14

It's early in the morning when I decide to move, very early, they sky holds a pink shade as the sun is starting to rise above the clouds. I didn't sleep much if at all. I stayed up for a while guarding the cave, making sure no one found us, and although I tried to sleep frequently I never could, I think it was the heat keeping me awake. I open one of the packs and find the last remaining bird that Cat shot. I walk outside and the air is cold and damp, like it had been the day of the reaping. I can smell the damp earth and the damp trees. It's not a horrible smell but it could smell better. I can feel tiny flecks of rain hitting my face as they are blown around in the light breeze that flows through the air.

I cook the last bird carefully, making sure that it is cooked perfectly, the bird we over cooked yesterday had been rubbery and tough, and with this being our last bit of food I would hate for it to go to waste. When I walk back into the cave with the bird placed on a flat stone, I see Cat sitting up bow and arrow ready to shoot.

I arch an eyebrow at her and she lowers the bow placing the arrow back into the sheath that sits next to her "I woke up and you were gone" she says. "I was worried"

I chuckle. I had never had anyone say they were worried about me before well not that I could remember anyway, people usually just left me to do what I wanted when I wanted. "You were worried about me?" I ask; my reaction seems to ease Cat.

"Yeah, I thought that maybe Ryder and the others had found you" she says her tone soft. "They prefer to hunt at night" she informs me, this must have been something she learnt when she was spying on them while I was comatose due to the tracker jacker venom.

"Well as you can see I'm fine" I say flashing a smile. I sit down beside Cat and we eat the groosling, luckily it is cooked much better than yesterday the meat is soft and tender and the grease fills your mouth as soon as you bite into it.

We eat in silence, something I hate to do, it feels uneasy to me, I think that while you are eating you should have conversation, not necessarily while your mouth is full obviously, but in between bites you should talk otherwise it becomes awkward. Once we have eaten Cat is the first to speak.

"Did you sleep?" she asks, running a hand through her hair.

I shake my head "No but I'm okay" I say. But truthfully I am exhausted.

"Well sleep now" she says, I hesitate "Jade, it'll be fine, if anything happens I have my bow and arrows or if you prefer I will wake you" I purse my lips "Jade, you can't stay awake forever"

The girl had a point with that one. "Fine!" I say reluctantly "But you wake me up after a couple of hours" the air is cooler than it was last night, but it is still far too warm for the sleeping bag. I role it out on the floor and lay on it.

Cat sits just next to me, her back rested against the wall, her bow and arrows are close at hand. She looks down at me "Go to sleep" she says softly, she gently brushes a strand of hair from in front of my eyes, and places it behind my ear. This gesture feels so comforting to me.

I sleep far too long, I can tell by the brightness of the sky when I wake that we are in late afternoon. Cat still sits beside me, her position unchanged. I sit up feeling annoyed, yet more awake than I have been in days. "Why didn't you wake me?" I ask my tone harsh.

"There was no need" Cat says. "Besides, you look better when you sleep, you don't scowl as much" she says, there is a joking side to her tone but still her comment catches me off guard

"I don't scowl" I snap. Even now I can feel myself scowling.

"You do, a little bit" Cat says. I sigh and role my eyes, I can feel my scowl fading slowly, but it still clings to the edges of my face, ready to make another appearance at any moment.

"We need to do more hunting today" I say changing the subject.

"Okay then, let's go now" Cat says standing; she grabs her bow and hangs it on her arm, while she slings one of the packs and her sheath of arrows over her shoulders. I stand, picking up the remaining packs; I check my knives that are placed in my belt before the two of us leave the cave.

I can't decide if the soft mud is a good thing or a bad thing; our tracks will be left in the ground which will make it easier for us to find our way back to the cave, but also it will make it easier for other people to find us.

The temperature begins to drop drastically it isn't long before Cat and I find ourselves pulling on our jackets and zipping them up to the top. My skin is becoming paler than usual due to the cold air. I notice small goose bumps surfacing on Cat's jaw, her lip trembles slightly.

Unfortunately there is no sign of wildlife, no stray feathers from birds, no rustling in bushes and the only tracks on the floor belong to me and Cat. It begins to dawn on me that the food will be running low if it hasn't already gone. All Cat and I have left is some stray bits of meat, and that won't last long between two of us.

The most we have managed to find is a few berries, plants and roots, sure this will make a meal but it will nowhere near suffice. Finding a bird or rabbit begins looking ominous. I can feel the hollowness in my stomach. The air is no longer damp, but the air is harsh and icy. It feels more like winter than summer, and even in the winter I have never felt so cold, my body aches from shivering, the cold air is making me catch my breath.

"M-maybe we sh- should just g-go back" Cat stutters, her lips have turned a pale blue shade, and parts of her skin are beginning to turn the same shade. She is lethargic as she tries to walk back. The drastic change in weather has already started to take its toll on her.

"Yeah" I agree, I wrap one of my arms around her waist and place one of her arms around my shoulder, it's shocking to me how quickly her health has changed. And it turns my stomach to think that this is the reaction that the game makers want. They want to make us ill, so we will be easier targets. They enjoy watching people struggle while they are sitting in their houses safe, warm and healthy.

