Thanks a lot to LegendBeast9O for reviewing every chapter after it's posted!

Regarding the guest-review I got: I didn't really understand what you are talking about, sorry. If it is about my characters cursing and stuff - I did warn about that in the very first chapter. You shouldn't have read it if this bothers you. I just think it's unrealistic for angsty teenagers to be all PG13.

Day 13 - Stories

Slowly I open my eyes. Then there is shock and I sit up - straight as a dart. I must have fallen asleep sometimes. Now it's still dark, probably the early morning hours. Nobody in sight - no Rex, no Ayla.

Slowly I calm down again and look at Cyo. From what I can tell in the dark, some color has returned to his face. Carefully I place a hand on his forehead - my hand is cold so I can't tell for sure, but his skin isn't intensely hot. So I guess he doesn't have a fever.

My stomach growls, I know I'm hungry, I know I should eat. But when I think about food, I feel sick. No... I will wait a little longer.

I catch myself almost going back to sleep when the sun starts rising. Great... that should do to keep me awake. Suddenly I hear something next to me.

I turn in an instant and see Cyo move. He groans and opens his eyes a little bit. Excited I take his hand. "Shhh... it's okay. I'm here."

His voice comes out rough and husky and low, his eyes searching for the person who is talking to him, "Va... Val?"

I smile and gently brush my hand over his cheek. "Yes... I'm here."

I see him shift again and then he tries to sit up, making him hold back a scream. Right away I ease him down into a lying position again. "No... please don't move. Your wound needs time to heal."

For a split second, I see confusion reflect in his eyes, then he seems to remember. Slowly he brings his hand to his stomach, touching the bandage. "Did you... make this?"

"Yeah... I had some stuff in my backpack and there was some of the cream left, I got when I hurt my foot. I hope it was enough."

The corners of his mouth twitch upward slightly as he says, "Thank you..."

I shake my head slightly and say, "Don't thank me... I shouldn't have let you go in the first place."

Now Cyo finally opens his eyes fully again and he looks at me. "Don't... don't blame yourself."

I sigh. "I do... I should have made a better plan... and don't you talk to me now! You need more rest."

"Fine..."

My stomach grumbles again and Cyo says, "Did you not... eat?"

I shake my head. "No... I couldn't eat when I didn't know if you would live."

Now he stares at me with disapproval and says, "Please eat. I'm doing okay."

I consider fighting him on that for a moment, but I decide against it. He can barely talk, it's not the time for petty fighting. I reach over and pull the backpack with the food closer. Going through it I pull out a loaf of bread and a banana.

I hold the fruit in front of his face. "Should I peel it for you? It's soft, maybe you can eat it."

He thinks about it for a second but I know he must be hungry himself so he finally nods. In silence, I help him sit up slightly against a tree. Then I peel the banana and give it to him. I eat the bread, he eats the banana.

Then we drink the last of the water in the canteen. I can tell by the tense look on his face that he must be in immense pain and there is nothing I can do to help him. He grits his teeth and mumbles, "Val... I'm really okay. Don't... don't worry."

Great... I must have looked worried when I should cheer him up. I should be the one comforting him. I try a smile and nod. "Right... should I get you more water?"

He shakes his head and closes his eyes again. "No... just stay. Tell me a story."

I frown and look down on my hands. "A story... okay." I think hard what to tell him, but there are only utterly trivial things that come to my mind.

I decide it doesn't matter and start talking, "When I was a small child, before I started school, Cato once broke his leg and had to be at the hospital. My mom stayed there with him so my dad had to watch me. He had lots of work that week, it was during the Hunger Games so he was needed at the Capitol to guard the tribute center."

I pause. Maybe Cyo has fallen asleep again and I'm talking to myself, but he whispers, "Don't stop..."

I can't help but smile and continue, "It was important for his career, he always wanted to become Head Peacekeeper. There was no other option, so he brought me along - wasn't easy, his boss wasn't too happy with a little girl there. But eventually, it happened. I can't remember much from my first time at the Capitol, I think I was watched by the people who were mentors from our District most of the time.

"Once I played with a toy train on the floor in the lobby and a girl came running down the stairs. She stormed towards the door when an older woman held her back. They argued about something and the girl started crying. I can't really remember about what - I guess I didn't understand so well back then. I only remember the woman screaming at her to stop because careers don't cry.

