Chapter 7

Dia's POV**

I jumped down to the ground and stood back looking, seeing what everyone was doing. Mostly everyone was running for the Cornucopia. I saw a backpack about 20 meters ahead of me. If I could get to the backpack then run into the jungle I'll make it farther. I took off running for the backpack scooping it up and took off running for the jungle. Before I could even register what was going on I was tripped to the ground. I rolled over and saw a skinny boy above me holding a knife. I held my breath scared for my life; I was hoping to get farther than this.

"Gem kick his legs out, LIVE!" I heard Cato shouted.

I did what Cato said I kicked his legs out and the kid fell to the ground. I jumped on him pushing the knife he had into his chest. He coughed as blood started pouring out of his mouth, I knew he was dead. I froze I couldn't believe what I had just done, and then I realized that it's truly kill or be killed in the Hunger Games. I grabbed the backpack and put it on. I grabbed the knife out of the kids' chest and looked around at the carnage. Dead bleeding corpses lay all around me, only a few were still fighting. Then I caught the sight of an arrow pointed at me. I ducked to the ground as it landed behind me. I jumped up and ran for the jungle; I knew I wasn't going to last with the careers. Gale was a career, I wasn't; I was living in a fantasy even considering it for a second.

I kept running deep into the jungle looking for some place to hide. The trees were tall and the only branches were high up and didn't look like they could support anything. So I knew I was going to have to find somewhere on the ground to hide. I started climbing up a hill; by the time I made it to the top I realized I could see everything around me. I sat down on the moist ground, there wasn't going to be a time where I was going to be dry, the ground's moist and the air's sticky this was going to be rough. I started pulling things out of the backpack seeing what I had when the cannons started going off.

**Gale's POV**

"You stupid bitch, I should kill you right now!" Cato yelled at the girl from District One.

I wanted to kill her too; if her arrow would have hit Dia she would be dead. Now I have to find my beautiful wife. I should just leave now, I joined them to keep Dia safe and then the District One girl tried to kill her.

"We're going to find her and then I will decide your fate," Cato growled out, I'm glad he wanted to keep the alliance.

We started hearing the cannons going off. There was 12 total, Dia's fine I know she is, and deep down I know she is. Then the trumpets started playing, I had forgotten about this special announcement. In the sky a screen appeared and President Snow was shown.

"As I previously stated Panem has had a very productive year. Panem's outage has increased double of the highest outcome we have ever seen. And with that comes a gift. The remaining twelve tributes will be split into three man groups based on strength, ability and intelligence. In a moment each team will light up the sly. Only one team may come out. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor," and with that he was gone.

I silently hoped I was with Dia, if not I would help her team, so she could make it out. She's the love of my life and she will survive this.

The sky lit up again in the first space it read: District 1 Marvel and showed his picture. In the second space read: District 2 Clove. And the last space read: District 11 Thresh. I took in a deep breathe, 9 more are left.

The next team starting rolling off in the first slot read: District 1 Glimmer. In the second slot read: District 4 Finny and in the last spot read District 4 Gill. That was the second team again I took a deep breathe 6 tributes are left.

The sky lit up with the third team now in the first slot read District 2 Cato. The next slot appeared showing District 12 Gale. I glanced at Cato as we both nodded. Ohh please put Dia with us. The third slot appeared District 12 Diamond. I started smiling, I had my beautiful girl with me and with Cato we were making it out alive.

The last team appeared District 3 Volts, District 5 Flo, and District 11Rue.

"Are you serious, I get stuck with the two from 4!" Glimmer screeched.

"I would advise you start running, before I kill you," Clove smirked as the girl took off running.

"Let's make a deal," Cato said as the others nodded.

"We're short a member and you are too. We won't kill each other till we're the last 2 teams. If you see the gem send her our way. And if we see the guy from 11 we'll send him your way," Cato reasoned.

"Sounds good to me, we're going to stay close to this area for now, feel free to take what you need," Clove responded.

"Dia went this way, so we'll be in a 2 mile radius of it for now," I explained as they nodded.

Both Cato and I were going around grabbing things we thought we would need. While Cato was sorting out our weapons I went through everything and made a pack for Dia, she was the one who had all of our medical supplies. After we had everything we went into the woods where I saw Dia run.

"We find gem first, then we'll worry about the other tributes," Cato said as I nodded.

"That's fine, why do you call her gem?" I found myself asking.

"So I don't get attached to people I have to kill, an example that girl from District 5 foxface," he explained as I nodded. "Where would gem go?"

"I would say up a tree, but the branches are too high up for her to climb; so she would go up ground, so she can see if an enemy is coming. She'll be moving to water soon though," I explained.

We walked through the jungle for I would guess an hour. I would survey the area surrounding us to see what the highest peaks were. I could see where the plants around us were moved like people had ran through this way. I knew we were on the right track she went uphill, so she has to be close.

