We wander for hours through the thick brush, branches and leaves licking and scratching at our faces as we forge on, like cats tongues brushing at our cheeks.

We have absolutely no idea where we're going, of that much I am sure.

But we're following Madge's orders.

And somehow, that knowledge fills me with hope.

The sun sets slowly, turning the sky a soft, beautiful, muted orange hue, and we set up camp beside a small creek under the cover of a large oak tree.

We eat in silence, passing the bread and meat as we sit in a small circle around the cooking fire. Rory and Posy rest on either side of me, and Gale sits across staring somberly into the flames as Posy continually whistles and hums, desperately trying to convince any remaining Mockingjays to join in her tune.

"Posy, you can stop now." Gale tries again to quiet her.

His voice is tired and low, but not threatening or mean. He could never speak to Posy that way.

"But-" she starts to object.

"Yeah Posy," I nudge her in the side. "All the birds have gone to bed, and if you wake them up they won't sing for you tomorrow."

"Oh," Posy says softly, and her mouth stretches into a large yawn as she stretches out her arms.

Gale gives me a slight nod and smile, a classic Gale Hawthorne thank you.

I nod back at him and gather up the plates from dinner, carrying them over to the creek to rinse off while the mother's set up a campsite.

I work in silence, slowly scrubbing the remaining food and juices off of the plates, and sit back as I watch it rush down the stream.

It's as if it's got somewhere to go.

I smile to myself, humming quietly as I scrub each plate back to its normal cracked grey exterior, and stack them on a small towel.

I don't even hear Gale come up behind me.

But nonetheless, he kneels down and grabs a pot, dunking it in the water in silence.

I'm not even fazed by his sudden presence, I almost expected it.

Gale can't surprise me anymore.

We sit in silence until all the dishes are done, but we don't get up.

Instead I take off my boots and dip my feet into the rushing dark creek, feeling the cool water nip at my toes, running quickly past me, carrying the dirt off with the rest of the river, going somewhere fast.

"Prim?" Gale whispers.

"Yeah?"

"I have no idea what I'm doing." He sighs, his head falling towards his chest.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know what I'm doing… I have no idea where I'm going and I- I don't know anything for sure anymore. I just don't know how to start."

"Gale, we just lost our home." I say softly. "We just lost everything we have ever known, everyone we have loved. We're all confused. We all don't know where to begin again."

Gale shakes his head. "But Prim I… I just-"

"We walk forward." I interrupt him. "We march forward. We can't look back, there's nothing left for us there," I place my hand on his knee. "The only way to move is forward."

Gale stares up at me, his eyes wide and misty.

"Prim?"

"Yeah Gale?"

"Do you think we'll ever really begin again? Do you think we'll ever get out of here?" His voice sounds desperate, afraid.

I'm not used to hearing Gale talk like this.

I pause for a moment. "I have hope."

"Hope won't feed you Prim." Gale snorts, bringing his knees up to his chest and gazing at the stars. "Hope won't save you, hope won't hunt for you. Hope won't guarantee safety, and it won't build a roof over your head or give you a place to live. Hope won't… won't bring people back from the dead." He sighs. "Hope is useless."

"You see Gale," I join him, gazing up into the black abyss. "That's where you're wrong."

"Oh I am, am I?"

"Yes. Most certainly."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because… Hope pushes you forward. Hope reminds you that there is something coming, something better. Hope can save you. In the bleakest situation, in the darkest night, hope promises that what comes next will be better, that the light will shine down again. It promises that tomorrow will be kinder, and that hope can bring you to tomorrow. You see Gale," I look him dead in the eyes. "Hope is essential."

Gale lets out an exasperated sigh and shakes his head, but I don't give up on him yet.

"Gale, look, it's like the stars. Even when everything is this dark black space, where nothing seems to happen or exist, or go right, and it seems to never end… there's still these beautiful bright lights of hope that shine down and remind you of something else. That there is something else that is worth living for. That even in the darkest part of the world, at the darkest point in your life there is beauty and there is hope. The stars shine bright, and hope makes life worth living. That's what hope is. It brings a bright light, even in the darkest night."

Gale laughs, "That rhymed."

"Doesn't make it any less true."

"Sure Prim."

I lean back once more to gaze at the stars and Gale and I sit together in silence, watching them sit in the sky, twinkling and shining. The bright moon casts eerie shadows across the forest floor, and I can hear the rush of the water, the sound of animals on the forest floor and in the trees above. I can hear it all.

It is so peaceful.

I think I now understand why Katniss loves it so much.

