Hey y'all! How's everyone doing? I'm so sorry about the long wait for this chapter. After I got the last chapter out, I had some juice still left in me so I thought I'd be able to finish this chapter soon after. But then I got caught with a bunch of other writing projects that had deadlines that were both self-imposed and "highly encouraged." By the time I got those projects done, I was all tapped out and had negative motivation to do anything beyond eat, sleep, go to work, game, and watch anime.
So yeah. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it no matter how bad I feel about getting this chapter out late cause I'm trying to finish this fic before the month's over and my motivation is completely dried out. Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Like always, I enjoy comments, in fact I thrive off of positive comments and love constructive critique ones cause it shows an author that their readers are actually paying attention and enjoying their work.
Thanks for continuing to read this story! Virtual hugs and cuddles to y'all.
Disclaimer: I still do not own anything except any OC's that may come up, any world building that has not yet been officially stated by the books or the movies, and any plot points/structures that have not been used in the books or movies.
Warning: No beta, we die like Rue.
Chapter 20: Apotheosis
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Val squints as the dying light of the setting sun hits him in the face.
It's getting darker by the minute and there doesn't seem to be any proper shelter nearby. He briefly entertains the idea of sleeping in a tree again but he doesn't know if either of them are in the right state of mind to be climbing up tall heights.
"We should try to find shelter soon," he says as he turns to his sister. "There should be a cave nearby that we can reach before it gets completely dark."
Katniss nods and opens her mouth to speak but she suddenly collapses onto the ground.
"Katniss!" he shouts out in worry.
Val quickly rushes over to crouch beside her. He carefully turns her over and sees that she's sweating and clutching her side. He gently reaches out to the area she's holding and frowns when he touches something wet. He holds his hand up and sees that there's blood on the tips of his fingers.
"You're bleeding," he says, panic creeping into his voice and his heart, "Why the hell are you bleeding!"
"Kai," she groans out as the adrenaline finally fades away to dump suppressed pain onto her all in one go.
"Was Kai the one who ambushed you and Thresh then?" he asks as he presses on her wound to stem the bleeding.
Katniss groans at the pain the pressure causes. "Bastard got a lucky shot in while Amber was distracting Thresh," she croaks out.
"Amber was with him?" Val asks, incredulous.
Katniss gives him a look that asks if this was really the time to talk about this.
"You're right, you're right," he sighs because this is most certainly not the time. He roots around in one of the packs they were carrying. When he pulls out a strip of cloth from Clove's bag, he can only stare at it.
This cloth, this plain, white cotton strip of cloth, was exactly what he'd been looking to use as a bandage to tie off around Clove's neck. But apparently emotions and the rush of adrenaline clouded the rational thinking he always prided himself with. And then there was the acceptance in Clove's eyes and the fact that this stupid piece of cloth was in her bag. She knew that it was too late for her long before he could ever accept it.
Val sighs as he takes the cloth and the leftover burn medication from his pack. Even though the paste will probably have zero effect on her bleeding, not burned injury, it still couldn't hurt to try considering that every product that comes out of the Capitol does exactly what it says on the tin and then some. He gently slathers her wound with the paste and ties off the cloth around her waist, making sure it was tight enough to stem the bleeding but not so much that it cut her circulation.
When he's done dressing her wound, he looks around as light from the sun is almost completely gone. Man, this was a really slow sunset, though this might be a deliberate move by the Game Makers.
"We need to find shelter," he says as he lifts her arm around his shoulder and uses his other arm to pull her up. "Keep pressure on your wound. We don't want you bleeding out."
"Calm down, you mother hen," she says as she rolls her eyes, "Even though Kai got a stab in, he didn't hit anything important."
"You're bleeding and you collapsed from said bleeding," he deadpans as the siblings slowly move forward.
"Oh please, like a stab wound could make me drop like a rock," she scoffs before saying with begrudging acceptance, "If anything, the adrenaline from earlier combined with what happened after...it just all kind of hit me at once."
Val doesn't respond because there's nothing really to say to that. He too, can feel the exhaustion of today creeping in and he didn't even get into any of the crazy fights everyone else seemed to be involved in today.
Instead, he keeps walking with a firm grip on his sister who's labored breathing is definitely not making his heart squeeze with worry. His stomach also bubbles with what must be anxiety and definitely not a whole range of negative emotions that he'd been suppressing ever since the two of them walked away from Rue and Clove.
Thankfully, the cave comes into view just as the darkness settles like a heavy weight on their shoulders. The siblings stumble their way past the cave mouth, pausing for a moment to maneuver the natural brush hanging over it to completely cover up its existence.
