Just have to say thanks for reading the story.

Don't own Hunger Games.

Alto POV

I'm thrown back by the blast and come to a stop quite a ways from the field. The impact of the ground knocks the wind out of me, and the backpack hurts my back even more. I hear a crunching noise come from it, and I can say that I smashed the crackers. The mines are still going off, shaking the ground. I can only go with the shaking, I'm deaf right now. I don't try to stand; otherwise I'd be thrown back down. I pull my hood over my face to protect it from burning, flying debris. I don't know how long it takes, but it's probably only thirty seconds before the shaking subsides.

I pull away the hood from my face to find the supplies don't exists anymore. I'd smirk if I could, but I'm a little more preoccupied by the blood and bits of three boy on me to celebrate.

I try wiping the bits off while it just smears the blood. It's all over my face and upper body, and I'm feeling sick just knowing it's on me.

But I have to get out of here first. Then I'll throw up my lunch.

I right myself, but start stumbling once I'm up. It's obvious that I can't run now, but at least I can stand. I try to get to the tree line as fast as I can, stumbling and falling once on my way there. I jump into some thick foliage, face the field and wait. I can't run, otherwise the Careers might hear me lumbering through the forest. That and again, I can't run. It's not long until they make it back, and Cato seems vivid. He's literally slamming his fists into the ground and pulling his hair. They go in and try to find anything they can salvage, but they don't find anything.

The Careers try calming him down, and it's obvious he wants to go back out, but the two Careers keep pointing to the sky. I already know what they're thinking; that it's possible that whoever did this died with the supplies.

The sun falls below the horizon and the careers look into the sky and I do the same, just in time to see the emblem fade and the faces of the dead to appear. Three's the only one who died.

It's obvious that the bomber survived, though bombers would be more precise. Cato and Clove put their night glasses on and Marvel lights a torch, and they take to the forest.

After a few minutes, as to make sure that I was out of ear shot of the Careers, I try standing up. I do so easily and when I take a few steps, I can walk like normal. I quickly jog to Katniss's last known area.

"Katniss? Katniss, you still there?" I whisper. She pokes her head above the shrubbery before sighing and standing.

"You don't know how good it is to see you. I thought you were caught in the explosion." Her eyes widen considerably when she gives me a once over. "Is that yours?!"

"Three boy. I used his body to soak up the blast." I shake my head. "Let's not go into detail. We need to move." She nods and we take back through the trail we took.

Katniss digs out the glasses and puts them on, which relaxes me a little. We drink some water, I try to wash the blood and bits off of me, and we make a meal out of the greens and roots and berries we and Rue have gathered today.

"You think Rue's alright?" Katniss asks me.

"She's a smart and resourceful girl. She'll be fine." I raise a hand. "How many tributes left?"

"The boy from 1, both from 2, Foxface, both from 11 and 12; just eight of us." She counts with her fingers.

"The betting must be getting really hot in the Capitol."

"You're telling me. They'll be doing special features on each of us now; probably interviewing our friends and families."

"Hell of a long time that there's been a tribute from twelve make it this far."

A cold breeze has sprung up, making Kantiss shiver. She reaches for her backpack, but finds nothing on her back. She checks the backpack on my back, and doesn't find what she wants: the sleeping bag.

"Getting cold?" I ask.

"A little. Why didn't you grab a sleeping bag?"

"I was in a hurry Katniss." I roll my eyes. "Had I been out later, three might have set the mines off to kill me. Besides, I thought you said I was you heater?" I smirk while opening my arms. She lays against me while laying down the plastic sheet and throwing a layer of pine needles and leaves on us to insulate the warmth. She throws her hood on and pulls her legs into herself.

"One thing's for sure; the Careers aren't sleeping in comfort tonight." Kaniss states.

"Hurray, hurray." I say sarcastically before I fall asleep.

When we wake the next day, we make our way to the stream. the trip is uneventful.

Once there, we refill on water and wash once more. Then we travel uphill using the stream as a guide. At one point, Katniss finds boot prints in the mud along the bank.

"The Careers have been here, but it's been awhile."

"How long do you think?" I ask.

"Maybe two or three hours. The tracks are dry." She looks behind us. "I think we should walk in the stream; it'll cover our tracks better then the pine needles."