"Hey Prim?" Gale whispers softly.

"Yeah."

"Do you think Madge is watching us? Do you think she's making sure we're going the right way?"

"I think so. My Dad used to tell Katniss and I that when people died, that they went up my father is up there right now watching us… and I'm sure Madge is too. She's one of those bright, twinkling stars right there," I point at the brightest one. "She's watching out for you Gale. She won't give up on you if you don't give up on her."

Gale's face cracks at this, and I watch his face, as his eyes get misty, reflecting the bright stars in the night sky.

"I just," Gale's voice trembles. "I can't help but feel guilty for not trying to save her. I should have. I should have gone back and brought her out, kicking and screaming. I should have dragged her on with us."

I pause. "No you shouldn't have." I whisper to myself, but Gale's keen hearing picks it up.

"What?"

"No. You shouldn't have." I repeat.

"How can you say that?" Gale sighs. "I feel so guilty Prim. I left her behind…"

His voice cracks, and I know he's struggling to find the words, and so I simply place a hand on his knee and sit there with him in silence.

Gale buries his face in his arms, but makes no sound.

And so we sit, Gale, absorbed in his guilt and thoughts of Madge, and I, staring up at the sky; wondering how to form the words that I feel so desperately are true.

But I can't.

Gale stands up slowly, and lifts me to my feet.

"Come on Prim." He gives me a faint smile. "Time for bed."

We walk back to the site, where the sleeping bags are spread across the ground, and Rory sits, waiting for me.

But I stop Gale for a moment, and stare up into his dark eyes.

"Gale?"

"Yeah Prim?"

"What'd Madge give you?"

Gale smiles sadly for a moment, "Come on, I'll show you."

We wander over to his pack, and he pulls out the small cloth bundle from the top of the pack. He opens it in his hands, and a bright, gold, Mockingjay pin shines up at me, resting in a small piece of cloth, embroidered with a single red strawberry.

"She gave me these, and a note," he reaches into his pack once more, and pulls out a note and a pale blue hair ribbon. "Tied up with that."

I nod and reach out my hands, silently asking to read the note.

Gale seems apprehensive at first, but places the note and the ribbon in my hand. The soft blue satin feels dreamlike to my fingertips, and I slowly flatten the wrinkled paper and begin to read.

Hey Gale,

You probably hate me right now don't you? Yeah, I can tell you do.

All the same, I know you got Prim and your family out into safety. Now you have to remember what you promise me Gale, you have to run.

You have to get out and go.

You will find people; they will be looking for you. Don't be afraid, all right? I promised that you'd be safe. And I always keep my promises. You just have to trust me one more time.

I'll miss you.

I already do sort of.

In the meantime, take this pin. I once gave one like it to Katniss, and it has become more than I ever thought it would be.

Now, take this as your token. Take this to remind you of where you came from, of me, and use it to remind you to never look back, that there's always something to fight for. This pin represents freedom for so many, it represents Katniss, and it represents me. Fight for it and don't give up.

Just don't.

You're better than that.

And make me one last promise.

Don't forget me.

Please.

And remember, I'm a tough girl Hawthorne. I can handle myself. And I promised I'd be safe right?

I always keep my promises.

And remember, you promised me that you'd be safe too. Don't break that promise Gale. Not for anything.

Stay safe, and never look back,

Madge

I slowly press the note back in Gale's outstretched palm, but I can't look up at his face. I don't want to see the sadness in his eyes; and I can't let him see the same in mine.

I turn and walk back over to Rory, lying down beside him. He throws his blanket and arm around me, holding me tight.

"You okay?" he whispers.

"Yeah," I reply. "I'm fine."

I watch Gale feed the dying embers of our fire with some twigs, coaxing the wood to produce another bright flame, and he puts all the washed plates, pots and cooking tools into the rucksack by the fire.

And there he sits, staring into the flames; refusing to sleep.

His gaze is intense, his face unreadable, but I don't have to guess what he's thinking about. The firelights up his whole face, the flames sending bright streaks of light dancing across his stony expression, dancing in front of his glistening eyes, and the contrast is mesmerizing.

I want to talk to him.

Speak to him again.

Say the words that I feel are true in the pit of my stomach.

But I can't.

How can I say it, how can I convince him.

Madge didn't die. I can feel it. I know she didn't.

She promised Gale.

But how can I convince him, when I can barely convince myself?

I fall asleep gripping Rory's hand, but all I can picture is a blonde ponytail leaping through flames, tied by a pale blue ribbon.