Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games.

When Cato saw Lera he felt his heart was whole again. The adrenaline was still bursting in his veins, when he stood up and walked to her, passing Thresh'es body without acknowledging it. The girl was obviously tired and in great pain. Cato grabbed her by the shoulders and she gasped:

- If you want to kill me, now is your chance.

He laughed as if it was the most ridiculous thing in the world.

- How did you find me?

- I followed you.

- Why did you kill him?

- To save you. – she said as if it was obvious. Matter of fact, it was.

- I thought you couldn't kill anyone? – he raised his eyebrow. It didn't seem like she was fooling him all along and now he trusted her more than ever.

- I thought like that, too. Until I saw you… - her eyes scanned the ground. – Pressed against that tree… - Lera looked at him, her gaze more sincere than ever. She let out a small sigh and Cato couldn't help himself but hugging her.

- Ahh. – she pushed him away. – It hurts.

His look changed in a moment.

- What's wrong?

Then he remembered Clove had hurt her and he turned her to have a look at her wound. Lera waited for him to examine it and asked:

- Is it bad?

He shook his head, answering:

- No, but you will need a bandage. It's bleeding. How long has it been like that?

- Since the feast.

He nodded and tried to put her to sit:

- Sit down; I'll take care of it.

Lera did as she was told and he started to pull her shirt up.

- Hey! – the girl turned around, her face turning red. – What do you think you're doing?

- How am I supposed to tie your wound with your clothes on? – he almost laughed at her exclamation.

- I am absolutely not taking my shirt off! – she screamed.

Cato laughed, a huge smile placed on his lips.

- Come on, don't be shy. I won't watch. – he put a hand in front of his eyes and Lera pulled her shirt off. She then unhooked her bra and before she told him he could heal her his hands were already on her back. They were cold against her skin, making her shiver.

Cato reached out for his bag, who was lying next to Thresh and pulled out a bandage. Just two days ago he'd thought he would use it on Clove, who had cut her hand. But he wasn't sad the bandage couldn't be used for the purpose needed, not at all, he was happy to be here with Lera and help her.

He stretched the bandage, wrapping it around her back and waist to stop the bleeding. Lera didn't protest anymore and when he was ready he bit the bandage, cutting it with his teeth like a wild wolf sliced a piece of its prey's throat.

- There. You can dress now.

Lera quickly followed the command, still embarrassed she had to do that in order to heal.

- Thanks. – she said barely noticeable and Cato gave her hand to raise her. As he did it however, the pain in her shoulder returned and she gasped once more.

- What's wrong? – his eyes reflected her pain. His voice trembled lightly seeing she is feeling uncomfortable.

- My shoulder… it's just… I don't know what's wrong with it.

Cato touched it, his fingers told to search any sighs of broken bone or twisted arm.

- I used the medicine and the swelling disappeared but the pain is still here.

He didn't answer, focused on what he's doing.

- It's dislocated. – he said with a light smile. He knew it could be a lot worse.

- Dislocated? – Lera couldn't believe what she'd heard. – Wait, what? Ho-… Can you fix it?

- Sure I can.

She was a bit afraid as she wasn't sure how to fix an injured arm but the look on his face made her feel more comfortable.

- But you have to trust me.

She nodded lightly and he put his hands on both her shoulders.

- Relax, okay?

Just as she was answering he pressed her shoulder so hard pain rushed through her body and the girl screamed.

- Ahh! – she put a hand on her shoulder, rubbing it gently, feeling it's in place. – You! Why didn't you wait?

- Because you would've made it harder. – a smirk was placed on his lips. – Come on, just say thank you. – he made his way towards her.

- No.

- Be nice, baby, say thank you. – he pushed her gently against the tree and then pressed himself against her.

- Never.

Cato's lips met hers, hot and nice. His stomach glowed and she pushed him away:

- You're hungry.

He nodded and felt saliva in his mouth at the thought of food. He hasn't eaten anything for two days.

Lera smiled and walked over to Thresh'es body, still waiting to be collected. She pulled out her sai, covered in blood and stepped over to Cato once again.

- Let's get back in the woods, shall we? There's better food there and Thresh'es body needs to be honoured. - She didn't know why, but it didn't make her feel bad, walking over to him. She wasn't shocked she'd killed him, not guilty about that. Because she'd saved Cato, she told herself. But what if it was more than that? What if she was transforming into some kind of a monster? A killing machine with no feelings? She looked at Cato, who was waiting for her. She couldn't kill him so it made her feel a little bit better. Maybe she wasn't a monster.

They spent the day together in the woods, catching two rabbits which Lera cooked for dinner. They didn't talk much, just did what they had to do and then went to sleep, cuddled in one another. The night showed Thresh'es dead face which indicated there were only 5 tributes left.

- Top 5, huh? – he asked.

- Seems like it. They would probably invite our parents to an interview or something. They'll be proud. – she whispered the last sentence, thinking of home.

- I guess.

- What's your family like? – Lera asked. She remembered seeing his father but never knew anything about someone else.

- Normal, I suppose. – he looked at the sky, imagining them sitting at the table. – My mother looks after me, thinks I'm a baby. – he laughed just slightly. – And my father's very strict. I live with my grandfather, too. And you?

- I live with my parents, normal people but very fond of the Games. They were very satisfied their daughter would participate, although they are scared a little, I guess. I have a cat. – she stated out of nowhere.

- And I have a dog. – Cato laughed. – But I don't play with him. He's just a guard dog. Besides, it doesn't matter.

- Well, I love animals. – Lera said. – They will always love you and never betray you. Especially the dogs. And they are not sadistic mindless creatures. – she spit the words, referring to the Gamemakers. It didn't matter anymore what everyone said or did.

Cato didn't continue. He had thought that animals were mindless. Although, taking a different point of view, his dog always greeted him kindly, desperate for his attention. Always showing love and confession. He had never received such attitude from his father.

- Cato? – her voice trembled.

- Yes?

- What do we do in the end? When we have to kill each other?

He didn't look at her when answering:

- We would figure something out.

But he thought there was only one solution: he would have to kill her.