Cato said he would return by nightfall. But he hadn't. He said he would get some food and come back. He hadn't. Daisy waited in the clearing where Cato had left her a bow and arrow. It was already dark and she hadn't lit a fire yet. Suddenly, Daisy heard a scream. It was a girl's scream and then Daisy heard dogs. Her eyes widened as she heard a few dogs bark and howl. Then everything was silent and Daisy heard a cannon go off. Daisy clutched the bow in her hand and an arrow in the other. She heard something in the bushes and she got up quickly and backed against a tree. Three mutts burst from behind the bush and Daisy screamed. The first mutt attacked her and she kicked him with full force. It fell back a few feet and the other two dogs bore their teeth at Daisy. She gasped as she saw Thresh's and Rue's eyes look back at her. The one with Rue's eyes barked and lunged at Daisy. She screamed again and turned around. She started to run and she heard the dogs run behind her. There were at least five dogs behind her. Daisy ran and ran, not knowing in which direction she was running. She arrived at the small stream and she quickly hopped from stone to stone. Her foot slipped on the last slippery moss covered stone and she fell onto the other side of the stream, barely missing the water. Daisy gritted her teeth as she tried to get up. A dog with Clove's eyes attacked her and she fell back, letting out another scream. She waited for the dog to bite her, to feel the pain. But it never came. She heard the dog let out a painful howl and then flop down next to her. The other dogs were in the water, trying to cross. Cato grabbed Daisy's arm and pulled her up. He took her hand and ran, pulling Daisy along. They didn't look back, they just ran. The mutts were still behind them and occasionally one would howl. Daisy saw the Cornacopia ahead and she let out a sigh. Cato quickly climbed the Cornacopia and helped Daisy up. The dogs reached the edge and tried to jump to the top but they didn't make it. Cato pulled Daisy closer and she buried her face in his shirt, trying to get the image of Thresh's murderous eyes out of her mind. The mutts howled and barked, each time sending a shiver up Daisy's and Cato's spines. Daisy trembled softly as she thought of Thresh and Rue and Cato rubbed her back gently. They were up there for hours. Daisy terrified and Cato looking away as the dogs tried to attack them. Finally, a ray of sunshine peaked through the trees, followed by another. And then the dogs were gone. No where in sight. Cato looked around and frowned before tapping Daisy on the shoulder. She looked up into his blue eyes and he smiled slightly.
"They're gone." He said slowly and Daisy pulled back. She looked around and frowned, just like Cato had a few seconds ago. Cato grabbed his sword and jumped down from the Cornacopia. He held out his arms to Daisy and helped her down. After circling the Cornacopia, he was convinced the dogs were gone.
"We're the only one's left." Daisy said. Cato looked at her and his eyes widened in surprise and then he nodded. "One of us has to die." Cato's voice was low. Daisy looked down. Cato continued. "It has to be me."
"No. No you're not dying." Daisy said as she felt her eyes well up with tears.
"Daisy-"
"No. Cato no." A tear slipped down Daisy's cheek. Cato turned towards her and put a hand on her shoulder. Daisy pushed him away.
"Daisy-"
"NO! NO! NO! NO!" Daisy screamed. "NO!"
"Just listen to me." Cato said and Daisy pushed him away again.
"NO!" Daisy buried her face in her hands and cried. She felt Cato wrap his arms around her and pull her closer. After a while, Daisy pulled away.
"Do you want to leave me?" Daisy asked.
"No I don't." Cato answered while looking down.
"My father left me. He promised my mother he would come back for her and me. He left her and he left me. I was all alone. I had my mother but I didn't have a father. That's what's going to happen to our baby. He or she will be fatherless. Just like me. I know what it's like to not have a dad. It hurts. It pains to see all of the other kids running to their fathers and hugging them and kissing them. I never had a father and you... you're taking that away from my baby too. My baby will be fatherless." Daisy looked at Cato with tears running down her cheeks. Cato looked at her and she saw the tears glinting in his eyes.
"I'm sorry." Cato whispered. "But there's nothing else to do. Only one of us can win."
"No, both of us can." Daisy said. "We can die together."
"No Daisy, I'm not letting you die."
"And I'm not letting you die."
They stood there. Daisy with silent tears falling down her cheeks and Cato with his arms crossed. And then Cato took a knife out of his pocket. He looked at Daisy as her eyes widened in shock. Closing his eyes tightly, Cato plunged the knife in his stomach.