I super love this chapter. I had it all done, but it was really short and it didn't end how I wanted it and so I rewrote it. I put in little memories of Katniss' dad and it was super fun to write. But anywho I hope you all enjoy :)

Suzanne Collins wrote The Hunger Games.. if she didn't I'd actually have to get a life.. Lame.

xxxxx

I'm trying to follow Peeta, but that proves to be harder than thought possible.

When I was in the forest once with my father before he died, he caught sight of a small rabbit. I was small enough so that I did not understand the importance of patients and silence so I hurriedly ran to catch it and in doing so broke a lot of twigs. In short, I made a lot of noise and it scared the little animal away. I became upset and thought my father was disappointed in me for scaring the catch away. He just looked down at me with accepting, understanding eyes. "We'll find him, Katniss, I promise." Is what he said. I trusted my father with my whole heart and my doubt was replaced with determination. It was then he taught me how to track animals and what to look for. Broken twigs, prints, and sometimes even smells were some of the things he taught me to look out for.

All I feel right now is anger towards Gale. I want to do more than punch him in the face and perhaps I will get to at some point. How could he do this? He knows I never felt that way about him. I don't really know how else I can tell him, I just don't feel for him in that way. He had no right to kiss me like that and I feel completely violated. My mind drifts to the many ways I can do damage. While thinking I seem to stumble over a stray rock, at least I tell myself it's a rock because it could very likely be a skull. I realize I'm useless if all I can think about is my pending revenge. I focus all my energy on the task at hand and I put aside my anger. I see a couple of footprints in the mud that looks fairly fresh.

I summon the fond memories of my father and try very hard to remember his words of advice. "Walk slow and remember your prey is delicate when threatened." I remember him saying this to me when I was about eight years old. I had been going after a very rare deer. It had heard me and ran, but with my father's help we had tracked it down again. The animal knew I was close once more and this is why my dad spoke. He knew I would be too impatient to wait for the best moment.

It was his little warnings to me, "When you fear you are losing prey, stop. Take a moment and breath. Take in the scents around you and pick out that one odd smell". It's funny to remember this and I almost smile because I had to smell for poop to learn it. I don't really remember why, some lesson he was trying to teach me, I guess. Either way I had to smell for poop and it was great.

I'm sniffing, looking, and searching desperately to find Peeta. I find another set of muddy tracks but that brings me up empty. I'm now just going in circles and I know my father would be disappointed in me because I can't track a single boy. I'm becoming more worried as time goes on and I begin to imagine the worst. Peeta told me one dog out of the pack that attacked me got away, what if it came back and got him? All these nasty scenarios are running through my mind at breakneck speed. I need to find him.

I give up trying to follow him and diminish my pride and ask for help. I run to Haymitch's house and loudly pound on the door right up until he opens it. I almost continue pounding despite the door being open and Haymitch's face was almost a casualty of my fists. I would apologize but all my thoughts are on the boy with the bread. The lost boy with the bread.

"I.. I can't find Peeta!" I say frantically, not even trying to hide the panic in my voice.

"Well, where'd you leave him last, Sweetheart?" He said a little annoyed, but amused at the same time.

"No," I begin and then rush my words. "You don't understand. We had a huge fight about Gale coming to visit and the letter he wrote me. Peeta left me last night and I hadn't seen him since until this morning. He saw," I have to calm myself down before I get too emotional. "He saw Gale kiss me and then he took off and Haymitch I can't find him!" By the end I'm so unraveled I nearly have to grab onto something to keep steady.

"Are you serious? I feel like I'm babysitting a bunch of children." He says definitely irritated. He continues, "You stay at your house in case Peeta comes back to talk. He likes to do that so wait there for him. I'm gonna go look for the boy. Don't do anything stupid and for god's sake don't let Gale in your house. Got it, Mockingjay?" I nod my head and unlike the last time he asked me if I understood I went without hesitation. Maybe Peeta had gone back to my house to talk this out. I remained hopeful until I reached my home, but then it was all squashed because he wasn't there waiting for me on my front steps.

I'm tired and worn from the horrible night prior and the aching in my heart has yet to subside. I walked up my steps slowly and entered my house at the same pace, if not slower. I don't want to be a sitting duck while Haymitch is out looking for Peeta. I don't want to be helpless. Just then it begins to rain and after a few minutes there is a full storm outside. I hear the thunder and see the flashes of lightning and for a moment a new wave of terror has hit because the only people that keep me from being utterly alone in this world are outside in this terrible storm.

Just as I'm about to put my foot on the first step to go upstairs and see if I can see anything from my windows, my telephone rings. Maybe it's Haymitch and he's found Peeta! I race to my phone, tripping on everything, while holding onto hope yet again.

Unbeknownst to me my hope was about to be permanently severed for the day.

