Dear Readers,
Thanks so much for all of your reviews! I really appreciate all of them.
De Fideli: Thank you for the compliments! I'm glad you like the fic :) I def think Marvel/Clove friendship is necessary and interesting, and I'm glad it is perceived the way I wanted it to be!
biaSmalfoy: I'm glad you like it so much! and i don't want them to die but I'm trying to keep it as believable and close to the storyline of the actual book as possible... idk we will see! I'll see what I can do.
once and future: Thanks so much! I did my best, so I'm glad you enjoy it :)
followsrabbit: Thank you so much! I try really hard to stay true to their personalities :) I'm glad you enjoyed the dialogue!
: Thanks so much! You don't know how much it means to me to hear that! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
Also, thanks to inluv4eva for reading my constant messages about how uncertain I am about ever paragraph of the story! Thanks so much for all of your reviews and input :) you are the best!
Now I hope you all enjoy this chapter; please R&R, and thanks to all of those who do! I love you all
-esl1852
Tara really was a miracle worker when it came to healing people. Glimmer's burn had been healed by the time the sun had risen. She had managed to make a salve with a bunch of plants from the forest.
Clove took a little longer to get better; she had been sleeping since Cato had carried her back to their camp. Tara had woken her up once to test her breathing, and to make her drink some water to make the burning in her throat subside. Clove immediately fell asleep once Tara was finished. From then on, Cato did not separate from her; any change in her health and he had Tara in a heartbeat awake to take care of it and make sure it wasn't serious. Even though she was already healed, Glimmer was actually the most surly of all of them; mostly because Cato was ignoring her. He was so focused on Clove (considering she had just almost died), that Glimmer wasn't getting any attention. And that was something Glimmer was not used to.
Cato stayed by Clove's side while she slept. All the others were lost on him; he was focused on Clove and only on her. He couldn't believe how stupid he had been the past few days; almost losing Clove made him realize how idiotic he had been. Flirting with Glimmer to piss her off was stupid and messed up. He didn't want to waste any more time on stupid people that meant nothing to him. Especially when he accounted for the fact the Clove could die at any moment. He had forgotten when they started the games how little time with her he actually had left; they could have days, or hours. And Cato wanted every last second with Clove before their time ran out. He didn't want to regret anything if either one of them died. And he definitely didn't want her dying thinking he didn't care about her. He couldn't believe how close that had actually come to happening; when he rescued her from the fire, she was still under the pretense (however crazy it was) that he didn't give a shit about her. He didn't want her to think that ever.
He sighed, staring down at her sleeping form. Clove slept curled up in a little ball; she looked even tinier than normal. He could tell she wasn't having any nightmares by how still she was, which made Cato happy. When she slept, Clove looked like a little china doll in his opinion. It was also the only time he ever saw Clove looking anything but fierce; the only time he saw her looking vulnerable. She looked fragile, dainty almost. He realized as he watched her while she slept, that despite Clove's spitfire personality and her insistence that she didn't need his help, she actually was quite breakable. However, Cato would never dare say any of those things to her when she was awake, or she might cut him.
Cato brushed a stray hair out of her face, and she didn't even stir. He realized that without her, like when he thought she had died after the Gamemakers' forest fire, that he felt lost. It was like he no longer had a center of gravity; his insanity no longer lurked in the shadows, but began pressing into the forefront of her mind. Without her there, he didn't even feel himself. He wasn't sure when she became that important, but he knew he was stuck. Without her, he would lose his mind. But if she lived, he died. He had caught himself in quite a dilemma; although, after Clove's near-death encounter, he knew if he was faced with killing her (as weak as it made him) that he could never actually do it. He felt like she would be able to kill him though; but maybe he wasn't giving her enough credit. Maybe she wouldn't. Either way he returned to the realization he had made when she had been reaped for the games this year; they were tangled up in a huge mess; a mess that he didn't see any clear way out of.
He knew he should hope someone else would kill her so it didn't come down to the two of them; that's how a career should and would think. But he couldn't bring himself to think that. He couldn't help but think that it was Clove's fault; she made him weak. But the thought of losing her made him crazy. His thoughts had gotten so muddled at this point he didn't know what to think. He only had two definite thoughts in his head; he did not want Clove to die, and he wanted to win the Hunger Games. The only problem is he could only have one or the other; there was no way to have both. He wanted to throw another temper tantrum, scream, break things, hurt people; but he knew that she would only call him weak if he did and that it would only serve to make him look like an immature child. He hated Clove for how she made him feel, but he could never see himself without her. That in itself was a problem.
