Hello dear ones! I know, I know… but here it is! And don't worry, I have about half of the next chapter waiting for me to finish it.
As always, thank you to norbertsmom for her hard work, and to Maria for reading. And I need to thank so many of you for reading all of the different faces I posted for prompts in panem. I adore you alllll!
Enjoy!
Katniss hurries out of the woods, and goes straight to the make-shift hospital at her Uncle's house. There are too many people milling around, those waiting to hear about loved ones, and those waiting to see the ones who were hurt. She goes around to the kitchen door, ready to go in when she meets Prim coming out. Her sister struggles with a heavy bucket so she grabs the other side and tries not to look down into the dark water, knowing good and well what is making the water so dark.
They carry the bucket to the edge of the wood, and together, they pour it out on the other side of the well. Coming back, Katniss draws fresh water for Prim's bucket. Prim watches her and after a moment she asks, "Did you get what Mama sent you after?"
Katniss nods and shakes her hip making the game bag rattle. Prim unhooks it and opens it eagerly. "This will be enough for today. Unfortunately, many of the men's wounds are very deep. You will have to go back in the morning for more," Prim says.
Katniss offers, "I can go back now if you need me to."
Prim shakes her head. "They are better fresh. Can you help me carry the bucket?"
Katniss nods. "Where is Violet?"
"She is helping Jo right now, but I had thought about taking her to Posy. Hazelle is in there helping us."
Katniss says, "I'll take her over there." She follows her sister into the house. When she is out in the forest hunting, she never notices smells like blood, and when she guts her kills, the sight doesn't bother her. However, the wounded men that are lying all around the house makes her weak in the knees, and not at all how Peeta makes her feel.
She freezes at the doorway, keeping her eyes on her sister's back, so she doesn't have to see anyone else. Prim must have realized that she was no longer behind her when she twirls around to check. "Violet, come here dear," Prim calls.
Katniss hears a thundering down the steps and smiles when her daughter pops her head around the corner. She is still wearing her gown, even though it's almost noon. "Let's go change clothes then we will go check on Posy and Colton."
Violet looks disappointed when she sighs, "But I'm helping, Mama. I'm cutting sheets and folding them into bandages."
She waves Violet on over, just wanting to get out of there. "Let's go see if anyone else has old sheets we can use for bandages."
Violet thinks for a moment, then nods eagerly. "Then I can come back?"
"Yes. Let's hurry, Prim and Grandma will need them soon."
After they gathered everyone's extra sheets, and several more volunteers, they spend the rest of the day cutting fabric and folding them into the bandages. Posy is the first to volunteer along with a couple of her friends to take them back to Haymitch's. Katniss lets them, grateful that she doesn't have to go back.
By now, it's dusk, and even though it's not the normal day for a bath, Katniss warms water anyway. Usually Violet is quite a chatter-box when she is sitting in the tub in front of the fireplace, but tonight she is almost falling asleep.
Katniss helps her to rinse and to get out of the tub. Violet scoots off to her room to get her gown on while she watches the flames of the little fire she has built dance in the fireplace.
She lets her mind wander, and it runs to its favorite place, thinking about Peeta. She doesn't even realize that she licks her lips as she remembers that day at the lake. All the air in the room seems to disappear when she remembers how the water ran over his well defined-
Violet interrupts her when she says, "Here Mama, will you comb my hair?"
Katniss smiles. "Yes, stand in front of me." When she is done combing her hair, Violet gets up and walks over to look out the window. She looks around for something to do and spies the mending that she is forever behind finishing.
She can't help it but to think about Peeta during times like this. She can still feel the way his lips felt on hers the other day, but she hasn't seen him since. She can't help but to feel a little hurt by his absence. Mitch's kisses never came close to making her feel that way, and even now she can feel the stirrings of desire pooling in her center.
Violet asks from looking out the window, "Is everyone going to be ok, Mama?"
Katniss sets down her sewing, and goes to her daughter. She rubs her back, and pulls her into her side. "Yes, you know they will with Grandma and Prim helping them. It was scary today, wasn't it?"
