Communication is Key

Gale's POV

To say I was pissed was a huge understatement. I couldn't believe that he would betray Catnip like that! How could he join up with the Careers? 12 never joined the Careers! After claiming he loves her, he goes against her? I'm going to kill him, if he makes it out, I'm going to kill him!

Slipping through the fence, I headed towards my traps. I didn't care about stealth, I didn't have my sharpshooter with me, she was in some undisclosed location fighting for her life, let the game get scared away, I knew my traps would provide enough meat for my family and the Everdeen's. Prim didn't eat much and her mom was still a mess, hardly touching any food. She'd bounce back though, or Catnip would see that her life turned to hell. There was one thing you never did with Katniss, do anything that would make life harder for Prim. There were two things you never did with me, mess with my family or mess with Katniss, and Peeta Mellark just crossed number two.

I picked up one of my traps that had a rabbit in it. I was about to tie the carcass to my shoulder strap when I got the feeling I was being watched. Of course, the one day I venture out into my own world unarmed. If dumbass Mellark hadn't pulled his little stunt, I would have never left my bow behind! Damn you, Mellark! A sword in my side even when far away in the arena!

Trying to act naturally, I slowly lowered the rabbit back down into the weeds, bending down like I was examining or getting ready to skin the rabbit. I scanned the forest flooring for anything that could be used as a weapon. No matter how hard I listened, I couldn't hear a single foot step. There was only one person that could sneak up on me, especially in a wooded area, and she was currently gone, hopefully figuring out a way to kill Mellark.

I stole a quick glance over my shoulder. I couldn't see anyone or anything, but I did hear something from above. Picking up a pretty thick stick, I stood and focused in the tree, stopping in my tracks as Jack and Kim broke out laughing.

"Gonna throw a stick at us, huh?" Kim joked, acting afraid as she jumped down, Jack right behind her.

Dropping my makeshift weapon, I shook my head. "Now is not a time for joking around. Did you not see the blood bath?" I tried to remain calm, honest, but Mellark was under my skin. Lying, two-faced, son-of-a-bitch. If I ever got my hands on him!

"'Course we saw it," Jack replied, leaning against the tree. "Pretty risky move by Peeta, but definitely an advantage."

An advantage? What the hell were they thinking? He had just joined the deadliest group in the Games! I shoved Jack against the tree hard, catching him off guard. "He'll kill her!" I shouted.

"Jack!" Kim cried, trying to force me off him. I pushed her away when a fist connected with my face, pain spreading throughout my head when a foot made contact with my gut, forcing me to kneel over.

"Don't ever lay a finger on her again," Jack threatened, moving to stand in front of Kim. "I get you're worried for Katniss, Gale, but think all this through. Don't you see how this works for us?"

This kid had to be kidding. "Think of it as it was Kim!" I stood, leaning against the tree, wanting more than anything to be with my Catnip. "The one person that was supposed to be her ally betrayed her and joined the one group that would stop at nothing to make sure she was killed. Would you be sitting here saying it was an advantage then?"

There was a moment of silence as Jack and Kim exchanged looks. Obviously those looks spoke of something I knew nothing about, judging by their faces. "Let me explain," Jack said calmly, Kim shaking her head. "Kim, take the rabbit back to 12 and prepare it for the Hob," he told her.

"But Jack!"

"Now, Kim!" I had never heard Jack get cross with Kim before, but she did as she was told, throwing one last look at us as she headed back, very clearly pissed off that was being dismissed. I gave a questioning look to Jack. "Let me explain this, and all the way, don't interrupt."

There's a sentence you never wanted to hear, it was just an announcement that whatever was about to be said is royally going to piss you off. And me, well, I'm already royally pissed, so this was just going to make it worse. That's just great! "I'm not making any promises."

Jack sighed, leaning against a separate tree. "Look, we don't think Peeta joined the Careers to hurt Katniss," he raised a hand as I was about to speak up. "We believe he did it to either act as a spy and kill from within, or to protect her, get her sponsors, get Panem to sympathize with her."

Well that was just ridiculous! "Or," I said, "he claimed to have crush on her to soften her up and make her that much easier to kill. She wouldn't expect it!" That was obvious for anyone who cared to pay attention.

Jack shook his head, kicking away from the tree. "You don't get it. Peeta just made Katniss the one to root for, the one to follow. She'll be on everyone's mind, how she's feeling about the supposed betrayal, how she'll ever make it, how is her heart ever going to cope. She just became the symbol of hope, and if she wins –"

"When she wins," I cut him off.

"When she wins, she'll be the one people will follow, people will rise up with her, because she defeated the odds, even when the one that loved her went against her. But it's not just that," he continued. "If she doesn't not win,"

"That will –"

"Let me finish!" He yelled. Once more, I bit my tongue, feeling anger boil again. "If she does not win, people will want to rally for her. True love," he raised a hand as I was about to retort, "torn apart because of the Games. Two lovebirds torn apart because of a death game. But even more importantly, Gale, if both, her and Peeta, make it back, she'll be the reason for the rebellion, the spark. Panem will rally behind her. Katniss is their hope, and people will do anything to keep their hope alive."

I didn't like it, in fact, I hated it. But I didn't have to like it, Katniss was already making an impression, but not because of her skills as a hunter, but because of what Peeta had said. Peeta. Forever the thorn in my side.

"Do you see where we're coming from?"

Maybe if it were under different circumstances. Maybe if I wasn't pissed off. Maybe if it wasn't Katniss. But it was. "I'm not saying I do, I'm not saying I don't. All I'm saying is I don't like it."

