Yes I know its been days since I last updated, sorry about that, Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I hope you like this chapter, is isn't as long as I had hoped but I had to stop it somewhere. I really enjoyed writing it. Here you go…

Disclaimer: I do not own the hunger games or its characters.

Chapter #36

The next few days are filled with intense training and preparations for the big war against the capitol. Coin called a meting to tell us what we already knew, the same day Johanna told us. The next day she announced it to everyone living in District 13, and the technicians sent word to the other districts. Men work in the basement on nuclear weapons and everyone who is eligible to fight train for hours a day. Peeta was told that he should probably take it easy until his cast comes off in about a week and a half. But that didn't stop him from training just as hard as the rest of us. He learned how to fight with a sword and knife against someone with just his right arm. Gale and I were considered the best in archery and were asked to hold some lessons to help some others who would carry bows. Johanna gave tips on axe throwing since that is her specialty and everyone else helped out with what they could. Districts 1, 2 and 4 would be great in battle since they train to fight most of their lives, but you can never underestimate the capitol.

Gale and I haven't had time to hunt for the past few days, so the meat in our meals has been kept to a minimum. After four days of training and having no time for anything else Gale decided last night that we should take a little break and go hunting, I readily agreed.

I'm on my way to meet him at our usual spot before we head outside when I bump into a large person. I hear chuckling and look up to see who I ran into.

"Hey Kat, where are you going in such a hurry?" Peeta asks, still smiling.

"Sorry Peeta, I keep forgetting to watch where I'm walking, I get to caught up in my thoughts." I apologize.

"Don't worry about it, just be glad it was me you bumped into and not someone who wouldn't forgive you as quickly as me." He chuckles again.

"Sorry." I say again and start walking again.

"Whoa, where are you hurrying off to Kat?" He eyes me suspiciously, grabbing my arm.

"Hunting."

"What's wrong with you?"

"There is nothing wrong with me! I'm going to be late meeting up with Gale."

"Could I maybe join you?" he asks innocently. "I miss being out in the open air too."

"Are you kidding me Peeta? The way you walk you would scare away any game that comes within a mile radius!" I know I've said the wrong thing as soon as the words leave my mouth. He gets a hurt look on his face and lets go of me.

"Okay then, I'll see you around Katniss." He didn't call me Kat, that's when I know that he's mad at me.

"You're later." Is the first thing Gale says to me as I'm entering the room.

"Well hello to you too." I smirk.

"Where have you been?"

"Sorry, I was delayed."

"Peeta?" I nod. "He wanted to come along but I told him that he would scare all the game away." Gale laughs to himself. "Yeah he probably would, he does walk kind of heavily."

"I know, and that's why I refused, but I know I hurt him so maybe one of these days we can skip hunting and I'll just bring him into the woods, if the guards even let him out that is."

"That's a good idea, but yeah I don't know if he would be allowed if you guys won't be hunting. Ready to go?"

"Yes! Lets go, I've been itching to get out into the open air and feel the warm sunlight on my face."

"Feeling poetic today are we?" Gale chuckles, and slings his hunting bag over one shoulder and I do the same. The ever-present guard at the exit lets us outside then shuts the door firmly behind us. We walk together to the entrance to the woods then Gale speaks. ""Do you think that maybe we should split up so we can get more game?"

"Sure, sounds like a plan. Should we meet at our regular spot in about an hour to check on our progress?"

"Good idea, Good luck Catnip."

"Thanks, you too Gale, I'll see you later." We wave to each other then head in separate directions. I walk along quietly, carefully choosing the next place to place my feet. My bow is strung and my eyes are wide and on the alert, awaiting any sign of movement. Nothing makes an appearance in the first 15 minutes of wandering around, but after years of hunting you kind of learn to be patient. I pick a few wild flowers and put them into my hair, then gather some of the healing herbs mother uses in her medicines.

