I know, I know. I'm the biggest poo-face ever. But Fanfiction wouldn't let me log in and then I went camping at a campground who promised internet connection, but they were having problems. And I just got back late last night. I'm already working on the next chapter, so I'm really really sorry and I promise I won't let it happen again!

BTW, this chapter is for my lil' bro, Shawn, who turned 11 today! Happy birthday! (April 25 2011)

Katniss looks worried. She continues to spin, though, and I stay frozen, leaning forward and staring, unable to tear my eyes away. How many times has something like this happened in the Game interviews before, where someone has tranformed into a...

a...

a...

A bird? My mind flashes back to the woods of District Seven, smelling of pine and exhaustion. Birds tweeted.

"Dad? What are those birds doing?" I ask, brushing my dark brown hair out of my face and struggling to hold onto my big-girl axe.

"Why, Johanna, those are mockingjays. They're formed from Mockingbirds and JabberJays. They can remember things well, and they can sing, they can all sing beautifully."

Katniss Everdeen has been turned into a mockingjay.

Caeser, at least, has figured out she's not supposed to be a human. Instead, her dress is as black as the coal from her district and small feathers sprout out of the dress. She lifts her arms-wings-into the air, and I can only see flecks of white patches on the sleeves of the gown.

Caeser reaches out and touches her headpiece. "Feathers. You're like a bird."

"A mockingjay, I think," says Katniss, and flaps her wings. "It's the bird on the pin I wear as a token."

Caeser proceeds to congratulate Cinna, Katniss's stylist, who then takes a small bow at Caesers suggestion.

The audience, who was just silent and frozen, as the rest of us, breaks into applause so wild and loud, you can barely hear the faithful buzzer. I lean back in my chair and watch her walk back to her seat, earning herself a stare from almost every Victor she passes.

Peeta and Caeser, who are like old friends, chat a bit with jokes about fire and other things I couldn't care less. I tune out most of the interview, preoccupied with trying to figure out how Cinna had made that outfit. How did it burn away just when she spun.

Peeta tells Caeser he's...married? Married to Katniss Everdeen? The audience is absorbed in this whole conversation, and even I turn my attention back to those two back up at the front of the stage, not being able to help but listen to the conversation.

It goes on for a bit, and Caeser is quite surprised at the fact that Peeta wishes it hadn't happened. Of course, as its his job, Caeser tries to get him to talk more on the subject.

I can't make sense of what's happening. I'm trying to piece the puzzle back together when something Peeta says shatters even the tiniest of the puzzle into a million pieces.

My head darts up as I hear him say: "Maybe I'd think that too, Caeser. If it weren't for the baby."

Immediatly, I know this probably isn't true, she probably has no baby, but not even I can comprehend how indescribably horrible this is.

The audience is silent for a moment. All at once, though, they abosrb the news. All of a sudden, they burst into screams and cries and wails. My heart is pounding out of my chest, because despite being the most badass victor alive, I still can't quite let this go in one ear and out the other, like I can with everything else.

Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, is pregnant. With a baby who probably won't make it because of the brutality of the Games. Because if Katniss dies, then so does an innocent, helpless child who won't even have a chance to see this world...

This world... this horrible world. This world full of bloodthirsty, inhumane people. Full of violence, full of hate. Children killing other children, President Snow killing to and fro as he pleases.

My eyes flick up, and I realize all the Victors around me are rising. The anthem is making the entire place vibrate, and I rise.

Blight offers me his hand, and I grab it in mine. The male morphling is a bit choked up, and he shakily takes my hand in his, which I support with my strength. Up and down the entire row, I see, every single Victor, including Enobaria, Brutus, and the half-drunk District Five Victor, Mufus, are all holding the hands of those next to them.

Every single one of us. Every. Single. One. From District One to District Twelve, where Peeta is crying and Katniss is obviously suffering as she holds Peeta's hand and Chaff's stump, which got sliced off during the final battle between him and the girl from District 4.

The crowd is still a mess, and the lights go out. I can't see a thing, but I need to find someone. "Finnick!" I wail, and blindly make my way down the row of Victors.

"Johanna?" Finnick's voice rings through the darkness.

"Finnick," I say. "Where are you?" He appears in front of me, and I reach out to tentively touch him, confirming that it is, indeed, Finnick Odair of District 4.

"Where's Mags?" I ask.

"I don't know," He answers, and I'm pretty sure he shakes his head in sorrow.

We make our way back to the traning center, and try to join Katniss in Peeta in the elevator. After all, we need some way to get back to our floor. A Peackeeper with shaved black hair throws his hands out in front of the elevator, blocking our way, and the elevator doors shut, leaving us to wait for the next one as everyone else manages to find one.

"Oh my..." I say.

"I know. What the hell happened out there?" Finnick blurts.

I scratch my head and them drop my hand down. "I have no idea. Who started it?"

"Peeta. Peeta and Katniss."

"Wouldn't surprise me," Is all I say, and then the elevator doors open and I press 7. Finnick waits for us to go all the way up to the District Seven floor before pressing 4 so that we can have time to talk.

"I'll see you in the arena tommorrow," He says. "We'll try and find each other, okay?"

"Hope so," I say, and the doors open. "I'll try. But I'm in charge of getting Wiress, Beetee, and Blight."

"Good luck with that. I've got to get Katniss, Peeta, and Mags."

"Make sure they don't die, kay?" I demand. "That's the most important thing right now." I smooth out my leaves and, just as the doors are shutting, I call out, "Be very very sure!"

Then the doors close and I'm left all alone