I half carry her back to the cave but truthfully if needed I would have fully carried her back. She lies down in the sleeping bag; her skin has turned white as snow save for underneath her eyes, they are dark purple, and are slightly swollen. I make her drink some water and force her to try to get some rest, I look out of the mouth of the cave and see the sun is only just setting, the sky has turned orange, pink.

Cat pulls one of her hands free from the sleeping bag and holds it out in front of her, I wrap it in both of mine, her skin feels icy against mine I let go with one hand and bring her ice cold hand to my lips I place a small kiss on her fingertip before holding it in both my hands once more.

"Go to sleep" I whisper. I brush more of her hair away from her head, she closes her eyes, welcoming the sleep, she snuggles into the sleeping bag she slowly pulls her hood up pulling it down over her eyes.

I can see how short her breaths are, she is still stuttering when she speaks "G-good ni-night" she musters, and she still shakes as the cold works its way around her body.

I sit and watch the sky turn, dark, and when I see the bright shine of the seal of Panem I go outside even though I am sure I know what the sky will reveal tonight, there have been no cannons which means there have been no deaths, still the six of us remain alive.

I stand and walk back into the cave. I slowly and carefully slide into the sleeping bag next to Cat. The air is calm and still, there are no sounds, not even the sound of trees rustling in the breeze or the birds singing the last of their songs for the day, there is nothing. For once in the games I fall asleep to complete silence.

I wake in the morning to find Cat looking at me; her dark brown eyes look heavy and dull. I can see her pulse beat rapidly in her neck, and this is the first sign to me that something is wrong, very wrong. She gives me a small smile, and I can see her lips cracking as they stretch, I notice small beads of sweat surfacing on her head, and she trembles slightly.

I place the back of my hand against her forehead, she is burning up. Her skin is paler than it had been last night, it's is verging on being translucent, and it scares me slightly.

"Morning" she says, her voice cracks slightly.

"Morning" I reply, I give her the best smile I can muster but it's hard especially when she looks as ill as she does. "I'm going to make some food" I inform her I stand before she has time to say anything. I walk outside and the bright sky makes my eyes sting, it isn't as dull as it was yesterday, but it is still as cold. I use the same flat rock from yesterday to make a meal out of the berries, plants and roots Cat and I had gathered yesterday.

It isn't much but it will have to do, Cat and I were unable to find any wildlife yesterday, and this is the best we could come up with, I walk back into the cave and see Cat trying to sit herself up, she's weak. "No" I say as I see her, she looks at me confusion fills her face. I sit down next to her, balancing the scarce meal on the rock. "How are you feeling?" I ask.

"Good" she says but I think it is mainly for my benefit, I know that she will be able to tell I am worried- that will be evident on my face, the whole of Panem will be able to see the worry pulse through me.

I nod "Well, here it's the best I could do" I say as I place the food on the floor between us. She screws up her face and turns her head away.

"I'm fine" she says.

"You have to eat something, we haven't eaten since early on yesterday" I say, I know that forcing her to eat will do no good, but I can't let her do without.

"I'm not hungry" she argues.

"So you don't want anything?" I ask

"No" she says, I see her contemplation in her eyes and then she is speaking again "Wait, tell me a story" she says.

"What?" I ask

"Tell me a story" she repeats herself.

I can feel my eyebrows furrowing together, I can feel the deep creases setting in my head, in all honesty I don't tell story's to people, apart from Taylor. I don't know where to begin I think about what I want to tell her especially when I know the whole of Panem will be watching. "How about I tell you about the first day I met Robbie?" I suggest. She nods weakly. I take a deep breath, I want to remember Robbie, and this is the best way I can, to remember him from the very beginning right up until the day he died.

I begin to tell Cat about the day I met Robbie, it had been my first day ever of school, and I remember it being just before my dad walked out on us, it had been a freezing cold Monday morning. I stood wearing a thin brown coat- it had been all my mother could afford at the time- and I was in a light blue dress. My hair had been tied up in pig tales- the amount of detail I could remember shocked me slightly.

Our parents took us into the school building, and I remember seeing children crying as their parents said goodbye to them, not me though, I just wanted to do something, the first thing I ever did at that school was paint, I don't remember why, but I know that's all I wanted to do. It was while I was painting I met Robbie; he had been an extreme small child when we were younger. He had far too much hair for his head, and his glasses were huge on his face.

He had this strange confidence about him, all the other children were stood quietly by themselves or playing alone in the sand. But Robbie bounded over to me and introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Robbie" he had pronounced proudly, although at the time he couldn't say his R's properly so his name came out was 'Wobbie'

"I'm Jade" I told him. My voice much quieter than his, and that's all it had taken back then, just to know each other's names, because after that we spoke all day at school, as the years went on I found myself waiting for Robbie to walk through the doors of the schools. Back when I first met Robbie I had no idea of the impact he would make on my life, and I am just glad I met him when I did, had I been any older I would have probably ignored him, and never taken notice.

"He sounds like he was nice" Cat says, I had almost forgotten she was there.

