A Shot in the Dark

Chapter 8

By: WonderGirl556

AN: Hey y'all! I was going to update tomorrow, but it's Halloween, and I'm going trick or treating! :) You're never to old for free candy! Tell me in the reviews what you are, or wish you were, going trick or treating as! I'm going as Mystique from X-Men! :) As always thank you to my lovely reviewers: Viralsfan101, Strawberryluv, Sandgem, Sundragons9, and Dramione-Fan 17. You inspire me to keep writing! Have a fabulous week!

After my little rendezvous with Cato, I sprinted off to collect the last trap, praying to God that I wouldn't encounter another Peacekeeper. Luckily I didn't.

When everything is collected, I shot back towards the river. Gale must be worried, I've been gone for longer then expected, thanks to Cato.

I find Gale by the river. He's crouching behind a bush.

He's obviously on edge, so I decide to play a little prank on him.

I silently tip toe behind the shrubbery, until I am directly behind him. Then I say in my most intimidating, Peacekeeper like voice. "You are hereby under arrest under order of Coriolanus Snow."

I can feel Gale freeze, before he jerks around and tackles me to the ground with his fist raised, ready to strike.

All I can do is laugh. I can't believe Gale fell for that fake voice! He knows how terrible I am at lying, acting, or anything of that sort.

I try to contain my laughter, in case there are any "little hunters" in the surrounding area. I fail miserably.

At my laugh, the scowl melts off Gale's face and a wide grin takes it's place, as he guffaws along with me.

After our fits of laughter have subsided, Gale scolds me, "Katniss, I could have hurt you! You shouldn't pull things like that when you know I'm nervous!"

"I'm sorry Gale." I reply, "I couldn't help myself!", I chuckle softly at the memory.

He just smiles back, before his expression turns to one of worry. "Where were you? I've waited here for at least a half hour!"

My smile immediately fades as I tell him the story of Cato any my encounter.

"Dammit!" he curses "That's three days supply of food gone!"

"I know! But better that, than him blabbing to Darius about our hunting!" I try to reason.

Gale sighs before continuing, "How do you even know he's going to keep his promise?"

I don't know why myself, but something in his teasing, sapphire eyes, made me trust him.

But I couldn't tell Gale that, so instead I replied, "I don't know, I just do."

He sighs again before saying, "Well, nothing we can do about it now."

At that the horn sounded, signaling the end of the "woods exploration."

I turned wide-eyed to Gale, we hadn't thought about where to hide when they come back.

"Climb the tree." Gale mouthed to me.

"But what about you?" I mouth back, Gale can't climb trees.

"I'll manage." he responds with a wink.

There is no time to argue, since I hear heavy footsteps coming our way.

Apparently Gale does too because he turns to me and says the word "Go".

And I do. I shoot up the tree like a squirrel, and settle on a branch 30 feet up with a good view of the surrounding area.

I see Gale has taken up his old hiding place behind that goddamn bush. I roll my eyes.

And into the clearing comes, once again, Cato.

He continues stomping his way past us before abruptly stopping. His neck snaps in my direction. At first I think he's just found another squirrel, but then his face contorts into its usual smirk before he says: "Didn't work the first time sweetheart, wont work this time."

My face burns bright red with embarrassment. Am I really that terrible at hiding, or is he really that great at playing "Where's Katniss?", his own little spin-off of Where's Waldo?.

But Cato isn't finished, "You either loverboy." he says, still smirking, while turning towards Gale's, not so discrete, hiding place.

He's blowing out cover, and more footsteps are heading this way. "Remember our deal, two." I force out between gritted teeth.

"I rather like that nickname you have for me sweetheart! But as you said, we have a deal." he sarcastically replies.

I roll my eyes as he gives a dramatic bow before regally marching away.

Gale sends me a look that says "We're talking about this later." before settling back into silence and waiting for the next Peacekeepers to pass.

After about ten more minutes Gale and I grow curious and feel the urge to check on the Junior Peacekeeper's closing ceremony.

They gather in the same clearing as before, so we silently pad back to the tree we were previously hiding behind.

Darius starts the ceremony.

"So what have we learned today?" he exuberantly questions,

No response.

"Nothing? None of you learned anything?" he continues.

"Nope!" one particularly brave student responds.

At his response, two Peacekeepers step in with electrically charged poles, and shock him until he falls to the ground. He releases a grunt as he impacts the ground.

Nobody helps him.

"Respect your elders, especially higher ranking officers." one shocker says in a gruff voice.

The ceremony continues as if nothing has happened, while Gale and I give each other shocked glances, but the scene in front of us is like a mine explosion. Cruel, and impossible to ignore.

I guess District 2 is big on discipline.

"Anyways," Darius says, "the winner of our great hunt is Cato Hadley, with an astounding total of three birds, two squirrels, and one rabbit!" He begins to applaud, and urges the others to as well.

Cato just stands there with a smirk on his face, and arms crossed, looking extremely attractive.

I grimace as Cato takes credit for MY hard earned kills.

"Your fabulous prize, is the choice of where we will be exploring tomorrow, and to have your curfew of 10 PM removed. You are allowed to be up all hours, do not abuse this privilege. Sessions are over, the rest of the day can be used for free time." Darius finished.

I have a feeling I am going to become quite the night owl.

AN: How did y'all like it? Tell me in the reviews! Until next time! :)