Then they "gracefully" collapse onto the cave floor, both breathing heavily from exertion as the adrenaline finally flushes itself out of their bodies. The fatigue and exhaustion of the day slams down on them like a ton of bricks and it's all Val can do to stay awake long enough to make sure his sister is comfortable.
The two huddle together like their back in the forests of 12 and camping out during one of their longer hunts. Katniss rests her head against his shoulder while he rests his head against hers. No longer able to resist the exhaustion that seeps deep into his bones, Val closes his eyes and drifts into an uneasy sleep.
XXXXXX
By the time Val opens his eyes, sunlight streams in through the small opening at the top of the cave. He blinks into awareness as he shifts, his body sore and protesting the sleeping position and arrangements of last night.
He slowly pulls himself up and stretches his body out, groaning as his muscles pull and protest while his bones crack in way too many places all at once. He blinks again as he turns to check on his sister.
Val relaxes when he sees that she's still sleeping soundly with her back leaning against the rather uncomfortable stone wall of the cave. Then he frowns when he examines her more closely. Her breathing is somewhat shallow. He picks up her hand and feels that it's colder than it should be. Her forehead is beaded with sweat and her brow is furrowed with discomfort.
He quickly moves her arm that's draped across her wound and shifts the bandage to check on the state of her injury. While the wound has stopped bleeding and is beginning to scab over, thank every higher power in existence for overly expensive Capitol medicine, the skin around it is red and irritated and the parts of the wound that haven't already scabbed oozes with yellow pus.
"Shit," he says as he gently but vigorously shakes her awake. "Katniss, wake up."
Katniss groans and her eyelids flutter open with more effort than should be required. "W-what? What is it?"
"Your wound's infected," he says as calmly as he can but panic still bleeds over into his voice.
She groans again, more awake this time as she tries to push herself up with weak arms. "Well that's not good."
"No shit, it's not good," he says with a sigh, "We'll have to find some herbs to stop it, if this forest even has them at all."
"We could also try asking for a sponsor gift?" she suggests, giving up on trying to get into a better position and dropping back into her original one. "We haven't asked for or gotten anything yet and Haymitch said he'd do his best to rake in the money. So maybe we've got enough saved up to get some medicine this late into the game?"
Val looks away with a slightly guilty expression. Katniss catches it and narrows her eyes in suspicion.
"What is it, Val?" she asks, "You know you can't hide anything from me for long so you might as well just spit it out now."
"Well...uh..." Not knowing what to say, Val holds up the container holding the burn cream.
Katniss continues to stare at him. "Use your words, Val."
He chuckles weakly under her intense gaze. "You know how I got burned by those fireballs way back when?"
"Yeah?" she says, wondering where he was going with this, "I also remember not really believing you cause you barely had a sunburn."
"Well...this is the reason why," he says sheepishly as he opens the container to reveal the cream.
Katniss stares at him in disbelief to which he quickly adds, "In my defense, this was also right after you "betrayed" me so I was rather emotionally unstable and actually suffering from a bad injury so you can't blame me or anything."
She sighs. "Fair enough." Then she laughs sardonically. "Guess this means we won't have as much money in the pool then. Wonder what we'll have to do to get that medicine."
"Maybe we can ask nicely? Throw in a pretty please with a cherry on top?" he suggests with a wry smile.
Katniss barks out a laugh then immediately regrets it as she groans out in pain as the movement pulls at her injury. Val fusses over her, taking off his jacket to add extra cushioning against the rock wall.
"Stop mother henning me," she snaps with little heat.
"Well, sorry for making sure you're alright considering you literally have an infected stab wound," he retorts. Then he sighs, "Guess we'll have to come up with some way to get you that medicine."
Just then, a faint beeping sound is heard. Val and Katniss both perk up as they strain their ears. The beeping sound slowly grows louder and closer with each passing moment. The siblings share a look and Val stands up slowly with his bow at the ready. He slowly creeps out of the cave to the source of the sound.
When he arrives at the cave entrance, he cautiously brushes the camouflage aside and looks around to see a small container with a parachute attached to it. It was a sponsor gift! He quickly slings his bow over an arm and rushes to swipe it. He then runs back to the cave, making sure the camouflage was put back in place before he made his way to Katniss.
"Hey Katniss! Look what I got!" he calls out excitedly.
She turns her head to see the container and her eyes lit up with hope. "A sponsor gift? And so fast?"
"Yup, the Capitol folk must be feeling pretty sorry for your ugly mug," he teases as he cuts off the parachute.
"More like I won them over with my charming personality," she says cheekily.
"What charm?" he jokingly asks as he opens the container to reveal...a bowl of chicken noodle soup.