"Hello?" I answer excitedly hoping the old drunk is on the other end with good news.

"Hi, is this Katniss Everdeen?" says a woman that sounds like she has passed her prim years and well into old age.

"Uh, yes, yes it is," I say slightly confused at the voice on the other end. "Who is this?"

"My name is Faye and I'm calling on behalf of your mother. Katniss," The woman sighed and my heart rate increased tenfold. "I'm sorry to inform you, your mother is very ill, it isn't looking good. She contracted some sort of rare infection while taking care of the sick here. I've gotten you special privileges to leave District 12 and come here tomorrow, but only for the day. I'm sorry that was all I could do for you. Hon, I'm so sorry."

I held the phone to my chest cutting off the lady's voice to my ears. I slid down the wall and landed on the floor with a soft thud. My eyes are wide and I can't quite grasp the concept of my mother dying. I don't know how long I've been like this but I hear a muffled "Hello? Dear?" and I lift the phone back to my ear with a trembling hand.

"Yes, sorry," I clear my throat to dislodge whatever has gotten stuck there. "Thank you for informing me. How will I be transported from District 12 to District 4?"

"A hovercraft will be there to escort you to the hospital here. They should be there around eleven. And Katniss," The woman pauses. I feel like she's talking to me like we've known each other for years. She is a kind woman, but right now I loath her voice for having to tell me such news. She begins again, "Katniss you have done the whole country of Panam a great service and it really troubles my heart to have to tell you about this, but it has been an honor to have spoken with you. Have a safe trip, goodbye." And with that she hung up without even waiting for my reply.

I am no hero, I was merely a figurehead. I couldn't even save my own sister and now mother. And Peeta is off somewhere because I couldn't save him from the heartache and pain I took a vow to fix. Already I miss his voice and his gentle smile when I would tug at my clothing nervously. I miss the way he smelled, the flour and cinnamon fragrance that followed him everywhere. Right now, hearing the news of my mother, I want him here beside me holding me together because I'm about to fall apart.

Still in a daze I reach up and put the phone back on its cradle. I still sit in the huddled position I was in mere hours ago. I cover my face with my hands and let the tears flow for the lost boy and the broken, dying mother, and also for the dead rotting corpse that is my sister. Everything aches, the bite marks on my leg and arm, my head from all the crying, my shoulder from that horrible night and my heart for the emptiness it feels.

Then I hear my front door swing open and from my little hallway I can see it's Haymitch and he's frantic as well as sopping wet.

"Katniss! Katniss!" He's calling to me, racing through my house because he can't see me. I make out a squeak noise and he finds me. I think he assumes I'm crying for Peeta because he scoops me up swiftly. "Katniss, it will be all right we just need to get him some help. I brought him back to my house, but he's hurt. I don't know what happened, but Gale is with him now, he helped me carry him back."

Knowing Gale is alone with a hurt Peeta brings me to my senses immediately. All thoughts of my mother are gone and now only Peeta is on my mind. I'm out the door in a flash heading towards Haymitch's house. I fly through the rain and mud and somehow I have managed to be graceful enough not to fall. I reach his house at a breathtaking speed and I'm flinging the door open.

I see Gale standing at the window in the living room, arms crossed, watching the storm. I don't trust me after this morning and I surely don't want to be in the same house as him.

I rush over to where Peeta is lying on the table and I don't know what to do. I see blood, but I don't know where it is coming from exactly. I see a lot of bite marks and torn flesh and decide to tackle those first and hope they are the only source of the blood.

I turn to Gale, "Thank you for helping bring him here. Now go back to where you came from, we don't want you here." It takes all I can to focus on applying pressure and not lunge for him.

He just turns to me and very plainly states, "You think I don't know." I'm utterly confused at what he's getting at. I don't have time for his games. He leaves his spot by the window and comes over to me. He put his arm reassuringly on my forearm. I flinch away because I don't want him to touch me. "Relax," he says. "I've lost and I'll be only friendly." With that he kissed my temple and the act seems foreign to me coming from him. Peeta was the last person to grace my head with his lips and I don't want anyone tampering with that. He gets to the door and he says again, "You love him." He looks down at his feet and says, "Bye, Katniss."

I'm frozen because Gale has spoken aloud the thoughts I have tried to avoid. If I come to terms with my feelings for Peeta I will have to be vulnerable. Do I love Peeta?

I don't have time to think this through because Peeta's eyes have flown open and he's screaming.

xxxxx

I just want to thank everyone for the beautifully kind reviews. I loved them so much, seriously thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Well now that I've said that, review and tell me what you think! Katniss' mother? Whhaaatt? I don't think that may be the end of Gale.. We shall see ;) and poor Peeta.. He's so heartbroken. Tell me what you think!