Marvel was watching Cato watch Clove; he couldn't believe how serious Cato was being about her. Cato stared at Clove like she was the only other person on the planet. That's when Marvel realized something; Cato loved her. Cato didn't even know it yet, but Marvel did. Just then, Marvel felt someone's arms slide onto his shoulders. Two, small, delicate, ivory hands slid into his view. One hand was wrapped in gauze. He slid his hands up her arms knowing it was Glimmer; no one else here was familiar enough with him to assume such an intimate position. He was happy she was here in a way because she reminded him of home. But deep down, even though Glimmer could be a fierce competitor if she put her mind to it, he knew she didn't belong here. Her focus on flirting with Cato rather than winning the games proved that in Marvel's opinion. "Can I help you?" Marvel asked.
She sighed, and he felt her rest her chin on the top of his head. "I'm bored." She said for the first time since the games had begun.
"Then entertain yourself." He suggested.
"But how? There's nothing to do and everyone is busy with Clove."
She almost died and now she's unconscious, Glimmer."
"Exactly! She's not even that interesting right now!"
Marvel rolled his eyes. "I have no sympathy for you, Glimmer."
"What? Why not?" Glimmer exclaimed, pulling her arms back, standing up. He turned around to look at her; Glimmer was immature in some ways. She currently had her arms crossed and was pouting like a little girl.
"Because, the only reason you're bored is that you aren't getting the attention you want and think you deserve." Marvel said pointedly. He loved Glimmer, but he wanted her to get real and understand that if she didn't start taking things seriously, she would end up dead.
"Actually, I'm not getting any attention at all." Glimmer said, a sour tone in her voice.
"Glimmer, I do love you and all," Marvel said in exasperation, "but it's not all about you and your whims sometimes."
"Ugh, when did you get so serious, Marvel?" She said, twirling a piece of hair around her finger.
"Right about the time your hormones went crazy and I started having to think for the both of us." He said harshly, but she didn't look like his words had gotten through to her at all, so he added, "Or did you forget that your inability to control yourself is what got you into this mess in the first place?" That got her attention; he saw she looked hurt by her words, and felt a little bad. Glimmer was in no way dumb, but she did act like it; she'd done enough stupid things that harmed her more than helping her. She wasn't even supposed to be in the games. Glimmer had unfortunately pissed off the 17-year-old District 1 Tribute who was going to volunteer by sleeping with her boyfriend... so the girl didn't volunteer when Glimmer got called out of spite. Glimmer was lusty, and that was ultimately her biggest downfall. By the look on his face, Marvel could tell she clearly mad at him. And of course, even though he was right, he still felt like a dick.
Before he could apologize though, he heard Cato exclaim, "Tara, you're a genius!"
Marvel and Glimmer looked over at Cato and saw Clove was propped up on her elbows. "So what did I miss?" She said with a smirk, finally waking after what had seemed like forever.
Glimmer let out an irritated sigh. "Nothing. The whole day has been about as exciting as mud." She said, stalking over to her sleeping bag before Marvel could say anything.
Clove rose her eyebrows. "What's wrong with bimbo barbie?" She asked, looking at Marvel. Then she smirked, saying, "Did you tell her she actually needed a brain to win the games?"
Marvel just shook his head. "Don't start with me right now, Clove."
Clove rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I honestly don't care what kind of trouble is going on in bestie paradise." Marvel gave her a look and she added quickly, "No offense, I just want to go hunting." For someone who had almost died, she sure bounced back fast. Marvel cared about her and all, but he kinda wished she was still unconscious at the moment.
Cato looked alarmed at her words. "Now Clove, I don't think that's such a good idea in your condition-"
"In my condition?" She said incredulously. "Cato, you said it yourself, Tara is a genius! I'm completely healed!" She said, standing up. "Watch, I'll prove it!" She ran at the cornucopia before Cato could stop her, doing a little backflip off of the side of it. "See?" She said, but Marvel could tell that it had taken something out of her to do it. Cato noticed too.
"We are only going hunting if we all go." When it dawned on Clove what he meant, she gave him the look of a toddler about to have a temper tantrum. "Yes, Clove, even Glimmer."
"But... Glimmer sucks!" Clove said, not loud enough for Glimmer to hear.
"Well either we all go or none of us go. I want to make sure nothing happens to you just because you're a little... off your game."
"I'm not off my game, Cato!" She snarled at him.