Both siblings stare deadpan at the soup. "Wow. Chicken noodle soup? Really? I don't even qualify for a whole ass chicken, just it's spare parts?" she asks, sarcastically.
Val sighs and hands the soup over to her with the spoon that was helpfully provided. "Just eat." Then he notices a slip of paper that was hidden under the tin. "Looks like Haymitch sent a message."
"What's it say?" she asks around a mouthful of soup.
"Don't speak with your mouth full," he says out of habit as he opens the slip.
Katniss rolls her eyes as she closes her mouth and makes an exaggerated swallow. "What does it say?" she asks, now mouthful soup free.
He rolls his eyes and looks at the slip. He frowns as he reads it out loud, "You want that medicine? You're gonna have to do better than that. Spill some beans, have a heart to heart, dramatically bare your soul and you just might be surprised at the result. You don't have to say everything but you've gotta be genuine. Good luck."
"What the fuck does that mean?" Katniss demands as she closes the tin with half of the soup still left.
Val shrugs. "I guess we gotta talk."
"About what?"
"Anything and everything or wherever the flow of the conversation goes, I guess."
A moment of silence.
"So...what should we talk about?" she asks.
Val takes a moment to think, really think about what kind of soul searching topic he really wanted to talk about. And then it hit him.
"Why did you join the Careers?"
Katniss frowns at his question. "What do you mean? You know why."
He shakes his head. "No, I really don't. All I know is that you and Haymitch came up with some half ass plan to divert the Career's attention away from me. After I woke up, you never really explained anything to me either and then-"
He cuts himself off because saying anymore would only solidify the hurt that was still a long way from even beginning to heal.
Katniss responds, pretending to not know the reason why he stopped as she focuses on her confusion instead, "Then you already have your answer. Why are you asking me this?"
Now Val's frowning as well. "Because you haven't told me why. Why are you trying so hard to protect me when we all know I'm not the one who's going home?"
Katniss clenches her jaw so tightly Val could almost hear her teeth grinding in protest at the pressure. "And why, brother dear, do you say that?" she asks, her voice low and full of warning.
He opens his mouth to respond but she beats him to the punch.
"Is it because of some misguided attempt to repay a debt that you never owed?" she asks, the volume and emotion in her voice raising as she goes off on her idiotic, self-sacrificing, masochistic brother. "How many times am I going to have to bash that dumbass notion out of your fucking head? You don't owe me anything, you don't owe Prim anything, and you definitely do not owe our mom anything. Our family was not built on debts that need to be paid just for doing the right thing."
He tries to respond again but she holds up a hand to stop him.
"And if you insist on following this pig-headed logic, then we are the ones who would actually owe a debt to you. You were the only thing keeping our family together after dad died. You were the one who pushed me to go after Peeta who gave the fairy tale romance I thought I'd never have. You were the one who sacrificed everything just so everyone could be happy," she practically shouts, her voice echoing throughout the stone walls and subsequently amplifying it. "So where the hell do you get off on giving up your life when that is the one thing nobody wants you to sacrifice?"
Val can only stare, shocked, as she pants from the exertion of yelling her heart out at him. "I didn't know that was how you felt," he finally says, softly.
Katniss scoffs. "Yeah, well, you know me. Can't string my words together so I gotta let my actions do the talking." Then she gives a pointed look. "And it seems to me that you've completely misread what I was trying to say even though you've always been the walking human emotion dictionary."
He barks out a laugh that has her smiling and chuckling just a bit.
"Look, Val," she says with the utmost seriousness, "I'm not going to say that I'm not scared. Hell I've been scared the moment my name was called out at the Reaping."
"Then why-" he tries to ask but she shakes her head to stop him.
"I am scared," she states bluntly, "I'm scared about what would happen to Prim if neither of us comes back. I'm scared about what's going to happen to us in the arena. I'm scared because I don't actually want to die cause for the first time in a long time, I was finally living for tomorrow instead of today."
She sighs as she runs a hand through her hair. "Even though I also rag on others for bringing kids into this fucked up world, truth is...I do want to have a family with Peeta. Maybe a boy and a girl just so they'd be able to grow up to be the best siblings that'd trump even our own siblinghood."
"Then why are you still trying so hard to protect me?" Val asks, "I'm the older brother and it's my job to be protecting you, not the other way around."
"Why don't you tell me why you're so gung ho about making sure I'm the one who survives and maybe I'll tell you," she responds, irritated at the fact that he still wasn't getting. "And don't say it's to repay a debt because that argument has gotten old long before you said I volunteer."