"I'll do what you want Katniss." We strip off our boots and socks and go barefoot up the bed of the stream.

"Who knew cold water running between your toes could be so invigorating." I sigh in content. I feel so much better then before blowing the supplies.

Katniss takes a shot at two fish, and she catches both. The both share one raw and agree to save the other for Rue, who must also be in the mood for some meat.

When we reach the site of our first meeting, it's certain that it's been undisturbed. There's no sign of Rue, not on the ground or in the trees.

"Odd; Rue's not here yet." I look again at the trees.

"Maybe she's being careful. She must have slept in a tree and waited, just to be sure no one was following or would catch her." Katniss says. "We'll just have to wait for her."

Katniss washes the blood off her jacket and hair and we clean our ever growing list of wounds. I leave my leg alone through, as it's started bleeding again after the walk. I take my jacket off and smear the honey on my chest.

"What's spreading honey on the burn suppose to do?" Katniss asks as she stuffs my jacket in the backpack.

"Come on Katniss. Haven't you watched your mother work? Honey does wonders for second degree burns." I smile as the honey does it's work. It was still difficult breathing even after applying the burn cream, but this helps that a lot, even when the burn's a few days old.

"I normally don't; I'm always out hunting." She says, seeing the relief on my face. She digs into her bag and pulls the other fish. "I think we need to finish this before it goes bad. We'll get another when Rue gets here."

Once we finish the fish, we clime a tree for a better vantage point. Katniss lets me nap for half an hour while she kept watch, doing multiple things to pass her time. I wake at one point to see Katniss applying some of Rue's leaves on my deflated stings and my shoes back on my feet. We eat a hand full of nuts, some crackers, the last of the groosling, and some dried beef. Despite my decently full stomachs, I can't help but think of some of the past meals I've had in the Capitol. As of right now, I'd like some of that spicy orange chicken with noodles, and probably two or three chocolate cakes.

At this point, this the most relaxed I've ever been since the Games started, with the only time coming close as the first night here. Right now we don't have a set schedule like we use to; now it's just waiting for Rue, but we're becoming relentless as the sun drops. By mid afternoon, we decide to go look for her, specifically where she built the third fire. Before we leave, Katniss scatters some mint leaves she's been sucking on around the old campfire as a sign for Rue if she comes by.

In less than an hour, we're at the place where we agreed to have the third fire and I know something has gone amiss. The wood has been neatly arranged, interspersed with tinder, but was never lit. Rue set up the fire but never made it back here. Somewhere between the second column of smoke she ran into trouble.

"Let's split from here to look for her." I suggest as I point to the ground. "We'll meet here in two hours. Every ten minutes give Rue's four-note tune to let the other know you're fine." She nods and we go our separate ways.

I start with a low stalk, sticking to the foliage and shadows to conceal myself any foe, be it tribute or natural predators. Nothing's suspicious though; there are no disturbed pine needles, no boot prints, no fecal matter of any kind. None the less I keep to my stride, not willing to take my chances if I happen to run into three Careers. It's like this for half an hour, with Katniss and I using Rue's four-note tune every ten minutes.

When it reaches minute forty, I whistle again, and this time, I hear a whistle of another. It was far too close to be Katniss, and it hasn't been carried out by the Mockingjays yet.

I look up into a nearby tree and spot the girl Katniss and I were looking for, hanging upside down on a branch, giving me a small wave.

"Looks like I found you." I cross my arms but smile at her, which she returns as she climes down the tree. "What happened? The third fire wasn't lit."

"The Careers were a little faster then I thought they'd be; I had to make a break for it. I got away as you can see." She says while looking up to me.

"Good thing too. Katniss and I were starting to worry when you didn't show. Katniss should have heard the two rows of notes, so we'll head to the third fire and wait for-" I pause, movement in the bushes behind Rue catching my attention. Katniss shouldn't have come in that direction and shouldn't even be close to here yet, and I would had heard before hand if it was a predator. So that only leaves...

I push Rue away, sending her flying a few feet to my right.

And a spear enters the far right side of my abdomen.

I'm thrown to my back by the inertia of the weapon and cry in the pain that now engulfs my body. The spearhead has stayed in my abdomen, somehow not having enough force to punch all the way through.

