That night Kawino was camped out in a tree and thinking about Katniss He didn't really want to leave her but he couldn't risk hurting her or Ember.

'They could be hurt without me too.' He thought. He considered trying to return. 'Maybe I was wrong.' He thought

He took his stuff and got down from the tree though his anger was still flared. 'Maybe I should try to relax.' He thought Even as he thought that though, he snorted. It was impossible anytime he tried he thought about Clove. What inhuman thing had done to her without him even knowing? Had they used actual weapons on her like they did him?

He had failed to protect her...but he would not fail to save Katniss. He got down from the tree and started searching. Though dream Clove had insisted that it wasn't his fault he still couldn't help but feel responsible. "If anything I should have never trusted them to keep their promise," he muttered to himself.

He headed off in the direction they had gone. He looked for quite a while though and didn't find them. "Guess I'll try again tomorrow." He muttered.

He climbed up a new tree wondering it Clove would show back up if he went back to sleep. He could only hope. He settled on a high branch and fell back a sleep leaning against the trunk.

The dream started off dark and then light crept in. It wasn't long at all until Clove appeared. "Clover," he said smiling

"Kawino."

"It's good to see you again." He said.

"You're still blaming yourself though."

"Well...yeah," he admitted.

"I've told you. It's not your fault."

"I think so."

"Then what's the difference between what you did and what I did?"

"I don't know."

"Then how could it be your fault that I was abused but not my fault that you were abused?"

"I'm not sure, but I should have done something."

"I should have too though… or at least have not left you alone with them."

"I never should have left you alone either."

"You didn't like that though. I was talking about giving up in my games."

"Well, no, I wish you had not." He said

"So do I, and even though I was up there where everything's supposed to be perfect I couldn't not feel guilty about it. Like I don't belong there for abandoning you like that."

"You belong in a perfect place," he said.

"I've done nothing to deserve it though."

"You lived through hell," he said

"So what? They couldn't send me back to it?"

"You don't deserve hell."

"Why not?"

"Because you were a good person or are I suppose not sure how the afterlife works."

"Well, thank you but I disagree."

"I know," he said, approaching her.

"How can you say I was a good person?"

"You were."

"The fact that you still haven't said how is only proving my point," she said, looking down.

"You gave me hope, you gave Cady a sister, Cato and I love."

"Only to take that all away."

"You were in misery Clove."

"It was selfish."

"I would have done the same." He admitted dreaming up a room for them to sit in.

The room appeared with different furniture and she sat down with a sigh. "You can't know that. Saying so is completely different."

"I can know that," he said.

"No you can't. Not for real."

"Yes I do, Clove."

"How?"

"Because I was going to when these games started," he said

"That's after I'm already dead though."

"I probably would have then too."

"You were pretty mad at me for it earlier."

"I was I'll admit that... but that was before I knew they were abusing you."

"That changes?"

"Yeah, now I can understand why you did it."

"Really?" she asked.

"Yes, really."

"I don't know what to say," she said.

"I'm not mad at you anymore, Clover." She hugged him starting to cry. "It's okay," he said, rubbing her back.

"No, it's not! I left you, Kawino! I am so sorry!"

"I forgive you, Clover. You didn't know."

"I wish I had I would have come back."

"I'm sure you would have but we can't change that so that's enough."

"I should have known I couldn't trust them."

"We both made that mistake."

"Yeah good point. I love you."

"I love you, too, Clover."

"You love her too though, that Katniss girl."

"Well, I'm pretty sure I do."

"I think you do, too."

"So, what then?"

"Well, you have an interesting problem." She sighed.

"I know." He sighed. "You don't want to kill her, but you don't want to leave Cady or Enobaria."

"Exactly."

"Well, rock and a hard place."

"What?"

"It's a saying."

"Oh, okay."

"It means there is a loss either way."

"Yeah, that is the situation then."

"Well, it's tricky if only there were a way to achieve both," she said.

"There isn't though. That's one of the big problems these games."

"Well then maybe the solution is to spend time with her?"

"You really think so?"

"Yeah really."

"Well, I'm trying to find her."

"I know that I have been watching you."

"Well, do you know where they are?"

"Yes I do. I know everything except the future."

"Could you tell me where?"

"To the north west of where you are now. They took to the trees as well though. Also, they allied with the girl from 11."

"Well that's fun."

"It's actually not that far though."

"Really?" He asked

"Really, it's a little hard to give directions when I can only reach you in your dreams."

"Yeah, I guess. Hey, can you tell Cato to talk to Cady? She misses him a lot," he said.

"I will. She hasn't really been sleeping much recently though. Besides the mandatory training, she's been basically glued to the screen."

