Katniss POV

The grip on my arms increases and the knife makes a small incision on my neck. I feel myself being pushed forward closer to the fire. A few gasps are heard around the fire. Everyone stands quickly, many are poised and ready to fight. I can't help but wonder who is behind me.

"Brutus!" Annie finally gasps.

"Brutus? Who the hell is Brutus?" Finnick asks the question playing in my mind.

Peeta answers it, "He's in charge of my personal guard. What are you doing here Brutus?"

I knew it! The whole thing had been a set up! It was a trap! And from the looks of it many of my men are thinking the same thing.

"I overheard of your visit to the Hob. I figured Everdeen had captured you. So I investigated. I found a trail that lead me here to you sire. I'm sorry it took me so long but I came to rescue you, your highness from this low life dirty scum." His voice oozes with falsehoods.

"Who are we kidding Brutus, you're here for the reward. If you had been worried about my safety you wouldn't have driven us down the road most known for Everdeen's attacks. You knew Brutus; you wanted us to get captured. You only care about the reward." Peeta's voice seethes within quiet anger.

"And I'll have it too." His voice is thick with greed.

With that sentence he drags the knife a little farther across my neck. I can feel the blood drip down my neck.

Peeta's voice echoes across the camp, "Brutus let him go immediately!"

"Sorry your highness, but I want that reward. The Queen will pay a hefty price id I bring her Everdeen's head." He digs the knife a little farther into my neck; blood spills from the wound and a small grunt of pain escapes my lips. "Besides I agree with your mother. Panem needs to be purged of the likes of him. The class distinction needs to be kept. Those people don't deserve what is rightfully ours."

"Brutus people are dying because of what my mother thinks is right. But it is wrong, they don't deserve to starve and die while we have more then any of us could ever need. It is selfish. It's wrong Brutus! So I say once again, let him go."

A knife lodges itself into the hand containing Brutus' knife. My opportunity is now or never. His grip loosens on my arm and so I throw my head back, smashing in his nose. He loses his grip entirely and with my elbow I break a rib and sending him reeling back a few feet before he regained his balance. The knife still clutched in his hand comes hurtling towards my but with an expertly trained arm I knock it straight out of the air. Brutus then pulls the knife lodged into the back of his hand and expertly whips it past me, slicing my forehead. The blood is inhibiting the vision in the right eye. But I am still a better fighter than he is. He runs at me attempting to knock me down, however his fatal flaw is that he is using his brute strength and no tactic. As he approaches I step to the side and kick out the back of his knees. He crumbles to the ground but spins his body and grabs my braid on the way down. My head is jerked backwards and I end up on my back. Brutus scrambles on top of me and puts his fingers around my throat. However he failed to pin my arms so I jam the heel of my hand into his ribs, a satisfying crunch reveals that a few more have broken. He is putting up a pretty decent fight but this is getting tiring. I grasp to the knife I saw lying not to far from my left hand. Hilt in hand I thrust the blade into his body. His body falls over to the side and I push the rest off of me.

I stand up slowly; the fight appears to have taken less time that I thought. From the looks of their stances it had been less than a minute. I feel my hood slipping down from my head I reach up to grab it quickly however it slips through my fingers revealing my face. My braid is disheveled and pieces are falling all across my face, some sticking to the blood on my forehead. My eyes scan the group in front of me. Most are concerned but two are utterly shocked. Silence envelopes the entire camp however one voice breaks through.

"Holy hell!" Johanna's voice rains down from above the camp. "He's a she!"

Peeta's POV

A gasp sounds across the camp when Everdeen comes into view with a knife at his neck. A head peaks out from behind Everdeen's hood. Annie's familiar voice breaks the silence, "Brutus!" Her voice is not relieved. None of us have ever trusted Brutus; he is all about money and now about our safety.

"Brutus? Who is Brutus?" Finnick practically snarls. I find my lips moving before my mind registers what I am saying.

"He's in charge of my personal guard. What are you doing here Brutus?" I can feel the bodies tensing beside me. This is not helping me gain their trust.

"I heard of your visit to the Hob. I figured Everdeen had captured you. So I investigated. I found a trail that lead me here to you sire. I'm sorry it took me so long but I came to rescue you, your highness from this low life dirty scum." He expresses his false concern.

Bullshit! "Who are we kidding Brutus, you're here for the reward. If you had been worried about my safety you wouldn't have driven us down the road most known for Everdeen's attacks. You knew Brutus; you wanted us to get captured. You only care about the reward."

He knows I've called him out on the truth; his face breaks into a nasty smile. "And I'll have it too."

He drags the knife across Everdeen's neck. Blood spilling from the wound. It amazes me that Everdeen makes no sound of pain at all. His lips, which I can see for the first time cringe in the slightest, they look oddly feminine for a man. Especially for a man as feared as Everdeen. I can't loose him now; he is the only hope for bringing Panem into peace.