Violet doesn't say anything, but looks up at her with the matching silver eyes and nods. Katniss leads her back over to the rocking chair and sits down, pulling her into her lap. It takes them a moment, and Katniss realizes how big her little girl is actually getting, but they get settled. Katniss gets the chair to rocking, and says, "It's ok to be scared. And I'm here for you when you are. It's not always easy to be big and brave."
She lays her cheek on Violet's head and the little one says, "It was scary when I saw Uncle Gale covered in blood."
Katniss tightens her hug and asks, "Can I tell you a secret?" Violet doesn't say anything, but she feels her nod. "It scared me too. But he is going to be alright now."
"Because of Grandma and Aunt Prim."
"Yes! Because of Grandma and Aunt Prim," she echoes. "Are you ready for bed? I know you've had a busy day."
Violet nods, and jumps up. Katniss follows her into her room, and tucks her in. After pressing a kiss to her forehead, Katniss stands up. Violet looks at her mother, and it strikes her in that moment how much her daughter is truly growing up, but when her daughter asks, "Are you going to bed too?" She also realizes how young she is.
"I'm going to use the rest of your bath water and take a hot bath. Then I will go to bed."
Violet pulls the covers all the way up to her chin, making Katniss smile. Ever since she could get her little fingers around the edge of her covers, she would pull them up all the way to her chin. There has also been several times when Katniss has found her with the covers all the way over her head. "Will you check on me again before you go to sleep?"
Katniss leans back down to kiss her again. "Of course. Now you go to sleep."
"Yes, Mama."
It is an extravagance, but she leaves the candle burning. She steps across the hallway and quickly takes off her dress. It's not until she notices the dark spots on the skirt that it hits her that its blood. She kicks into the corner of her room, not wanting to deal with it right now.
She picks up her clean chemise after she takes off her dirty one, and walks quickly back to the wooden tub in front of the fire. She feels the water, shivers when she notices how much it's cooled off. She gently grasp the kettle that is hanging over the fire and pours more water in until it reaches a much more comfortable temperature. She eases in, and sighs when the wonderful sensation envelopes her. She sinks down, until the water reaches her shoulders, then slowly lets herself ease down until the water covers her head.
She pushes up, until her nose out of the water and she can breathe again. She watches the flames dance in the hearth, and lets her mind wander. Of course it runs straight to Peeta. Her lips lift up in a secret smile as she remembers how he swept her into his arms, kissing her. She remembers all of the times they met in the forest, from the first time when she saved Ethan, to the kiss. She knows how she is starting to feel about him, does he feel the same about her?
She thinks on this for so long that she realizes that her fingers and toes look like raisins, she has to wash her hair in cold water. She quickly gets out, dries herself off and starts to carry the water back out, bucket by bucket, dumping it in the grass. She leaves the tub there, and goes to check on Violet.
Her daughter is fast asleep, looking like the angel Katniss thinks she is. She snuffs out the candle, and then crawls under the covers with her. It only takes a moment for Katniss to join her in slumber.
She wakes with the dawn, easing out from under Violet's weight. In the night she laid across her torso just like Prim would do when she was much younger... She quickly gets dressed, this time she puts her britches and tunic on, knowing that today is going to be a busy day.
She braids her hair quickly, and grabs a bite of leftover bread and she starts to put some water on what is left of the coals, when there is a knock on the door. She quickly answers the door to Prim and Posy. "Is everything alright?" She asks, unable to keep the worry out of her voice.
Prim looks concerned and Posy looks scared. "Some of the men have gotten worse during the night. I need you to go on to the forest."
Katniss nods. "Is Gale-"
It's Posy who interrupts, "He is still asleep but he keeps on groaning like he is in a great amount of pain."
Katniss grabs her bow and quiver. "Will you stay with Violet?"
Prim answers, "We both will. The men are still resting, along with Mother, Jo and some of the other women who were helping."
Katniss straps the game bag to her waist, and says, "I will hurry then. Tell Violet that I love her. Keep her from Uncle Haymitch's today. Seeing all that-"
Posy shivers. "Hurt us all."
Katniss hugs Posy and Prim wraps her arms around both of them. "I will be quick," Katniss says, as she walks out the door.