"But eventually they realized I was there and they stopped. The girl was so pretty, I couldn't stop looking at her so I told her she was pretty. I think it was Cashmere... the girl from 1 who won that year. When I saw her again before the Games I remembered that... I'm sorry, it's a stupid story."

I see Cyo smile and he opens his eyes again. It's a painful smile, one to gloss over how much his wound hurts. "It's not a stupid story... I liked it. Maybe you could tell me another one?"

I suck on my bottom lip, then I take his hand. "Fine... but be aware that all of my stories suck."

Now he giggles but stops immediately and grimaces, squeezing my hand. Note to self: Don't tell things that are even a smidgen funny.

I trace the lines on his hand with my fingers and start talking again, "Okay... let's see. I got really shitfaced drunk once before. It was a mess... Clove stole a bottle of Wodka from her uncle's cabinet when she visited because she knew he wouldn't notice. He has the money... so at school that day we made plans to meet up at midnight and get drunk."

I start smiling at the thought of Clove. Bubbly, energetic, wonderful Clove who was my best friend. Lost in thought about her I say, "She... she snuck out that night and so did I. It was hard to do - my mom made sure Cato and I would behave but I hid a rope under my bed and climbed out of my second-story window. Clove doesn't live in Victor's Village so we decided to meet at the halfway point - a little shed."

I pause again as Cyo grimaces. Quietly I ask, "Does it hurt?"

He sighs and nods. This is the worst... to be so helpless. Maybe the story will distract him a little bit. "Clove was already there when I entered. She presented the bottle like a trophy and I presented the package of orange juice I had brought along. It was fucking disgusting when we tried the Wodka, the taste made me want to throw up, but the stupid 14-year-olds we were wanted to know how it feels to drink... all in all, a chain of events was set in motion. We eventually fell asleep, the old lady who owned the shed found us and ratted us out to the peacekeepers. Cato was pissed we did that without him and I was grounded for a whole month."

Cyo smiles again. That's good. He's maybe a bit less in pain. But I know I shouldn't think that. He just gets better at hiding it. I sigh and carefully cup his face with my hands. "I wish I could help you..."

He looks me in the eye and says, "You are helping..."

"Not really..." I say and sigh. Then I lean forward and give him a peck. "Let me think... maybe I can remember some kind of herbs..."

He shakes his head lightly. "No... it will get better... just stay."

I try to smile and nod when I see a little silver parachute land a few feet away from us. Quickly I get up while saying, "Don't worry... I'm only picking something up."

He wants to protest but I run over to the parachute, picking it up and quickly return. "Look... it's for you."

He frowns and looks down on the little thing. "Can you... open it for me?"

I nod and remove the present that is attached. It's a can, similar to the one with the medicine I had in it. I inspect it briefly before removing the cover. Along with three tiny black pills, there is a folded note inside.

I rest the container on my lap and remove the note, unfolding it. It's not the same handwriting from my note - it's not Katniss' hand. I clear my throat and read out loud, "For the pain. One now, one in the eve and one tomorrow. -Peet"

Cyo releases a breath he has evidently been holding and leans back. Finally some good news. I put the note down and pick up one of the pills. "Okay... open your mouth."

He complies and I give him the medicine, storing the little container away safely in my backpack. Cyo smiles. "See... we still have sponsors left so late in the Games."

I smile too. "Yeah... that's great. Hopefully, we won't need their help too soon again."

He nods earnestly and fumbles with his wristband. It's a simple leather band. I look down at it curiously and say, "Is it your token?"

He first doesn't seem to realize what I mean, but then he nods again, "Yeah... my sister made it. Remember... I told you she sometimes makes shoes? She made this from the spare leather once."

"It's really nice... she seems to be talented."

Cyo smiles and looks down at the band briefly. "Yes... she is. It reminds me of her." Then he pauses before looking at me again. "Do you have a token too?"

I hesitate but then I pull down the zipper of my jacket a bit to expose my cleavage. "It's my daddy's necklace... It was a gift from Cato and me when he was promoted."

Cyo looks at it and says, "It's nice..."

"It's nothing unique like yours... but it reminds me of home."

I look from Cyo's wrist at his face again and say, "Is the medicine working?"

He smiles and this time it almost reaches his eyes. "Yes... it's much better already."

"Then you should try to catch some more sleep...", I say.