"Well, she needs to rest."

"I know that." Clove sighed.

"Is she okay at least?" he asked.

"For the most part, all things considered."

"Not sleeping well though huh?"

"No she isn't."

"Damn." He sighed

"Yeah, it's not good."

"I wish I could help her."

"You winning and coming home should."

"I'm trying to."

"I know you are."

"I'm failing aren't I?"

"No you aren't. It will just help fix things once you do actually get there."

"Right, good point."

"Just don't give up, Kawino."

"Okay, I will try." He said

"Good, that's all I can ask."

"If you get the chance can you pass a message on to her?" He asked

"Of course, what is it?"

"Tell her I love her and I'm doing all I can to get back to her."

"I will make sure."

"Thank you." He said

"No problem. Would you rather I or Cato deliver it?"

"Either, honestly just so long as she knows."

"Okay, the next chance we get."

"Thank you."

"My pleasure, Kawino."

"I wish I could talk to her now."

"I'm sure you'll be able to soon."

"Yeah, I hope so."

"I have no doubts."

"You have a lot of faith in me."

"Yes I do because I know you and I know you can handle it."

"Thanks, Clover."

"It's my pleasure, Kawino."

"I wish you did not have to leave." He sighed.

"I know but I still have to."

"I know."

"You can wait though, right?"

"Yes I can."

"Then there won't be an issue." She smiled at that. "Well, hopefully I'll have to be waiting a while."

"I can only hope."

"YOU can fight. I can only hope."

"I know, Clover, and I promise I will," he added.

"You had better," she said.

"I promise."

"I know I'm just worried I don't want you joining me until it's your time."

"Which shouldn't be soon."

"No, it shouldn't. No matter how much being around you more would be nice."

"You're time will come though and I have no problem waiting. It's a lot shorter with eternity ahead of you."

"Yeah, I imagine."

"Exactly, right now I just want to see you live your life like I wish I had done."

"I will try."

"That's all I can ask."

"Yeah."

"It's time for you to wake up now though."

He sighed, but nodded "Could you come back tomorrow night?"

"I'll come back every night you want." She said kissing his cheek

"Thank you. I've really missed you, Clover."

"I've really missed you too, now go find the girl." she said smiling as she started to fade.

"I will." He whispered holding onto her form for as long as he could before there was nothing less.

He woke up in the tree. 'She'll be there tomorrow night,' He reminded and climbed down. He remembered what she said and climbed down to find the girls. 'Northwest of where you are now.' So he headed in that direction looking for signs of them.

He soon found them but also found that the other remaining Careers did as well. "Damn." He said sprinting towards them as the fight broke out with Marvel throwing a spear at Katniss who dropped from the tree to dodge. Rue and Ember soon followed down with their respective weapons ready.

Kawino watched approaching as Marvel tried to stab Rue who dodged but did not see the net in his other hand. He managed to trap her in the net and was about to spear her when a different hand clasped onto the body of the spear. He turned towards the owner with a scowl. "Ria, let go!"

"No, you can't kill her not like this!" she said, gripping the spear tightly.

"I have to! Now let go!"

"No, I won't," she said.

He growled slightly and thrusted the spear forward so it went into Ria's abdomen. "Ria!" Kawino shouted as she fell to the ground Marvel turned stabbed Rue and sprinted off.

No one tried to pursue him turning their attention to the two dying girls. The two youngest in the arena. "Ria, no, come on, stay with me." Kawino said stopping beside her.

He looked for where the spear went hoping there was some way to save her. It had been a good clean hit. He knew there was nothing that could be done. "Ria, come on talk to me," he said.

She let out a moan that kind of sound like his name.

"Yes, Ria, I'm here." He said leaning towards her to hear better.

She took his hand in hers with a weak smile and whispered. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he whispered, kissing her forehead.

She kept his hand in hers and looked right into his eyes and he could pretty much see the life draining out of them. "Don't leave."

"No, I'll stay," he said.

"Until I'm gone?"

"Yes, until you're gone I swear," he said, hugging her.

"Win," she got out, fighting to stay awake.

"I...I will I'll get through this," he said. She was clearly going to say something else but only a moan came out. "What?" He asked still holding her.

"Protect them." She barely got and her eyes glassed over before Kawino had a chance to ask who they are.

"I will," he said as the canon went off. He let go of her hand and got up without another word.

He headed over to the other girls keeping his emotions in check. It of course didn't help that Rue was close to the same fate. "Rue, stay calm."

It was clear she was trying to and all things considered doing a great job. "Sorry...I was Nit...a help."

"You tried."

"Killed on the first outing."

"You can't blame yourself."

"I know." She sighed.