The dew is still wet on the grass in the meadow, but she doesn't notice how wet its making her boots as she strides across the grass. In no time, she is in the woods. Prim didn't have to tell her what she needs to look for, she might not be able to tend to the sick like her mother and Prim can, but she does know what they need to get better.
She quickly finds the patch of nettles and comfrey. She picks plenty of it, not for the first time glad that she has been growing it along the edge of the woods. After she has it packed up in the little leather bags she had made just for herbs, she looks out into her forest. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, but there is something in the back of her head screaming at her to proceed with caution. The willow trees along with the valerian root, blue bells and the lavender that she needs, grow on the other side of the lake. She thinks of asking someone to go with her, but Gale is in the makeshift hospital and everyone else is tired from helping. So she gets her bow ready, arrow in hand, and starts on the couple of miles journey to the other side of the lake.
The sun is climbing in the sky as she walks, and she can tell when she finally sees the shore that it took her longer than it normally would to get there. She happens to glance down and sees hoof prints in the mud. Her heart speeds up and she scans the trees, looking to see if Peeta is indeed near. She doesn't see anything, so she keeps on walking.
The gentle oak that looks out over the lake with the trunk as wide as Peeta's torso makes her pause as she approaches it. She doesn't miss the broken limbs half way up, and she looks down to see the many footprints in the dirt. She has tracked animals before, so it looks like a there was a struggle of some kind.
Her heart thunders in her chest as she looks around for something, anything to let her know what happened here. She follows the footprints on around the lake. She normally doesn't come this way, but something is telling her to keep going.
The trail leads to one of the streams that feed the lake. The footprints vanish when she reaches the slick rocks but she looks at the brush surrounding. It's then she sees the blood on the rocks. Her breath catches in her throat, and she hurries to follow. She knows that whoever it is, she needs to help them.
She follows the bloody trail, until the stream is nothing more than a creek. Then, it just vanishes. She looks and looks, unable to find anyone or anything. She puts her arrow back into the quiver, and mutters to herself, "You have wasted half a day following a dead end. You should have had the herbs-"
"Don't step on me," a voice somewhere below her interrupts.
She looks around, not seeing anything or anyone. "Who are you?" she whispers.
Someone grabs the edge of her dress making her scream. She looks down, and sees the mud moving and it says, "Are you here to finish me off, sweetheart?"
"Peeta? Oh my goodness," she falls to her knees and tries to clear the mud off of his face. "Is that really you?"
He grunts. "It is, my lady."
Her fingers brush against his forehead. "You are burning up! What happened to you? How long have you been here?"
He doesn't answer until she has most of the mud clears off of his face. He whispers weakly, "Can I have something to drink?"
"Yes, of course you can." She reaches for her water skin, and groans when she realizes that she was in such a hurry, she didn't grab it. She helps him to sit up and says, "I didn't bring my water skin, do you mind drinking out of my hands?"
Even through the mud caked around his eyes, she can make out a mischievous sparkle in his eye. "It would be an honor for me to drink from your hand."
Katniss shakes her head at him, and brings him some water. She has only touched him a handful of times, but the warmth of his lips, on her fingers, well it makes her feels things she probably shouldn't be feeling for a sick man. He finishes drinking and asks, "May I have some more?"
"Do you think that is wise? You might start feeling nauseous?"
He grimaces, and she wonders if he is already feeling it. "I'm hungry."
She straightens up. "Can you stand?"
He shakes his head and looks away from her. "They said that they were going to make an example of me. So after they beat me up, I crawled all the way upstream until I could find enough mud to hide myself in."
She can hear the pain in voice and it hurts. "Where are you hurt at?"
He sighs, "Everywhere, but I can't stand because one of them stabbed me in the leg."
Katniss looks down at him, his tunic and britches are caked with mud. "Where is Bishop when you need him?"
Peeta sighs. "Hopefully back at the stables. I rode my other horse today, Airgead."
She doesn't say anything, wondering how a simple palace guard can have two horses. She doesn't say anything, but bends over to take his boots off. He sounds almost shocked when he asks, "W-w-what are you doing?"
She keeps on unlacing but replies, "I've got to get you cleaned up. Then maybe I can figure out how to get you to the village."