"Well then what do you want me to say?" he snaps back, "If I'm not allowed to say that the reason why I'm doing this is to repay your family for what they've done for me or even just because I am your older brother and it is my job to protect you and Prim, then what the hell do you want me to say?"
"You could literally say anything but that!" she shouts at him, anger brewing like a visible storm in her grey eyes.
"I just wanted to protect you! You have a boyfriend, a family, a future!" he shouts back.
"Which are all things you would've had if you hadn't volunteered for me!"
"Well then what about Peeta? Huh? What about him? Are you really trying to tell me that you would've been okay with having to be here with him where death is just around the corner?"
Katniss throws her hands up into the air, exasperated and angry beyond belief as she shouts, "Yes! Because then at least we would've been together! And you finally could've gotten the happiness you deserve! The future you should've had if you'd just kept your damn mouth shut!"
Val's expression hardens as her words reverberate throughout the cave. Katniss closes her mouth and clenches her jaw, glaring harshly as a refusal to back down because what she just said is the truth dammit.
"Would've, could've, should've. Those are all just what if's," has says, the tone of his voice dangerously low, "I could've kept my mouth shut and stood there as I watched you and Peeta fight until you both died or one of you returned as an empty shell. I should've made a move to finally grasp the happiness that was just within my reach instead of leaving so many things unsaid and so many regrets behind. That is all well and true."
She smirks as if he had just declared her right and opens her mouth to say as much but he holds up his hand to stop her.
"However, I would've never had this chance to discuss these what if's if it hadn't been for your family," he says solemnly which shuts her right up. "On the day that I ran to the woods of 12, I never thought I'd live long enough to have a future, hell to even live to see tomorrow. So you'll excuse me if I want to repay the ones who gave my future back to me."
Then the two of them just sit there. Both of them angry, upset, confused, and boiling over with emotions that spilled over because they'd kept it bottled up for too long. And now...now they were empty and tired.
"How did we get here?" Val asks suddenly, breaking the silence that slammed down on them.
Katniss furrows her brow in confusion. "You mean like literally or metaphorically?"
"Either will do," he responds listlessly.
She hums. "The world is just one big messed up place. A giant middle finger saying fuck you to anyone who dares to strive towards their own happiness and there's nothing anyone can do about it."
"I'd like to think that there are some out there who are capable of changing things, no matter how small that thing may be," he counters with a healthy dose of depressing optimism.
"You mean like us?" she snorts as if he'd said a hilarious joke, "Oh yeah. We're a world changing pair here. A jaded firecracker with a motor mouth that needs a good washing and a martyr with zero self preservation skills and a bleeding heart that's running on empty."
She grins at him. "The world is fucking doomed."
He snorts in response and then, like a chain reaction, the two break down into tears by the peals of laughter escaping them. Val hunches over, clutching his stomach as he laughs while Katniss slaps the ground repeatedly in a vain attempt to control herself.
Finally their laughter dies down and a comfortable silence settles over them as the shift across the dusty rock floor to sit beside each other again. Katniss leans her head on his shoulder as he leans his head against hers. The air has finally been cleared between the two of them even though all it sounded like was the rehashing of things already said. However, it was the way it was said that really mattered.
The siblings sit there, just taking in the other's presence, when a faint beeping sound catches their attention. The two share incredulous looks of surprise and shock before turning their gaze upward where the beeping grows closer and closer until they see another parachute drift its way down towards them through the small opening in the cave's ceiling.
The parachute somehow manages to land directly in front of them with the container touching down with a soft clink. Val and Katniss stare unblinkingly at the slightly larger metal container as if a single blink or glance away could make it disappear.
When enough moments pass that confirm the container was not going to suddenly disappear, Val reaches out and picks it up. With hesitant movements, he slowly unscrews the lid of the container to reveal its contents - a variety of small bread rolls.
The siblings blink in surprise at the bread. Katniss reaches over to take one that looks suspiciously like a cheese bun.
"It's still warm," she says, staring at the bread in awe before taking a bite. "And it's a cheese bun! Exactly like the ones Peeta makes!" she exclaims before devouring the bun in a matter of seconds.
Val follows her example by taking one of the bread rolls and eating it as well, making sure to savor the warm taste with each bite. "This one doesn't taste like any of the bread I've ever had before," he observes.
"Lemme try," Katniss says with gimme hand motions.
Val passes over a bit of the roll and Katniss immediately shoves it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully.
"Huh," she finally says after she swallows, "It tastes like some kind of nut and fruit bread with extra wheat involved. Like those bread rolls Rue told me about from 11."
