Katniss Everdeen

Haymitch, Effie, Cinna, Portia, and I sat in front of the TV with our fingers crossed. I had not told Effie or Haymitch what I did and neither wanted to hear what I had to say. We watched as Caesar Flickerman began with 1. Both Cashmere and Gloss were awarded with 9's. Cato received an 10 while Enobaria was given a 9. the other got mediocre numbers. Finnick was awarded a 10 while Mags received a 2.

Johanna's sneering face appeared on the screen, and suddenly, dinner did not sit well in my stomach. "Johanna Mason with a score of 9." Sweat pooled in the palms of my hands and I shook my leg as I grew itchy with anticipation. Would they give me a zero? There had never been a zero. Then again, there had never been an 11 until I came along.

"Haymitch Abernethy with a score of... 8," Caesar said and Effie squealed in delight. Haymitch took a long sip of whatever liquid was in his flask after nodding at his 8. Cinna nodded to Haymitch and Portia hugged him.

"Congratulations! I bet you are going to last way past the Bloodbath!" Portia squealed.

"Wonderful," He groaned sarcastically and I scoffed.

"Which brings us to Katniss Everdeen with a score of..." Caesar's eyes widened and he seemed to ponder something. "12," he said and we remained silent. No one spoke, but all eyes turned to me.

"They're going to make the other tributes target you," Haymitch finally said.

"Target me? But-"

"You're a threat now and you don't have allies except for me. Good going, Molotov cocktail," he said and Effie rubbed her forehead.

"Katniss, it's fine. I'm sure everything will work out," she sighed. Cinna gave me a grave nod while Portia went to call an avox to bring drinks and a celebratory cake.

"Work out like what? Me dying?" I demanded and she closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Effie, I'm just..."

"I think we all need a nap or a drink, or some method of coping," Haymitch said and sat up. "I will see you two an hour before the interview."

We all skipped on Portia's cake.

~'~'~'~

Caesar Flickerman's interview was what I dreaded. Cinna had dressed me to the nines. I wore a white dress that had feathers and my hair was pulled back in braids.

We weren't subjected to standing in line. Instead, we were allowed to stand or sit wherever we pleased as long as we were ready for the cameras.

Everyone had something to say that they hoped would stop these Games. After the woman from 1, it was Cato's turn.

"So, Cato, tell me. What is going on between you and Katniss?" Caesar asked and Cato gave him a grin.

"Well, I asked her to marry me. We had no idea we'd be returning to the arena," He said and Caesar nodded.

"Yes, it is very sad. Now, tell me. If the Games had not happened, how many children would you have had?" Caesar asked and Cato looked down at his hands. What was he doing?

"Well, we planned on two, but now it's down to one," He said softly and the audience gasped.

"Now, I'm going to need you to clarify that. Did you change your mind?" Caesar asked and Cato shook his head.

"No, we were preparing for our first child," He said hoarsely and I felt all eyes on me. For five seconds, I stopped breathing, until the information sunk in. The audience began to yell and shriek. People were screaming to end the games. In their eyes, I was pregnant.

Cato was sent backstage where he engulfed me in a hug. "You're under my care now. No one else will dare try to hurt you," He said and rested a hand against my stomach. My eyes widened and I shook my head.

"You can't-"

"I can if it means keeping you alive." he growled in response.

Finnick recited a poem for his one true love. Beetee spoke about how man should have the power to take back laws. Johanna gave a very memorable speech by swearing at the audience. Haymitch slurred something about a 13.

When it was finally my turn, I walked up on stage to thunderous applause. The bright lights burned my eyes and I hugged Caesar. "Katniss! How are you, my dear? Experiencing any... changes?" He asked and I smiled.

"I'm well, Caesar. And yes, I have been experiencing changes," I said and he nodded.

"Now, I remember you coming here last year and showing us your magnificent dress. Are you wearing any flames today?" Caesar asked and I nodded. I looked at Cinna who nodded.

Standing up, I began to spin. There was smoke and I felt a tickling at my ankles. The crowd gasped and I stopped spinning to look at myself. There were gray feathers all over me and the white dress had morphed into one that was dark and fierce.

"Oh my goodness! You're like a bird! Like a bird! Like a-"

"Like a mockingjay," I said and locked eyes with Cinna. He gave me a grave nod as Caesar and the audience clapped. I returned to the stage and stood with the other Victors. Hesitating, I took Chaff's hand and the others began taking each other's hands as well. Cato and Enobaria reluctantly took hands with Gloss and Cashmere as the Capitolites screamed for the end of the Games.

We raised our hands to the sky to show the Capitol that we were one. At least, for now.

~'~'~'~

The next morning, I ate as much as I could, which was very little. Effie hugged me and sighed. "I really wanted to see your wedding," she sighed and I smiled.

"I did too." Effie reached over to hug Haymitch and he accepted it. Fluffing her hair, Effie waved to us as we were escorted onto the hovercraft that would take us to the arena.

Haymitch and I shared the hovercraft with Districts 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7. Johanna winked at me and I nodded. She looked away and I sighed. "Give me your arm," an attendant said and I held my arm out to her.

