The air of excitement buzzes between us all morning as we make our way down the mountain and back onto the ground. It's a long trip, but our high spirits make the time pass quickly, and before I know it we are trekking back through the forest on the ground, scanning for a place for Caleb to make a new shelter.

"Don't expect miracles though, Ty. I won't be trying too hard, not with the Felboars out to destroy every masterpiece I make. That, plus, you know, I do have a slight disadvantage..."

He trails off, eyes twinkling as he looks meaningfully at his bandaged hands, and I laugh. He's been teasing me mercilessly about it all morning, and I've had no choice but to reluctantly get over it under his torrent of friendly abuse.

"You know what they say, a bad workman blames his tools," I remark, and he nods thoughtfully.

"True, and that might be the case here if I could actually hold any tools."

I give a splutter of laughter, shoving him hard on the shoulder.

"Alright, you've made your point. You're quite the wounded soldier. So how about I make the camp and you just sit there and feel sorry for yourself?"

He pulls a face, wrinkling his nose.

"Steady on Ty, I don't think the situation is quite that drastic. Really, my hands could have been cut off and I think I'd still make a better shelter than you."

I gasp indignantly, elbowing him in the side.

"Alright smartarse, so when you gonna build this amazing shelter? Cos so far, I've done all the hard work today. Time for you to earn your keep I think."

He looks so affronted I can't help but giggle.

"Oh, is that how it is?" he asks, his mock indignant face faltering as he laughs, grabbing me round the waist.

"Saving your life wasn't enough, huh? You're a hard woman to please, Tyla Ravenscroft!"

I laugh, struggling from his grip, but he holds me tight, his voice close to my ear.

"I'll let you go if you admit I saved you. You have to say 'Caleb, you're my hero'"

I'm laughing too hard to speak, and he laughs too. "Come on, admit it. I saved you."

I giggle breathlessly, tugging at his hands which are locked together around my waist. "Ok, you saved me," I acknowledge, giving up my attempt as pointless as his grip remains steadfast.

"And I'm your hero..." he adds, and I laugh again.

"Fine, fine, you're my hero. Now let me go." I struggle against his arms but he simply grips me tighter.

"One more. Say 'Caleb, you're my Knight in shining armour'."

I can tell he's grinning, his teasing tone making me giggle even more, my stomach cramping up with laughter.

"No chance. I've already admitted you saved me, now let me go."

He chuckles into my ear, squeezing my waist one last time.

"Such a little ingrate. Fortunately for you we've found a good spot for a shelter, which means my hands are needed elsewhere."

He tickles me lightly on the ribs before he lets me loose, and I stumble slightly as I'm released, clutching my stomach as I recover. I quickly survey the area he's chosen, trying to make sure I approve, but I can't concentrate, can't hold the smile from my face as I recover from his teasing.

"Pretty close to the careers" I comment, noticing we can only be 20 minutes at most from the centre of the arena. I glance over at where Caleb is standing, brushing aside some debris from the base of a wide tree which he's obviously chosen as our new base, and he glances up, shrugging with an easy smile.

"Who cares? What they gonna do?"

I roll my eyes; we may have crippled them, but they're still the careers; it won't do to write them off just yet. Despite this, his bravado is infectious, and I can't help but break into an even wider smile as I look at him. He looks up from his work, catching me as I do, and grins back at me.

"Don't just stand there smirking, Ty, make yourself useful."

I roll my eyes, smiling as I walk over, picking up a branch from the floor. "Ok, what do you want me to do?"

"Well, first of all I don't want you to help me in any way. I think it's the best way to make sure the shelter doesn't collapse on us as we sleep."

I gawp indignantly, shoving him, and he laughs, batting me away.

"Come on Ty, you know it's true. If you help we won't need the Felboars; our shelter will destroy itself."

I pull a face at him, unable to stop a small smile forming on my face. "Fine, I'll go get us some dinner then shall I?"

He gives me a wide, patronising smile, taking the branch gently from me. "I think that would be wise."

I roll my eyes at him, laughing again, and stoop to grab a knife and an axe from our new stash before I turn to head off into the forest.

"Get as much as you can, we can store it up," he throws after me, and a broad grin breaks over my face. It's exactly the phrase he used last time he sent me off to hunt so he could get on with building the shelter, and while last time I remember noting the hidden suggestion that I take my time, this time he doesn't hide it, his cheeky tone making it clear that's exactly what he means. It's funny; last time I remember being frustrated at my lack of skill, my uselessness, despite him not mentioning it too me. This time, however, despite the fact that he's openly pointed out how useless I am, I don't mind at all. Instead I'm happy- elated in fact. His good natured teasing has reminded me of all the stories he told about his family, and I'm daring to believe he might think the same about me; that he's mocking me because he cares for me. I remember wishing someone would tease me in fond manner, make fun of me affectionately, and against the odds, that's exactly what's happened.

As I trek through the woods, scanning for signs of food, my mind is only half on the task at hand; the rest is flitting back over this morning, a grin flashing over my face as I remember. A warm coil of something forms in my stomach as I consider the events of our day, one I'm not used to. I'm happy, I realise. The thought amazes me, and I stand still for a moment, tipping my head up to the sun and closing my eyes. Who would have thought I would be happy, in here? It's something I had never considered possible. Of all the things I prepared for back in the clearing, having a good time wasn't one of them. But then, I didn't know Caleb would be here then. I can't stop my face breaking into a smile as I think of him, my mind racing back over the events right before I left him. I flush a little as I think of him grabbing at my waist, whispering in my ear. 'I'll let you go if you admit I saved you'.

