Sorry for not updating in so long! I had an operation and then I had this really good idea for a one-shot and I had to update my other story, Remorse, and now I'm babbling so I'll shut up and let you read.

Enjoy x

Max's POV

The events of last night still echoed round my head. What had happened? Peeta was in with the careers. He had killed someone. I shook my head and roused Katniss. The party of careers had moved on and the forest was quiet. Today we had to find a water source. It didn't matter if we already had some, we needed a supply for when our bottles were empty.

"Come on, lazy butt" I muttered, jabbing Katniss in the ribs.

She stirred and moaned. I was already rolling up my sleeping bag and stuffing it unceremoniously in my pack. Katniss turned over and went back to sleep. I rolled my eyes and jumped down from the tree, using my wings as a parachute. Searching around, I found a nasty smelling plant called Crown Imperials. I plucked one from its stem and clambered back up to where Katniss slumbered. I grinned evilly and shoved the rotten-smelling flower under her nose.

"Eargh!"

I almost fell out of the tree laughing as Katniss recoiled from the stench and I dropped the orange flower.

"Alright, I'm up" Katniss grumbled. "Don't do that, it's just nasty."

"Yep" I replied. "I know."

We walked away from the lake and further into the forest. The thick green foilage gave us shade from the blazing sun, but we were still sweating within an hour. I flew underneath the canopy for a bit, searching ahead for water, but to no avail. I circled back round to Katniss.

"Do you actually think that there are any other water sources aside from the lake?" I panted.

Katniss offered me a slice of bread. "Yes. Last time they did that, the tributes were gone in three days."

I nodded and bit into the soft, floury bread. I heard a twig snap behind me and we both whipped around, knife and bow at the ready. There was no one there. Nothing but the trees. I glanced around nervously, wondering what could have made the noise. I could smell something familiar, though. Cookies and bacon. I tentatively asked if Katniss smelled it. She peered sideways at me.

"No, I don't smell cookies and bacon. Are you okay?" she inquired.

"Yeah, I'm fine I mumbled, having suddenly remembered where I had found that combination before.

Fang.

(Memory in third person)

It was a hot summers day and the coal miners were just heading into the mines. Max was perched precariously on a tall fence post, watching them go. She was fourteen and strong for her age. Her blue eyes darted across the lines, searching for her brother, Gazzy, who was nineteen. His proper name was Zephyr, but the unspeakable way he could clear a room gave him a nickname that stuck, the Gasman. He had been in there for a day and a night, working overtime to feed his family. Max's smile widened when she spotted him helping other men out of the entrance. Max waved at him, almost falling off her post. Gazzy grinned and held up a finger, telling her to wait. That was the last thing they ever communicated. A few seconds later, the coal mine exploded, shrapnel flying in every direction. Max fell off the post and into someones arms. Someone who smelled of her two favourite items: cookies and bacon. She looked up and into deep pools of black. The eyes of a boy from school.

"Are you okay, Max?" he asked, setting her down gently.

"Uh... yeah... I'm fine. Thanks...?" Max trailed off uncertainly.

"Fang." The boy dressed in black held out his hand and Max shook it firmly.

"What were you doing up there anyway?" he asked, shuffling his feet.

"Me? Oh, I was waiting for... waiting for..." Max looked wildly around. "GAZZY!"

The girl ran over to her brother laying on the ground near the entrance to the mine.

"Gazzy" she moaned, turning him onto his back. "Gazzy, please wake up!"

Fang reappeared beside her.

"Max" he said softly. "He's gone."

"No he's not!" she yelled. "Zephyr Martinez, you wake up right now!"

She banged her fists on his chest, almost skewering her hand on the huge wooden stake protruding through his skin.

"Max! Stop, you'll hurt yourself!" Fang murmured, grabbing her wrists to prevent injury.

"DON'T you tell me what to do!" she shouted, trying to shake him off.

He wouldn't let go and Max collapsed in on him, sobbing against his chest. Fang was slightly surprised, but folded his arms around the weeping girl and rocked her back and forth, stroking her hair. It wasn't until the Peacekeepers arrived that Max pulled away and fled to her mother. When the grieving girl looked back, Fang was gone. What she didn't see, was the boy dressed in black, watching her look back from the building next to her.

I pondered the memory and the scent, still wafting from a beech tree I was staring at. I felt a sharp poke on my arm, which brought my train of thought to a screeching halt. I shook my head and tied my hair up with a bit of string that had come off my pack earlier.

"Let's go" muttered my companion, still peeking at me in concern.

I went to follow her, but as I turned my head, I swear I spotted a flash of black among the brown and green.

Fang.