Ok, so I have to say that you guys are the best! I go an incredible 85 reviews on the last chapter! Thank you all so so much. Sorry that I took a little while to update and this is a tad short, but I wanted to have one filler chapter before the epic feast scene. Here you go, enjoy:


When I wake up the next morning, I feel truly safe in the arena for the first time. My body pressed up against Cato's in the tent just feels so right. We can both win. We basically have already won. Who should we fear now? All fights will be 2-on-1 from now on. I cautiously feel around for my clothes in the tent and get dressed under the blankets. Cato and I had gone back to camp after our dinner and, well, celebrated the new rule right there on national television. My mother must be so proud. I wonder if they even showed us having sex last night. It's funny really, the thought that the gamemakers might not have shown two people in love but would do detailed specials on each kill. Once Cato wakes up, I'm ready to get going on plans to take out the others, but surprisingly Cato seems to not have any interest on hunting our competition. Instead we sit together outside the tent and talk about living in Victor's Village together. I wonder whether or not they will award us with two houses? Talking about that makes me question the rule change. What had caused the gamemakers to do so?

"Cato?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you think they changed the rules?"

"I don't know." Cato replies.

"Do you think it was meant for us?"

"Must be." Cato concludes. "The only other pair is District 12 and I honestly have no idea how Lover Boy is still alive. It's not like his partner could nurse him back to health or anything." It makes sense. Besides, District 2 is the favorite of the Capitol. The change must have been for us.

"So do you want to wait for the feast to kill the others or do you want to go hunting tonight?" I ask Cato. Personally I want to end this as soon as possible.

"Let's wait for the feast. We'll have home court advantage and we can gang up on the others." The announcement for the feast doesn't come that evening though, so we end up spending another lazy day at camp. It's then, two nights after the rule change, that Claudius invites us for a feast.

"What do we need desperately?" Cato asks me.

"I'm not sure. We still have some food left and even if we didn't, I killed that rabbit yesterday so we can get our own food, so not that. We have plenty of iodine tablets. Maybe it's medical supplies or something for us to use in a fight." Cato thinks this over before changing the subject.

"Ok, Clove. I know we've gone over this before, but I really think you should just hide in the woods while I go to the feast. I'll need someone to cover me anyway. You won't be out of the action." Cato has been bringing this up constantly the past few days. One minute he thinks we should fight side-by-side and the next he wants me to go hide in a tree like a damsel in distress. I know he just wants to keep me safe, but it bugs me that he thinks I can't take care of myself.

"Cato, no. You agreed that I could go. I'll be fine. I can use my knives long distance and in hand-to-hand combat if needed. You don't need to prove your manliness or anything like that. I know you could take down anyone with one hand tied behind your back."

"Clove, it's not that I don't think you can handle it. It's just that I've thought it over and we shouldn't both go in at the same time. Someone could attack us from behind. I'll go in, get the pack and take out anyone running. You can cover me and also get anyone who escapes to the woods afterwards." I see his point, it could be risky if we both strolled up to the Cornucopia together.

"Then let me go. If you don't want both of us going in at the same time, let me do it. You can cover me. I can do it, Cato."

"Clove, Fire Girl is my kill though. You know she'll be there to get the medicine for Peeta. I want to take her down."

"Please, Cato." I say, "Just let me get our backpack. I promise to give the audience a good show when I kill her. You know I'm better at torturing anyway. Please, let me go, I want to." Cato is still hesitant though.

"Clove, just listen to me for once. Being the person who attends the feast is more dangerous. I don't want you getting hurt. You shouldn't even be fighting- you're pregnant!"

"I'm going." I tell him, "It's not like I'm injured or anything. I can throw knives and run. I'm going, it's already decided." Cato knows he isn't going to win this argument, and wisely let's it go. The rest of the night we discuss strategy for the feast and sort through our weapons to decide which to take. We sleep in shifts for the first time so we won't miss the feast. Cato wakes me up in the early morning to get in position before dawn. We hide in the woods where we are still able to see the mouth of the Cornucopia. I'm assuming that is where our items will be. I figure there's still a few more hours before the feast is set out. The night is exceedingly cold. I almost feel a bit of pity for District 5 and Thresh. They don't have a partner to help keep them warm. Cato and I had taken off our jackets and used them as blankets, which was much more successful at keeping us from the cold as we huddled together, in wait. I wanted to talk to Cato, give him reassuring words that I'll be fine, come up with some signal in case something goes wrong, but I don't want to risk giving away our position. We want to play offense today, not defense.

As the sky begins to brighten, I get a strange feeling of uneasiness. I just know something bad is going to happen. I latch my arms tighter around Cato. I really hope nothing will happen to him today. I remind myself of how skilled we are. That either of us could easily kill anyone here. But, I can't seem to shake the feeling in the pit of my stomach. I distract myself by thinking about how I will finally get to kill District 12 today. Yes, I will have fun with her. I promised Cato a good show and I make good on my bargains. I'm reaching into my pack to get a sip of water, when Cato nudges me and I know the feast has started. Sure enough I look up just in time to see a round table rising into the arena. Cato gives me a nod and I stand up, knife in hand, ready to go. I eye the large black bag labeled "2" and observe the other bags. Suddenly, I see District 5 sprint out of the Cornucopia, grab her green backpack, and race off into the woods to my right.

"Shit." Cato says and takes off running in her direction, spear in hand. Man, that girl was fast. Oh my god, when had she hidden in the Cornucopia? Cato and I had been in our tent right there all night and I had never taken my eyes off of the Cornucopia since we got in position. She must have snuck there while Cato was in watch. He probably dozed off. If he doesn't kill her now, I will give him a talking to. I scan the woods and see District 12 dart from her hiding location and start running towards her little orange backpack. I step out from behind the tree I was using as cover and throw a knife at her. This is it. This is the day I snuff out the girl on fire.


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