My smile suddenly falters a little, then drops from my face as my thoughts slowly catch up with the reality of his words. 'Saving your life wasn't enough, huh?' Out of nowhere my heart is suddenly racing as a slow realisation creeps over me. He saved me. He said it himself, and I agreed. He saved my life. I suddenly feel cold all over as I remember, clear as day, what he said to me back when we first formed our alliance. That he would save my life to pay his debt to me. Has he just done that? I stand stock still, all the happiness wiped from my mind as the realisation hits me; if he just saved my life, then this could be it. Our alliance could be over.

I shake my head slightly, telling myself it's not true as I retrace the events back on the cliff top. There's no doubt I would have fallen, but would I have caught myself? I tell myself I could of, that he hasn't really rescued me, but I know it's not true. He saved my life. Whatever debt he felt he owed me is paid; he could walk away now, out alliance over, and I might never see him again. The idea is unthinkable; it actually makes me feel sick. I can't even consider him not being here with me, don't want to even imagine it for a moment. He has to stay. He has to. I don't know what I would do without him. I let out a long shaky breath as I realise that, for the first time in my life, I truly don't want to be on my own. And for the first time, I have no choice.

A shiver runs though me, and a quick glance around tells me it's not just the thoughts running through my head that have caused it. The sun in the sky is fading fast, the woods around me dimmer, and I've achieved nothing other than to blacken my mood. I take a long, slow breath in, then out, and tell myself to stop thinking such foolish thoughts. Caleb is back there right now, building a shelter. I'll go back to him. Everything will be ok. For now. This thought jumps in before I can stop it, and I grimace. I've allowed myself a brief moment of delusion today, riding on the high of our successful attack on the careers, and it's catching up with me now. As much as I may be enjoying my time with Caleb, and as much as I may hate the idea of leaving him, it will have to happen. This time I embrace the sick feeling that washes over me at this thought, clinging to it as I force myself to face the facts. We are not two children in the woods, playing house. We are in the Hunger Games. Our time is limited, and whilst I may not want our snatched moments together to end, I have to accept that they will. But not today. This is the thought I decide to focus on as I turn and head back in the direction I've come. Not today. Today, I can pretend. For just a little longer.

I spend the walk back trying to lift my spirits as I search the ground for any signs of movement, anything that looks like food. I refuse to return without something to eat, just as I refuse to return to him with my mood so dark; not after the day we've had. I know he'll be in high spirits, waiting for me to return, and I have to do the same. I have to be that girl, the one he's hoping for, and not the real me that lurks underneath. A flash out the corner of my eye catches my attention and I turn, hurling my knife without thinking. There's a scuffle, then stillness, and I see it has made contact with a rabbit. I retrieve it, along with my knife, and carry on back to Caleb, my heart lifted by my success. I have food, at least; the good mood I can fake.

As I reach the place I last saw Caleb the sun is still reasonably high in the sky, late afternoon drawing in, and once again he is nowhere to be seen. This time, though, I'm wise to it, and I cautiously approach the knot of trees, looking for any signs that he is around. As I reach the base of the trunk he appears, suddenly, a wide smile on his face, making me jump.

"That was quick."

He smiles, and I drop the rabbit to the floor beside me, nodding at the place he just arrived from.

"I could say the same. Really Caleb, this might be your best one yet."

The tree honestly looks no different from when I left, the knot of vines and leaves unchanged, and yet I've just seen him emerge myself. I move around the tree slowly, scanning for an entrance, and eventually he reaches past me, pushing aside a trail of hanging vines to reveal our sanctuary. I duck inside, impressed as ever by his accomplishments. The earth at the base of the tree is sandy and dry, and the neatly woven vines wrap around it, cocooning us away in oblivion. There's less standing room than in the others, so I shift onto the floor, scooting along as he shifts in beside me.

"Impressed?" he asks, looking at me expectantly, and I shrug nonchalantly.

"I've seen worse."

"Is that right." He chuckles, raising his eyebrows. "Don't I even get credit for doing it wounded?"

The mention of his hands makes me think back to my worries in the wood, of him leaving me now that his debt is settled, and my stomach takes a dive. Not wanting my thoughts to go back there I ignore the question, gesturing at the rabbit he's holding.

"Shut up and pass me that."

He shakes his head, holding it away. "I think I'll field this one. No offence, but you skin like a girl."

I laugh indignantly but accept defeat, mainly because a wave of tiredness has suddenly hit me. The lack of sleep from last night is catching up with me after the strenuous day, and I'm lacking the energy to argue.

"Fine, hot shot. But I'm watching to make sure you do it up to my standards."

I grin, leaning back against the trunk of the tree as he reaches for his knife.

"Setting the bar a little low there, Ty."

He grins, winking at me, and I simply shake my head, rolling my eyes as I sit back to watch him work. He chats away as he does, describing his sister Elina's disastrous first and only attempt at skinning back at the ranch, and I just watch him sleepily, feeling my worries fade away as the warmth of the shelter and his soothing voice relax me. So what if I know our time is short, that we'll have to part eventually. It doesn't matter. He's here with me now, and that's all that counts.