"I stand by what I said." Cato said, crossing his arms. "We both know I'm strong enough to subdue you, even if it's only for a little while."
Finally, Clove let out a little huff, stomping over to Marvel. "Go kiss and make up with blondie or I'll have to knock both of your heads together!" Clove said impatiently.
"Well don't be too sweet about it, now." Marvel said with sarcasm, but stood up, moving towards Glimmer, glad that he had an excuse to go make up with her.
"Would you just do it?" Clove said impatiently. "I've got an idea that might actually help us catch other tributes. Maybe even the girl on fire." She said with her eyes gleaming. At the mention of Katniss, Peeta seemed to suddenly be more alert and actually paying attention to them. Marvel knew the kid just wanted to find the girl; he also knew Clove was a lot smarter than most people he had ever met, so he knew that this plan could be a surefire thing. He got a little excited by the idea of getting a hold of another tribute today, and he was that much more motivated to coax Glimmer into hunting. Hunting aside, he did actually want to apologize to Glimmer.
"Hey." He said as he walked up to her. "I'm sorry I was mean."
Glimmer nodded, seeming to accept his apology. "It's ok."
"You wanna do something fun and go hunting?"
She smiled grabbing her bow and arrow. "Do I ever!" She exclaimed, and they rejoined the rest of their fellow Careers.
Clove explained to the others that she was pretty sure the reason the Gamemakers set the forest on fire was to drive tributes together so that there would be some sort of action. Hopefully, Katniss had also been caught up in the flames and forced in the direction that the Gamemakers had wanted her to go. Which meant that if the Careers just followed along the edge of where the fire had been burned, then they were bound to run into another tribute; hopefully it would be the one they wanted to run into. It was a simple enough plan, but it was pretty smart that Clove had managed to think it up and almost read the minds of the Gamemakers.
They were off before Cato could try and get Clove to stay behind and rest. They moved quickly through the forest, the only sound was their footsteps. They found themselves walking along a stream at one point. They didn't have to go far before they heard a splashing up ahead.
"Someone's close!" Clove rasped, her voice not yet back to it's usual sharpness after being caught i the fire. She was also not as fast, which as a result, slowed the rest of the pack down a bit; hell, after having inhaled all the smoke, none of the Careers were 100%.
They saw her disappearing out of small pool that came into view, and Clove realized with excitement that it was in fact, exactly who they were looking for. When they finally catch up to her, she's already climbed 2o feet up into a very tall tree. She definitely doesn't look too good, but still she was not going to be easy prey; but that was something Clove hoped for.
Clove grins, feeling they've at least cornered her; soon they would have her completely caught. "We've got her now." Clove said with a smirk on her face.
"Thanks to you; good job, Clove." Cato's face mirrored her own, and it made Clove almost giddy that Cato actually gave her credit; it was not a common occurrence.
"Now how are we gonna get her?" Marvel said, mostly to himself under his breath.
Katniss seemed to think the same thing as Marvel at that moment, because she smiles (she actually smiles!) down at them. "How's everything with you?" She calls down to them cheerfully.
Clove almost fell over at her words; was this girl for real? She could tell by the looks on the other Careers faces that they were thinking the same thing.
Cato regroups the first, and calls up to her, "Well enough. Yourself?" Clove was happy Cato was able to still seem charming ,because the sponsors were probably eating up his exchange with Katniss. Clove wouldn't be able to do it; she kind of wanted to just throw a knife and end this thing now. But Cato seemed to want to do this his way. So she let him; mostly because she wasn't up to climbing trees and she was still out of breath from running after Katniss and she didn't want Cato to know that.
"It's a bit warm for my taste." Katniss says, and Clove really wants to hit her now. For someone who was trapped with no place to go, she sure was cocky. "The air's better up here, why don't you come on up?" She was either really cocky or just plain stupid; or she had a death wish.
While Clove was just getting irritated, Cato seemed to be amused by the girls antics. "Think I will." He says as he smirks up at her.
"Here, take this, Cato." Glimmer says, holding out the bow and arrows for Cato to take up with him. Clove noticed that Katniss was trying to make eye contact with lover boy, but he was pretending to polish his knife with the edge of his shirt.
"No." Cato said to Glimmer, pushing the bow away, leaving Glimmer to pout. "I'll do better with my sword." He said.
Cato starts climbing the tree, and like a squirrel, Katniss scurries up the tree even higher. If Clove wasn't so bent on killing her, she would've been impressed.