"I'm so sorry, Rue."

"Not your fault, you have to win okay?" She asked.

"I will." Katniss gulped.

"I know." She sighed.

"I still feel bad for this."

"Don't."

"I should have been able to protect you."

"It's okay that's the games," she said. "Ria tried and look what happened to her."

Katniss looked over as Kawino stopped beside them. "Is she…?" Katniss started, earning a nod.

"She's dead." He looked down to Rue sadly He bent down and checked the damage just as he had on Ria. There was no hope Marvel had severed a few arteries. Wasn't quite as clean as on Ria though which explains why she's still breathing for now. "There's nothing to be done."

"I know." Katniss sighed.

"You have to win, one of you," Rue said.

"I'm sure it will be one of us," Kawino said.

She nodded slowly "I think so, too," she whispered. "Take care of them." Rue said to him.

"I will."

"Good," she said, drifting off. It wasn't long at all before another cannon sounded.

"She's gone." Kawino sighed Katniss said nothing just staring at the body. "We should go." Kawino said staring at Ria. Katniss nodded getting to her feet. "I'm sorry," he said.

"It's not your fault."

"I never should have left."

"I'm back though if you guys want me." He added.

"We would like that." Ember said.

"Then I will."

"Thank you." Katniss said.

"Sorry about that by the way."

"It's okay." She said hugging him

"Though, remember how I said I put up with the abuse under the promise that they wouldn't hurt Clove?"

"Yeah, I remember," she said.

"Well… I was wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"They were abusing her, too. That's why she gave up in her games."

"How do you know?" she asked.

Not wanting to sound absolutely insane on national television by admitting that he was being visited by her in his sleep he explained his initial realization and that day Cato and Clove got together.

"I am so sorry, Kawino."

"It's not your fault. I'm just so…" he trailed with a growl, looking for a word but not finding one to accurately represent what was brewing inside of him.

"Enraged," she said still leaned into him.

"Yeah… that. They need to die in the worst way possible and believe me. They will and ladies I say we end this today."

"The games?"

"Yeah the games or at least we try to."

"Who's left?" Katniss asked.

"Only us, Marvel, and Thresh."

"So we take them out then it's just us." Ember sighed.

"That is the situation."

"Well...okay."

"So, we should go after them?" Katniss asked.

"Yeah, seems like the best bet," he said. "I say Marvel first."

"Agreed," they said.

"We know he went that way," Kawino said, pointing. "Probably to the Cornucopia."

"Yeah, so, let's get this over with." Ember said. He nodded and they headed that way.

Marvel meanwhile was running. However, he went past the Cornucopia to the field. He had a plan. First he had to find Thresh.

He found tracks so of course he followed them. Sure enough he stumbled upon the boy. He wasn't noticed yet though, 'Now, how to go about this?' Marvel thought. He had to make it look like he had been overcome.

It couldn't be too hard; he had a few bruises he just needed blood. He looked at the spear he had killed the two with which was still soaked in their blood.

He used it covering his arms head and neck. Then he cleaned off anything that was left so that Thresh wouldn't ask. 'Here we go.' He thought stumbling out. "Thresh," he moaned making his voice sound weak.

The boy spun raising a rock but paused on seeing him. "What happen to you?" Thresh grunted, but still had the rock risen.

"I was attacked by three of the others. I was defending a little girl."

"A little… Rue?"

"Yeah, that was her. I tried to protect her but that girl from 5 killed her." Marvel explained in obviously a complete lie but that didn't stop Thresh from buying it.

"She killed her!?" he growled.

"Yes she did."

"I'll kill her!" he said. Thresh went off leaving Marvel.

"Wait there are three of them I will come with you," he said.

"Come on then." Marvel nodded and followed smirking. It was perfect. 'I'll be home in no time.' He thought.

They all meet to the Cornucopia at about the same time. Thresh was livid honestly believing Marvel's lies. "You killed her!" He shouted sprinting towards the other three. They were of course very confused at that giving Thresh the opportunity to take Ember to the ground. "How dare you hurt her?!" he said, before Kawino knocked him off her.

"Who?" Kawino demanded.

"Rue you killed Rue." Thresh said throwing Kawino off him.

"What? No we…" He seized Ember by the throat lifting her high into the air. "Thresh wait!" Kawino called but it was too late as Thresh brought the rock he had threaten Marvel with earlier hard to her skull. "No!" Kawino shouted as Ember dropped limp to the ground Thresh turned in time to get kicked in the nose knocking him away from Ember. "Thresh, she didn't kill Rue! None of us did!"

"What!?"

"I swear we didn't. She was our ally until MARVEL killed her."

"He killed her?" Thresh asked.

