Katniss lay awake under the arena's night sky for what seems like days. She can't fall asleep despite the fact that she desperately needs rest to recover from her injury and strength to survive in the games.
She can't stop thinking about Peeta. Where he is. If he is wounded. If he is wondering about her. She doesn't know if she's anxious to find him or worried that some one else might find him first.
Katniss doesn't think the sun can rise any slower. Thankfully it does, and Katniss is already packing up their belongings before Rue can stir from her slumber.
"You're up early." Rue says as she rubs her sleepy eyes.
"Did you sleep well?" Katniss asks, caring more about Rue's well being than her own.
Rue nods and sees Katniss, obviously slowed by her injury, struggling to roll up the sleeping bag and makes her way over to help.
"It'll be faster if you let me help." Katniss shrugs and allows Rue to put away the rest of the items.
Just before they set off to find Peeta, the two share what's left of the crackers and berries for a small breakfast. Rue kindly sacrifices her crackers in order to help Katniss regain some her strength.
After the light meal, they cover their traces and make their way into the forest-covered arena to search for Peeta.
Normally it would take half the time it takes Rue and Katniss to make it to the river. But Katniss is still weakened by her injury and constantly trips and stumbles carelessly on objects easily avoidable for a healthy person. Rue eyes her worriedly and gestures that she can be used for Katniss to lean against for support. But Katniss is stubborn and refuses to take the help.
By the time they make it to the river Katniss's exhaustion forces her to give in. Katniss has her arm around Rue's neck while the other clings to her wounded side tightly. Rue grips Katniss's hand and uses the other to hold her at the waist.
"Look!" Rue shouts in surprise as she leans Katniss against a tree. Rue quickly makes her way to a boulder at the side of the river where the blood is splattered. She touches the liquid with two fingers and rubs it in between her forefinger and her thumb to feel its consistency.
"Peeta's?" Katniss asks worried that Peeta is gravely injured. But wounded is better than dead right?
"Let's follow it." Rue suggests as she makes her way back to Katniss.
It's been hours since they first found the blood trail. Peeta must have traveled miles up the river to escape from the careers.
Finally they are forced to stop when they can't find any more drops of blood.
"He has to be around here somewhere."
"Peeta! Peeta!" Katniss begins to call for him not caring who else could possibly hear.
Katniss hears a groan beneath her feet and jumps back.
"Katniss?" Wedged between two boulders, covered and moss and mud, Peeta lays. If he lay perfectly still, no tribute would be able to see him.
"Oh my god, Peeta!" Katniss shouts. "Rue he's over here!" She kneels beside him and begins to tear away the moss and mud he is covered in.
As most of the camouflage is removed from Peeta, Katniss discovers the large gash on his thigh.
"Peeta, you're hurt."
"So are you." Peeta replies after seeing the red seep through Katniss's shirt. Through all the commotion of finding Peeta, Katniss didn't realize her movements have made her wound bleed again.
"I'm fine, Peeta. What was it?" By know Rue is also at Peeta's side beginning to inspect the wound.
"Cato's sword." Peeta winces. "And you?"
"District 2's spear. She saved me." Rue replied before Katniss could say a word.
"We have to get out of here. We're not in any shape to fight off the careers." Katniss changes the subject.
Rue and Peeta nod in agreement but it's easier said than done. Peeta and Katniss are both in need of assistance, but Katniss stubbornly denies the need again and insists on helping carry Peeta.
Slowly, with Peeta understandably trying to put more of his weight on to Rue than Katniss, the trio makes it to the mouth of a cave a few miles from where they found Peeta. Rue enters first, being the healthiest, checking to see if any tributes or creatures are residing in the cave.
When the coast is clear Katniss and Peeta make their way in. Rue helps sit Peeta down against the back wall of the cave first, then moves to Katniss who still insists she can manage on her own.
Rue grabs the flask of water out of the pack and proceeds to clean the gash on Peeta's thigh. Peeta grimaces as the cloth touches the open wound, but his hand finds Katniss's fortunately. They both tighten their grip on each other's hands as Rue tends to each of their wounds.
As Rue finishes, she spots the two holding hands, chuckles then decides to leave the two alone. "I think I'll go get some berries and water."
"Stay close." The duo says in unison.
Finally having some privacy Peeta asks, "It's bad isn't it?"
"No you'll be fine!" Katniss tells Peeta reassuring herself more than he. She can already feel his fever coming on by just touching his hand.
"Katniss, I know what blood poisoning is. I'm not-"
"No! I'll get you some medicine. We can go home Peeta!"
"But Rue…" Peeta and Katniss both know that only two members of the same district can go home but they decide to ignore the inevitable and quickly change the subject.
"How many are left?"
"Um I don't know. Cato, Clove, the boy from Rue's district, and th-"
"Attention tributes. There will be a feast held at the Cornucopia at dawn. Each of you will find something that you desperately need in a backpack marked with your district number. Think hard about refusing to show up. For some of you, this will be your last chance."
"No, Katniss, you're not going." Peeta knows her answer before saying a word.
"You need the medicine!"
"It doesn't matter! All of them will be there. It's suicide!" Peeta grips Katniss's shoulder. "Promise me you won't go."
"I promise" Katniss has already made her decision and nothing can change her mind. She leans in to kiss Peeta before she makes her way to the Cornucopia. Just as her soft lips meet his warm ones, Rue runs into the cave.
"Did you hear that?" Katniss and Peeta quickly move away from each other.
"Yes, but we're not going" Peeta says sternly.
Katniss stares at Rue and nods but Rue can see it in her eyes. She's already made the decision to go.
Peeta falls unconscious shortly after, giving Rue and Katniss time to conjure up a plan.
"We need something that'll make him sleep long enough so I have time to make it to the Cornucopia and back without him noticing." Katniss glances at the camera hoping Haymitch will take the hint and send them something.
"Katniss, you can't go by yourself. You're still weak."
"It's too dangerous for you to go, Rue. Besides someone needs to stay with Peeta."
"Going alone is guaranteeing your death Katniss and Peeta will be fine by himself."
Rue may be small but she can be persistent in an argument.
"Fine, but you have to stay behind me and do everything as I say." Katniss finally gives in.
Katniss and Rue hear a faint beeping noise outside the cave and realize that Haymitch has sent them something. Rue jogs outside quickly and makes her way back inside with a small pack attached to a silver parachute. Katniss opens the pack to discover a small syringe and a note that reads: Good luck. Katniss smiles, looks at the camera and mouths "Thank you" to Haymitch.
With the syringe to subdue Peeta, Rue and Katniss gather their few weapons and lay down for a few hours of rest before they make their way to the Cornucopia at dawn.