She injected a tracker into my arm from a plastic tube and I hissed. It stung and felt like I was being electrocuted. Pulling my arm down, I watched as she reached for Haymitch's arm.

The flight from the Tribute Building felt so short. I could hear my heart racing as they told us to exit the hovercraft.

I walked behind Chaff and entered the dome shaped building. We were led to our respective rooms where our stylists would have one last say.

I hugged Cinna the second I saw him. He smiled and returned my hug. "I have your suit," He said and I nodded. "It's good material, but won't trap heat. Made for lots of water, so I'll say jungles or lakes. This belt won't do anything. I don't know what it's for, but it will probably help you," he said and I nodded, pulling the clothes on.

Cinna pinned the Mockingjay to my left breast and nodded. "If I could bet, I'd put all of my money on you, Girl of Fire," He said and I cracked a small smile. Cinna had some food brought to the room and a Peacekeeper stood by to make sure I didn't hide any of the food in my pockets.

The meal was lamb stew with dried plums. What used to delight me now tasted like ash in my mouth; I could barely stomach a couple mouthfulls. We sat around as I chewed mint leaves. They gave me something to do other that glare at the wall.

Tributes, please commence to your chambers. Tributes, please commence to your chambers, a cool voice stated. Cinna nodded to me and I hugged him one last time.

"Win," was all he said and I nodded. I would have to if I wanted to go back home. I stepped into the small chamber and the glass door closed behind me.

Suddenly, two Peacekeepers ran into the room with clubs. My eyes widened as they went towards Cinna. "No!" I shrieked and the two began beating him. Crimson blood spattered the ground and the glass of my chamber. Feeling tears stream down my face, I pounded on the glass and screamed.

Cinna's knees gave way and he collapsed as they continued to beat him. "Please! Stop!" I cried out and the chamber began moving upward. I crouched just in time to see the two Peacekeepers dragging Cinna's body out the door.

The chamber moved upward and I wiped my eyes. I had to focus. The harsh sunlight made me look away and rub my eyes. When I could see once more, I looked around and saw water.

There was water all around me and the Cornucopia was an island in the center. There were dense woods around as well. The other Victors were looking around for their choice weapons like I was. Then, I saw it. Amidst the weapons lying around in the Cornucopia, there was a silver bow with two quivers of arrows.

I found Haymitch and he nodded to me. Cato was in his suit and crouching to dive into the water. He looked at me and smiled. I nodded to him and we both turned to face the Cornucopia.

Remember who the enemy is, Cato had said to me. Remember who the enemy is.

Enobaria gnashed her teeth together while Finnick winked at me. Beetee wiped his glasses and Celia wiped her eyes. Sweat began to drip from my nose as the sun created a heat like no other. The suit made me sweat less, or it just wicked the sweat away. I wasn't sure.

60... 59... Most took stances that would help them dive in.

58... I bent my knees and prepared to spring.

57... Someone coughed and spit into the water.

56... 55... I began wondering why we had to stand on our pedestals for a full minute.

54... 53... Come on, Katniss. You can do this. Just get to the bow and you'll be fine. I thought about Finnick and how much of an unfair advantage to him this was. Suddenly, the scales had tipped in his favor.

30... 29... Dammit, my knees were beginning to cramp. I waited for the gong to sound.

10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1 The gong sounded and I dove into the warm water. My first thought was that it was salty. I began swimming to the Cornucopia and reached the shore just as a few other people reached it as well. Reaching for the bow, I slung a quiver onto my shoulder just a Finnick Odair approached me.

As I was about to shoot him, he flashed a gold bangle on his wrist, Haymitch's bangle. That was a direct order to trust Finnick. "Good thing we're allies, right?" he asked in a smooth tone.

"Right," I growled and slid a few knives into a pack. Standing up, I searched for food.

"Duck!" Finnick yelled and I lowered my head in time to see a trident sail over me and into another victor's heart. I shot someone in the arm and Finnick helped me pack weapons.

"No water!" I yelled and he nodded. We found Haymitch fending off the man from 8. I shot him in the heart and Finnick grabbed Mags' hand and slung her onto his back.

The four of us ran as far as we could into the jungle and sat down. There was a stream trickling by and I quickly scooped some water into my mouth. The taste of salt instantly hit me and I spat it out.

"We can't drink the water, there's salt in it," I sighed and sat down beside Mags. Finnick looked around cautiously and ran a hand through his hair.

"We need to keep moving," his voice was low and Haymitch wheezed.

"You two may be able to move quickly, but let's keep in mind that some of us are over 30," he panted and Mags patted Haymitch's cheek.

"Well, we need to find water. That's our priority," Finnick stated. "I saw fish in the water by the Cornucopia, and there are birds in the trees. We might have passed by a turtle or two, so I can work with that. Katniss, do you know any of these plants?" he asked and I nodded grimly.

"Yeah."

"Good. Food won't be an issue, but without water, we have 3 days, max," he said and pulled Mags onto his back once more. "So we need to keep moving."