"Yeah" I say "He was nice" I can feel the tears burning my eyes slightly, but I refuse to cry at this moment in time. "He was amazing" I say, and it's true he was. Robbie was one of the only people I could really talk to- no scratch that, he was the only person I could talk to.

"He seemed it when I spoke to him" she says, I had almost forgot that they had spoken briefly one time in the training centre, and suddenly I remember being really jealous of him, because he was talking to her. And it's the small things like this that make me miss him all the more.

The sound of trumpets startles me, and then it's the voice of one of my new favourite people Bertram Sisman is making an announcement. And as I expected, he is inviting us to a feast, and though it sounds tempting, I know it's just a way to get us all together. And I roll my eyes at his offer. But then he speaks again "I know some of you may be turning down my offer" he pauses "But this is no ordinary feast. There will six packs, one for each of the districts that remain, inside these packs is something that is needed desperately" I stop to think; what do I need desperately?

I know what Cat need's. Cat need's medicine, she is clearly ill, anyone can see that; I've changed my mind; I'm going to the 'feast' even if it is just to get Cat's medicine. He is speaking again "You will find the packs at the cornucopia, think wisely before you decline, for some of you, this may be your last chance" Announces Bertram.

There's nothing now, nothing other than his words hanging in the silent air, I jump as Cat reaches out and takes hold of my wrist her fingers burn my skin. "No" she says "You're not going".

"Who said I was going to?" I ask; I try to keep my voice defensive.

"So you're not going?" she asks, she seems to be getting weaker by the minute, and her pulse is beating faster than it was before.

"No" I lie. "Do you think I'm stupid?" I pause "I'm not going to go running straight towards Ryder, Beck and Andre" I push her down gently hoping she'll go to sleep "Give me some credit Cat" I say, giving her a false smile.

She eyes me surreptitiously "You're not great at lying" she says "You're going to go aren't you?" she asks

"Yes" I hiss "And you can't stop me"

"I'll follow you" she argues.

"Cat, you can barely sit up, let alone follow me" I scoff

"I'll drag myself if I have to, and I'll shout your name" she threatens.

I can't believe how stubborn she is, or how ditzy she could be, would she really try to come after me? Would she really call out to me? I guess I could just trap her in the cave, that way she couldn't follow me. It's strange but I am actually contemplating that option. But I shake the thought from ym head.

"Well what am I supposed to do Cat?" I snap at her "Do you expect me to sit around and watch you struggle to move when I can go and get you something that will help you?" I can feel the anger rising inside me.

"Jade, I'll be fine. I promise I'll be fine. Don't go" she begs. I know there is no way out of this for me, so I act reluctantly and pretend to go along with it.

"Fine" I sigh "But you have to do everything I tell you too" I point at her, and she nods her head, I can see that she is fighting hard to keep her eyes open. "Drink plenty of water, wake me up when I ask you to, and eat something"

I glance towards the mouth of the cave just in time to see a silver parachute float down from the sky, it's the third one I have seen, and I know Cat has noticed it too, she tries to stand to get it to it "No" I say, and she slowly lowers herself back into the sleeping bag. I walked to the parachute and pick it up in my hand. I notice two things are attached to it, there is a small pot that is boiling hot with a spoon taped to the side of it and then there is a small vial. I open the vial, with my heart feeling hopeful, it's medicine I think someone has sent Cat medicine.

And then I gag as the sickly sweet smell fills my airwaves. And it is medicine just not the kind I was hoping it to be. It's sleep syrup- everyone at some point in their life will have had this, or will have to have it. And the pot is filled with soup. I pour the vial's contents into the pot and mix it together for a while. I walk back into the cave smiling.

"Look what Euphemia sent you" I say it was the first thing I could think to say and I remember Cat telling me that her stylist was called Euphemia, so it might just work. Her face brightens up. "Now remember you said you would do what I told you" I remind her "So you have to eat everything that's in this pot okay, no matter how bad it tastes"

She nods and opens her mouth as I spoon feed her- it's been a long time since I did this, the last time I fed anyone other than myself was when Taylor was really young.

"It actually tastes really nice" Cat says, "It's really sweet" says Cat as she swallows the last spoon full

"Yeah" I say "It must be the berries that are in it"

Cat shakes her head "No it tastes really sweet, almost like syrup" she thinks for a short while, and I chew on my bottom lip nervously. Her eyes widen as she realises. I clamp my hand over her nose and mouth, so she has no choice but to swallow, she tries to fight the best she can

"Shush" I say "Don't fight it, don't fight" I instruct, and slowly she calms down, I can see that she is already losing consciousness. And I sit back and look at her with a mixture of sadness and satisfaction filling my body.

"Who can't lie?" I say, and it doesn't matter to me that Cat can't hear me, because I know that the rest of Panem can.

A/N: Just a bog standard chapter really. Oh well I hope you like it anyway, please continue to read and review I love knowing what you guys think, and once again I really do appreciate all the reviews and opinions I get (good or bad) and a big thanks once again to everyone who has already reviewed and thanks for still reading this fic.