To the Guest under the impression that I haven't updated since February: 'Published' and 'Updated' aren't the same thing ;)

I do, in fact, update at least weekly since I started my new job.

)o(

Both Rue and I are frozen in shock for a few valuable seconds, staring up at the boy from Four in wide-eyed panic. He grins down at us, almost lazily slinging his weapon of his shoulder. I know it's something they use in his district to kill big sea animals – it's called a harpoon, I think, and the sight of it somehow jerks Rue out of her fear-induced stupor.

Grabbing my hand tighter, she spins around in an attempt to make a run for it.

"Oh no, you don't!"the Career boy says, his voice teasingly calm, as he snatches me by my other arm and drags me towards him.

I yelp in pain, almost certain he dislocated my shoulder. His strenghth yanks me from Rue's grasp and the other girl spins around, eyes frantic, and makes her way back towards us.

"No!"I scream, struggling against the much, much bigger tribute."Run, Rue! Get out of here!"

Instead, she quickly loads her slingshot, hitting the boy from Four just above his right eye. He curses and swears at her, yet does not release his hold on me. He's distracted long enough, however, for me to reach my knife and dig it into his arm.

With a bellow of outrage rather than pain, he lets go of me, hitting me square in the face before I can even attempt to flee or duck.

I stumble and lose my footing, hitting the ground rather painfully. Spots dance before my eyes and I can taste my own blood filling my mouth, my ankle hurting bad enough that I think the fall might have broken it. I can vaguely make out the advancing Career through my impaired vision, Rue's frantic screaming reaching my ears.

I'm done for, I know I am, and all I can think about is how I hope Katniss is not watching.

The thought of my sister gives me the strength to at least struggle to my feet. I want her to know that I tried my best, I can't die at a Career's feet, sniffling like a little child.

"Get out of here, Rue,"I choke out again. The boy from Four is pissed at me right now, she probably has enough time to get up into a tree and save herself. If I can't win, then she should.

I hope she is actually listenting to me, but all I can see is the smirk of the boy about to end my life.

"You really shouldn't have done that,"he tells me slyly."I might have made it quick otherwise."

I close my eyes, unable to force myself to see the weapon coming towards me.

I'm sorry, Mum. I'm sorry, Katniss. I'm sorry, Rory. All of you, I'm so, so sorry.

But the pain never comes, the end never comes.

My eyes fly open at the sound of a struggle, weapons clashing and groans of pain.

The boy from Four is distracted from me, now engaged in a fight to the death with someone much more capable of fighting back – Peeta.

The blond throws the other boy to the ground and in the second before he gets up and they are back to fighting, Peeta and I lock eyes."Go, Prim, go! Run, I'll hold him of!"

All I can do is listen to him. He'll be the Career's main target now, the least I can do is not get myself killed now and make his effort useless.

I hear Rue's voice from up above, shouting a warning or something of the sort.

I can't join her in the tree, my shoulder and ankle making climbing impossible. So I struggle along the ground as fast as I can, suddenly hearing voices behind me.

"Who did you find - what the hell?"Glimmer's voice is full of confusion and she doesn't even notice me right away, but unfortunately, Marvel does. In a desperate attempt to slow him down, I chuck my knife at him.

It hits him in the gut and he groans, reaching for it.

"NO!"his district partner shouts, a real edge of panic in her voice."Leave it in, Marv! You'll make it worse, we have to get you back to camp!"

A part of my brain notices the fact that apparently the Careers learn more than just mindless killing, but the rest of me is focussed on making my escape.

I have no weapon now, bright spots clouding my vision, pain shooting through my body with every move. I can't even tell if anyone is following me, I just stumble along as fast as I can.

I stop as I hear a canon behind me, panic filling every fibre of my being."Peeta! Peeta!"

Before I can so much as reprimand myself for my stupidity, I'm dragged to the ground by forceful hands.

)o(

Ooooh, look, I did it again! Is it friend or foe? Will Prim survive? What happened to Rue? Whose canon was that? Am I a bad person for ending this chapter here?

The answers are: You'll find out next time, you'll find out next time, you'll find out next time, you'll find out next time, probably.