Disclaimer: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, two of the best books I've ever read, are owned by Suzanne Collins and I don't have any rights to them except the right to read them and love them. Here's my attempt of trying to continue the story. I'm sure it will pale in comparison to Suzanne's wonderful work, but here goes chapter seven.

Chapter Seven

Peeta speaks up. "Are there any canteens or anything we can carry water in?" I realize then that we are only five miles from District 13, but this will be a very rough and slow going five miles if the Capitol converges on us. Peeta's words make me remember what Haymitch told us at our first Games: Just clear out, put as much distance as you can between yourselves and the others, and find a source of water. It seems as if Peeta is taking this on like another Games.

Maybe that's how we should look at it. We trail out behind Vanzant and we see more of her squad. They're looking through boxes and hidden storage areas under seats and behind walls. I see a pile of canteens growing in the middle, along with backpacks with parachutes inside and more rope. "Grab them too," I tell everyone. Everyone is grabbing for something. The hovercraft takes a hit and we all fall forward around the pile.

Then the craft starts to spin quickly and we are all flattened against the walls. I can feel the quiver of arrows pressing into my back and the parachute pack pressing into my stomach. Then the craft levels out before it bumps again and I know that we've landed. I shake of the dizziness and I put the back on and maneuver the quiver so it will stay put. "Move!" Vanzant orders and we file out of the opening in the side of the hovercraft. When we are outside, those of us who are trained with weapons have them up and ready to fire. My eyes take in our surroundings. We seem to be in a clearing with trees all around. Vanzant had said that District 13 was five miles to the east. I look to the sky and see the sun setting to my left so I go to the right.

"This way," I tell them and we run quickly for cover. I hear a mockingjay call and I look back. There's a hovercraft over ours and a ladder descends. We see the white peacekeeper uniforms on the ladder from here. Vanazant holds something up in her hand and pushes the button. Our hovercraft explodes and the one above it goes with it.

"That may buy us some time," she tells me. Then the squad looks to me. I realize that they are waiting for orders. District 13 has been an underground city for years. It hits me that these people have never had to go outside.

I sigh. "Anyone have a map?" A man in his late twenties walks up and takes something out of his vest. He unfolds it. "Can you find where we are on it?" I ask him.

He shakes his head. "All I know is that the barren land is here before you get to District 13 on the north side. There are woods that border the western side of the District here and it also borders the barren land's southern side. But I don't know where we are in the forest."

I look at the map and then call to Peeta. He's my map expert from the last Games. "What do you think?"

He studies it for a moment and looks up. "Keep heading east then. Maybe northeast so we can know exactly where we are in relation to the border lands." I nod.

"We have to find a water source. It's going to be dark soon, so that must be a priority. No lights, no fires, and nothing that can reflect where we are back to them."

"Camouflage," Peeta says. I nod in agreement.

"We'll deal with that once we can find some mud." I look around the group and I see them hanging on our every word. Well, everyone besides Finnick and Joanna that is. They've been through the Games, they know what to do. I see Annie shudder and Finnick's arm goes around her. It seems to me her nightmare come back to life. I look away. "Stay in the trees and away from anywhere that doesn't give cover. Buddy up," I say as an after thought. "Let's move."

Again, I give thanks that our boots make the walking silent. I can barely hear Peeta's shuffle and I'm amazed. Our eyes search the skies as we move from tree to tree. My mind turns back to my mother and Prim and I wonder what they're going through. Do they know we've been shot down?

I square my shoulders. I'm not going to give the Capitol the chance to beat us. I've been through two Hunger Games and I've survived. I can get us through this. I have to. I look to my left and I see Gale. He's silent, his eyes searching the skies and then he turns to me. "You're different," he accuses. I feel Peeta fall behind to give us privacy.

"Yes, I am," I answer. I look around searching for some sign of water. I don't want to have this discussion right now, especially in front of Peeta.

We've been walking for a few minutes and I almost thought that I had gotten my wish not to do this now before he spoke again. "He's changed too."

"Who?" I ask.

"Peeta."

I think about that for a minute and then I realize Gale is right. Peeta has changed. He's not just the baker's son anymore, or a second place wrestler. He's a survivor, and a fighter. "Yes," I answer again, keeping my voice level. I look at Gale out of the corner of my eye and I see him nod.

It's like he's trying to work everything out. I can almost hear the gears in his mind work together. "You're not the girl I fell in love with anymore." His voice is soft. "You're a different woman." Woman. Huh. I feel like I've aged decades in the past year and Gale, who probably knows me better than most, has realized that I aged without him. He's always been a man in my eyes but this time I think he feels I've shot ahead of him. Maybe I have. "I understand, Katniss."

