wait for the inevitable but. There isn't one.

At last I give in and look at him. His gray eyes are serious and unblinking. "Forgive me?"

I let him wait for a few extra seconds before giving in. "I forgive you."

Slowly, he holds up an apple, a smile just barely tugging at the corners of his mouth. I swipe it out of his hand and take a big bite to hide my grin. I'm still angry with him. But it's nice to be on speaking terms with my best friend again.

We gather and fish, and by the time we have to head to the Hob, we have enough to trade for more than enough to get by for another week. It's been a few days since I took Peeta into the woods, and since then, we haven't run into each other. Literally or figuratively. Which is why, when we approach Greasy Sae's stall, I have to do a double take when I see a head of blonde hair. People are staring as the boy converses with Sae, and I don't blame them. Seeing someone with fair hair in the Hob is like seeing a Capital citizen strutting around in the forest. It just doesn't happen.

But, as we arrive at the counter, I see that it's not Peeta. It's Rye.

"Why, hey there,Kitty Kat!" he greets me enthusiastically, pouncing on me like a large, blonde cat and crushing me in another embarrassing hug. I stand awkwardly, my game bag dangling from my fingers and my arms pressed to my sides, as I make a face at Gale. He rolls his eyes, but I can tell he's trying not to laugh.

"Not funny," I mouth at him. This just makes him chuckle.

"How's my favorite Everdeen?" Rye asks jovially once I'm finally free of his grasp.

"Fine," I answer shortly. What is he doing here? What is he doing here? "Um, Rye?"

"Um, Kat?"

"What are you-?"

"Doing here?" he finishes for me, grinning.

I hand a few squirrels over to Greasy Sae. "Yeah."

"Well, I'm glad you asked." His tone of voice suggests that he's been waiting a while for this conversation. His eyes sparkle with a mischievous look. "I hear you spent some time with that dear brother of mine."

I'm tempted to say, "Which one?" But I don't. I just jerk my shoulders in something like a shrug as I accept a bowl from Sae.

"How is he, anyway?" Rye asks, as if he doesn't know.

"How should I know? Haven't seen him in a few days." I take a spoonful of the stew to my lips. "More beef, huh?" I ask with a wink.

Sae nods and smiles. "Yes, of course. Beef."

Rye won't be distracted. He leans against the counter next to me and, while Gale haggles over the price of some soap a few feet away, says, "Now I know where those cupcakes went."

I give him the I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about look and eat some more stew.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. It's not like I haven't sneaked some cupcakes out of the bakery to give to pretty girls before."

I ignore his last comment and instead ask, "Where are you going with this?"

"Nowhere in particular." He pushes himself away from the counter with his un-bandaged hand. "Just making sure my little brother's girlfriend knows how lucky she is."

I feel my face heat up and open my mouth to protest. I am not Peeta's girlfriend! Am I? No. No, definitely not. Just because we- no.

"Say thanks to your mom for fixing up my hand."

Then he's gone, striding through the shadowed paths of the Hob and looking completely at ease, even though everyone is staring at him like he has two heads.

"I will," I say, even though he's already out the door by now. Gale returns a minute later and we finish our soup before moving on. I let Gale trade. My mind is too full of questions to focus. Why do I get the feeling that that's not all Rye came for?

For some reason, that list starts going through my head again. Seam. Town. Miners. Merchants. A Townie in the Hob. Huh. Maybe those barriers aren't as insurmountable as I thought.