A/N: Thank you DandelionOnFire (because I'm still waiting for the review telling me it's horrible and I don't believe this day won't ever come...that's when you'll get a super upset PM with more caps than...you know;)), SparksFly23 (It's not a bad thing it seemed longer, you know:)), Aloha-Pinkly (Oh, there's an alternate CF where they do run...but mine will be VERY different {surprise. I couln't really make it similar, even if I wanted to, since Katniss never was in the Hunger Games in my story:)}), Emmy (I'm glad you think so:D), Danibellelove (here's the next:)), mspacman1, KMloveya (haha, Bon appétit! Sorry, I know it isn't funny, it's just I've just had my try-out-learning-French class and...yeah;) I'm crazy at times:P), Cass (English may not be my mother tongue, but I can assure you that yes, psychically is a word. It means the same as psychologically {or something along the lines, I'm not that fussy}:)), Kari (Nope, I'm not going to give you spoilers. Only saying that you might have to be a bit patient:)), InLoveWithAFictionalCharacter 7 (It is likely, and I think I don't have to answer now;)), PeetaLuver1 (Good:D That it's interesting in a good way, I mean:)), Mockingjay272 (That is what it was supposed to do. You know, since I can't put as much fluff as some of you want me to...I thought give them something at least close to fuff:)), ZaraB (I thought that maybe, since she was more prepared for it than in the book and had no intention of coming back, her goodbye would be a little more...yeah, like I did it. Sorry, I don't have the words to explain what I think:)), CharmChaser (Sadly:/ Anyway, ending it that way would be boring, wouldn't it?), SWPeetaxKatnissAvatarTLA (I know. I just wanted him to say it out loud once:D), lereveetlamour (WOW, thanks! You saying that means a lot to me:D), AngelsandTributes123 (There {sadly} won't be too much fluff in the chapters to come:( I'll put as much as possible though:)), FlamingArrows (Not only good things, I can assure you...;)), Abby-TheTeeny (Was supposed to be sweet:)), maryclumsy (THANK YOU! And I hope you got sleep now:)), purpleVampire22, mrspatrickdempsey (Thank you a lot! That means a lot to me:D) and [The reviewer without a name] (Hehe, thank you!)

THANKS! FOUR(!) CHAPTERS AND 100(!) REVIEWS! THANKS TO MY 100th REVIEWER kandykanes5150!

Disclaimer: The Huner Games are amazing, but I don't own them.

Chapter 5:

When I look around now, when I see the unmoving water of the lake, the clear blue sky without any cloud, I also see that my concern from last week, when we first arrived here, was unjustified. Nothing startling has happened. Not that I'm complaining. Actually, I'm more than glad that everything has gone smooth so far.

When we arrived here the first thing we did was making sure this is as safe as possible. Part of the house, the half with the fireplace, doesn't have a roof anymore. But there is also a part that does. And that's where we arranged ourselves and our backpacks. They're always packed, just in case we have to move unexpectedly. I've sacrificed some of my snares to knot an improvisational rope to tie our sleeping bags to our backpacks. This way we can just convolve them and bundle them up, just in case. It takes next to no time and effort, and it gives us more room for food.

It was Peeta's idea to place the fishing rods on the bank of the lake, hidden by the trees surrounding the clearing. After all, the water isn't frozen yet and we have to make sure to get as much food as possible before the cold envelopes our small camp and the snow starts covering the ground of the forest. Once a while one of us checks for new hauls.

We've also agreed to do a night-watch schedule. In order to get everyone to have as much sleep as possible, Prim suggested:

"Lets say we always need one to be awake, watching. This one can't be up all night. So I'd say we just split the night up, two people take one half of the night. They can rest the following, because then it's the other two's turn. How does that sound?"

Although I didn't like the fact that that meant a half night less sleep than usually for Prim, who really needs it since she's still growing, I agreed. After all, I couldn't come up with something else, let alone something better.

Even though I took the first watch and was the only one supposed to be awake, we all were. Of course, none of the others moved and showed it. At first. Because, somewhere in the middle of it, I saw a small shadow, unmistakably Prim, rush over to mother's sleeping place and snuggle in with her. And the way the other shadow, mother, made room for her, made it clear that she hadn't been asleep, that Prim hadn't woken her.

After Peeta took over I was the one trying to sleep and failing. I just couldn't turn my mind off. Of what, I don't know. There were many things coming together, I guess. Was it this foreign feeling? When we had been wandering, I had thought about this new feeling, this new conditions, the new life, first having to sink in. My conscious mind hadn't fully realized it back then, and I felt as though it was doing that now. It wasn't sinking into every bone, no, but it was enough to keep me awake until I heard a voice next to me. It was only whispering.

"You need to sleep, remember? That's why I'm here. They're safe, you're safe. There's nothing to worry about."

In the dark of the night I could see his blue eyes, reassuringly twinkling in the moonlight coming through the small window. He nudged me slightly, signalizing for me to close my eyes, and I obeyed. After all, this was my second sleepless night and I was very tired after the long walk today.

