A/N: Two chapters in one day! Your welcome.
Disclaimer: You get the gist.
Chapter 4: Into the Woods
Katniss POV:
By the time the sun shines my bedroom, I'm already awake and tiptoeing out of the house. I leave without so much as a goodbye, farewell or a note. I changed back into my outfit from yesterday: my father's hunting jacket, a different black v neck, a lighter pair of jeans and my usual hunting boots.
The weight of my bag drags me down, why do I need this many extra pairs of clothes? Should I go back to the house to return some? Probably too risky…I was lucky enough getting out of the house once without being seen. The haul is significantly lighter than the buck from yesterday. So, I stop complaining.
I sprint to the fence so no one sees me. Thankfully, it appears that none of the shopkeepers saw me as they opened up for the day. If they did, none of them tried to stop me. They probably think I'm out hunting with Gale for the morning.
I see Gale smile as I walk into our usual hunting spot. I don't exaggerate when I say I leaped into his arms. I violently throw my clothes on the ground, causing a few shirts to fall out of the bag, and wrap my arms around the middle of his back. I feel him stumble by the force of the embrace, but he wraps his arms around me once he regains his balance. We stand there for what feels like an eternity, not saying a word, just sitting there in comfortable silence.
When I finally let go, I start to feel embarrassed. "Looks like you're excited to see me Catnip". I blush, then look away, quietly picking up the clothes that I left scattered on the ground. The thoughts from last night must've gotten into my head…I've known him practically all my life. One night shouldn't change any of that.
Gale POV
What's gotten into Katniss? One moment she runs towards me to hug me, and the next she won't even talk to me. I crouch down next to her and help her pick up some of the shirts that fell around her bag. Our hands awkwardly touch as I give her one of her shirts. It sends a shock down my arm, but it's a shock that demands another. Although it's not strange for me, Katniss inches away a bit to pick up yet another, black t-shirt.
As she finishes packing her clothes into her bag, which she absent-mindedly shoved, I suggest that we hunt a bit to calm her nerves. I take my bow and arrows from inside a berry bush, as Katniss reaches into a hollow log to retrieve hers. Most of our conversation focuses on what to hunt for, and when to strike. We shoot a few birds, then decide to keep walking. I stuff the birds in my bag, since Katniss's is practically overflowing with clothes. We find a grassy spot by the brook and sit down for dinner.
"Maybe we should make a fire to roast the goose." Katniss nods, and grabs a few stray rocks to form a circle. Then, carefully layering pieces of wood from smallest to largest until she's created a small teepee. Using two sticks, she grinds them together and ignites the fire. We just watch for a moment as the flames flicker up and down, waiting for the campsite to cast an eerie glow from the flame.
I settle the goose on top of a stick hanging above the flame. As the goose roasts, the inside flaps tucked neatly onto the stick, I sit down next to Katniss on a stray log about 5 feet from the flame. Now's your chance to ask her what's going on.
"Katniss, we need to talk. I-"
Before I can think of what to do next, I feel Katniss's warm lips against mine. However, the thing that surprises me the most, is that I'm kissing her back.
A/N: Wondering what comes next? The next update will come soon, I promise. I'll try and make Gale's POV a bit longer, but that's coming up in upcoming chapters. As always, thank you for reading :)