"Run Rue, run!" I shout to her, and she obeys, taking to the trees and hopping away branch by branch.

Marvel reveals himself, calmly strolling to me, a cocky grin on his face. When he reaches me, he stands over me, takes the spear in his hand and violently twists it, bringing another cry from me.

"Nice to see you again Alto." He says smoothly, his grin widening. I can't answer due to the pain and simply glare and bare my teeth.

"That was a nice little distraction you and your two whores came up with. You destroyed our supplies without really trying, and I won't lie; it was impressive." He points at his bandaged arm, the one I injured. "I guess you can call this payback for the supplies and this little present you gave me." He pulls the spear out of me, and I can feel skin and muscle tug in resistance. He waves the spear at my head. "Now, it's time for you to die."

What's with Cato and Marvel, actually, all the Careers in assuming that every female I know is a whore? Are they just like that or is it just because of me?

"No it isn't." I say before my leg slams him in the back, forcing him forward and past me. I quickly lift myself and jump back to gain some distance before arming myself with my tomahawk, with my left hand covering my still bleeding wound.

"Oh," Marvel sinkers. "Still have some fight in you? Good, it wouldn't be satisfying if you just laid there and died." He thrusts the bloody spear at me.

The wound has slowed me down considerably, as he comes much to close to hitting me. The most I can do now it try and parry the attacks and dodge a few.

"What, no taunts? No threats? I'm disappointed; you're taking all the fun out of this." He says, swinging the spear above his head.

"You want fun?!" I throw three knives at him, two of which miss, and the third he takes to his bandaged arm, causing him to hiss and jump back before pulling the knife out.

"There it is you bastard." It was adding insult to injury with that wound.

"Alright, no more games." He swings his spear downward, at my legs, and sweeps them from beneath me. As my back hits the dirt, he jumps at me and attempts running his weapon through my head. I move my head in the nick of time as it drives itself into the ground, less then a centimeter from my face.

Mavel's thrown to the ground, and I catch a glimpse of a little girl on top of him.

"Leave him alone!" Rue shouts, trying to force the knife into Marvel's throat, but the boy has a firm grip on the knife and isn't giving her any leeway.

"Rue!" I shout as I stumble up, intent on ending his life with a tomahawk to the head. He anticipates this and throws Rue off before tossing the throwing knife at me, causing me to dodge and give him time to stand. By then, Rue's back, charges him, and rolls under a swing from Marvel before thrusting her knife into his abdomen. Marvel gasps in pain as Rue twists the knife and runs it across his stomach, spilling out his small and large intestine.

Marvel's eyes widen at the sight of his own internal organs, but it doesn't stop a swing that's dodged by Rue. His eyes look directly into mine, wild with hate.

"You're coming with me!" He throws the spear before I have anytime to realize it, homing straight at me. At this point I can't dodge; I've recognized the threat far too late and this wound slows me down too much. This is it; I'm staring at the end of my life.

But it doesn't come.

Because Rue jumps in front...

And takes it for me...

"RUE!"

Marvel's life ends when an arrow flys into his throat. He drops to his knees, pulls the arrow out, then claws at his neck, drowning in his own blood. He soon falls face first onto his intestines, and his cannon fires.

Rue's rolled to her side, her body curved around the spear. I'm already to her, holding her in my arms, and I already know it's over for her. Katniss quickly makes her way to us.

"Rue! Rue, just stay awake, okay?! Just stay awake!" I shout, trying to tell myself that she'd make it, even when the spear in the shaft of her stomach guaranties her death. Her small hand reaches forward, and Katniss grasps it.

"Both of y-you have to win. " Rue whispers.

"We're going to. Going to win for all of us." Katniss says.

"Don't go." Rue tightens her grip on Katniss's hand.

"We'll stay with you till the ends of the earth." I shakily reply as Katniss and I move closer to her.

"S-sing." Rue says so quietly that we barely catch it. "P...please..."

There's almost no hesitation from Katniss besides a small cough before she begins.

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.

I stare at Rue while Katniss sings, and give a quick glance to Katniss before I myself join in, having heard the song before as well. The forest has gone silent, everything, even the wind has stopped to listen to our melody.

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.