"Understand what?" I ask.

"I understand why you love him. Why it is Peeta and not me. At least, I think I do. And I accept it. I just want you to know that," he tells me. Both of my hands are tied up with my bow but I wish I could hold onto Gale's hand and let him know how much it means to me that he says that. Before I can say anything, he falls back and I feel Peeta back on my right side.

"I think I see water to the right," Peeta tells me and I'm so thankful he doesn't want to pick that conversation apart. I'm sure he does, but Peeta is so kind he wouldn't do that with Gale right here. I nod and we circle around to a fast moving stream. There's pretty good cover from the trees with branches so long, they obscure us from view. We fill our canteens and drink. The water is refreshing and I want to stay as alert as possible. I'm starting to feel each of the hours of this really long day.

Peeta starts rubbing mud in his hair and on his skin. The others see him doing this, and follow his lead. I watch as Madge slings mud in her hair without a second thought and I smile. She's so far removed from the girl in the pretty white dress. I see Gale next to her trying to help her hide her blond hair. I feel something inside me let go and I realize it is Gale that I'm letting go.

Then we hear another mockingjay call and I hiss, "Trees!" Everyone moves from the stream and pushes up against a tree. A bright light shines through tree branches and moves around the stream. They must have figured out we would head for water. I silently make my way up a tree once the light disappears and the hovercraft flies off. I want to get a better look. The tree is sturdy and great for climbing. I get as high as I can and I have a good view over the forest. Looking down, I realize I'm about thirty feet in the air. Maybe more. I look around the treetops and I see several hovercrafts with bright lights searching for us. We can't tell if they are Capitol or District 13, but I bet they are Capitol.

I look to the north as I see a hovercraft with a bright light. I can see where the forest ends and the barren lands begin since the forest slopes down. It's probably about two hundred yards from here. I carefully make my way down the tree and lightly drop to the ground. I relay our position to Vanzant and she nods.

I feel hunger gnawing away inside me and I'm surprised that no one has mentioned it. They're probably too scared to. "We need to eat," I tell her and I see her nod. I realize that her people are soldiers but they have never hunted before. I realize that even though she is the Commander, the people see me as a leader. There are about thirty people here who need to be fed.

"Finnick," I call and he comes forward with Annie beside him. "See what you can get out of the stream to eat. Annie, if you can look around the banks and see if there are any plants that we can eat, it would help." I see Finnick's look of relief. That way, he can keep an eye out for her.

"My family will help," he tells me and I let him deal with them. He walks away with Annie and talks things over with a man who is as tall as he is. The group heads to the stream and some of the squad go with them.

"Gale," I call and he comes over. "We need to hunt. Fish and berries won't feed thirty people." He nods but he looks over at Peeta. Then both Peeta and I smile. "He'll stay here with Madge and keep a look out. Peeta is a little…"

"Loud," he finishes. Then he grabs my chin in his hand and kisses me hard. "Don't go too far and get back quickly," he orders me.

I kiss him back just as hard and then I say, "Yes, sir."

Gale and I stride off into the woods. We're silent but I feel the silence is comforting. Both of us have our bows out and ready. We've gone in for about thirty yards when I see the buck. He's beautiful and powerful. I don't think twice as I let the arrow fly and it hits him directly in the eye. Another arrow hits his heart at the same time. Gale and I bring the deer back to camp and we start to clean it.

I see some of the squad watching us, and some people turn away. Portia has looked away as she's huddled next to Cinna but he's watching me with his steady green eyes. It's messy work, but it feels good to be doing something. Once we've cut up the meat and lay it out on a parachute, I see Finnick and his father coming towards us with a bag full of fish and Annie with berries.

"How are we going to cook everything without a fire?" a person asks. I can tell they are hungry and restless and scared.

"Gene," Vanzant calls out and a young woman comes up to her. "May I see your torch?" The woman digs in a shoulder bag and gives an instrument to the commander. The commander turns it on and a jet of fire comes out. Then she hands it over to me. "This should help."

It puts out minimal light and it cooks the meat. Pretty soon, everyone is feasting on venison and fish with berries. Not a bad haul for a meal out in the woods. "We need to sleep in shifts. Sleep under the trees," I tell them. I bury what is left over of the carcass and bones from the deer so it won't draw in any predators. Vanzant and a few of her squad claim first watch. Peeta and I settle with our back to a tree with his arms around me. I fall asleep immediately.

I wake up to the sound of gunfire.

A/N: Please be kind and review.