Katniss

The rustling of the leaves, sweet rushing of the creek merely a few feet away. These sounds consume my thinking as I pull back the bowstring, aiming at a nearby doe. Gale hasn't had a decent kill in ages and I bet he'll be damned when he realizes I've gotten the first doe in months. I'm about to release my arrow when the sun's golden reflection catches my eye, and I find myself staring at the ring. It's been hard to get used to it: every morning when I wake up and rub my eyes, and I feel the pearl on my eyelids, it's like I'm finding the ring all over again.

In the second's worth of hesitation, the doe sees me and scampers off into the woods, deep into the foliage where neither Gale nor I dare venture alone, even when completely mentally stable. I curse under my breath, breaking my streak of focusing only on material, simple things—avoid that tree, watch out for that branch, listen for a squirrel—and my mind wanders off after that doe, to a place where I'm usually too scared to let it go.

Prim's words echo in my mind as I take cautious steps to the blueberry and blackberry bushes by Gale's and my large rock. Do you love him? I've been racking my brain these past few days trying to figure it out, while I'm as far away from him as possible—in the Meadow while he's at the mines, working—to be clearheaded. I love him, but I also love Prim. Is it the same kind of protective, sisterly love? Or is it something more romantic?

I give my head a slight shake. Katniss, you're hunting, I remind myself, stringing my bow once more as a slight sound betrays the presence of another being nearby. I aim low at the bushes, where I know for sure that there is something, and have just about shot it down when Gale jumps out from behind the leaves, wiggling his fingers around to try scare me. I laugh and take a step back, surprised at my giddiness. Everyone knows it's been ages since I've had a good, hearty laugh, or even since anyone's bothered to try and make me smile. Suddenly out of nowhere, literally, Gale manages it in one shot.

"Damn you, Gale!" I hiss, my smirk growing as I finally lower the bow. "I was just about to skewer you!"

It's his turn to laugh mockingly as he takes a few long strides towards the clearing. "Like you would've hit me," he scoffs sarcastically, taking a seat on the rook next to me. He picks one of the blackberries nearest to him and tosses it up in the air, only to catch it with his mouth seconds later. He grins at me, showing off the dark remains of the berry on his teeth. I grimace and haul the game bag onto the rock. I have a mind to look through and make Gale help me pluck the few birds I've caught, but Gale has another thing on his mind.

"So," he says nonchalantly, rummaging through the bag. "What exactly am I taking tonight to the lovely baker?"

I stiffen at the mention of my secret trading with Mr. Mellark. At first I'd done it just to help Gale bring in more customers, more baked goods from the kindhearted man that was Peeta's dad. After a while, though, I have to admit it's become my therapy. Going out to the woods and focusing on nothing more and nothing less than hunting has helped me more than any Capitol doctor could. It's certainly working better than keeping me locked up in my house in the Victor's Village.

"I'm sorry," I say finally, dipping my head in shame. He's caught me now. I shut my eyes and hope that he won't tell me to stop trading for him, because—I might as well say it—trading with Mr. Mellark keeps me from losing my mind over Peeta's death. Of course, now I'm actually allowing myself to live (a huge improvement from before) but it's easier to mourn with someone who cared for Peeta as much, or more, as I did. But I don't say this to Gale, because I know his usual reaction: a stiffened jaw, a strained voice, and hot temper. I can't afford any of these if I'm going to keep my mind in place today.

He grunts in response and fishes out his knife from underneath a patch of overly long grass, getting ready to fix the game from today. I've pulled in a wild turkey—Gale's specialty—as well as a few squirrels, a couple of rabbits and I picked a few strawberries for Madge's sake. I haven't talked to her since she brought me the green envelope, and I'm hoping that the strawberries will be a good excuse to exchange some words.

On our way to the mayor's house, Gale suddenly halts and turns to me, blushing wildly. "I just remembered," he stammers, walking backwards with the full game bag, "Need to give this to my mother, she wants to cook dinner for all of us and…I'd better go." I nod at him, giving him my consent—which he probably wasn't even waiting for—and continue heading to the Undersee house.

Luckily, all the Peacekeepers that usually keep watch of the manor are gone, dispatched for the night, so I don't get any confrontation over the musky smell of pine and meat that looms over me. I knock four times on the door, the agreed amount that signals that it's strawberry delivery, and at once I hear Madge's light running across the marble floor. The many locks at the other side open, and she's standing in front of me, wearing a lovely white fur robe with dyed pink edges.

"Katniss!" she chirps, exhaling smoke-like breath. "Hi!"

"Hey," I reply, struggling to maintain a wholehearted smile on my face. I dangle the sack of strawberries in front of my face, and, excited, she reaches out and grabs them from me. She presses them to her lips, probably impatient to devour them behind the kitchen door. Then, as if she's just remembering I'm still standing there in the cold, she turns to me abruptly.

"Won't you come in?" she asks, and I can tell that there's genuine concern on her face as she gestures towards the seemingly warm insides of the house.

I shake my head hesitantly. Hazelle and the others would be worried if I didn't at least check in on them, especially now that Gale's left me to fend for myself out in 12. "No, I'm sorry, I have to go have supper," I tell her, and her face falls in dramatic contrast to the upbeat expression she had on half a second earlier. I give her a slight smile and wave goodbye, but not before promising her that I'll join her and her family for supper some other time.

I turn and head back towards the Victor's Village, stopping momentarily by Rooba's to make sure she's received my game from Gale. As I enter the horseshoe-shaped grassy area—which I'm convinced is fake, genetically-engineered grass, seeing as it manages to stay green year-round—I'm stopped by a sudden movement to the east. I turn my head, and, sure enough, there's a faint line of smoke rising a few ways into the woods. I take off in that direction, haunted by a post-Games feeling that whenever I see smoke, it means fire, and not the good kind.

I follow the trail, only to end up at the old abandoned stone cottage hidden in the woods, where I sheltered Bonnie and Twill and asked Gale to take off with me. The only thought in my mind is, Someone's lit the chimney.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Have I ever told you reviewers how much I love you guys? Seriously can we get married or something? Y'all are amazing, thanks so much for keeping up with this story (and being patient with my super slow updates), it really means so much to me! And just a quick question (don't feel obliged to answer, it's just out of curiosity), how old do you guys think I am?