"Come on Cato!" Clove starts calling up to him with the others, encouraging him. Lover Boy silently watches. "Kill her!"
Suddenly, Cato reaches up and grabs a branch that cracks under his weight, and then he's falling. He hits the ground with a loud thump, grunting on impact. He doesn't seem too hurt though, more angry at being shown up by Katniss again. "Mother fucker! Dammit, dammit, dammit!" He shouts, throwing a temper tantrum.
Glimmer, hoping to gain Cato's favor back, starts climbing up the tree. Once she gets to a point where the tree can no longer support her weight she stops climbing. She tries to shoot her with the bow and arrow and misses; it get lodges in the tree near her. Clove would never understand why Glimmer, who was so obviously incompetent with the bow and arrow, insisted on taking the bow and arrows as her weapon of choice. Katniss retrieves the arrow and waves it teasingly above her head; Glimmer came back down the tree looking ashamed and embarrassed.
Clove was pretty angry at this point. "Okay enough of this bullshit; I'm going to climb up there and bring her ass down." She snaps, moving for the tree.
"No, Clove." Cato argued, grabbing her by the arm.
"Oh, come on, Cato. I'm the only one small enough to get up there."
"But you are also the least healthy out of all of us right now; I don't want you killing yourself to get to her."
"Well we can't just do nothing and let her to continue to make a fool out of us!" Clove snaps back.
"We have to think of something." Marvel says, obviously agreeing with her. "It's going to be dark soon."
"But what are we gonna do; she's out of firing range and none of us can get to her." Tara said.
"Oh, let her stay up there." Lover Boy says harshly, clearly sick of their arguing. "It's not like she's going anywhere. We'll deal with her in the morning."
Cato glares at him for trying to call the shots, and the rest of the Careers just wait for Cato to say something. "Somebody get some wood to make a fire." He said finally, storming angrily away from the tree to get his emotions under control. Clove would've followed, but Glimmer bounded after him, hoping to get some sort of attention. Clove and Marvel broke off, collecting some wood for a fire.
Later that night, Clove had laid out all her knives in front of her. She was using them to kill little animals off away from the rest of the group because she couldn't take Glimmer being all over Cato. Cato literally had disentangled himself from her and moved Glimmer away from himself, and she still kept coming back. Cato was clearly no longer tolerating Glimmer's shameless flirting, but Glimmer was, well, shameless. So instead of murdering Glimmer, Clove chose to ignore her.
"Can I sit here?" She looked up and saw Glimmer, of freaking course, standing unsurely a few feet away from her.
"I would honestly rather it if you didn't." The words had fallen out of her mouth before Clove could stop herself.
Glimmer looked like she expected it and sat down next to Clove anyways. Clove was sure Glimmer had some sort of death wish. Clove continued chucking her knives; currently she was throwing them at a tree.
Suddenly, Glimmer spoke. "You know, I may seem like a complete idiot, but I get it."
Clove bit back her sarcasm, because clearly Glimmer had something she wanted to say to Clove. She knew this because Glimmer had never specifically sought Clove out, nor had she ever attempted to strike up a conversation with just Clove before. So Clove took the bait. "What do you get, Glimmer?" She said to her condescendingly.
"Why you hate me." Clove froze, stopping mid-throw. "Hell, if I were you, I would hate me too." Clove looked at her with disbelief. "I see the way he looks at you; the way you two look at each other. I would have to be a full-fledged retard not to see it now..."
"Oh." Was all Clove said. She didn't want to confirm nor deny for the rest of Panem, and she was sure Glimmer already kind of knew so she didn't see the point in disagreeing or agreeing with her.
Glimmer then got up, saying, "That's all I had to say." Then she walked back over to the rest of the Careers. Clove found herself gravitating back to the others after that, realizing that Glimmer had stopped throwing herself at Cato. Glimmer instead was chatting with Marvel, and Clove took the opportunity to sit down next to Cato, who looked pleasantly surprised that she had rejoined the group.
Clove suddenly realized just how tired she was; she really was not back to herself yet after the incident with the Gamemakers fire. As if reading her mind, Cato started divvying up shifts of who would keep watch. Glimmer surprisingly volunteered, but no one objected because they were all really tired. Clove fell asleep next to Cato without any effort, feeling comfortable having his arms slung over her waist. She knew it was only temporary, but she was happy for every perfect second of it. As much as she hated admitting it, there was only so much time she had left with him; and she wanted to make sure not to waste a second of that precious time.