I fell asleep to him stroking my hair and awoke a few hours later. It was not enough sleep to be fully rested, of course, but enough to get over the day without problems.

The night after that sleep came to me a few minutes after I had lain down. Nothing special happened.

And that's how I get back to my earlier thoughts. Am I paranoid because I think this isn't a good sign? Or am I just very pessimistic?

Those are thoughts I have while I pull a string back to shoot it through the rabbit, which is strange. Not me shooting a rabbit, of course. But it isn't usual for them to be our at this time of year. Usually they're hidden in their dens by now. This one must be lost. Not that I really care. A death rabbit means food and food means surviving.

I take my pray and, since I don't really see the use and taking it to our clearing, where its skeleton will only draw other animals and I'm not too keen on a visit of a wolf, decide to gut it here.

It is strange how that reminds me of the ugly cat back home, Buttercup, whom we left in twelve. That's not what I connect him with right now, of course. It's that I always gave him some guts, and that I know I won't ever do that again. I can't say I miss this cat. Of course not. I've always hated it. But I know Prim does miss it, and maybe this is just some part of me yearning for home and familiarity. I quickly dismiss that thought though. Mourning after my lost home won't do anything good. This, the wild is my home now.

When I lift my head again, I notice the sky is already changing its color, there's already that orange-pink shade at the horizon, signalizing the close sunset and with that the end of the day.

Since I was able to see the lake from my current location, I know I don't have to hurry to get to the clearing in time. So, while heading back, I observe my surroundings, mostly watching out for maybe a second animal or another clearing, although I don't have luck in finding either. Well, no surprise there. A clearing is a rare thing, and maybe, really thinking about it, it's better this way. I mean, sleeping in a tree sure isn't as comfortable as sleeping in our little house, but our cover is a lot better. And up there we don't have to worry about wolves or wild dogs. After all, they can't climb.

I don't even notice the sun fully setting and the dark consuming every last drop of the day until I can't see my hand in front of my face and Prim starts yawning after we've eaten the rabbit. We have nothing here to cure it and when I still have fresh meat I don't want to use our supplies. Especially with the winter arriving.

"Time to go to bed." My mother is always the one to say those lines, which is actually a sign of her taking her duties as a mother up again for me. Although that still doesn't mean I forgive her, I'm glad to have something to cling to, a new habit, something that becomes a familarity, however small it may be.

Neither Prim nor Peeta object, since, although these days go smoother than I thought, it is still different and more exhausting to live here than in District twleve. It may be the new, better air, it may be the change in general, I don't really care. It's my watch, so I climb into my sleeping back, placed right under the window so I can see possible dangers without being seen myself. It doesn't take them long to fall asleep and I'm close to sleep, too. I know I shouldn't sleep, but there is, as always, nothing out there to worry about. There's not even something to look at. It's new moon and although there are a few stars up in the sky, I can't make out the shades of the trees. One might think it's rather pointless, sitting here today, but a human attacker would make noise and so would any animal trying to get through the closed door.

And since I have to count on my sense of hearing, it's no surprise I'm startled by the sound of something shifting. When I turn around to make out the source of the sound my eyes are met by a pair of blue ones. I sigh.

"Why aren't you sleeping? You should be. Your watch is later this night." He props himself up on his elbows before replying.

"I know. Only…I wanted to talk to you. And…I didn't want to in front of Prim."

I give him a questioning look. What could he possibly want that he didn't want to say it in front of my sister?

"What's it about?" Right after I ask this, a guess pops up in my head. What if…what if he wants to go back? What if he regrets his decision? Although I know this was predictable the thought of it hits me hard. I don't want him to hate me.

"It's about this." He gestures at our surroundings and at the outside. So I was right. I mentally prepare myself for hearing the dreaded words, although I'm not sure how he'll put them yet, I'm sure he'll find the right way, a way that rules any possible misunderstandings out. And maybe that's only going to make everything worse.

"It's strange, you know. I thought this would be…I don't know how to say it. Harder? I mean, it's only the first week and maybe it's because of that, but…it's like there's something seething, it's like...like a volcano about to erupt. I don't know, I just…"

This takes me by surprise, because that are actually exactly my worries. I'm also relieved, because this doesn't sound as if he wants to go home again, but then again, there's also something…something that makes me worry more now.

"I do. Know what you mean. I…I'm feeling the same thing." And when I say it loud, I realize what exactly it is that makes me worry. This reminds me of animals, how they would sense danger, like a forest fire, and run away. And practically at the same time, too. It's like our current situation.

The only difference is that animals usually know what they're running from. We don't. But it's clearly in the air, like smoke, only it's like there's mist clouding our view. And that's what made me feel that new kind of…terror? It feels like a strong word, but it also feels fitting at the moment. What is awaiting us? What is there to make us feel like this? This uncertainty is worse than knowing a bad thing about to come. I thought it was just paranoia on my part before, but if he's sensing it, too…there must be something about it.