"Hold here a minute Cato," I said taking off my backpack.

"What for, we aren't going to find her this way," he said.

"I know, but I can tell she's around the area somewhere. There's a certain trap that I set and she always walks straight into," I said pulling out a net and rope.

"If it catches her while we're not around, then someone could easily kill her," Cato argued.

"Pull down that small tree, these trees are springy enough to work. And she's in the area we'll hear her I can guarantee it. For some odd reason she always walks into the trap, so I know what's going to happen. The worst thing we find a tribute from another team and kill them," I explained setting it up.

"Ok, that is a good point."

After I had everything set up we started again, we weren't going to go too far away from the trap I set incase Dia did stumble across it. We searched the area until the sun started to set. We made our way back to the trap and that's when I heard.

"Damnit Gale, seriously this is so annoying," I heard Dia say she couldn't see us yet, but Cato and I both started laughing at the blonde sitting cross-legged in the trap.

"Darling, it's your special trap you should know that," I laughed.

"Love you too dear," she said sticking her tongue out at me playfully.

I went over and cut the rope slowly lowering my wife to the ground. I helped her out of the net and pulled her into my arms. My beautiful girl in my arms again and we can go home together. I pulled away holding her face in my hands, I looked into the gorgeous sky blue eyes and kissed her lovingly.

"Ok, this is the Hunger Games not a love nest," Cato said smirking making me chuckle.

"We should set up camp tonight and turn to the offensive tomorrow," I said.

"I found the highest peak just a few meters that way. We can stay up there, but I have no water or food," Dia explained pointing towards Cato and my original path.

"We have all of that, then we can find more tomorrow, let's get going," I said.

**Dia's POV**

I'm so happy to be in Gale's team, I'm just scared I'm going to bring us all down. I sighed as we went the way I came from a while ago. I was stuck in Gale's trap for I don't even know how long. Once we reached the top of the hill we started setting up our camp. They had grabbed a backpack for me it was filled with some food, a water canteen, but most importantly medical supplies and lots of them. There were also three sleeping bags, but I knew we would trade for guard duty.

"I'm going to find some fire wood, while there's still some light out," Gale said kissing me, before walking back down the hill where there were trees.

I felt arms wrap around my waist and I mentally groaned when I felt lips on my neck.

"Cato no, I'm married," I said struggling.

"Now what about our deal, I tell you anything and everything about your family and I get to hold you and kiss you whenever I want," he said I knew he was smirking.

"That's no fair; we can all make it out now. I only said that because I knew I was going to die," I said turning in his arms to face him with my arms crossed.

"Well a deal's a deal, and I believe that you're going to keep your end of it. We wouldn't want your husband to know about this now would we?" he smirked. He knew Gale would kill both of us if he found out, I just glared. "Now get rid of that glare and give me a good kiss and I tell you something huge, especially since the blonde bitch is the reason we had to find you."

I closed my eyes tightly I didn't want to do this especially since I'm on TV. This is going to break the hearts of everyone: Hazelle, Rory, Vick, Posy, Katniss, Prim, it's going to affect everyone. I took in a shaky breath; I couldn't do this I knew what was at stake if I did.

"I promise my precious gem everything will be ok," Cato whispered, before he lowered his lips to mine.

He kissed for a minute or two before pulling away. A wave of shame hit me I'm not going to die now, why am I still doing this? I felt sick I couldn't believe I just did that and now everything is going to look like a sham, if he could I bet Haymitch wishes he could kill me himself.

"Gem you have a little brother," Cato said making my eyes widen.

"What?" I asked.

"Like I said you deserve big information after today. You have a little brother, he's 8 years old, his name is Ryker I'm his private trainer," Cato said.

I stared at him, I couldn't believe it I have a little brother. I feel excited and sick; my head is filled with so many emotions it's hard to comprehend. Cato let go of me and went over to his backpack as I stared at his back.

"And this sword I've been training you with is one that your father made," he said coming back and presenting me with the sword. He handed it to me and stole another short kiss.

He went back over to his pack as I slowly sat on the ground and looked at the weapon in my hand. My dad made this, all of this is crazy. I came here knowing nothing about my family and now I know so much I can't believe it.

"I'm back, ohh great you gave her the sword," Gale said putting down a stack of wood.

I looked and smiled, Gale is my sanity right now, without him I feel like I would just lose everything right now. Gale makes a fire quickly and we all sit around it. I stare into the flames and wonder why Cato was put into our group. Was this a cruel joke, we could have done well with Marvel, Clove or Thresh, but they stuck us with Cato. I sigh and continue looking into the flames thinking of everything.

"Who wants the first watch?" Gale asked not far from me.

"I will you, I'll wake you up in a few hours Gale," Cato said.

I got up and went to one of the three sleeping bags. I crawled inside and laid down looking at the sky there were stars, artificial ones, but they were still stars. I smiled this is the closest I'm going to get feeling like I'm home.