5
Peeta
It's time. 10. Katniss looks over at Cato. 9. She looks gorgeous, her hair back in that traditional braid. 8. He winks at her. 7. She nods. 6. I wonder what their plan is. 5. Clove hisses, noticing their mental conversation. 4. It's obvious she'll go for Katniss. 3. I need to protect her. 2. I have to kill Clove. 1. Get to a weapon. 0. GO!
Katniss
I run from the Cornucopia, up the nearest tree, where no-one can get me. I watch as Cato strikes down as many people as he can to get to the supplies. He grabs two rucksacks, a box of food, a bow, a quiver of arrows and a double-edged sword. He begins to run towards me, so I climb down. I get distracted as Clove makes her way towards Cato. Panicking, I climb faster and miss the knife flying into her back. As I look round for her killer, I see Peeta nodding at us and sprinting off in the opposite direction. Cato carries on running towards me and chucks me a bag. As he reaches me, he passes me my bow and arrows and we run far away. Soon, we reach the river and we follow it as far from the cornucopia as we can before setting up camp. I start a fire and we eat dinner. We're done quickly enough and I must look as exhausted as I feel because Cato offers to take first watch. He cradles me in his arms and we watch the sky as the fallen are shown. I count as 18 tributes go by, including Marvel, Glimmer and of course Clove. The bloodbath must have continued long after we left… That leaves Foxface, Peeta, Thresh, Rue and us two as real competitors. Suddenly two more cannons go off and Foxface flashes up, shortly followed by Thresh. I look at Cato, horrified. "Final 4," he whispers, "We can win this thing. Rue is strong but both she and Peeta have no hope at surviving. We could go back to the Cornucopia. It would be safer; it's where all the supplies are. We could sleep on top of it and we'd be safe from everything. What do you think?" I nodded and sleepily murmured, "In the morning?" He kissed my forehead and nodded. I slipped out of conscious to the sound of him humming the Valley Song.
Cato
I watch as she sleeps, as if all her cares have disappeared. I'm happy because she's gonna live and we are gonna leave here together. I'm sad because Clove is dead, and she was my best friend back in District 2. I'm scared because Peeta is still alive, and he probably wants to kill me. What if he does? Will Kat get out of here? Fuck. Training didn't prepare me for this. Why didn't it prepare me for this? 'Help me' I mouth to the sky and a parachute arrives. I open it up to see a jewellery box, with an engagement ring inside, along with a note that reads, 'YOU'RE WELCOME ;), H+B.' I look up and ask for more help but instead rain starts to fall. That is not what I meant I think furiously as I frantically wake her up. She jerks up, screaming, "What? What is it? Cato!" I calm her down and soon she realises what's happening. I'm terrified the rain will turn into a flash flood. And if it does, we're screwed. I pick up all the stuff and usher her towards the cave near the river, shoving her in as far away from the mouth as I can.
I was right; soon the cave is filling up and Katniss and I are cowering against the wall. She curls into me and I rock her as I watch the water rise. Just as it is about to reach us, it stops raining and the water level falls again. We both heave a sigh of relief and she kisses me passionately. "We're still alive," she repeats happily, "You sleep now. I'll keep watch. No-one will find us here." And I nod, falling asleep to the sound of her breathing.
When I wake up, Katniss is preparing breakfast. Our stuff is all packed up, perfect and ready to go. "Eat up babe, we need to get going," she says happily, and I laugh. "What?" she asks and I just look at her. "Is this what it's gonna be like when we're married?" I ask, and she looks at me, shocked. "Did… Did you just ask me to marry you?" she whispered and I panic, looking around for inspiration before looking back at her blushing and I nod. She laughs joyfully, the beautiful peal echoing around the cave, and she looks at me expectantly. "Do it properly then. In case we don't make it out of here." I smile, and kneel down, taking her hands. "Katniss Everdeen, I love you. Your personality, the way you care so much for your sister, the way your eyes sparkle when I kiss you, everything about you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to live with you in the Victors Village, meet your family and friends, buy you anything you want to make you happy and provide for our kids. I'll do anything to make you happy. Marry me? Please, princess?" I watch her face carefully throughout the speech, watch it soften and she begins to cry. She kneels down in front of me and whispers through her tears. Just one word. "Yes." I yank her in for a kiss, our tears joined as I cheer quietly. I pull out the ring and she looks at me, confused. "Brutus and Haymitch gave it to me," and I slide it on to her finger.
Haymitch
That's my girl! I turn my attention to the screen as Caesar claps his hands with joy. He looks to the audience and shouts, "So the star-crossed lovers take it to the next level! Might they be the parents of the first Hunger Games babies?" The crowd cheers and I laugh, shaking Brutus' hand.
Prim
I can't believe that Katniss has found love. She's gonna get married? That's crazy. I turn to Mom and look at her confused. Mom shrugs her shoulders and returns her attention to the screen, where Katniss and Cato are walking back towards the centre of the arena.