"Yes he did. My district partner, Ria, tried to stop him but he killed her, too."

"He lied to me!?" Thresh shouted turning to Marvel. He picked up Marvel the same way he had Ember. "Why did you kill her?!"

"It's the nature of the games, you dumb brute."

"She was too young!" Thresh growled raising the rock.

"She was an opponent no one is too young," Marvel said attempting to raise his spear

"Drop. The. Spear."

"Make me." Thresh smashed the rock against the hand that held the spear. There was a sickening CRACK! as all Marvels fingers broke Kawino fell back at the all too familiar noise and the spear obviously dropped to the ground. Marvel screamed trying to escape Thresh's grip.

Thresh spun and slammed Marvel's back into the Cornucopia. "You never should have lied to me."

"Thresh, just kill him." Kawino said harshly as Ember's cannon finally sounded. He handed Thresh Marvels spear. "Or I will."

Thresh drove the spear forward and through Marvels chest.

Before the cannon even went off, Kawino's sword went straight through Thresh's throat. "Sorry Thresh, nothing personal, just the games." He sighed as the two cannons went off. He turned to Katniss then around at the three dead bodies at their feet and it clicked that they're the only two left now. "Damn it!" He shouted punching the Cornucopia/

Then he heard some kind of growl though. He turned to see giant wolf like creature swarming from the trees. "Get on the Cornucopia now!" he shouted.

She turned and her eyes widened. "Give me a lift!" He kneeled down and hoisted her up onto the Cornucopia Once up she offered her hand down to help him up. He hesitated but took her hand and climbed up.

"To the tip!" He commanded once up.

She nodded and soon they were on the tip as the mutts circled them. "Wait a second..." Katniss muttered looking around at them.

"What?" He asked.

"The mutts... it's the other tributes."

Kawino looked and he did notice the similarities in the eyes and the color of the floor. "That's sickening."

"Alpha mutts."

"This is their finale." Kawino sighed approaching the edge. He turned around, closed him eyes, and whispered, "Clover, Ria, I'm sorry." Before taking a dive.

Just as he had begun to fall though a hand shot out and grabbed his arm pulling him back. "What do you think you're doing?" Katniss asked.

"One of us needs to die, Katniss! They need to have their victor!"

"I don't want you to die though!" she said desperately.

"I don't want you to die either!" he shouted.

She looked him in the eye for a short while before kissing him right on the lips. He froze with his hands settling on her waist and holding her there until she pulled back. "We go together then," she said.

"Go what? Die?"

"Exactly, just as you said, they have to have their victor."

"You'll die though," he said still holding her.

"They won't allow it."

"Are you sure?" he asked clearly worried for her.

"I'm positive. No victor would anger the districts and disappoint the Capitol. They'd have a full-fledged rebellion on their hands."

"Well, I guess; if you're sure," he said, holding her against him. "We'd need something more exact then the muttations though," he said and pulled out the nightlocks from his jacket. "We eat these we both drop near instantly," he said.

He gave her half of the pile. "On the count of three," she said.

He leaned in and kissed her one more time before they pulled away again. "I just had to do that one more time and say...Katniss, I think I love you." He said

"I think I love you, too."

He smiled a little at that as she counted holding his left hand in her right as she counted down... "3...2..."

"Stop! Stop!" Claudius' voice rang throughout. "I present to you, the victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games of District 2, Kawino Yetter and of District 12, Katniss Everdeen!"

The trumpets blared as they dropped the berries and hugged each other. "We did it! We won!" Katniss said crying slightly into his chest with joy.

"Yes we did. You were right."

"I can't believe it." She said as the ladder was lowered down to them.

"I can't either," he admitted, grabbing the rung freezing them both.

They were pulled up and immediately examined by Doctors and given drinks. There wasn't much to do on Katniss besides her ear but 'thanks' to his parents and a few from the actual arena, they had a lot to erase and fix on Kawino.

They did not want to be separated for too long. For some reason everyone had made a point to keep the two from seeing each other though. This went on for a while so they could work on Kawino's many scars.

Eventually though, they were all gone and he came to to find not Katniss but another pleasant face. "Enobaria!" He said smiling and running over and hugging her.

Though clearly happy to have him back alive, she seemed slightly off as she returned the hug. He hugged her tightly overjoyed he was free now. "It's really great to see you again, Kawino, but there's something I really need to tell you."

You all pretty much saw that coming with the berries this whole story didn't you? Yeah, kind of a fandom cliché. Also a five chapter games which is awfully short but we did both as we do have a lot of stuff planned for after them. This story is far from over.

PS, CL-CL-CL-CLIFF HANGER!

PPS, please review!