Katherine
Haymitch's death is still fresh in my mind. I picture every possible scenarios and the many ways he dies.
As we walk, I see myself walking alone. There is no Peter. He isn't beside me. I'm lost and there is no way out of this imprisonement.
I want to believe what Peter said to be true, but at the same time I know it can't possibly be true. Haymitch gave me shelter for one year, he gave me guidance. Now, he is, I mean, he was more than an accquaintance. He was mentor, a substitute for my father. He was a friend and now that he is gone, I don't know what to do. I can only see myself going back to Saldrian and fulfilling my dying wish. It is my dying wish to kill the queen and get my revenge. If I die, at least I saved Panem from a reign of terror.
What about Peter?
I glance up at him. He hasn't tried to make small talk since we left Alighter. I'm thankful for that. I don't want to talk to anyone at the moment. However, he insists he will not leave me and he uses gentle and soft words. I can't help the way them hold on to my vulnerable heart. I can't hate him. It is emotionally and physically impossible to hate him. He did ruined the trust I had for him. He didn't care when I left Saldrian; he stopped writing those letters and he completely forgot about me.
Now, he wants to get my trust back, after three years?
He is insane!
I will not trust him. One day isn't enough to erase the pain, suffering, agony and loneliness I went through.
The forest is preparing for the new season. The ground is already covered by a very thin layer of snow, but little wild weeds and brown and broken leaves are still visible. Some trees harbor vegetation. However, it isn't enough to shade us from the winter sun. The cold air doesn't cool me and my shirt clings to my back and my armpits like wax. I don't favour winter. It isn't a good time to wander the wilderness and to hunt animals. They hibernate and there is no food in our bellies. Also, summer clothes aren't appropriate. If I had stayed more time in Alighter, I could have traded something for a warmer cloak and perhaps another pair of socks.
"I can't do this." Peter breaks the silence.
"What?" I ask, without looking at him.
"Are you going to ignore me until we reach Baluster?"
"Yes." I don't hesitate and I hope he keeps quiet after it.
"I remember when we used to be mere teenagers." He keeps going and I have to suppress the feeling of threatning him. "You were the quiet one and I did all the talking. It hasn't changed a bit."
There are just memories. As people say, "What's in the past, stays in the past". Nonetheless, inside me grows an overhelming happiness. I too remember when he talked about such random subjects with a light so strong in his eyes, even if the subject was boring. I didn't understand how he talked incessantly, but he always made me smile and laugh.
"You haven't answered my question."
"What question?"
"Are you alright?" His eyes burn a hole in the back of my head.
"Are you serious?" I laugh, but not in a happy way. "Of course I'm alright! I'm more than alright. I'm fantastic! These three years have been amazing. I have been trying to survive and not die, but I'm alright."
I stop hearing his footsteps and I turn around to see him looking at something in the distance. I follow his stare and notice a couple of shadows possibly twenty meters from us. I narrow my eyes and shield them from the sun. I can't make out what they are, but I'm suddenly pushed against a tree and encaged in a strong and warm body.
...
Peter
Katherine looks up at me, our faces too close. I cover her mouth before she can protest.
"Three wolves." I whisper to her. "You will keep quiet and climb this tree before they get closer. Understood?"
Her eyes stare at me, fear and determination in them. I remove my hand from her mouth and she nods. I help her climb the tree and the rest she climbs alone. When she is high enough, I look at the wolves and my chest beats frantically at seeing them nearer.
"Peter, climb." Katherine orders.
"Alright." I was never the best at climbing and I would fall every time, breaking an arm or getting a scratch.
I find a fissure in the trunk and hoist myself up. I'm half away through the trunk when my foot slips. I hear a snarl and I know the wolves are close and ready to attack.
"Give me your hand!"
"I can do it." I climb higher and I have just reached Katherine's spot when I feel the wolves scratching the trunk, ripping some bits of the bark.
I lean against one of branches, trying to regain my breath. I glance at the wolves. They bare their sharp teeth, growls leave their mouths and their eyes shine with murder.
"When will they leave?" I ask, taking off my gloves.
"They will get bored, eventually." Katherine says.
The sun has left its highest position. I'm surprised I climbed a tree and didn't fall to my death.
"We can't stay here a whole day."
"You want to climb down? Be my guest."
"Why do you say such things?" I don't know how to deal with her new personality.
"I don't want to talk about it." She mumbles. "Alias, this isn't the right time since we are by a thread from becoming wolf food."
"Life and death situations seem to get you to talk. Now is the perfect time." I say, not bothering with not be gentle. "I want to know why. I know you don't trust me and I'm okay with that. Yet, you still treat me like I'm a traitor."
"You are!"
"Why?"
"Do I have to say it again?"
"The letters?" I wonder, but I know she is talking about them. "I have told you. I wrote back, I just didn't receive an answer. Without a response, how am I capable to come to your aid? When I heard of you, you were long gone. You disappeared and I was left with no hopes of ever finding you."
"I sent you dozens of answers! You didn't reply to any. You left me! You handed me to the lion's mouth and I was alone to fend for myself. Don't blame me for something I didn't do!"
"So I am the one to blame? For all?"
"Yes!"
"How can you believe that? I have told you what happened and you still believe in those lies."
"Stop lying!" She snaps, angrily. Her eyes are pure fire, but I see the unshead tears in them. "I waited every day, after your last letter, for a reply. You never cared enough."
"Kat-"
"It doesn't matter." She sighs. "What is done, it is done. You can't reverse time and you can't change every bad moment."
I can't. However, I can change the future.
"Will you look at me?" I plead.
"Just leave me alone."
"I can't."
She doesn't answer back. At least, she clarified some doubts of mine. I pass a hand through my hair and glance down. There are no wolves in sight.
"We can climb down."
Katherine glances down and then back at me. "Alright."
I let her climb down first. I follow next and we resume our path.
I will reveal the story behind the letters at the end of this story and I intended for Peeta to fall, but I thought better of it. Favourite, follow and review. Thank you!