Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games no matter how much I would like to. I'm so annoyed at this chapter because my computer kept crashing and I had tor rewrite it like 3 times but I think it's better now but still. I hope you enjoy.

I wake with a start as the cannon sounds and the first rays of daylight stream through the entrance of the cave, scared that they could have found us but Thresh's steady heartbeat brings me back to reality. We're snuggled close together inside the one sleeping bag with the blankets wrapped around the two of us. I was surprised that both of us fit seeing as Thresh is a living mountain but the sleeping bag stretches to fit and it was already huge to begin with. Thresh suggested that we both get some sleep as noone would be likely to find our cave and we should be rested and ready for whatever hits us.
'11, 11 wake up.' I crawl out of the sleeping bag and shake Thresh's arm, he bolts awake and tackles me to the ground his eyes crazy.
'Shit blondie, don't do that you scared the crap outta me.'
'Well I just thought that you'd like to know that a cannon just went off plus the sun is rising so it's time to get up okay. Jesus attacking me for doing him a favour, honestly.'

We eat the leftover from last night for breakfast and sit in the mouth of the cave, watching as the sun rises. I think back to home when me and Finnick would watch the sun whilst we were fishing.
'So who do you think it was?' His voice brings me out of my daydreams.
'What?'
'The cannon, who do you think died? I hope it wasn't the little girl'
'Well let's think shall we. 10 died last night so that means there's 14 people left, minus the 2 of us that makes 12. So there's a 1 in 12 chance it was her which are actually pretty good odds if you think about it. It could be anyone really so stop stressing.'
'You know those odds aren't actually that good.'
'Shut up and anyway it means nothing bad will happen to us for a while, a death keeps the game makers and the Capitol happy. When it's quiet we should be more worried then they'll be wanting more action.'
'I guess you're right, come on I'll teach you how to hunt.'
'I know how to hunt besides my way if more effective as proved by the loss of a certain bet last night.'
'Just come on, I need a look-out.'

As we walked Thresh pointed out all the things that reminded him of his home back in District 11. The Groosling, mocking-jays and all sorts of plants used to heal, to eat and a variety of other reasons. I didn't recognise half the things I saw, I was used to marine life and all the plants and animals that came along with it.

'So did your brother teach you how to hunt?' I nod my head and remember the days back when he used to push me to my limit and come back from the market with hundreds of wild animals that he'd bought and releasing them around the house for me to find.
'He filled the house with animals and stood there laughing watching me. I wasn't allowed dinner until I'd caught all of them but he always forgot how many he'd bought. I'd convinced him that I had all of them and he'd have to believe me because he couldn't prove I didn't. Once I woke up in the middle of the night and he was screaming so I raced into his room and he was standing on top of his bed. There was this huge rat-like thing that he'd bought two days before circling him and he was waving a lamp at it in order to keep it away from him. I ripped the sheets off his bed and used them as a net, I convinced him to let me keep it as a pet and I called it Finnick Jr. which pissed him off. It hissed and carried on when he came in the room, it always hated him. He kept track of the numbers after that.'
Thresh had stopped and was doubled over laughing, 'You have the weirdest life you know that?'

It took a while for him to stop laughing before I asked him, 'What about you, anything funny ever happen to you?'
'Not really, life was pretty bland you woke up, you worked and the you slept.'
'Oh that's too bad. But now if you win, you can have enough money to make a better life for your family.'
'What will you do with the money if you win?'
'Give 3/4 of it to your family.'
'That's not funny.'
'I wasn't joking. I don't need the money I have plenty since Finnick won, heck I don't even need the house. But your family do of you can't come to work so I'll give most of it to them.'
'Promise?' He stopped dead in front of me, his eyes boring into mine.
'Promise.'

We walked in silence for the rest of the day. Thresh wasn't the best at hunting, he was so huge you could see him coming from a mile away and being that big meant he wasn't that stealthy either in fact he was kinda noisy. But he was fast if he saw something it didn't stand a chance against his spear. It was noon before we decided to head home and by that time he'd caught 2 groosling and a few rabbits.
'Do you think we'll run into anyone out here 11?'
'I highly doubt it.'
'Why is that?'
'If you look at it this way to get to where we are we went around the back of the arena but if someone started to walk in this direction from the forest closest to the Cornucopia they'd have to walk around the whole edge of the arena which would be at least a few days walk maybe even a week and that's without rest breaks.'
'Okay but what if they were to cut across the field by the lake to the section of the forest by the back.'
'I bet you anything that the careers will have control of the lake so nobody will be able to pass through that way.'
'I guess you're right.'

As we sit in the mouth of the cave the girl from 8s face flashes across the sky, she was the only one to die today.'
'11 dead, 13 left. The odds are getting better.'
'Like I said before blondie out here your odds will never be good.'

Thresh decided that he wanted to spend the next day exploring, he said that he wanted to see if he could find anything useful. I think he just wanted to look for Rue; it was like he needed to be able to protect her, like if he could save her it would make his time here mean something. We walked until early afternoon before we stopped to rest on a fallen tree.
'Do you think we should head back or do you want to keep looking? If we're going to go back we should probably go now if we want to make it before night fall.'
'Yeah, I guess you right we should head...' He stopped suddenly and looked at the sky watching the mocking jays that circled overhead. A smile crept across his face.
'11? What is it?'
The birds were singing a perfect harmony of the same four notes over and over again ringing out amongst the trees and the most beautiful song was being formed.
'They're here.'
'Who? What are you talking about? What's going...' Before I could finish my sentence he grabbed my arm and was pulling me through the trees. I was stumbling over rocks and branches so much that he eventually just picked me up in his arms and kept running. His eyes were locked on the sky the whole time as the song got louder and louder and more birds began to join in.
He finally stopped in front of a thick tree, towering over everything with mocking jays perched on every branch and even more circling above, all of them singing.
'You know no one's working, you don't have to signal.'
I thought he was going crazy, talking to birds as though they had some alteria motive and could actually understand him. That was until a tiny voice answered him,
'Yes but if I didn't signal how would you know where to find me?'

