*****I own none of the Hunger Games characters or the Hunger Games. My OC's are mine though.

Chapter 9

I woke up early as usual. My head was laying on Cato's chest as one arm was wrapped around me. The other hand was clutching his sword. I tried to get out of his grasp, but he only pulled tightened his hold on me.

"Cato," I muttered.

"Hmm," he hummed.

"Can I get up? I'm going to look around."

"Alright, but be careful and yell if you need help," he said sleepily letting go of me.

I grabbed my canteen and put it in my pocket, before walking off. I loved walking in nature, I just wish I wasn't here for the reason I was. My daddy would love to be out here with me. I walked a little more and found a stream. I smiled climbing down the bank to the water. I pulled my canteen out finishing the water that was in it, before filling it again. I found a dry rock and decided to sit for a little bit. I looked around and smiled. I saw spearmint and reached for the plant pulling a leaf off and putting the leaf in my mouth and started chewing. I pulled a few leaves off the plant and stuck them in my pocket for later. I could just imagine my daddy laughing at me for doing it.

"I miss you daddy," I mutter before singing.

'I know you see me
Like some wide eyed dreamer
That just rolled in off a dusty mid-west bus
Yeah, on the outside I look fragile
But on the inside is something you can't crush

Cause I'm country strong
Hard to break
Like the ground I grew up on
You may fool me
And I'll fall
But I won't stay down long
Cause I'm country strong' I sang.

"Ohh Star it's you," Marvel said spear in hand on the ledge above.

"Who else would I be?" I asked raising an eyebrow as he climbed down the bank.

"I thought you were another tribute, you have an amazing voice by the way. I'll bet all of Panem is in shock that you can sing so well," he said I shrugged.

"I guess, spearmint?"

"Uhh sure," he said raising an eyebrow obviously confused.

I chuckled putting a leaf in his hand, before putting another in my mouth. He looked at it then back to me before putting it in his mouth. He chewed it then nodded knowing he was fine.

"Alright, let's get out of here," he said going to where we came down.

We carefully climbed back up to where we were. That's when we saw him…another tribute. Marvel looked at me as I nodded and we both started running towards him. Running in boots my whole life has definitely prepared me for this. He tried running, but we caught him. I had a knife at the kid's neck, while Marvel had the spear at his stomach.

"I think you and I make a better team than you and Cato," he smirked.

"Say that again and Cato will kill you himself," I chuckled.

"Yeah you're right, so do you want to kill this runt?"

"Please no…I-I can help you. The bombs I can reset them so they will protect your supplies," the kid pleaded. I looked and Marvel he shrugged.

"Come on, we'll see what Cato says," I said grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.

It wasn't that hard to make him walk back to camp. The others all had sadistic smirks on their faces minus lover boy.

"Aww you brought us a present, you shouldn't have," Clove laughed.

"Actually listen to what he can do. Might actually be handy," I said putting my knife away.

I went to Cato's side as the kid explained what he wanted to do. I saw Cato smirking, he liked the idea.

"Ok District 3, go ahead and get started. I trust that you won't run or back stab us, because we will kill you very painfully and slowly if you do," Cato warned as the kid nodded.

"Ok our camp is the Cornucopia…NOW GO!" Cato shouted as the kid scrambled.

"I hope you know what you're doing Cato," Glimmer said.

"I do, now let's go."

===9

We spent most of day searching for tributes falling short. It was colder tonight than it was last night as I was shivering in Cato's arms. We had set up camp for the night. We were sitting around the fire talking, while I was cuddling to Cato trying to get some heat.

"Here, you don't need to get sick," he said taking off his coat putting it around me.

"B-but you n-need it," I said my teeth chattering.

"I'm used to this weather, I'll be fine. You're as cold as ice right now."

"I-if you w-want it back t-tell me," I said snuggling in it and him.

The others started talking again as I nodded or shook my head not wanting to answer.

===9

I opened my eyes and found myself nestled in Cato's arms. When did I fall asleep? I shook my head and wiggled out of Cato's arms, he must have known I was going to get up early…again. I got up and saw that I was still in Cato's huge coat. I pulled it off of me and laid it on him. I looked around and saw smoke.

"Guys wake up," I said loudly.

"What?" Cato asked sitting up still tired.

"Look," I said pointing to all of the smoke.

"Ohh shit, come on guys it's time hunt," Cato smirked getting up.

We packed up all of our stuff and start out for the burning woods. I don't understand how there can be that much fire though. I don't really care, because I'm not in the middle of it. We walk up to a huge lake and there she is Katniss. We race each other to try and get to her. I'm not really all that bothered, so I'm in the back with lover boy. Katniss starts climbing a tree and I have to admit she's really good.

"Go on Cato," Glimmer says as I raise an eyebrow.

I may live in one of the poorest districts, but I'm very intelligent. I know when someone big goes up, they fall and make a big boom. Before I can say anything Cato's climbing the tree. And as I predicted he fell…hard.

"Starry come here, you're the smallest," he said making my eyes widen.

"What?" I asked as they push me to the tree. "Does anyone remember I'm from the flattest district? Do we want to relive the epic fail known as the rope climbing training?"

"Ohh yeah," Glimmer said, I wish I could knock the stupid out of her.

She pulls out an arrow and tries shooting Katniss and misses. Cato grabs the bow from Glimmer and tries and misses. I give him credit he got closer.

"Just wait for her to come down. She has to eat some time," lover boy said I nodded agreeing.

"Marvel start a fire," Cato ordered, yep he's pissed.

I sat on a log watching Marvel start the fire. I don't know what to think my brains confused. I'm trying to understand why the fuck we're all here, I know it's because the Capital's making us, but there has to be a way for more than one person to win.

"Uhh Star," Clove said behind me.

I look up seeing a snake two feet from me. I sigh pulling out a knife throwing it. I sent the knife through its head pinning it to the ground. The guys are right; I'm too good at killing snakes.

===9

"Starry come on, let's go find more wood," Cato said later that night. I nodded and got up following him.

"Are you ok, you've been acting different?" he asked wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Cato I'm confused, I don't know anything anymore," I sigh laying my head on his chest.

"We all are, but I promise you we are getting out of here together. Then we'll figure everything out," he said leaning his forehead on mine.

I nodded as he lowered his head to kiss my lips. I kissed back, he's the only thing I'm not confused about here.

"Now come on, let's find some wood and get some sleep. Glimmer's on duty, so no worries my princess," he smirked.

===9

I heard a faint grinding noise. I don't know what it is, but it's annoying as fuck. I snuggled closer to Cato trying to go back to sleep, but I kept hearing it.

"Star go back to sleep, it's too early even for you," Cato whispered.

"I know, but I keep hearing something," I muttered.

"What's that?"

Then there was a snap and a huge boom. I jumped up like Cato and saw tracker jackers. They started swarming us as I took off for the lake. I felt a sting on my forearm and cussed. I jumped in hearing 4 splashes while I surfaced. I spit out water as Cato, Clove, Marvel and lover boy emerged.

"Where's Glimmer?" Marvel asked as a cannon went off.

"Does that answer your question?" I asked feeling extremely sick, this is not good.

Song Credits: Country Strong- Gwyneth Paltrow