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 nine.
Chapter Nine
As Peeta releases me, I hear steps coming up from behind. I turn to see Commander Vanzant standing there. "We have to keep moving. I know they will be looking for us." I nod and try to get my breath back from all of this emotion.
"We need to see where we are," I tell her. I give Peeta my bow and arrow and climb the nearest tree. I see a group of hovercrafts near the clearing with bright lights shining down on the smoke. I feel a sense of grim satisfaction. But I also know it will only be a matter of time, a matter of very short time, before they start looking for us. I get out bearings and I notice we have made it closer to the barren area and I believe I even see the outlines of the ruins of District 13 as the early morning light starts to light up the east.
I shimmy down the tree as quickly as possible. "We have to go in that direction," I point to Commander Vanzant as Peeta hands me back my bow. I don't have any arrows left, but I still throw it over my shoulder. It's too fine a bow to just throw away. "We also need to go now. They're looking at the clearing and it won't be too much longer before they start searching again."
She nods as she gathers her people together to relay the news. Peeta holds my hand as we walk over to Cinna and Portia. "Are you okay?" I ask them.
Cinna nods. "Look at you," he tells me with a wry smile.
"Look at you," I say back. "It's so odd to see you fighting this way."
He smiles back at me with a genuine smile. "It's real good to see you, Katniss."
I hug him tightly as I whisper back, "It's real good to see you too. I didn't think I ever would see you again."
I hear him breathe deep before he says, "Me too."
The others join us and he gives me one final squeeze. I look over to see Portia and Peeta also embracing before we all break apart. Commander Vanzant nods over at me and I know she's giving me the lead. I take a deep breath. "Ok everyone, listen up." I raise my voice but to where it would not be overheard outside of our group. "We move fast and we move silently. Keep all communication to a minimum. We're moving in this direction," I tell them as I point to the east. "Commander, can you tell me if you have an access point to get into the base?"
One of her soldiers steps up. "We do have a tunnel that connects to the forest floor. It's in case we ever needed to evacuate. There are several big groupings of rocks, but one of the groupings conceals the entrance."
I nod. "That's what we're looking for. It's not very far from here. Maybe about two or three hundred yards. Everyone be on the look out for what he has described. Keep your weapons ready." We move out with Peeta and myself in the lead.
I find myself thankful for the leg they have given Peeta. It has kept him quiet and he is able to keep up with me. We travel quietly with no words spoken between us. I continuously check the area, the tops of the trees, and around them for any sign of the Capitol following us.
We keep moving. It's quiet in the woods. I'm not sure if all the explosions have scared off the game or if it is something else. It gives me an eerie feeling as we continue through the forest. I hear Annie behind me and before I can try and figure out a way to keep her quiet I see something out of the corner of my eye. It's a grouping of gray rocks. I look around and see several others.
I signal Vanzant and I rush over to one grouping and start searching. Peeta is next to me and we're both searching frantically. It's then that I hear the mockingjay. My eyes are wide as they latch on Peeta's and we both know we don't have much time before a hovercraft arrives.
I hear Annie cry out again, and we see that she's found the opening. Peeta pulls me over to that grouping. "Wait," I whisper.
"We don't have time to fight them, Katniss," he whispers back.
I shake my head. "No, it's our tracks!" He looks at me in understanding then. I look around and grab a low hanging branch. I take my knife out of the sheath and I start sawing. Peeta, Gale and Madge see this and copy me. We break the branches and start sweeping the clearing. Gale gets the idea to run in the other direction.
I tell him to hurry and Madge follows him to create more footprints. I trust him to come back without leading the Capitol around. I see that Vanzant has gotten Finnick's family, Cinna, Portia, and Johanna safely through the tunnel along with most of her crew.
I see Gale and Madge break through the trees using the branches to brush behind them. Once the area is clear of most of the tracks, I get to the rocks, brushing as I go with Peeta, Gale and Madge all following my example. Once my foot touches rock, I heave the branch in any direction. Vanzant goes into the tunnel along with her waiting soldier. Madge and Gale follow and Peeta pulls me into the tunnel. We put the seal back on just as the Mockingjay lets out another call. We hold our breath and we can hear the Peacekeepers in the clearing.
"No one is here," I hear one of them call out.
"I see tracks! But it's only two on foot!" says another. "Maybe they split up."
"Separate. Find them. Snow wants them dead or alive." In the dim light, I see Peeta's eyes wide on mine. We listen for another few minutes as we hear them shuffle away and I let out the breath I had been holding. That was way too close to call.
We head down a ladder into another tunnel where everyone else is waiting. Vanzant breaks a glow stick and a faint yellow light shines throughout. "Let's go," she orders as she takes the lead.
I hang back for a moment with Peeta and let the others rush by. I'm glad the lead is out of my hands and I don't have to lead everyone back anymore. He rubs my shoulders. We've saved him, is all I can think. He's safe.
But for how long?
