I just want to make a quick note here ladies and gents. First off I aplogize I'm sure you hate when writers to this, but I would appreciate it if you would let me know how I am doing. Or if you have suggestions. That would be great. Thanks so much for reading. I hope you enjoy this chatper and the many to come.
I know there is no way Celia and Grayson will let us stay here while they take on 5 tributes. Because there is no way I'm going to leave Peeta here by himself. Suddenly a million options are running through my head. I hear the splash of water and I know either Celia or Grayson is coming over to us.
"What're you waiting for?" Grayson is probably less than 10 feet behind me. I quickly tell Peeta the plan, I also tell him this is the only way we can do it while trying to avoid injury. I know this is going to hurt Peeta, I know he wants to keep them as allies but it will simply not do.
I wait until the last second, I grab my knife and stab Grayson in the stomach several times when I hear Celia. "Grayson!" She yells. By then Grayson and I are on the ground and Peeta has thrown a knife at her. But Celia isn't stupid, she moves away at the last second and dives into the water. I hear a cannon go off and know Grayson is dead. The water near Celia is turning yet. I know he skimmed her arm. And she's bleeding bad. I know the tributes further down by the lake have probably heard Celia so we are going to have to act fast.
It all happened so quickly, I wasn't ready. Celia sprung out of the water and threw an axe. i dodged it and strung my bow. Dodging another axe, I released the arrow right into her throat. Blood spews out of her mouth for just a moment before she falls back into the water. Then another cannon goes off. I turn toward better to see and axe lodged in his legs. I rush over to his side.
"Peeta." I whisper. He's groaning. I know immediately its bad. I also know Peeta and I need to leave and soon. Because the hovercrafts will be coming and surely the other tributes will notice them.
"Pull it out." Peeta says. I touch the handle of the axe. And try to tell Peeta to be strong but before I can get the words out he's talking again. "Pull it out!" He yells. I rip the axe right out of his leg and he screams. Blood is gushing everywhere. Tears weld up in my eyes. No. I think. Not my Peeta. I rip off a piece of my shirt and wrap it around Peeta's leg. I don't have time to examine his leg because all in unison the birds stop singing but one.
"Peeta, we have to go." I say gently. But I know he can't get far in this condition. I open Peeta backpack and grab the rope. It's the only thing I have to try to keep the cloth in place. I didn't secure the knot of my shirt well enough to stay put. I hear the hovercraft. "Peeta, now!" I get up and I go around Peeta. I put my arms underneath each of his armpits and life forward. Peeta lets out some sort of noise. A ping of sadness and regret hits me. I don't want Peeta hurt. It's because of me he is. I wasn't ready enough to kill Celia. And now we both have to pay for it.
I half carry half guide Peeta through the woods. When I can hear the tributes yelling. I know they found us. I rush into the woods with Peeta. He is already tripping over things, branches, rocks, himself. I search around the dense arena. Searching for ideas. I know this isn't going to be good. I can't only think of one idea. To hide. They will be on us soon and Peeta isn't fit enough to help me take on 5 Tributes.
Then an idea hits me.
"Peeta, do you think you could make a quick temporary alliance?"
"Uh, what?" he asks confused.
"You're much better with people than I am. Lie and say you killed the two careers and I'll stay up in a tree. You can be safe with them. Tell them you lost track of me and I'm too difficult to kill on my own. Say something! Peeta I can't bear to lose you." I say and now I'm crying. I know this is not the time or place to be doing this.
"Katniss-"Peeta starts.
"Go. Make friends with them. I'll be watching and if any other them pose a threat, I'll shoot them." We're running out of time now.
"Katniss, I'm not leaving you." Peeta says. But I ignore him and start to climb the nearest tree. "Katniss, please stay." He begs. "I can't lose you. Please." This tears at my heart. I can't lose him either. But I won't. I refuse to. I won't let anything happen to him.
"I trust you." I stop climbing for just a moment. "They're going to be here any second. Peeta I need you alive and this is the only way I'm going to be able to keep you. We will think of something later, I promise. But for now I need you to do this, for me." I try to look at him. I see something cross his face. Love. Trust. I don't know exactly what it is. "For us." This seems to work because Peeta agrees. But not before kissing me. I climb back up the tree and settle in a branch just in time because the other tributes have reached Peeta. I string my bow ready to kill anyone who even looks at Peeta the wrong way.