Soon enough though I hear the rustling of leaves to my left. I stop walking and slowly draw the arrow back on my bow, waiting to release it into my prey. A few seconds later the rustling and crunching gets louder, another second and a large wild turkey waddles into the small clearing where I am waiting. Before he has the chance to run away or even realize what is happening, my arrow lodges itself in the turkey's eye and he instantly falls to the ground, dead. I hurry over to my kill, a sense of pride coming over me. I remove the arrow and clean the little bit of blood off in the grass beside me then return it to the rest of my arrows. I decide to pluck and clean the bird later with Gale so for now I just stick it into my bag. I glance down at my watch, 25 minutes before I need to start making my way to meet Gale, he'll get worried if I'm late.

One time in District 12 when I was 14 and Gale was 16 we were out in our woods hunting for our families just like every other day. This day was a little different though because Gale and I decided to hunt separately to save time and get more game, much like today. We promised to meet in a certain place after a few hours. Well I was a little late in arriving because I had gotten somewhat lost. Gale had become worried when I didn't show up and went looking for me, so when I came to the spot he wasn't there and I was afraid something had happened to him. When I didn't find him I ended up giving up and going home. He found me at my house a few hours later, spitting mad. We've hunted together ever since, well until today. Gale was the best hunting partner anyone could ever have, he's a pretty good best friend too. I think to myself, smiling as I stroll down the trail towards our boulder where we will meet.

Suddenly I hear a loud crash then a big boom and dirt flies up all around me. They've come early. I think and run with everything I've got. I'm a little early when I arrive but I'm hoping that Gale heard what I did and comes looking for me. I sit down on the boulder, panting, trying to catch my breath, wishing Gale would hurry up before we all die! Another bomb is dropped, even closer this time. I shut my eyes and pull my shirt up to cover my nose and mouth. Dust and dirt swarms around me as I try to breathe. Gale still hasn't come. I can't wait anymore, hopefully he's safe underground with his family. I can imagine that Peeta and my mom and sisters are going frantic, knowing that I am still above ground where the bombs are being dropped. I pick up my bag once the dirt settles back to the ground and begin racing to the District 13 entrance with every ounce of energy I have left.

Then I feel pressure on my hand and look up to see Gale running beside me.

"Leaving me behind?" He smirks.

"Couldn't wait any longer." I answer breathlessly, glaring at him. Another bomb is dropped and part of the ground gives way. I can hardly stay on my feet because the ground is rumbling so hard, the only reason I haven't fallen yet is because Gale is still holding my hand tightly. I scream as yet another bomb falls, throwing both of us to the ground. I'm coughing and I can't see anything.

"Gale!" I croak, but I know he can't hear me. Then he grabs my arm and pulls me up, dragging me towards the secret door. We finally get to the entrance and try opening it. Of course it's locked. We begin banging loudly, but no one comes to let us in, we are left outside, with only a knife and a bow and arrow.

"I don't want to die!" I cry, Gale pulls me to him and we sit huddled together by the door. Our knuckles are bleeding from knocking on the hard door so we resort to kicking it with all our might until our toes feel numb. When we feel that all Is lost the door opens and we fall inside. The guard quickly relocks it and tells us to go to the basement. We drop out bags on the ground and run towards the nearest elevator, hoping it still works. It does and we both let out a sigh of relief as we begin to descend.

"Our families are probably freaking out right about now." Gale says to me. I nod in agreement. A minute later the doors slide open and we run down the hallway and open a door that we never got the chance to explore. It's huge and is lined with doors on both sides. I find my family door and say good-bye to Gale as I open it.

"Don't worry Catnip, we'll get out of this." He whispers into my hair as we hug good-bye. I pull away and give him a grateful smile before entering my own room.

As soon as I get inside I am bombarded my hugs and tears and questions.

"We were so worried about you!" My mother sobs, Prim and Carla each sit on my lap, clinging to me and not wanted to let me go.

"I'm fine now, Gale and I both got back safely." I tell them

"Peeta was really worried about you, he almost went out to look for you guys." Prim tells me.