"I need to go to the castle."
She has pulled off his other boot and takes a deep breath, steadying herself. How is she going to take his britches off? "It's much closer to go to the village. There my mother and my sister can heal you better than anyone, even those doctors at the castle. Now, what is the best way to take your pants off?"
She thinks he lifts an eyebrow before he quips, "Why my lady, I thought you would never ask."
She scowls at him, and gestures. "Unfasten them please. I need to see your leg."
He grunts when he tries to find his tie. After fumbling with it, she sighs, and pushes his hands away. She unties them, and it takes her a long moment, but soon she has the britches off. She helps him, so he can lean against a fallen tree trunk and she cups some more water in her hands and starts dumping it on his legs. When she has most of the goop washed off, she can make out the 4 inches gash along his outer thigh along with many other scratches on his legs. She pours some more water on it, and takes some deep breaths trying to calm her churning stomach. "It's bad, isn't it?" he whispers.
She shakes her head. "No, its fine. You will be better in no time."
"No, my lady. This will probably kill me."
She looks at him, not sure what to make out in his eyes. "You stop talking like that. What about Ethan?" What about me? She wants to scream.
"He will be fine, he has his Aunt Annie." He meets her eyes. "I will miss you, meeting you in the woods."
She looks away, refusing to think about a world where he isn't in it. She digs through the bag instead. She finds the comfrey and quickly starts to chew it up. She spits it into her hand, and starts to press it into the gash. He hisses in disapproval. "How long were you out here?" she asks.
"I think I prayed for two days for you."
"Two days? That's how long you've been here?" She asks, this time digging out what little meadowsweet she still has. She gives it to him, and she brings him some more water in her hands. He drinks it gratefully and sits back again against the tree, shutting his eyes.
"You've been here that long?" she asks him again, replacing the leaves on his leg. She can tell by the way he tries to take a steady breath that he is in a lot of pain. She pats him on the shoulder, and offers, "The bark will start lowering your fever soon, and helping with the pain. When was the last time you ate anything?"
"I-I-I-I really don't remember. It was after the fire in Coillte."
"There was a fire in Coillte?"
"There was. Then we had to go to Ullord to check on the dam."
She draws a steadying breath. "What?"
"Someone blew up the dam with salt peter," he adds.
She sits back on her heels. "Why? Why would anyone want to hurt us?"
He sighs, and opens his eyes, watching her. "I don't know. That's what I'm trying to figure out." He rubs his stomach. "You wouldn't have anything to eat, would you?"
She shakes her head. "I was supposed to come out here to gather herbs for mother, not rescue you."
He motions her to come closer to him. She moves closer, but he motions her closer still. When she is face-to-face with him, he mutters, "Can I kiss you? Then you might feel like rescuing me then?"
She looks into his pain filled sky-blue eyes, and she knows that she will never be able to tell this man no. She intends for the kiss to be just a light one, but he pulls her closer, and claims her mouth. She relaxes into his kiss, letting herself feel for the first time since the mine collapsed. She doesn't even notice the tears on her cheeks until they part and he wipes them away. "Why are you crying?" he asks.
"I didn't realize how scared I was. The mines collapsed, then I didn't see you or hear from you for three days. I was so worried-"
He interrupts her when he pulls her in for another kiss. This time when they part, he simply holds her. She almost forgets about everything until she hears his stomach growling. She leans up, and presses a quick kiss to his lips. "I'm going to go hunting, I'll only be a moment."
He has a hold of her, like he is afraid of letting her go. "You know, you can kiss me anytime you want."
She chuckles at him, and gets up. "I promise I will be right back. And I will build us a warm fire, and figure out a way to get us home."
She doesn't see the grim look on his face as she walks away, or hear him, "I hope so, my love, and I hope so."
She walks just a short distance away, and quickly shoots several squirrels. She then spies some blue belles, and grabs them. Maybe if she dries them out in front of the fire, she can reduce his fever some. She also spots several young saplings that would make getting him back to the village a lot easier, she just needs someone to help her. She tries not to think about how no one hardly comes out to this point of the woods.
