Hey guys!

I'm back with a brand now chapter! You'll probably hate me because it's very short but I wanted to do a whole chapter about the Feast!

I recently started getting a lot less feedback, and I'd like to know at least what you don't like anymore :/

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 17

I stand still in shock. Both tributes from the same district can be crowned victors. A few hours before I was thinking about what our relationship would be like if we were back in District Two, and now it's suddenly becoming real.

"Clove" I turn round to find Cato, half out of the tent.

And then I feel all the pressure go away. Cato has always been my greatest threat, and now we're allies and future victors. We'll be unique, unforgettable and we'll be that together. We've already won.

He gets out of the tent and opens his arms just like he did the night of the trackers jackers 'attack. It's me that steps forward to be close to him. The second I feel him holding me tight, I do something incomprehensible, especially coming from me. I laugh.

It just feels so good to know we're not opponents anymore.

"We can do it" he whispers "We can make it home together"

As an answer, I tighten my grip on his chest. He rests his chin on the top of my head and we stay for a while without talking, just holding each other like nothing else mattered.

I don't know why, I suddenly think of all those girls back in District Two who must be dying to be at my place. We'll win this, together and they'll drown in jealousy, I keep telling myself. And I laugh again. To my surprise, Cato laughs too, I can feel his chest rise up in an irregular rhythm.

"You should laugh more often Little Lamb"

It's the first time he uses this nickname since the fight with Marvel, but this time it's alright. Because he's not here anymore and that in the way we are pressed against each other, I'm the only one to hear it.

"You should go to sleep now" I say, lifting my head up

"What if I don't want to?"

"I guess you could stay with me" I smirk

"I'd go with that one" he answers brushing my cheek

I let myself fall on the grass next to the campfire we lighted up before the announcement. I expect him to sit next to me, but he doesn't. I frown before feeling his back resting slightly on mine.

"Why always back to back? Are you afraid to face me?" I mock

He laughs lightly

"No, it's just... That's how my sister and I were seated the night before she went into the Games. She was District Two's most talented archer, probably of the whole Panem too. She was even a little too good." He pauses and I guess he's about to tell me something he hasn't admitted to lots of people "Others Careers agreed to kill her in her sleep" he clenches his fists and I cover one of his hands with mine in an paltry attempt to comfort him "They were cowards and one of them managed to win. He makes me sick. He was there standing victorious at the place my sister should have been"

I understand from where Cato draws all his rage. There is silence, like he said too much, and he did, but that's alright now that we're allies to win

"You know, you remind me a lot of her"

"She sounds like a very good person" is all that I manage to say. Everything I want to say is too poor, so I just press his hand a little more, and I feel his fingers grab mine in response.

"And you? I've never heard you talking about your life back home"

"I'm not even sure we can call it home. There is nothing for me there. Just a father whose son failed to enter the Games and sinks slowly in depression since then"

"He must be proud of you"

"Not even" I say bitterly "You want to know what he told me at the Justice building? That I was staining his name by making us look ridiculous" My tone is harsh and I know my fingers instinctively gripped his harder

"He was wrong. You're nothing to be ashamed of. If you were my daughter, I would be proud of you, just as I am to be your district partner" It soothes me. I let my head drift to rest on his shoulder and close my eyes.

It's the first time I actually tell someone how I felt all these years towards my father and what is supposed to be my home. The truth is that right now, it seems to me that I belong more than in my Peacekeeper's house. I guess home depends on the people you are with.

"You seem tired Little Lamb" Cato whispers

"No" And that's the truth

"Yes you are"

"I just feel good" And that's the truth

We spend the night taking turns every two hours but I suspect Cato let me sleep a little more each time. Just like I did with him.

I totally wake up when the sun's up. It must be eight or nine as I went to sleep at sunrise. Cato affirms he's not tired anymore but lies on the grass though. I shake my head with a smile. Not tired anymore? What a liar.

I keep myself busy a little, trying to find a way to resist the urge I feel to lay next to him. But we can't spend all of our time in each other's arm; it seems sponsors didn't like our sentimental effusion yesterday: Nothing has been sent for breakfast.

They don't like us getting attached. They don't like us having feelings.

I announce my intention to go hunt something.

"I'm coming with you" Cato stretches out

I grumble he can't but he doesn't seem to hear me. When he grabs my hand I react reluctantly

"You can't. Sponsors don't like it" I mutter

He does not let go though "Don't care"

"They won't send us food, or anything else!"

His mouth opens a bit but he closes it fast, shaking his head.

"You did receive something" I spit

"I…" he massages his neck. He's embarrassed. I'm right. "I thought you received something too"

"Shit!" It escaped from my mouth in a furious shout. I hit a trunk with my bare fist just to evacuate the tension. My knuckles are scratched against the rough wood, but I don't mind. I can't believe it.