"Brutus," I yell, "let him go immediately!"

Evil glints in his eyes. "Sorry your highness, but I want that reward. Besides I agree with your mother. Panem needs to be purged of the likes of him. The class distinction needs to be kept. Those people don't deserve what is rightfully ours."

How dare he! Our kingdom is being destroyed because of her pride and selfishness.

"Brutus people are dying because of what my mother thinks is right. But it is wrong, they don't deserve to starve and die while we have more then any of us could ever need. It's wrong Brutus! So I say once again, let him go."

A knife whips past my ear and directly into Brutus' hand. I glance back briefly to see it was thrown by Madge. Wow she really is good. Brutus is momentarily distracted and Everdeen makes his move. He throws his head back and Brutus' nose crunches. Amazingly Everdeen's hood is still in place covering his head. He throws his elbow back and the crack of Brutus' ribs can be heard throughout the camp. Brutus stumbles back but regains his balance. He hurls his knife towards him and unthinkably Everdeen simply swats it out of the air. I can feel the shock and awe on my face but glances around me tell me that Everdeen's fighting skill is even better than we have ever known. Quickly Brutus wrenches the other knife out of his hand and it follows the first one, however this one cuts across Everdeen's forehead. His hood is slipping and I feel as if I recognize him but his head is turned before I can tell. Brutus charges Everdeen but with ease Everdeen kicks out his knees. Brutus spins and grabs the long braid sticking out from Everdeen's cloak. Wait…a braid? Everdeen's head is jerked back and his hood falls revealing disheveled brown hair. Brutus scrambles on top of Everdeen, blocking his face from my view. Everdeen's hand breaks a few more few more ribs. With this distraction Everdeen grabs the knife he had swatted from the air and thrusts it into Brutus' body. Brutus goes limp and falls to the side. Everdeen shoves the remaining limbs off. He slowly stands up and his hood falls completely off before he can grab it. The face staring back at me, however, is the face of a woman.

My mind is running a million miles a minute. Everdeen, the most wanted criminal, the most talented fighter, and the most respected person in my mind…is a woman. And not just any woman but the woman I have literally been dreaming about. Whose eyes accuse and confuse me every waking moment of my life. She slowly rose from the ground her long hair is mostly tied back into a braid, blood staining her face and her neck. Her gray eyes are hard like steel and chest is heaving from exhaustion.

Johanna's voice breaks the silence. "Holy hell! He's a she!" My eyes flick to Annie, she seems equally surprised.

My voice finally makes an appearance. "You are Everdeen? But Everdeen is a man. And you're… well you're a…"

"A woman." She interjects, "Really I am? I hadn't noticed." Her voice is cold and stern, seeping with sarcasm. Haymitch brushes past us and to her side.

"Are you all right sweetheart?" He touches her arm tentatively.

"Yes Haymitch I'm fine." She does not move away from his affectionate touch. A close bond is obvious between them. He inspects her cuts before pulling her into a short hug.

She turns on me then, "I knew you couldn't be trusted." Her voice is as sharp as a sword. She pulls a knife hidden in the folds of her tunic and before anyone has the time to react it is pointed directly at my heart. "Who else knows we are here? Who else is looking for us?"

I interrupt before she can accuse me of anything more. "No one. I swear. We didn't even know Brutus had followed us. I was not lying when I said I need your help Everdeen. You are the only hope for Panem. My mother must be removed from power and I know you are the only one who can help me do that. For years you have been doing what we as royalty should have been doing. We should be taking care of our citizens but my mother has encouraged selfish ways. You are the most respected man…err…woman in Panem and I do truly need your help. You do not have to trust me but please help me." Anger still boils behind her eyes but she nods.

I stroll towards the fire. "Is your name really Katniss?" My voice is harsher than I intended but I am beyond confused. She rolls her eyes at me.

"Yes my name is Katniss Everdeen."

Johanna has made it down to the forest floor and has joined the group around the fire. Katniss takes a seat around the fire and her band follows suit. Except for Madge who goes to grab the knife she threw to distract Brutus who in turn threw at Katniss.

Johanna's prying voice breaks through again, "How are you a girl?" Her question is obnoxious and lacking proper detail.

Katniss' response is oozing sarcasm, "Well let me see…when I was born I didn't have a penis. And thus I was classified as a girl. I thought you nobles had an education. You'd think they would have covered this."

Johanna's voice is filled with rage, "Listen here brainless! I need a real answer. No more of these secrets or I'll bury my ax in your skull!"

Author's Note:

Hey all! Thank you so much for all the reviews!

Fluffy the chicken: I did toy with the idea of it being Johanna. I hope you're not disappointed with my choice of Brutus instead.

Once again! Thanks for reading! Please review and let me know what you think!