Haha! Here is another chapter for all of you! Please review it and tell me how it was .
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Disclaimer: I do not(sadly) own the hunger game,(no matter how much I wish I did) Suzanne Collins does.
Over the next few weeks life begins to fall into a routine. I wake up early each morning and head into the woods. I don't need to hunt, not anymore. But Gale's family does need the food now that Gale has gone to work in the mines. Also it's something to do in my spare time. However, I find that I am unable to spend more than an hour or two outside the fence. The rough wilderness reminds me too much of the arena. I find myself constantly checking behind me, covering my tracks. I expect to be set upon by mutations or other tributes, and then I remember that I'm safe.
I don't often see Cato during the day. I don't know where he goes, but as long as he's not around I don't really care. He normally comes home in the evenings, not bothering to say a word to anyone he proceeds to shut himself in his room. He still won't talk to me, not that I can say that I've made any real effort. The only one who he will occasionally speak to is Prim.
One day I come home from hunting, and visiting the hob, to find him sitting on our couch telling Prim a story about how they train for the games in district 2. The sight is so shocking that I pause in the door way for a few seconds.
"Each year they eliminate kids, so by the time your 18 there are only a handful of us training." I hear him say, "Those are the ones that are supposed to volunteer, but a lot of the time other kids beat them to it. Most kids spend their whole lives training for the games. By the time I was nine I knew how to kill an opponent with my bare hands."
I'm furious. He is talking about killing like it's no easier than breathing, and what's worse he telling Prim about it. Prim, who can't see me shoot a squirrel without tearing up. He's sure to give her nightmares.
"Stop!" I stride into the room and position myself in front of Prim, almost as though I hope to shield her from Cato. "Stop!"
"Katniss it's okay." Prim looks slightly concerned, "We were just talking."
I ignore her though and turn to Cato. "What are you doing?! You're gonna scare her! I won't let you ruin someone else's life!"
Cato looks at me blankly, "Ease up Fire girl, we're just talking."
"You don't talk to her! Ever! Is that clear?"
"Fine." He says coldly, before leaving the room. I can hear him stop up the stairs, and slam the door of his room.
"Katniss! Are you okay?" Prim is looking at me with concern.
I collapse onto the couch, "I'm fine Prim, I just don't want you to get hurt."
She sits next to me. "You shouldn't be so worried, he wouldn't have hurt me."
"It's my job to protect you from people like him. He's a cold blooded killer Prim. He's incapable of feeling."
When she next speaks her voice is tinged with sadness, "I don't think so Katniss; at least not in the beginning." She looks at me with those big blue eyes. "He was telling me about some of the training they do. It's awful."
"That's no excuse." I say bitterly.
"It's not, and I'm not going to pretend that it is. But think about it, he was trained to kill his whole life. You can't expect any different from someone who's only known bloodshed and ruthlessness. He was raised with the mindset of a victor, and he will always going to be that way, but it's not entirely his fault." I allow Prim's words to sink in. It's strange how insightful she is. In any case, I still can't allow myself to believe that there could be some shred of good in Cato, it's just something I can't accept.
"I'm sorry Prim, but you're wrong. I don't want you to ever talk to him again. Alright?"
She looks at me sadly, "Alright Katniss. But remember he's on his own here, and I think he needs someone to talk to." She daintily gets to her feet. "I'm going to go milk Lady, do you want to come?"
I rise too. "No it's ok, I think I'll go for a walk."
Outside heavy clouds blot out the sun. It'll be raining soon. I set off in the direction of the medow. By the time I reach it I'm running. I slide under the fence just as the first droplets begin to fall. Once I'm in the woods I make for mine and Gales meeting place. He won't be there, but just sitting there comforts me.
The rain is falling heavily now. I'll be soaked in no time. That's fine by me though. I just wanted to escape for a little while, to clear my head. I think of everything that Prim said. Maybe Cato does need someone; maybe I've treated him unfairly. Then I remember Peeta lifeless form, crumpled against the golden cornucopia. Prim has to be wrong. Cato is a monster who deserves no compassion. Still Prim amazes me, we are so different; were she is trusting, always seeing the best in everyone; I am quick to judge and find it hard to forgive.
I look up at the rain drops dripping from the undersides of the leaves on an old tree. I wish Gale were here. He would know exactly what to say, how to cheer me up. But I don't know if involving him with my problem with Cato would be the best solution. I get the feeling that any discussion between the two of them would end with blows, and I don't fancy anyone's chances against Cato. Besides, I don't think Gale would really understand how I feel, especially about Peeta.
Despite the fact that it seems as though the baker has forgiven me, I blame myself more than ever for his death. I feel like there is a gaping hole inside me that I'll never quite be able to fill. We had pretended to be in love in the arena, and now after he's gone I really don't know how I feel. I'm too confused and exhausted to piece together the hundreds of little pieces that are my feelings. Maybe I really had loved him, maybe not; I'll never know now.
There is a small cemetery in district 12, filled with old cracked tombstones. This will be where Peeta's family had him buried, it's were all our tributes are. I know I should go and pay my respects, leave some flowers. However, I can never quite bring myself to visit. Maybe, it's cause I know that if I see his name carved into one of those gray slabs I'll be forced to admit that he's never coming back; to let him go. But I don't want to let him go.
I'm broken out of my reverie by the sound of heavy foot falls approaching. At first I think it must be Gale, but they're too loud to be Gale. Who then? Who would have followed me into the woods?
"Have you finally been extinguished girl on fire?" I whip around to see Cato smirking at me.
"What do you want?"
"You. Of course." He says cockily.
I draw the small hunting knife that I have with me. "I'm not playing your little games Cato! Why are you here?"
He grabs my wrist before I can react, twisting it, forcing me to drop the knife. "Admit it Katniss you were never any competition." The way he says my name sends a shiver up my spine.
"You're one to talk Cato, I almost killed you."
He twists my wrist further, causing me to give a small yelp of pain. "You were lucky. But really if I wanted I could crush you here or now." I eye the knife on the ground, if I could just reach it. He notices my train of thought. "Oh, don't worry. I won't…yet."
"What do you want from me Cato?" I glare furiously at him.
He smiles lazily, "The same thing I wanted in the arena: to break you." I expect him to hit me or something, but what he does next is so unexpected that it takes me a moment to register it. Cato comes close to me, pressing his lips against mine. I'd kissed Peeta plenty of times in the arena, but this was completely different. His lips seemed to burn against mine with an all consuming passion. There is nothing gentle about this kiss. It was ravenous, seeking to consume me entirely, turn me into an animal. It's only when he start to plant kisses all down my neck that I push him away.
He smiles smugly, "Look, your cracking already." Then turns on his heel and disappears back in the direction of the fence. I just stand there, feeling confused and dirty.