Val furrows his brows as he begins sifting through the bread in the container. He spots an interesting looking roll underneath the small pile and reaches for it. He stares in surprise as the roll he pulls out is not in fact a bread roll, but instead a mini palmier that was a specialty pastry from 2.
"Cheese buns from 12, fruit and nut bread from 11, and now pastries from 2," he says, suddenly getting a sharp pang of homesickness.
"Wait, really?" Katniss asks, leaning over to get a good look at what exactly was inside the container. "Guess they wanted to thank us for being with Rue and Clove to the end."
"Yeah, guess they did," Val agrees, feeling touched by the gesture but also a sharp pang of homesickness to accompany it.
Katniss then reaches into the container to pull out a slip of paper. "Got another message from Haymitch," she observes.
"What's it say?" Val asks before taking a bite of the palmier. He groans as he savors the taste of the sweet crispy pastry. It's been way too long since he'd last had one.
"Uh...well, it says to enjoy the bread. Thumbs up," she responds, perplexed.
"Wait, what? A thumbs up?"
She nods. "Yup. It's not even like a drawing of a thumb up. He actually wrote the words thumbs up."
"Wonder what he means by that..."
She shrugs. "Who knows? We'll probably find out soon enough. Let's just enjoy the bread for now and worry about everything after."
"Sure," he agrees before smiling, "Mind passing me a cheese bun?"
Katniss just gives him a look and pointedly picks up a cheese bun and shoves it into her mouth while maintaining direct eye contact with him. He laughs. Message very much received.
XXXXXX
Val and Katniss startle awake from their bread induced nap when the sharp sound of microphone feedback screeches throughout the arena.
"Who? What? Where?" Katniss asks as she glances around, slowly shaking off the bleary feeling of sleep.
Val blinks as his sleep-addled brain slowly boots itself back on and he slowly stands up. The sound of feedback screeches again which is enough of a jolt to make them both fully awake.
"Attention all tributes," the voice of Seneca Crane calls out.
The siblings look to each other in surprise before turning their gaze back up to the opening in the cave's ceiling. No Game Maker has ever directly addressed the tributes before, let alone the Head Game Maker. The only interaction the tributes ever had with the world outside the arena was through the end of day death count and any tribute gifts they were lucky enough to pull their way.
"Due to extenuating circumstances, we have decided to allow an unprecedented rule change to occur," Crane says as he pauses for dramatic effect. "For the first time, in the history of the Hunger Games, two tributes will be allowed to win so long as they are either in the same District or have had a long standing alliance."
Val can almost feel his jaw drop to the floor at that announcement. His head snaps to meet Katniss' just as shell-shocked expression though there seemed to be a familiar light shining in her eyes. It's hope he realizes with a jolt because the last time he'd seen that same light was when she brought the bread home all those years ago. Then he realizes, he too feels hope as his heart flutters in his chest.
The two grab at each other, pulling the other into a hug, because for the first time, ever since they stepped foot into the arena, there was hope they could both go home. That they wouldn't have to fight to see who would be the sacrifice and who would be the one to live.
"However, the rule change will only apply if you complete a certain condition," Crane interjects.
And just like that, the hopeful mood immediately sours. The siblings release each other from their once hopeful embrace and stare up in disbelief.
"Oh come on!" Katniss shouts out as her brow furrows with anger.
"Each one of you needs something desperately. We, the ever caring Game Makers, have decided to give you that something," Crane practically purrs into the microphone, "In one hour, we will place these gifts by the cornucopia for you to retrieve. If you are successful in retrieving your gift, then you qualify. If you are not...well it's not our problem now is it?"
"Well fuck you too," Katniss spits out as she flips her middle finger up for the invisible audience to see.
"In addition, you are allowed to seize the gifts of other tributes if you so desire," Crane announces with no small amount of glee in his voice. "Good luck, tributes. We hope to see you all in an hour. May the odds be ever in your favor."
The Panem national anthem plays as the microphone clicks off, leaving the two sitting on the cave floor with shattered hopes on the floor.
But maybe not all hope was lost, Val surmises as his shocked expression turns into a contemplative one. Katniss catches sight of this and immediately grabs his arm.
"Oh hell no," she hisses at him, nails digging into his skin like the claws of a cat.
"But the gift is definitely going to be the medicine needed to fight your infection because I'm definitely not the one in desperate need right now," he protests, "This is your life we're talking about here. It could save you!"
"And I am not having you risk your own for a maybe," she snaps back at him. "You are not going and that's final!"
He visibly deflates and Katniss softens at the sight. She slowly and reluctantly releases her hold on his arm. "Look, Val. I'll be fine," she says with a firm tone, "I will be fine. I will fight off this infection and then we will both make it to the final two where we'll then have another difficult conversation. This time without the imminent threat of death hanging over our heads."