Jack slowly nodded. "I can live with that. Just remember, we still have a job to do. We have an army to build, and Kim has a plan to get other districts with us."

"Oh, really? How does she plan to do that?"

"I'll let her explain."

We found Kim sitting outside with a bloodied knife, the rabbit skin hanging on a line and the skinned rabbit already cleaned and quartered for fast sell to Greasy Sae. She was not happyas the glare she shot us proved. "Finally back from your private talk, I see."

"Don't start, Kim," Jack started.

"Not now," I cut in. "In the house, we have business to discuss."

Kim glared at me, I glared back until she finally stood, stabbing the knife into a small wooden table used for butchering smaller game, and walked into the house, Jack followed. I glanced around before going in and shutting the door.

"So," Kim said, leaning against a counter. "What did you two discuss?"

"How you discovered a way to communicate with the Districts," I said quickly. If we could see and know what was happening in the other eleven districts, we'd e better off on organizing.

With a roll of her eyes, Kim responded. "With a phone."

"A phone?" I couldn't help but laugh. That was just insane. I tried to settle down, stifling my laughter by clamping my lips shut. I could tell by Kim's death glare that she was seething. "Thanks for the laugh, I needed that. Now, what's the real plan?"

Jack cleared his throat. "That is the real plan. We need to get to a phone."

I shook my head. "You're kidding right? There are so many things wrong with that plan."

Kim crossed her arms. "Like?"

I looked at her in disbelief. "Well for starters, we don't have a phone. Not to mention we don't know who to call. And did you ever stop to think about what we would say?"

"We can get a hold of a phone from either the Undersee's or Haymitch," Kim explained. "Madge said she knows people who are against Snow, her dad talks about them a lot. We can call them, drop them hints, try to get a feel, see if they are for real."

"And what if they are just spies for Snow? How are we going to explain how we got access to a phone or their numbers?"

"We won't be giving any concrete details out," Jack cut in. "And who knows, maybe phones are more common in other Districts, like maybe each household has a phone."

While technically that could be a possibility, I highly doubted it. Snow had his hands, and more importantly, his ears, in everything. It was by either pure luck or Snow not caring about the hunting Catnip and I do. I bet if Catnip and I had disappeared we would have sucked up into a hovercraft much like the couple had been the day Jack and Kim showed up. Then again, we were planning a rebellion. Snow would know soon enough. "Haymitch would be the better choice. He's away for the Games, he's house is free game for now. Better to keep the Undersee's out of this as much as possible, no need to put them in danger, yet at least. Who knows, maybe Haymitch has some numbers listed, I'd trust his contacts more than the Mayors." I headed towards the door.

"Why would you trust a drunks contacts?" Kim asked as they followed.

"Because he's a drunk, he won't have diplomatic contacts. He hates the Games, who do you think he talks to, if anyone?" With that, I signaled for them remain quiet and headed towards Victor Village and Haymitch's house.

"Are you sure about his?" Kim asked, worried. "It's not like we can just break into his house or anything."

I shrugged as we went to the back part of the house, away from Peacekeepers eyes. Peering through the windows, I could see the house was a mess. I tried the back door, surprised to find it unlocked. I pushed the door open and walked in.

"We can't go in there!" Kim whispered, peering inside the door, but not entering.

"It was unlocked. You wanted a phone, right?" Kim nodded. "Well, then come on."

Navigating my way through the mess, I found the phone in a pretty organized room off the dining room. "Found it," I called. Kim came running in with Jack. She picked it up and smiled, putting it back down.

"There's a dial tone," she said happily to Jack. Don't ask me what that meant. I've never used a phone, hell, this was the first phone I ever saw in person.

"Help me find a contacts book," Kim said, rummaging through a bunch of papers. Jack was flipping through a book. I noticed a small door over in a darkened corner. I tried to open it, finding it strange that it would be locked. I started kicking the door.

"What the hell are you doing?" Jack asked, putting the book down.

"It's locked."

"So?"

"Well, don't you find it strange that Haymitch wouldn't lock his house, but he would lock a small compartment in his phone calling, office type room?" I kicked the door again, satisfied with the cracking noise.

"Still not seeing your point."

With a frustrated sigh, I turned to face them. "His house was left unsecured, in a complete mess. But, then we come into this room, pretty organized and mess free with a locked door. He's hiding something and I want to know what it is." Turning back to the door, I gave one last kick, the door caved. Kneeling, I moved the pieces away finding a box. "Meet me in the living room," I said as I pulled the box in front of me.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Kim asked, looking to Jack who just shrugged.

"Could have names we need," I said, opening it up and pulling papers out, shocked as I skimmed over some of the content.

Kim and Jack took a few pages out reading over the words, shock taking over their faces.

"You mean –" Kim started.

"There's already –" Jack stopped.

"Looks like it," I whispered, picking up a page that had Katniss' name on it. It went into detail about her hunting and devotion to Prim. There was a not scribbled on the bottom: "Our best bet" it read. Under the note, a list of names, most previous victors, but Effie's name and those of that made up Katniss' make-up team were also on there with a drawing of a mockingay.

Going down a few more pages, words turned to code. "Looks like our town drunk has been up to something." I said sitting back.

Jack took a page and handed it to me. "It was no accident Prim's name was called. They knew Katniss would volunteer for her." I scanned the page that turned out to be a note that detailed how to rig the Reaping so Prim's name would be picked.

"There is definitely something going on here," Kim said, leaning into Jack, making me miss Catnip even more. "What about all of these pages in code?"

"Easy, we crack the code."

"And how do we begin that," Jack questioned.

I picked up a slip of paper with a name and number on it. "We call Ms. Effie, of course."