Important A/N in case you usually skip them. Please read.

Look at me making time to write even though I don't have any.

There is, however, three really good reasons:

1) I feel bad about where I ended the chapter.

2) It's like pulling of a band-aid, really. If you have to do something painful, do it quickly.

3) I really fucked up grammar-wise at the end of the last chapter. Like, I fucked up really bad. And I am so sorry, and ever so embarrassed. I should not be allowed to write when I'm barely even awake. I should not be allowed to put multiple 'her's and 'she's in one sentence like that. (I think only one of you got what I was trying to say) I should not be allowed to not have a Beta, because this should not have happened. I am so, so sorry. I done fucked up.

Anyway, I kinda wanna punch myself in the face, so don't worry, you don't have to hate me, it's taken care of.

I apologise for all the confusion (past, present and about to happen) that occured.

You might wanna just quickly check the last paragraph of the last chapter; I tweaked it a teeny bit.

I also apologise for being mean.

)o(

I'm frozen in shock for a few seconds, the sight of Rue's blood spilling through Amber's fingers somehow not making any sense to me. This cannot be happening, it just can't be real. It's like someone injected me with tracker jacker venom. I can see Amber's lips moving but her words don't reach my ears.

Once I manage to break out of my stupor, I instantly drop down next to Rue, trying to figure out what to do. The moment I lay eyes on the gaping hole in her stomach, I know I cannot save her. But I can't, I won't give up on her.

"What do we do? What do we do?"Amber asks, terror clear in her voice."Prim, what do we do?"

"Your jacket,"I say and she quickly hands it over. I press it to Rue's wound in a fruitless attempt to stop the bleeding. I just need some time to think. I need supplies. I need something.

Amber has moved around and pulled Rue's head onto her lap, muttering soothing words to her.

I need equipment to athropy some arteries, stem the bleed. I need sutures. I need someone with Rue's blood type. And I need time. I have none of those things.

I'm screaming, for help, I think, but I'm not sure. Who's going to help me, anyways?

I work with what I have, which isn't much, until Rue grasps my wrist, surprisingly strong, and tears my hand away from her injury. Her voice is barely a whisper, but she sounds so strong, so determined."It's okay, Primmie. Let me go, it's okay."

"No, no, no, I'll fix you, I swear, I will,"I stutter out, even as I grasp her hand in both of mine, leaving her wound alone. I've already let her down; this isn't something I can fix.

"It's okay, I was never gonna win,"she says, somehow managing to smile."But thanks to you two, I made it this far. I made everyone back home proud of me."

Amber is choking back sobs, tears freely streaming down her face."They're always proud of you, sweetie. And we're proud of you, too. We're a great team."

A team. Not an alliance. Because we stopped being allies long ago, we're friends by now. And it hurts.

"I love you, Rue,"I force out, not allowing myself to cry just yet, leaning down to kiss her temple."I love you so much."

"Love you, too,"she mumbles, obviously growing weaker by the second."Sing? Please?"

And I sing the first song that comes to mind, pouring everything I've got into it, because this is the only, the last thing I can do for my friend.

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.

Rue's eyes flutter shut and a content, almost serene look graces her face. Amber has herself under control enough to join me in the lullaby, her fingers gently brushing through Rue's hair.

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.
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, hears it's warm
here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow bring them true
here is the place where I love you.

Just as the mockingjays around us pick up the song, Rue's cannon fires.

I fall down next to her, sobbing and screaming. Amber is on her feet, tugging at her hair, staining it with Rue's blood in the process, and she, too, is screaming. It isn't, however, my wordless yell of pain, but shouts of anger. Pure, unadulterated rage at the Capitol.

I can't make out all she is saying through my own sobbing, but I do hear some parts.

"...just a kid... didn't deserve.. sick bastards... just a little kid..."

I stagger to my feet and over to Amber. I need to stop her from saying those things, true as they may be. I can't lose her, too. I can't allow for her words to get her killed. I can't lose her, I can't.

"Amber!"I have to shout her name several times before she focusses on me, eyes wide in panic and breathing heavily. What she just did must be sinking in.

"I wanna bury her,"she chokes out."But we can't."

We can't because they'll take her away and say they'll bring her home, but the coffins that arrive in the districts are always sealed and there's mutters that the dead tributes are stolen.

I'm not sure I believe this, but I can't take the risk, if this might be the only burial my friend can recieve.

She's not theirs, not just some piece in their Games. She has a family back home and she has friends here and she matters, more than they ever will.

So I take a few steps away from her body and gather up flowers. Amber understands almost instantly and together, we bury Rue in colourful petals.

"She looks like she's asleep,"Amber murmurs and I nod.

"Bye, Rue," I whisper. I press the three middle fingers of my left hand against my lips and hold them out in her direction. Amber gives me a curious look."What's that?"

I let out an almost painful sob before answering her."It means thanks, admiration. It means goodbye to someone you love."

And Amber mimics the gesture, tears in her eyes, and then leads me away from our fallen comrade.

)o(

Again, sorry for messing up. I honestly considered just killing off Amber out of sheer embarrassment but chose to stick to my original script.

I hurt myself alot by killing Rue :(

This was worse than Glimmer. And I adore Glimmer.