Rue's eyes have fluttered shut; her chest moves but only slightly. I can feel the tears flowing down my cheek and see the same on Katniss's face, but we keep singing, intent on finishing this song for Rue.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

A cloak of leaves, 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

The final lines are more whispers than anything else.

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

We sit there, letting our tears fall on Rue's face as her cannon fires. I gently lay her down, as if not to disturb her sleeping. Katniss is the first to place a kiss on Rue's forehead and I do the same after. I close my eyes soon after and bow my head. Katniss, the girl who doesn't believe in any religion, closes her eyes and bows her head too, just this once.

"Almighty God, you love everything you have made and judge us with infinite mercy and justice. We rejoice in your promises of pardon, joy and peace to all those who love you. In your mercy turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life, and the sorrow of parting into the joy of heaven; through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who died, rose again, and lives for evermore. Amen." We both open out eyes and stare at Rue's unmoving form; at the girl who loved her five younger siblings; at the girl who saved our lives; at the girl who was so innocent of all this; at the girl who both Katniss and I had come to love within less than a day.

"We can't leave her like this." Katniss says. Frankly I agree with her, but I'm unaware on how we make it better. How do you make it better?

Katniss makes her way into some wildflowers and picks a hand full, and I soon join her. They have blossoms in beautiful shades of violet and yellow and white. We gather up an armful, come back to Rue's side and, slowly, one stem at a time, decorate her body in the flowers: covering the ugly wound; wreathing her face; weaving her hair with bright colors. When we step back, it looks like she was simply sleeping.

"Goodby Rue." Katniss says, and as if we were on the same page, we press the three middle fingers of our left hand against our lips and hold them out in her direction. Then we walk away without looking back.

A Mockingjay gives a warning call before the hovercraft picks up Marvel and Rue, and it quickly makes its exit.

My legs collapse on me, making me fall on my rear end, and I can't control myself anymore. I bring my hands to my face to muffle the cry of anguish that I release, and soon I'm bawling, tears running down my face like a river; nothing's going to stop it. Katniss can't control herself either, because she's right in front of me a second later, and we both embrace and cry into the others shoulder like there's no tomorrow. It doesn't matter to us whether or not everyone can hear us; we needed to let this emotion out; we had lost an ally, a friend, a little sister. And I was wrestling with my inner self.

"It's all my fault."

Katniss glances at me, but doesn't let go of me. "W-what?" She asks shakily.

"Rue's dead because of me. It's all my fault. My fault. My fault!" I repeat.

Katniss stares at me, her eyes widening in horror. She grabs my head, forcing me to look at her.

"Alto, this isn't your fault."

"Yes it is. She took the spear for me. That spear was for me and she took it!" I shout. I was broken and angry: angry at the Capitol for creating the Hunger Games; angry at Marvel for throwing the spear; angry at myself for letting Rue take the spear; angry at Rue for deciding to take the spear for me. "That spear was for me! And it should have been me!"

"Alto, Rue chose to save you because she knows we can change things here. She knows we can do something about all this. She chose you." Her forehead is against mine. "I don't want to hear you say it should have been you again. This shouldn't have happened in the first place Alto. This isn't your fault." We stare for half a minute before we embrace again, our crying having stopped but comfort still on our list of needs.

After a silent hour, we finally let go of the other, and Katniss works with the wound in my abdomen. It's stopped bleeding, but the injury is nasty to look at. She cleans it as best she can before bandaging it up, and we start walking. As to where we're walking to, I've no idea, but it doesn't really matter at this point; we're both dead to the world around us. I can't hear the Mockingjays sing, can't feel the breeze that gently sways the trees.

I do catch a parachute to the face through.

It startles me enough to where I swat at it with a knife once, but I stop as I see that it's a package. Katniss is next to me, staring at it intently as I open it. We find a small loaf of bread made of dark ration rice and shaped in a crescent, sprinkled with seeds. This bread came from District 11. I cautiously lift the still warm loaf.

"They...gave it to us." I say. "But why?"

"As a thank you. For Rue..." Katniss replies. We both look into a tree, finding one of the arena cameras.

Katniss is the one to say it. "From Alto Hayes and Katniss Everdeen, we thank you, people of district eleven."

We are going to win these Games.

For Rue.