AN: The much-awaited ending. Who will win?

"I'm not out of options, Clove," Katniss informs me as her aim shifts downwards. At Cato, who has just reached the top of the Cornucopia.

My fingers instantly clench over a knife. My left arm lies limp and helpless at my side.

"A life for a life," I reason. My gaze locks on Peeta. "It's been a long time hasn't it? Realized that she doesn't really love you yet?"

"What?" Peeta queries, trying to meet Katniss' eyes. They're still frozen on me.

"Don't listen to her, Peeta," She demands. "She's trying to tear us apart."

"No, I'm not," I tell her. "I'm just pointing out your mistakes."

"That's what we have Haymitch for," Katniss spits.

"Who the hell is Haymitch?" I ask laughingly. "You're a trip and a half, Katniss. Where do you come up with this stuff?"

Her grip on the bow tightens.

"One more word," Katniss says, "and your boyfriend dies."

I don't intend to give her that satisfaction.

My knife shoots forward and finds Peeta's shoulder.

He crumples into a heap. His limp form falls fast over the side of the Cornucopia.

Katniss' bow drops to the ground as she runs to him.

"You didn't kill him!" Cato shouts, finally upright after the threat on his life.

"I know."

Peeta's cries of pain fill the evening air. "Katniss!"

"No!" Katniss is helplessly reaching over the side.

I walk right up to her.

And push her over the edge.

But she catches my arm as she goes down and suddenly

I

.

am

.

.

falling.

.

.

.

Everything is slow on my way down.

.

Somewhere, I hear Peeta's cannon

.

The persistent roar of wind in my ears.

.

The way my hands seem to be suspended in air.

.

That's why the impact of the hard-packed earth is so devastating.

I hear shattering; splinters of bone probe my skin. Both legs broken. My clothing is rubbed thin. The flesh on my back is raw. I hear shallow breathing. But my lungs are as stunned as the rest of me. The desperate gasps aren't mine.

They're Katniss'.

"You still alive Twelve?" I get out.

A moan. I roll onto my stomach and crawl. Toward my victim. Toward her. Her hair has long since fallen out of its braid and sticks to her bloody cheeks. Her face is red with gore and heat. Her already gray eyes have been bled of all expression. Her mouth dangles open while her system tries to achieve normality.

"Peeta..." she says.

"He's dead," I say, relishing the sweet taste of those words. Relishing her reaction. The agony in her colorless gaze.

"Clove!" It's Cato. I look up at him, not bothering to shield my eyes against the glare of the blazing sun. "Clove, get out of there!"

I hear it now. Panting. The Mutts.

They've already assembled to check the broken heap that was once Peeta. They decide he's really dead. And then they turn to Katniss.

"Clove, RUN!" Cato roars.

They approach slowly. Their giant paws scuff the earth. Their human-like eyes staring at me. Cato chucks his sword at one of the Mutts. It yelps and falls dead, but one quickly takes its place.

"RUN!"

In one final motion, Katniss takes hold of me and uses my body as a shield. My left arm acts as a vice, wrapped around my neck.

But my right arm is fully functional. I take a knife and plunge it into her stomach.

I yank out the blade once I hear her scream, but the tip is barbed and tears out sinews, skin, and a fair amount of her jacket as well.

I scrabble away using only my arms and take shelter on the other side of the Cornucopia. Catching my breath, I rest my head on the scalding metal.

Katniss is screaming. I try to plug my ears and block out the noise. Cato slides down the hot metal and holds me. His arm is heavy on my shoulders and the chain links grind into my skin, but I use this as a distraction.

The dog Mutts have a Field Day working away at Katniss. Their excited yips and howls reach all edges of the plain.

She's quiet. Her moans are erratic and few. That's why it's startling when she screams out a name right before her cannon blasts.

.

.

.

"PRIM!"

.

BOOM.

The Mutts abandon the carcass and disperse around both sides of the Cornucopia. They all head to a large platform that has erupted out of the ground; one stops to stare at us. Its blonde fur stands on end and its emerald eyes flash with fury.

It abandons its companion and lunges at me. Then it effortlessly takes Cato in its teeth and tosses him in the air. The Mutt's gigantic body blocks my field of vision, but I can hear splashing, which means that Cato has landed safely in the lake.

I'm crushed between the earth and the weight of the Mutt. If my legs weren't already broken, they would be now.

The Mutt's teeth snap greedily near my face. Its hot breath is damp on my cheek. It smells better than I thought it would- more like a pleasant blend of freesia and peppermint.

The last Mutt that attacked me was Marvel. So this must be...

Oh God.

I panic. I thrust my fist into the base of the Glimmer Mutt's throat. It/she recoils for a moment, giving me just enough time to frantically scrabble away.

When I've put a decent distance between us, I check my jacket. Knife, I think. Knife. Knife. Knife. Knife. Knife. Knife. Knife. Knife.

I'm growing desperate. My fingers probe every pocket, every free space. Nothing. I left my last blade at the Cornucopia.

I can hear the Glimmer Mutt. Her companions aren't following her, but I fear they soon will.

"Hey! Glimmer!" I look over just long enough to see the Mutt's eyes flash in recognition at Cato's voice. He's glistening, his clothes heavy with water. He waves his arms around, before charging at the Mutt with his sword.

She turns momentarily before continuing to look for me.

My head whips around, searching for something, anything, that could save me.

All I see is a rock.

I'm not sure if I'm ready to go that far. I almost died after being hit by the rock.

.

So I know it works.

The temple, go for the Glimmer Mutt's temple.

When she comes at me, I do.

.

It lodges halfway into her skull. She stumbles around blindly, howling in anguish. Her four-inch claws flex in and out as she slashes at the air.

Cato comes up behind her and plunges his sword into her back. Her body collapses with a heavy thud and I half expect that there will be a cannon.

Then I remember that this wasn't really Glimmer, but simply a lupine replica of her.

I fall heavily into Cato's arms, my mood lingering between relieved and exhausted.

He holds me steady, keeps me from dropping to the ground. My broken legs are obviously still incapable of holding me. We stay in that position until we hear the announcement.

"Greetings to the final contestants of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games. The earlier revision has been revoked. Closer examination of the rule book has disclosed that only one winner may be allowed," Claudius Templesmith says. "Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor."

AN: BUM BUM BA-DUUUUUUUUUUM!

Even though you probably all totally saw that coming. So even though I have a pretty distinctive map of how things will go from here on out, would anyone like to offer any constructive criticism? Please?

A lot of people have been complimenting my work and I appreciate that, but I really want to grow as a writer and learn how to make my story better!

Thank you for your support.

~~~Flare