"You do?" His voice is unbelieving, but that must be the surprise. I nod for confirmation.

"Yeah. Only…I don't know why." His expression changes. He now seems to be worried now. His face is a bit harder.

"I thought it was because of those things my father said. I thought I was just being pessimistic." His father? What does he have to do with this?

"What did he say?" I'm ignoring his comment about pessimistic. This can't be just pessimism.

Peeta sighs sadly. Why, I don't know, but maybe it has to do something with his answer. "Nothing special, really. He just…it was when I told him I was going to run away."

So that's why. His sadness, I mean. It must have been the last time he saw him.

"He told me to be careful. He told me to…to be the one he knew, so that he could think of me without thinking of a person that doesn't exist." He smiles as he remembers this. Inwardly, I smile too. Peeta's father may not be a great speaker, but I know where his son has his words from. Only Peeta seems to have something…something else, too. Something that makes him different.

"He also told me to stay aware of the Capitol's abilities, told me to remember what they are. He told me to remember what I think about them." He makes a brief pause before adding: "I don't know how he knows, but for some reason I know he does. I also don't know why he wants me to remember those things about the Capitol.

Maybe that's what's making me curious. I have no idea what he's referring to. I mean, if we're lucky, the Capitol will never cross our paths again. And exactly that's what makes me think they will, if that makes any sense."

Somehow, I see how this comprehends. Peeta's way of thinking can be difficult and strange to me, but this is…I don't know. Logical doesn't seem like the right word, because it isn't logical. Not really. Maybe it's that his mistrust in the Capitol…it's natural.

And then something else hits me. While I am here with my family, as content as possible, he's left everyone behind, his father, his brother, his friends and to some point, he must even miss his mother. I instantly feel guilty. How very selfish of me, again, not to think of this. I mean, I did when I told him to stay, but I didn't since we arrived here. Now it could be an excuse that my mind was consumed by other, more important things, but I still feel like I should have thought about his losses at least for a minute.

"I'm sorry!" I blurt out. He furrows his brow. He's confused, he wants to know what I'm apologizing for. Of course, after all he can't read my thoughts. Even if there are times I'm not too convinced of that.

"About…" For some reason it feels stupid to talk about this like that. I don't know where to start. "I mean…all the trouble I've caused you and…you having to leave them behind."

He gives me a smile, one I assume is meant to be reassuring, but he can't hide the slight trace of sadness in his eyes. "It's okay, you don't have to apologize for that. It was my decision. I…I won't deny I miss him, of course I do, but I'm certain I've done the right thing."

Although he says those words with confidence, I can't help but feel he's saying them for my sake, to make me feel better. That, of course, does exactly the opposite of what it's supposed to.

"Still…it wasn't right." I tell him. He looks as if he's about to contradict, but before he can even attempt doing that, I continue talking. "No, I mean it. You…you've given everything up. And…I don't feel like I'm really paying you back. Well, actually I feel as if I'm not paying you back at all."

He sighs, a tired sigh, as though he was relieving a conversation he has already had.

"Is that about owing me again?"

I hadn't thought like this before, but I realize he's right. It seems I'm always owing him. No matter how hard I try to pay him back, I always end up owing him more. I mean, didn't all of this start with me saying thank you? Didn't I take him out into the woods because it was the only way to shrink my debt?

And now we're here, me having almost forgotten about this and realizing there's something else I owe him. Something new.

"Yeah." It's barely above a whisper, although I don't know why. But then again, maybe it's because I got to know him, my other goal how I remember now, and I'm expecting his reaction to be similar to the one in the bakery.

He sighs again, defeated this time. "You don't owe me. It's like the thing with the bread. It was me who decided to do it, it was me who did do it, and thus I don't know why you feel like you're owing me."

That's the reason why I hate arguing with him. His arguments always catch me off guard. If only it was simple as that. I'm just about to retort something when suddenly, he looks alarmed.

"Did you hear that?" His voice is only a slight whisper but my well trained ears manage to catch it. And that's why I don't understand how I could have missed the only sound besides the breath of the people in this house; a purring, not like the one of a cat, but one of an engine.

Now I understand his worry. This isn't a natural sound, there's no way it's made by the trees or the lake. I know there's only one way to find out, but I have to admit I'm scared. I don't want to look out of the window, in case they can actually see me, despite our tests.

But I also know I have to. I can't not, because that would mean I've failed. I'm supposed to watch, so I will. I turn me head, so my dark hair, which I'm thankful for now, hides a big amount of my face and squint my eyes to make out what's going on. And I find, I was right. Making this noise isn't a tree or the lake or an animal.

Making this noise is a hovercraft.

Yeah well, that's mean, I know. Only...if you really want to figure it out...I've gotten the idea for this ending while watching an Hitchcock movie. Well...what does he like doing before his finale, somewhere in the middle of the story? Answer this question, and you'll know...:)

Haha, now I confused you, right? I'm evil...:) Give me a review though;)?