DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.
A/N: so, it looks like some people were not feeling the last chapter, hopefully this chapter helps clears up any misconceptions. There is going to be some back/forth between them for awhile. Remember this is angst!
Words not spoken in English will be italicized.
Chapter 22-Unfriendly
Gale stormed out of Katniss's tepee. He stood outside and angrily wiped the tears away from his face. It took all of his energy to not let those tears fall in front of Katniss. He looked up and saw an older woman eyeing him curiously. He looked around and saw that no one else was paying attention to him. Feeling uncomfortable, he hurried off and headed back to his unit.
He was angry at himself for showing weakness in front of her. The last time he almost cried was the last time he saw her in the Capitol. How was it she was always able to make him show his vulnerability? He was feeling resentment towards her because of it. He wondered how was it was he could love and hate someone at the same time. Because that was how he was feeling. Katniss told him she hated herself, he hated himself. He hated himself for allowing his feelings for her resurface so quickly. It was easier when he was away from her. Out of sight out of mind.
He also hated the fact that by allowing himself to feel for her again, he was betraying the one person who hadn't hurt him, Dez. He needed to focus on finishing up this mission and getting all the cameras down so he could go back to his life. And Katniss could go-wherever.
He never thought this would happen, but he didn't think Katniss would return to District 12. Not after her comments. He couldn't blame her, he had no interest in ever stepping foot in that hell hole again. He never understood why any of the residents returned. His mother and siblings easily agreed to stay with Gale in District 2. If she didn't go back, he didn't know what that meant for her and Peeta but he forced himself not to care.
He originally wanted to try being friends with her after this if she was willing, now, he didn't think he could. If he did, he knew he would end up hurting his fiancé.
Morning Sun stormed into Katniss's tepee, startling her. "Your friend is in pain, go to him." She said to Katniss without warning.
Katniss knew her words hurt Gale, she saw it in his eyes, she hadn't seen that look in his eyes since the day she told him goodbye in the Capitol. But she didn't think talking to him right now was best. She knew he needed to cool off.
"I told you he's not my friend" she responded.
"A person does not have that type of reaction over no one."
Katniss sighed loudly and shook her head. "All right, I will talk to him, but later, first, I need to talk to the tribe."
Katniss did her best to try to explain to the tribe that a hovercraft was coming to take down the cameras. Considering she didn't know if words like hovercraft or coordinates even existed in their language, she had to be get creative with the words she knew to get them to understand. She wished Rain was here to help. She tried not to think about her during the day, only allowing herself to grieve at night. After a few attempts, she finally thought of words that made them understand. She warned them to not be afraid, that the explosions or objects they might see were a good thing. Once she was finished Red Bear went off with a few others to tell the Comanche's what to expect.
An hour after Gale returned to his unit, the hovercraft arrived. They walked about a mile away from their camp to meet up with his team. He felt it was best if the hovercraft was as far away as possible from the village, but not too far from them. All the team members seemed happy to be reunited. They eagerly talked with one another about what happened the last ten days. Gale overheard some of them say how unlikeable the Mockingjay was.
He was able to get the equipment he needed from the main base to take down the cameras. He informed Spencer and the other six that they had to keep their weapons on the hovercraft, explaining how the Comanche demanded to hold their weapons ransom. He also informed them to be prepared for strange and hostile looks.
When Gale and his entire team of thirteen arrived at the village, the looks didn't seem quite as hostile. Katniss and the Sioux were off to one side, the Comanche, a tribe twice the size were on another. Katniss approached Gale and his unit and said, "Are we ready?"
Gale curtly nodded and turned his head to Spencer. Spencer took out a small hand held device that located the first camera. Katniss, Gale, and his team walked to a tree right in the middle of the village. Between the Sioux and Comanche, over 200 people watched, not moving from their spots. Once they got closer to the tree, the beeping noise got louder and louder.
"Okay, this is the first one" Spencer said, looking up. "It should be about 50 feet up."
Gale then turned to another one of his squad members—a man named Abraham. He was older than Gale, 33 and was the oldest member of the group. And one of the most athletic. Gale wondered if he had trained in the academy in District 1 where he was from. Abraham was one of the team members who didn't care for the Mockingjay during the rebellion.
Abraham took out a circular object, the size of a playground ball. A small remote was taken out of the object. Once Abraham turned the remote on, the circular object flew out of his hand and rose above them, hovering in the air, a medium size red dot illuminating from the object. Abraham controlled the object from the remote, sending it straight up into the air. It stopped 50 feet up.
"Everyone get back" Abraham yelled out.
Everyone moved back at least 20 feet. Once Abraham saw no one was directly around the tree he pushed a button on the remote. The object contorted and then shots were fired, blasting the camera out of the tree, falling to the ground in flames. Some of the Comanche and Sioux members reacted in slight fear and gasped. The object then returned to its circular shape and Abraham brought it back.
Katniss approached the camera, it was in about 3 different pieces, burning quickly. She turned and looked at one of the Comanche council members who just nodded at her to continue.
Spencer and Abraham found the other three cameras, destroying them in the same way. All four cameras were spread out in a four different areas of the village. One was south, north, east, and west. All high up in the trees.
Once other members of Gale's team extinguished the flames, they put all the pieces in a portable case. Katniss took the case and walked up to the Comanche council members, Red Bear appearing beside her. Katniss turned her head to Red Bear and said, "Is it finished then?" Her eyes not leaving the council members.
Red Bear translated for her. The one Comanche member who nodded to Katniss earlier answered him in a stern manner, his eyes not leaving Katniss.
"Yes, they want the warriors to go now." Red Bear translated back.
"Tell them we are leaving." Katniss then turned and gave the case back to Spencer.
Katniss walked up to Gale and relayed the message. "Gladly" he responded and headed with Katniss and his group to the Sioux's camp, the Sioux members slowly following.
Katniss showed Gale where Trent and Sequoyah were being held. Gale was slightly relieved to see while tied up, they didn't appear to be mistreated.
Two team members untied Sequoyah and Trent and escorted them back to the hovercraft. Gale showed the other team members where Katniss's tepee was to get their weapons. Gale turned to Katniss as his team was leaving and said, "We will be leaving to head back to our main base, another hovercraft is there waiting to take you to the Capitol. I've arranged for a vehicle to take you to Rain's mother's house first though, as you asked."
Katniss smiled gratefully at him and said, "Thanks" and tried to reach out to him for an embrace, but he pulled away.
She looked at him in confusion. "I was hoping we could talk again in private before we leave."
"I don't think there is anything to talk about right now Katniss." He replied coldly.
She frowned, this was not the reaction she was expecting. She knew he was upset but she thought at least he would hear her out. She tried again. "I wanted to apologize."
"Let me guess, your friend told you to come talk to me. The older woman I've seen you with. I am betting she is the one who made you the dreamcatcher. Yeah, she saw me outside your tepee upset. That's what you want to apologize for right?"
"Yes but-"
"Don't worry Katniss, it'll pass." Then he walked off without another word, leaving her behind.