We set up camp a few hours away from the cave since evening was already falling and it would be stupid to travel whilst the sun is down. We'd decided not to make a fire because it was to risky even though there were three of us now and we doubted anyone would attack us when we were this strong anything could happen out here if someone was desperate enough.
Rue sat in my lap smiling as I braided her hair, she was beautiful and seemed so fragile to me that I understood Thresh's need to find her if anything happened to her I would blame myself. Thresh seemed allot happier that we'd found her because now he can take care of her and doesn't have to worry that much.
'So what are we gonna do about dinner blondie?'
'I dunno no fire means we can't cook. And I don't wanna risk eating raw meat and one of us getting sick. But we didn't bring enough fruit, herbs or dried meat to be split between the three of us.'

We were contemplating what to do when I saw a flash of silver cut between the trees. I moved Rue off my lap and walked towards it, Thresh followed behind me. Hanging from a branch above our heads was a large, silver tub attached to a parachute.
'Who do you think it's from?' Thresh asked as he plucked it from the branch.
'Only one way to find out.'
We took it back to Rue and cracked it open, it was filled with food. 6 apples, 12 rolls from District 4 shaped like a fish, tinted green from the seaweed and flecked with salt, a huge slab of cheese and a block of chocolate.
'Guess it's for you then blondie. Your brother really must love you.'

We sliced 2 rolls each and smothered them in the soft cheese; I dug in breathing in the sweet scent of home and the taste of the ocean. Thresh on the other hand gagged when the taste hit his tongue.
'So damn salty, ah ah ah.' He chugged water to get rid of the taste while me and Rue rolled around on the floor laughing at his discomfort.
After dinner I broke up the chocolate and handed some to both Rue and Thresh who looked at it like it was gold. I hated the fact that my life was so much better than theirs and that I actually could go out and buy things like chocolate and all the could do was dream about it.
'Aren't you gonna have any?' Rue's eyes went wide as I wrapped up the bar not taking any for myself.
'Too much sugar, makes me sick.'
'Speaking of, medicine time.' Thresh reached into his pack and pull out a few syringes wrapped in cloth. 'I brought some just in case we'd have to stay the night.
'Thanks, I totally spaced.' I plunged the syringe into my arm and Rue let out a little gasp.
'Are you okay?'
'I'm fine don't worry about it. Besides it's bed time now come on.'
The anthem plays but nobody's face is shown in the sky meaning that no one died today.

Thresh volunteered to take the first watch so Rue and I snuggled into the sleeping bag, another thing Thresh decided to bring just in case. We didn't feel safe out here at night so far away from our cave.
'You like him, don't you.' Her voice was barely audible as she whispered through the darkness.
'He's my friend and we're allies, so yeah I like him.'
'That's not what I meant and you know it.'
'Be quiet and get some sleep.' She chuckled quietly to herself like I had just proved her point.

Thresh woke me up at around what seemed like midnight, he settled in next to Rue and I sat watching and waiting until I saw light emerge in the horizon. I stood shocked it was too early for it to be the sun, I walked a few steps closer and saw the fire ripping at the trees, tearing them down and heading ever closer towards us.
'THRESH!'
He leaps to his feet and is at my side immediately, terror streaks across his face as he sees the wall of fire raining down upon us. 'Run, don't stop, don't wait for me. Just run!' He grabs the stuff and shakes Rue awake as I start running back to our cave. I do as he says and don't look back I try to push all thoughts of him and Rue out of my head but I can't I need to know if their okay I stop and spin around. Big mistake a large hiss pierces my ears before I see a giant fireball hurtling towards me at full speed I tuck and roll just in time but it's close enough for me to feel the heat searing against my skin.

I scrambled to my feet and sprinted as fast as I could as I became overcome with smoke, I couldn't breathe as it began to fill my lungs so I pull my shirt over my face and try to keep running but I can barely see. I trip over everything that lies in my path and I give up on running and just begin to crawl along the floor where the smoke is the thinnest allowing me to breathe better. But it doesn't stop me from coughing as the poison is still entering my system, I start to retch but I couldn't stop to vomit so I swallowed it down and kept going. I roll over every time I hear a hiss and the fireballs fly over my head sending debris crashing into me and cutting at my sides.
I'm about to give up and give in to my fate when I see the water, my beautiful lake next to my wonderful cave. I find the strength to pull myself to my feet and I begin to run faster than I ever have before and I plunge head first into the forgiving water and stay under as long as I can letting it claim me as its own.

When I finally surface I pull myself to the shore and the vomiting begins, everything comes up and it keeps going until there is nothing more to come. So I lay on the shore breathing heavily and I crawl to the water and shove my face in drinking heavily not caring what disease I could get, I need that water. I pull up when I hear a tremendous splash next to me and water rains down along my back. I look up and see the packs strewn on the ground next to me and Thresh emerged in the water.

He lies next to me when he surfaces breathing heavily. I look around with the strange feeling that something is missing and then it dawns on me.
'Thresh, where's Rue?'