Chapter 13:
The month passes quickly. Prim and I head over to the woods the next day, and Gale is waiting for us. Thankfully, we skip out on talking about the heavy stuff, and focus on what is most important right now- training Prim. He has a lot of supplies with him and immediately begins to assess what I have taught her about snares. He nods approvingly as she demonstrates to him what she already knows, but then dives in and starts showing her some more advanced techniques.
I am torn between paying attention, spending time with Gale and Prim and trying to learn the snares myself, and getting as far away as possible from the two of them while they train. I am the rebel that is always out in the woods, not Prim. So if the Capitol finds out she is here, surely her punishment won't be as severe as mine, right? But they still haven't electrified the fence, so perhaps that means that they don't really care that we are out here. Or that they are just planning to take it out on Prim in the arena anyway.
I ultimately decide on staying away. Being around Gale makes things too complicated. Things are complicated enough as it is. I use the time as an opportunity to do something that I haven't done very much lately- be by myself. I even bring my bow and arrows a couple of days to hunt while they train.
After a week, Prim has mastered a couple more snares. But despite the time spent learning them, she is reluctant to actually set them up for real- because she feels that she will more likely eat plants in the arena anyway, if she can. We decide that her time would be better used in the trees, so we thank Gale for helping us. He tells us he'll check in with us again before the Reaping. Prim and I practice climbing drills, over and over and over again, and every time she does it I feel a little better. She's improving. This is worth it. It is a far cry from watching her botch our archery lessons day after day. I get the sense that Gale might be watching us from afar, but he leaves us be.
As the Reaping nears, our training continues as scheduled, but I spend every night with Prim and our mother. I know that Peeta will understand, and we'll have plenty of time to spend together later, after we leave for the Quell. But for right now, our little family spends every second together that we can. Prim and I talk late into the night sometimes, discussing strategy, talking about Dad, reviewing our plants. During breaks throughout the day, we stuff her with as much good food as much as she can choke down to encourage her to gain a little weight. That is one unique thing about this year's Quell- since every tribute there will be related to a Victor, none of them are likely to be very hungry. I'm sure the Gamemakers will keep this in mind.
On the last day before the Reaping, Prim is in the trees when Gale comes to visit. In the last month, she has developed Rue-like senses, and has harnessed her initial fear into determination, learning to leap from tree to tree quite agilely. I don't feel the need to watch her like a hawk anymore. So when Gale approaches, I leave her alone and I turn to him.
"Catnip," he begins, and engulfs me in a hug. I feel his strong arms, smell the woods in his scent, and immediately feel conflicted. "How are you holding up?" he asks.
"I'm all right," I reply, pulling away. "I guess it's easier to know." I'm thinking of last year's Reaping.
"Yeah, I guess so," he agrees.
"Anyway, I just wanted to thank you again for helping Prim," I say. "I'm feeling a lot better about her chances."
Gale raises an eyebrow. "You do? That's good. How do you feel that you would have done with someone like her in the arena last year?"
I chew my lip thoughtfully. But a sigh escapes my mouth anyway. Because I know. I am quiet so that I am certain Prim can't hear me. "I think I probably would have kicked her ass, Gale, if she were just a random girl," I murmur. "She can run fast, but I can hit a moving target with my bow and arrow. Other than running and climbing, she has no way to defend herself, and she still hates the idea of killing anything, even animals for food. But you never know." I brighten a bit. "The girl from District 5 last year, Foxface, made it to the final four without using any weapons. And she was by herself for most of it."
"And Prim won't be?"
Whoops. I had forgotten that I never revealed to Gale the specifics of Prim's alliance. "Well, she and Paavo are going to be partners," I say evasively, hoping I can leave it at that.
Gale raises another eyebrow. "I would be careful about that if I were you- or Prim. I wouldn't trust either of Peeta's brothers as far as I could throw them. Anyone that could get along with their witch of a mother is not worth trusting in my book. And I'm not just saying that because of Peeta, because obviously you trusted him, and you won."
I'm not sure what to make of this. Gale has probably seen Peeta's brothers at the bakery a lot more than I have- he's been trading game longer. But I've spent an awful lot of time with Paavo in the last couple of months. Resentful of Peeta, absolutely, defensive of his mother, of course, but I'm not sure I can really use either of those things against him. Those feelings sometimes come with being in a family. But I do know that I don't want to discuss this with Gale anymore. I tell him that Prim and I should go.
I call Prim down from the trees. Gale tells me to wait, that he didn't mean it, but we need to go anyway- it's getting late, growing dark. The Reaping is at two, and Prim will have a long day. She needs the rest. I tell Gale so; assure him that we're not leaving because of anything he said.
Gale hugs Prim first, and they say goodbye. "But I'm sure I'll see you soon, Prim, right?" he winks at her. "Especially the way you can snare and jump from tree to tree now."
She gives him a broad grin. "Yes, Gale. I'll see you soon." She means it as much as she can hope.
Gale turns to me. I realize that this will be the last time I see Gale before I marry Peeta. I have no idea what to say to him. So I don't say anything, I just let him take me into his arms, engulfing me in a gigantic bear hug. As we're hugging, I feel a little warm dampness on my cheek. Not from me, from him. Accompanied by a couple of odd sounds, and some shaking of his chest. I am in utter disbelief.
Impossible. Gale can't be crying. I don't believe it; I've never seen him do that in the entire time that I've known him. But it's true. I pull away a bit, so that I can see his face, and his eyes are red and glassy, with a couple of tears having escaped down his cheeks. But he wipes them away and quickly looks down, refusing to meet my eyes, embarrassed. He just whispers, "It should have been us, Catnip."
Then he lets me go, turns around, and is gone without looking back.
The Reaping Day comes and goes quickly. Prim dresses up. This time, it isn't just nightmares that predict her name being pulled from the reaping ball. She knows exactly what's coming, and is prepared. That beats last year, I suppose.
Peeta and I sit with Haymitch. People file in. The town clock rings. The mayor reads. Peeta and I are added to the list of victors. Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor, blah, blah, blah. Effie looks as out of place as ever in the square as approaches one of the big glass reaping balls. This one has only one slip of paper inside. "Ladies first!" she exclaims, trying to build tension with her tone, as if we don't all already know whose name is inside. She makes a show out of fishing the slip of paper out. Then, she reads, clearly and distinctly: "Primrose Everdeen!"
I experience the strongest ever sensation of déjà vu. But this year, I say nothing. And Prim walks much more confidently to the stage, less naïve, more mature. So thankfully, I don't feel the quite the same degree of anguish. But it's still there.
Effie walks to the other reaping ball. "And now the gentlemen," she says, drawing one of the two slips of paper within it. "Paavo Mellark!"
The only good thing about this was that we didn't have to go through the formality of Paavo having to volunteer for Paca. Saves time.
Effie congratulates the tributes and asks for the audience's applause. For the second year in a row, no one gives it to her. Prim and Paavo are then escorted into the Justice Building by Peacekeepers. We all watch them walk trepidatiously inside until the doors slam shut behind them.