"I'd better go let him know that I'm here." I say and start to get up.

"Be careful Katniss." Prim tells me, giving me a quick hug, Carla does the same.

"Don't worry little ducks, I'll just be down the hall." They nod tearfully as they watch me go. I hurry down the hall to the Mellarks room and knock quietly. I wince as my slightly bloody knuckles come in contact with the metal door; it is opened almost immediately by Peeta. His eyes are red and puffy and his hair is all disheveled. For a minute he just stares at me, like it's not really registering in his mind that I'm actually here, alive and safe.

"Kat-Katniss, You're really here?" He stutters.

"Yep, I'm here, just wanted to let you know that Gale and I made it safely back, although we almost didn't." I add quietly.

"Come in, come in." He opens the door wider and ushers me in. As soon as the door closes securely behind us he engulfs me in a big hug, squeezing so hard that I can hardly breathe. After a few minutes I gently push him away, smiling.

"You don't know how concerned and worried I was for you!"

"It's okay Peeta, I'm here now, safe and sound." He gives me a small smile. Then he leans in and so do I, he puts his arms around my waist and mine go around his neck. He looks lovingly into my eyes. "I love you Kat." "I know." Is how I answer. No, 'I love you too', just, 'I know'. I just can't bring myself to say it out-loud yet. To make it up to him the only way I can think of, I close in the distance between us and brush his lips gently with my own. His grip tightens around me and he pulls me closer to him, kissing me harder, like it's going to be our last. It may as well be our last, one or both of us could die today if the capitol soldiers break through. I know that I should probably get back to my room but I can't bring myself to stop. We eventually do because the door opens and Kevin walks in.

He glares at both of us. "How can you kiss at a time like this?!"

"What's going on?" Peeta asks, a worried expression on his face, he doesn't let go of me though.

"Well we are being attacked by the capitol and pretty soon they will break in. Nothing major." We don't say anything so he continues.

One of the technicians has sent a message to a few of the closer districts for help, but no one knows if they will arrive on time." We stopped to think about what Kevin was saying and the importance of the other districts coming to our aid. A minute later he spoke up again. "There is one more thing that you should know." By the look on his face I could tell that it probably wasn't good.

"We found out from some of our spies in the capitol why Snow wants Katniss." Peeta's eyes go wide and we both hold our breaths. "Snow somehow found out that she and Gale are best friends and he wanted to take Katniss and use her as bait to get Gale to do whatever he asks. For some reason he didn't go after Madge, probably because she is, I guess was, the mayors daughter and he didn't want people to rebel, which his plan didn't work, everyone has rebelled already. When Cato didn't succeed in capturing her he kidnapped her sisters instead. He knew that Gale also cared for them as his own sisters." We just sit and stare and him, our mouths slightly open.

"But why would he want to manipulate Gale into doing what he wants?" Peeta asks, a little confused.

"Because he didn't like the stunt he pulled in the arena. No tributes are supposed to do that, or even get out alive in the process. It was Gale's original plan so that's why he isn't going after Madge or Thresh or Rue or and of the other remaining tributes that escaped." We nod, finally understanding. I guess Kevin is finished speaking because he gets up and walks out the door, leaving Peeta and I alone once again.

"Well that's a lot to take in all at once." I say to Peeta.

"I'll keep you safe." He assures me and pulls me into a hug.

"Thanks Peeta, I'd better get back to my room now, I promised the girls I wouldn't take too long." He nods and kisses my forehead, then walks me to the door. "I'll see you when all this is over." I tell him. He smiles then closes the door.

I hurry back to my own room, I've barely entered before the walls start crumbling around us. I grab Prim and Carla and hold them close, trying to shield them from the falling debris.

This is the end. I think. We're all gonna die. I love you Peeta.

So what did you think? Were you surprised? Well it shouldn't be too long before I get the next chapter up I've already started writing it Please review, I love reading what you have to say! Until chapter 37!

~FirePearl