Val nods numbly in agreement. Katniss smiles and pats him on the back. "Good boy," she teases which has him smiling back in response. "Now, where are the berries? I've been craving something fruity."
"I think we actually just ran out," he says, which has Katniss booing in response, "But there's a bush nearby the cave so it'll only take me a bit to go get some more."
"Are you sure?" she asks hesitantly, "Kai's still out there and so's Foxface."
"It's Finch, Katniss, seriously," he responds with fond exasperation, "You're gonna have to get her name right some day."
She sticks her tongue out at him. He laughs as he stands up and brushes himself off. "I'll be fine," he says reassuringly as he grabs his pack and bow. "Just a quick in and out, a milk run if you will."
"Alright, I'll hold you to it," she says as he walks out of the cave. "And no heroics, promise?"
"I promise," he calls back as he steps out of the cave with a smile.
XXXXXX
Katniss looks up when she hears Val walk back into the cave with a wide smile on his face. Her gaze immediately turns weary because if this was anything like the potato/root switcheroo… She immediately shakes away those thoughts. No need to jinx anything else. Murphy's law is already screwing the both of them over right now.
"Whatcha got here?" she tries, and somewhat fails, to casually ask.
Val's smile grows wider as he holds out half of the metal container filled with black berries, some chopped up roots, and what seems like a bunch of small edible herbs.
"What the hell is that?" she asks, skeptically.
"Oh you know, just some blackberries, some edible roots with a few flowers and herbs tossed in for taste," he says as he hands the container over to her.
"So basically some demented form of Hunger Games trail mix," she remarks while hesitantly taking the container like it's a ticking bomb instead of a container full of all natural snacks.
"It's not going to explode you know," he teases, "And it's definitely nothing like the potato/root fiasco. I've learned my lesson."
She shoots him a glare. "Hey, one can never be too careful with roots especially after what happened last time." She shudders from disgust. "I will never be able to look at a potato the same way ever again."
"Just eat the damn trial mix," he says with fond exasperation.
Katniss shrugs. "Alright, but if this makes me break out into song again..." she trails off with an unsaid threat that has Val raising his arms up in surrender. Her eyes narrow as she lifts a small handful of the mix into her mouth. She chews cautiously before swallowing. A few moments pass and once it's clear nothing's happening, she digs into the rest of the mix.
"You want any?" she asks, holding out the container as she continues to chew.
"Nah, I'm good," he answers, "I ate the rest of the soup to use the container for the mix."
"Alright then, more for me," she says happily as she downs the rest of the mix, not noticing how Val was carefully watching her.
She finishes the mix with a satisfied smack of her lips and hands the empty container back to him. He takes it and puts it aside next to the container with a few rolls of bread left. Minutes pass before Katniss lets out a jaw cracking yawn, the impressive bags under her eyes seem darker than usual.
"Sounds like you need a nap," Val states as he arranges their packs into a slightly uncomfortable pillow for her.
"No, I don't," she tries to protest before letting loose another impressive yawn. She still struggles against the desire to just close her eyes and do what he says because who knows what bullshit her brother would get into if she wasn't awake.
"Just rest, Katniss," he reassures, "I'll still be here when you wake up."
"You promise?" she asks softly, like she's a kid again and worrying whether this would be the day her brother left and she'd never be able to see him again.
"I promise," he says while crossing his fingers behind his back.
Katniss hums her acknowledgement of his answer and settles onto the backpack pillows before promptly falling asleep. Val smiles apologetically at her as he brushes some hair aside from her face.
"Sorry Katniss. But this is one promise I'm going to have to break."
Then he stands up, throwing the bow and quiver over his shoulder, and determinedly walks out of the cave. He makes sure the natural camouflage is still in place before running off through the woods with only a single glance back.
By the time he makes it to the clearing in which the cornucopia is set, Val guesstimates that about an hour already passed as he peers behind some brush. There, within the opening of the cornucopia, is a small metal table with four bags of various sizes set upon it. Each bag has a different District number stitched onto its surface. 2 - the largest bag. 3 - another large bag but not as large as the one for 2. 5 - a small but still decently sized bag. 11 - a medium sized bag. And 12 - the smallest bag of the four.
Val moves to stand but he hesitates before he steps out from behind the brush. He has no clue where the other tributes are and while he knows Thresh and Finch would not try to trap or attack him, the same couldn't be said for Kai. And given his current track record, an angry Kai is a dangerous Kai.
