Yay, fifty chapters!
I watch as Katniss climbs up a nearby tree during our walk and surveys who died. From her expression, she seems sadden by the amount of people who died. It must be lot. No one in here is timid and afraid. I see her glance at me and then her bow. She's going to shoot me. But, she won't. Without me, no one else has developed a real connection, she'd be left with Mags, and this makes her look good. As she drops from the tree, I pick up my trident and aim it at her, slightly held back. She knows what it is supposed to mean though.
"What's going on down there, Katniss? Have they all joined hands? Taken a vow of nonviolence? Tossed the weapons in the sea in defiance of the Capitol?" I ask her. I realize that sounds kind of mean, but she really shouldn't be not performing her best. She's supposed to live.
"No," she simply replies.
"No because whatever happened in the past is the past. And no one in this arena was a victor by chance, except maybe Peeta," I tell her strongly, looking at Peeta. It's better if she hears it now. He's the weakest and while I would love to save him, he has to do it first. Plus, if he had the option, he would put himself in front of Katniss. He acts too slowly and too compassionate. He wouldn't kill anyone.
I keep my gaze held on her, watching her decide if it's worth killing me. I could get to her first, I know that for sure. If she fires, my only hope is to dodge but seeing her aim that wouldn't work. I would need to go first but that would defy my mission here. Thankfully, Peeta comes around, breaking the intense and slightly awkward situation. We are supposed to be allies.
"So how many are dead?" He asks. I want to laugh at the randomness but I don't. I don't drop hold either. He's between us too, so he knows what he is doing.
"Hard to say. At least six, I think. And they're still fighting," she answers him.
"Let's keep moving. We need water," he tells us.
"Better find some soon. We need to be undercover when the others come hunting us tonight," I remind them. I drop my trident after she does. I'm not going to die today.
"Maybe we'll have better luck on the other side. Find a spring or something," Katniss suggests after a long walk to a hill with no water. Peeta keeps chopping away the vines and a zap fills the air. I turn around from trying to survey the area to find the area clearing, wiping away everything, knocking Peeta into me and Mags. I push myself up and help Mags up too. I think I'm good, but Peeta doesn't. He's lying in a web of fines, with hair slightly burnt and from the way Katniss looks at him, he's dead. But where's the cannon?
"Peeta! Peeta!" She screams, shaking him. I motion towards a tree for Mags and then push Katniss back with my arm as I step near Peeta. He must still have something left because we haven't heard a cannon and I think I can help.
"Let me," I tell her. I feel his ribs and spine and then pinch his nostrils shut.
"No!" Katniss screams, throwing herself at me. I push her back and she returns back into a tree. She points an arrow at me, I can feel that without even turning around. And then, I start performing CPR, which to probably everyone else looks like I'm kissing him. Can't wait to see what the Capitol says about that. I keep his mouth tilted open, and blow. I unzip Peeta's jumpsuit top and pump over his heart with the heels of my hands.
Katniss lowers her bow as I do what I've done more times than I would like to admit. I'm done when Peeta coughs and I sit back, giving him some room.
"Peeta?" Katniss says, coming closer.
"Careful. There's a force field up ahead," he says tiredly. At least he's back to normal though thanks to me. Yep, I'm not getting killed now, at least by Katniss or Peeta.
"Must be a lot stronger than the one on the Training Center roof. I'm all right, though. Just a little shaken," he explains.
"You were dead! Your heart stopped!" Katniss bursts again, sobbing now.
"Well, it seems to be working now. It's all right, Katniss. Katniss?" Aw, concerning Peeta.
"It's okay. It's just her hormones. From the baby," I explain.
"No. It's not-" She tries, before realizing that she is supposed to go along with this. She keeps crying and laughing. She glares at me even though I helped her. She's certainly complicated. I try figuring it out, but I give up. I don't want to think too hard right now.
"How are you? Do you think you can move on?" I ask Peeta, changing the odd topic.
"No, he has to rest," Katniss says for him. Mags hands her some moss to wipe her face off with. They start talking about the Mockingjay as I save some more moss for later, in case this happens again.
"So you want to make camp here, then?" I ask.
"I don't think that's an option. Staying here. With no water. No protection. I feel all right, really. If we could just go slowly," Peeta says. That sounds better.
"Slowly would be better than not at all," I say, helping Peeta up.
"I'll take the lead," Katniss offers once composing herself.
"No, let her do it. You knew that force field was there, didn't you? Right at the last second? You started to give a warning. How did you know?" I ask Katniss, cutting off Peeta too. I want to see her response. How much is she still here?