"I proved myself! I'm in the last six and about to win!" I shriek "What do you need from me? I'm not a weepy child! I'm better than anyone else here!" I fall to the ground. All that I had to say is out now. My nerves are breaking, but I won't start sobbing or whatever. I'm not one of those girls, even if they don't understand it. I sink my fingers into the ground, crushing lumps of soil in my palms.

"Clove, it's okay. I'm…" He places his hand on my shoulder. I don't want him to show me he's sympathetic.

"Don't! " I mutter.

I unsheathe my knife and threat him. I can see he's surprised when he steps back, but also that he's plenty aware of how dangerous I am right now. He lifts both of his hands in front of him in sign of peace. But I'm in no state of calming down.

"Don't!" I shout "You don't understand! They think I'm weak! They think I survived thanks to you!"

"That's wrong" he says, trying to catch my glance

"Shut up! What do you think? When they send food, it's for you! Not for me, not for us, for you!" I shoot and he has the presence of mind to avoid it.

I collapse again and only then I realize I could have hurt him, and badly. But he doesn't seem to mind.

"Go back to the camp. I'll bring food"

Why is he so nice to me? I almost killed him. He leaves and I stay there for a minute before getting up. I free my first knife of the wood just to stab it repeatedly into it again. My power decrease with the number of hits and I find myself almost back to normal.

I head back to the camp and sit on a strain. What am I going to do now? The whole Panem now knows how I feel about them not sponsoring me but Cato and what will it earn me? Probably nothing more. At least I didn't burst into tears or one of these girly-things I despise so much. I'm strong. I'm strong and angry. We'll see what comes out of that.

Sponsors don't like me. I guess Gamemakers don't either.

I spot a lizard, creeping on a stone nearby.

So who was that new rule for?

Fire girl

I cast its abdomen.

Fire girl and her sickening love story

The second blade stops in its tail.

I'm sure she and her boyfriend get sponsors.

I throw into its head. The lizard is agitated by a few blips then falls dead, only maintained by the knives stuck in its body.

That makes me want to puke. What is the point in being skilled if you can get things from sponsors by pretending to be deeply in love with some kind of looser from your district? Because they must have received things, how the hell could that Peeta-boy still be alive otherwise? I bet their romance thing is getting all airtime now. If they were right in front of me, I would punch them so hard in their nasty face it will be reduced to tiny pieces.

When he comes back to the camp, Cato doesn't let a word out, apart from normal tributes conversations. "Take it" when he hands me a rabbit leg or "Water?" to offer me some. I just grumble as an answer and as a result I feel like the time we argued; we don't talk anymore. Though, I'm dying to, just as I want bad to curl up near him to rest a bit or feel his back against mine. But I can't. Because what if I lose him and I'm left here alone? Of course, I could fend for myself but sponsors are useful when it comes to weapons or medicine, and I can't imagine winning without their help. So I need to be as tough as I used to be, not let anything show. At least that's what I think when trumpets sounds all over the Arena.

"Tributes, what an amazing day! After the rule change, I'm pleased to invite you to a Feast at the Cornucopia tomorrow. Now hold on. Some of you may already be declining my invitation. But this is no ordinary feast. Each one of you needs something desperately. Each of you will find that something in a backpack with your district number at the Cornucopia at dawn. Think hard about refusing to show up. For some of you, this will be your last chance"

Ho yeah, I need something desperately. A kill.

"I'm getting Fire girl"

Cato turns round to face me

"I want her flat dead since the beginning" he ripostes

"I need to kill her, to show sponsors how good and relentless I am. Once Fire girl and her eleven are buried, I'll be recognized, and we'll be cleared of this annoying romance stuff" I hiss

He seems to hesitate a bit but finally back off.

"Fine. You get Fire girl. Just give the audience a good show" he brushes lightly my cheek for less tan a second. It's like wind, but it feels better.

I enjoy my victory when I think about asking

"Where will you be?"

"Looking for Lover boy" he shrugs "Or at the edge of the woods, to protect you" he smiles

"No need for you to protect me" I grumble.

But inside, I feel glad.

Told you you were gonna hate me because it's short! Compared to the last one I feel like I didn't do anything!

I think my Hunger Games disease is getting worse... I'm currently reading the first one again and I refuse to read the Feast chapter for a week because I don't want Clove to diiiiiie

Anyway, I can tell you from now I'm going to do an alternative ending to the one I planned for this story, for those who wouldn't like it ;) I think I'll add an additional chapter named Alternative ending or something

And I still have lots of idea, especially another idea of loooong story, totally different. Would you guys still read me if I went to something with my own characters? :)

And if you don't like this idea, I still have lots of OS in mind, about different characters ;)

I still love you!