While he's wrestling with his indecision, the smallest rustling of brush catches his attention. Val quickly ducks back behind his patch of brush and peers out through a small opening. He watches as the brush parts to reveal a cautious Finch creeping her way towards the cornucopia while repeatedly glancing around for any sign of danger. Seeing none, she picks up her pace and bounds towards the cornucopia, snatching her bag as she passes by and makes her way back into the forest where she quickly disappears from sight.
Val silently applauds her for her bravery but also takes her actions as a sign that danger had yet to reach the area. He watches for a few moments, making sure that the lack of danger Finch sensed held true, before running to the cornucopia himself.
He arrives at the mouth of the cornucopia within a few moments and quickly snatches his bag. For a moment, he stares at the bag for District 2, mentally debating on whether he wanted to take it to really screw Kai over or get out there while he still can.
Unfortunately, the choice was made for him when he hears someone angrily storm into the clearing.
"YOU!"
Val whips his head around to see an enraged Kai charge at him with his bloody sword raised high above his head. Val takes a moment to register this fact before he quickly dodges away from Kai's downward blow, rolling away just in time to avoid an unexpected beheading.
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Kai shouts as he slashes his sword at Val in haphazard patterns. He's angry and delirious, most likely caused by malnutrition and dehydration if the gaunt skin and hollowing cheeks were any indication. Despite this, there is still plenty of strength behind each blow that will definitely incapacitate Val immediately if he gets caught.
All Val can do is dodge while slowly making his way back to the forest because until he reaches the treeline, the last thing he should do is turn his back on Kai and risk a high chance of a fatal blow catching him before his escape.
Even though Kai's anger puts much of his energy into his strikes, he doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. In fact, he seems to be growing angrier and energized the longer Val keeps dodging. He also seems to be catching onto the fact that Val's trying to make a clean getaway into the forest because his movements start pushing Val away from the treeline. There's also no way Val will be able to keep dodging forever. Something's gotta give.
And that something turns out to be Val's legs as his feet catch on an uneven patch of grass and he falls onto his ass. Kai grins triumphantly over him as he raises his sword like an executioner's blade. Val can only stare wide eyed as the sword falls down towards him in what seems like slow motion.
Fortunately, a deus ex machina arrives in the form of Thresh bulldozing his way into the clearing and shoving Kai as hard as he can onto the ground.
Thresh looks to Val with a wild expression and minor annoyance.
"What the hell are you still doing here?" Thresh angrily questions, "Get the hell out of here already!"
Val scrambles onto his feet, making sure to kick Kai's sword away from him before he can react. Val gives Thresh a grateful look as he says, "Thanks, Thresh."
Thresh grunts as he gives a swift kick to Kai's head that doesn't knock the Career out but will definitely give him a concussion.
"I helped you because you helped Rue," Thresh says. "Now we're even."
Thresh runs over to grab his bag as Val turns to run to the treeline. Just as he reaches it, a frenzied shout catches his attention. He turns to see that Amber somehow made it to the clearing as well and she was currently wrestling with Thresh who's struggling to hold her back while a dazed Kai slowly gets up from the ground.
Val steps forward to go help but Thresh glances at him and shouts, "No! Get the hell out of here! I'm not going to owe you for the same thing twice."
Val hesitates to which Thresh growls as he grabs Amber by the face and smashes her into the cornucopia. Val watches, vaguely horrified but also desensitized, as Thresh keeps slamming Amber's head into the metal wall until a cannon fires.
Thresh breathes heavily as he drops her onto the ground. Her face is bloody and broken beyond recognition. There's a dent covered in blood and bits of human on the wall of the cornucopia. Thresh turns to glare at Val.
"I thought I told you to get out of here!" Thresh snarls as he snatches up his District bag.
Kai, while still dazed, is now standing and staring at Amber's dead body. He looks up and the first person he sees is Thresh. His face grows red with rage and he yells out incoherently as Thresh turns tail and runs into the forest. Kai follows after him, albeit with less balance and definitely a concussion.
Val watches as Thresh disappears into the forest with Kai fresh on his trail. He wants to follow after the two to see if he could help but...he looks down at the small bag in his hand. No. His sister's well-being takes priority. Besides, Thresh declared that their alliance was over and he already yelled at him one too many times to get. So get he will.
Val turns to the forest and runs back towards the cave, back to his sister. Because all he can do for Thresh is to grit his teeth and hope to every higher power out there that he survives.
But there is a small part of him that hopes Thresh doesn't because it's always easier to kill an enemy than it is to kill a friend.
XXXXXX
Katniss slowly comes to awareness as she blinks away the fog that clouds her mind. Confusion fills her as she struggles to pull herself up after the impromptu nap. Then that confusion becomes anger when her focus sharpens and the first thing she sees is an exhausted Val, lying against the cave wall, with his face scratched and a small bag with the number 12 stenciled onto it lying next to him.