She makes it back to Peeta in no time. She hates to disturb him, he looks almost peaceful. She sets down the squirrels, and goes back to find more firewood. It must take her longer than she thought, because when she gets back, Peeta has his knife out, and is cleaning the squirrels. She is quiet as she builds her fire, and with the help from her flint, she soon has one going. This time, when she straightens up, he is watching her with what looks like amazement on his face. It makes her blush and she stammers, "what is it?"
He smiles, that knee weakening smile, and says, "There isn't anything you can't do, is there?"
She shrugs. "Right now, I can't carry you on my back to my mother." She pokes the cleaned squirrel through with a stick and hands it back to him. He holds it over the fire, while she looks for another stick. Soon they have all the squirrels over the coals.
Katniss looks up, realizing how late it really is. "I hope the men are alright."
"How many were hurt?"
She looks up, grateful for the concern on his face. "More than five. The biggest place we could take them was my Uncle Haymitch's house. He has a great room, so Mother and Prim can help as many as they can."
"Was there anyone you know hurt?"
She doesn't want to think about how many she does know. "Everyone, I know everyone who was hurt." she gasps, and her eyes fly to his. "You don't think do you? Do you think all of this is related?"
He nods grimly. "I do."
She hops up. "We have to tell the king! He would know what to do." She starts pacing, and misses the look of confusion on his face. "But first I have to get you-" She stops midsentence, looking around. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear-"
She hushes him. She is certain that she hears something, or someone. She gets her bow ready and notches an arrow. She doesn't leave the make-shift camp site, but she does duck down.
It takes a moment but when she spies the blond head of her sister's betrothed, well she can't help the sigh of relief that escapes. She stands, and says, "Cato."
"There you are! Prim and your mother both are so worried when you didn't return like you said you would."
"I'm so glad that you are here. I need your help."
He nods and follows her back to Peeta. She has her back to Cato so she doesn't see his eyes widen in recognition. Peeta watches the other man, vaguely aware that this is his gardener. Both men listen to her explain how to build the travois. "Oh Cato! Please tell me that you brought your ax?"
He pats it where it's attached to his side. "Shall we go find trees?" He asks.
She nods, and gives Peeta one of the charred squirrels. "Eat, so you can get your strength back."
He nods and she can feel him watching her as she follows Cato into the woods. She is worried about Peeta, but she reminds herself that she needs to get him out of the forest right now, before those men come back.
By the time they have the make-shift sled built, Peeta is asleep. She hates to wake him up, but it will soon be night and he needs to be inside. "Peeta, it's time to go."
He blinks up at her and then his face eases into a smile when he sees that it's her. She touches his forehead with the back of her hand, and grimaces when she feels how hot he is. "Cato, help me please," are the last words she is certain he hears her say.
She tries to help Cato to get him onto the sled. Then using the rest of the rope Cato had, they secure him to the saplings. "He must be in a lot of pain," Cato remarks.
Katniss searches Peeta's face and notices the sheen of sweat that has broken out along his forehead and how pale he is. She drops to her knees beside him. "Peeta, are you alright?"
He opens his eyes, but can't seem to focus. "Mac? Where are you? Sae? Have you seen Mac?" he mutters, delirious.
Katniss grabs one of the poles, and Cato copies her. Quickly they make their way through the woods. When they arrive back at the village, the sun is starting its descent and the dusk is spreading all around. Katniss ignores the curious stares from everyone and doesn't stop until they are at Haymitch's. She runs into the cottage, breathless. "I need some help!"
Several of the village men who have been waiting to check on their loves ones and to help Lily lift when she needs it, run out to help. In just a moment it seems, they have Peeta inside and setting him on a table. Katniss starts to help her mother and sister, but its Jo who pulls her aside. They watch the women work, barking out orders when they need something. She thinks Prim asks her what she has given him, and she vaguely remembers answering.
Haymitch comes up and stands beside her, watching what is happening. He lets out a ragged cough before he asks her, "Sweetheart, do you have any idea who this is?"
Authors note about the herbs… comfrey is used for wounds… I'm not sure if I would chew it up and use it as Katniss does during the games to draw out the tracker jacket poison or to pack a wound like she does here. If you are out in the woods, make sure you have a first aid kit and a friend in case you do get hurt.