"Val," she says with a rapidly loosening restraint on her growing anger, "Tell me you didn't do what I think you did."
Her brother just looks up at her and has the audacity to smile and say, "Hey, Katniss! How was your nap?"
"Don't "Hey!" me!" she snaps, "I can't believe you drugged me with valerian root! You just took overprotective brother to a whole new level that I am not comfortable with."
"Okay, one, I wasn't technically drugging you because valerian is nothing like actual sleep inducing drugs," he calmly explains.
"It might as well be a fucking drug," she grumbles as she crosses her arms with an angry pout.
"And two, you most certainly needed the extra sleep to help your healing process," he continues, paying little mind to her grumbling, "Don't think I didn't see those Townie quality bags under your eyes. You need to sleep to restore the energy needed for you to heal."
She glares at him for a few more moments before sighing with a put upon expression. "I hate when you make sense."
"That's why I'm the brains of this operation and you're the brawn," he says with a smirk,
Katniss huffs at him with a pout and gestures at the small bag by his side. "Alright, let's see what's in the bag. And if it's not the medicine, I might actually find a way to rage quit the Games and take all the Game Makers with me."
"I don't doubt it," Val says as he picks up the bag and opens it.
Within the bag is a small and slim metal case. He takes it out and opens the case revealing a syringe with some sort of pale liquid inside that he recognizes as a high quality antibiotic. He whistles, impressed.
"Well, damn. I don't think I've seen a syringe since we had that emergency order for morphine way back when," he comments.
Katniss also gives her own impressed whistle as she takes the syringe out of the case and examines it. "Must've been super expensive to have this offered to us." Then her expression becomes cynical. "Unless of course, the Capitol has so many of these in abundance they could give less of a shit about giving something like this away like it's just a piece of candy."
He shrugs. "Then it's a really hard won piece of candy but I do get what you're saying."
She gives him a look. "Even though I really wanna know what happened, given your track record, I really shouldn't ask."
He winces. "Yeah, it's probably better if you don't."
Katniss frowns at him but smooths her expression before handing the syringe to him. "Alright, Val, stick me with the needle so I can finally stop feeling like my side's on fire. It's really starting to cramp my moody teenager style."
Val frowns at her, a lecture about pain tolerance and injuries on the tip of his tongue, but he knows that if he tried, the two of them would just argue back and forth and nothing would get done except further delaying the recovery of her injury. So he keeps his mouth shut and without a single warning, jabs her in the leg with the syringe and pushes the plunger.
Katniss shouts, more out of shock than pain, and gives him her best wounded animal impression. Val looks at her, completely unimpressed and still unswayed.
She clicks her tongue. "How come it always works on you when Prim does it but not when I do?"
"Because Prim is actually an innocent sunshine child while you're a moody teenager who'd rather punch her problems than deal with them."
"Punching my problems is always a valid solution!" she protests.
He deadpans. "Not when you're trying to give your emotions a black eye." He sighs dramatically. "I can't believe you actually thought you could punch your sadness to try and make it go away."
Katniss blushes. "I was twelve!" she weakly protests.
Val gives her a blank stare. "Yeah and so is Prim and yet you don't see her trying to punch and kick at something with no physical form."
"I think we can both agree that Prim's cut from a different cloth," she says, trying to salvage the little dignity and tough girl reputation she had left.
Val shrugs and smiles at her. He then takes his jacket off and places it around her like a blanket. "Try to get some more rest," he suggests, "The medicine will work better if you do."
Katniss rolls her eyes. "Alright you absolute mother hen," she says with a grateful smile, "Just wake me up in a bit alright? We're getting low on supplies and I actually want to feel useful instead of lying around like a lazy bum."
He smiles back at her and maneuvers her to lie across his lap. "Just sleep, Katniss. I swear that I won't sneak away this time."
"Promise?" she says, her voice slightly muffled by the fact that her face is snuggled against his legs.
"Cross my heart and hope to not get stabbed by a paintbrush," he says with as straight a face as possible.
"That was one time. Let it go already," she grumbles as she closes her eyes and drifts off.
Val wisely chooses not to answer as he places a protective arm around her and closes his eyes as well. The two were sound asleep long before the Panem national anthem plays.
And that's scene folks! Just two more chapters left - the grand finale and the epilogue! Man, it's been a journey guys and I'm glad you're all still here with me. For those of you just tuning in, I hope the end of this story will be everything you expected. I also hope that this chapter was everything you expected and that I managed to make it worth the wait. Until next time!