2 Months Later

Nothing has happened in the Games or around here, for that matter. Lumber Mills are still running down in the Town, we're all still just lolling around up here in the Victors Village.

Balsam invited all of us over, but Mother and Pine stayed home. Nyla is totally over her Winter Sickness but it grew it into a regular case of sniffles so now she walks around everywhere with a tissue box.

I'm lounging in a large squishy chair in Balsam's living room, idly messing my nails while the screen slowly blossoms into a sunrise. It's actually around noon here, but the Gamemakers change the pace of the days at will. Plus, no one would want to wake up at dawn to catch the Feast, or just see all the excitement at Recaps.

Thresh is crouching there, at the very edge of the wheat fields, glowering up over the little incline at the Cornucopia. Shots keep flashing to the inside where Finch is hiding, her knife blade slipped in her leather boot.

As for the Careers, their carefully watching from the tree line, Cato lower to the ground, waiting for the table, and Clove leaning casually against a tree, spinning throwing knife through her slender fingers.

Peeta is still sick in the caves, asleep by some sugary-water thing Caesar called "Sleep Syrup" that's used in District Twelve. Katniss is chewing mint leaves a little ways away with socks on her hands, and a bow tight in them.

Just when the sun finally crests the edge of the ground, the table rises. Four packs on a white table-cloth, fluttering in the slight breeze. As expected, Finch darts out, swipes her pack and runs off.

The Careers don't even look her way. Cato is waiting for Thresh, and Clove is waiting to ambush Katniss.

As if on cue, Katniss throws herself into the open, bow ready, dashing to the table. Clove lets a sinister grin creep onto her face before sprinting after her. No soon has Katniss slipped the pack on her wrist- it's an odd orange wrist pack thing- Clove lets a knife loose.

Blight winces at it slashes Katniss above the eyebrow, cutting open her skin and blinding in her in one eye. Without even a second glance, Katniss shoots twice, one of which hits Clove in the arm, the other misses.

Before she can knock another arrow, Clove has tackled Katniss and their both screaming and clawing on the ground.

The screen suddenly cuts to Thresh swiftly walking towards the Cornucopia not even bothering to run. Cato, however, is searching around near the edge of the forest, completely oblivious to the District Eleven boy quickly covering ground.

None of us speak at Clove pins Katniss to the ground, that disturbing smirk plastered on her face.

"Where's your boyfriend, District Twelve? Still hanging on?" she asks tauntingly.

"He's out there now. Hunting Cato," Katniss says harshly before shreiking "Peeta!"

We all know Katniss is bluffing, but the girl from Two doesn't. Clove shoves her fist into Katniss's mouth, glancing around, somehow not noticing that Thresh is ever so close and approaching.

"Liar," Clove says, that smile returning. "He's nearly dead. Cato knows where he cut him. You've probably got him strapped up in some tree while you try to keep his heart going. What's in the pretty little backpack? That medicine for Lover Boy? Too bad he'll never get it."

When Clove opens her vest to show off her gnasty collection of knives, Alona gets up and heads to the kitchen saying "I can't watch this! That girl from Twelve is a complete goner!"

I return my focus back to the screen as Katniss begins once again to squirm under Clove's knees holding her to the earth.

"Forget it, District Twelve. We're going to kill you. Just like we did your pathetic little ally . . . what was her name? The one who hopped around in the trees? Rue? Well, first Rue, then you, and then I think we'll just let nature take care of Lover Boy. How does that sound? Now, where to start? I think I'll start with your mouth. You won't have much use for your lips anymore. Want to blow Lover Boy one last kiss?"

Suddenly, Katniss who has tears in her eyes spits some mixture of saliva and blood into Clove's face who blushes furiously, embarrassed. I grin and Johanna laughs. Cleaning all the spit off her face Clove returns to her torture. "All right then. Let's get started."

Then, Thresh reaches them. He jerks Clove into the air which is easy considering she's a year younger than me- 15. He violently throws her to the ground, the girl collapsing onto the grass. The knife has slipped out of her hand and she's trapped- I couldn't be happier.

"What'd you do to that little girl? You kill her?" Thresh shouts, Nyla jumping.

"No! No, it wasn't me!" Clove responds trying to scramble away from the massive boy.

"You said her name. I heard you. You kill her?" Then his brow creases in anger and his voice rises. "You cut her up like you were going to cut up this girl here?"

"No! No, I —" Clove finally notices the small boulder in Thresh's hand, her eyes dialating with fear. "Cato!" she screeches. "Cato!"

The screen flashes to him, suddenly turning and seeing the whole scene- Katniss sitting up, well, and Thresh standing over a terrified Clove on the ground. "Clove!" he shouts suddenly taking off, but he's much too far to reach her.

away, I can tell that much, to do her any good. What was he doing? Trying to get Foxface or Peeta? Or had he been lying in wait for Thresh and just badly misjudged his location?

Without warning, Thresh slams the rock down on Clove's head which makes her lay limp, moaning, a giant dent there in her skull. I swallow, trying not to think to much about the large dip- but I can't help but cringe at the sight of it.

Thresh turns on Katniss and I think he's about to hit her with the rock too, but he talks instead, this time quiet than with Clove. "What'd she mean? About Rue being your ally?"

"I — I — we teamed up. Blew up the supplies. I tried to save her, I did. But he got there first. District One," Katniss answers quickly, her eyes flickering to the stone in his dark hand.

"And you killed him?" he asks, almost pointedly like he needs her to say yes.

"Yes. I killed him. And buried her in flowers, and I sang her to sleep," Katniss says quietly.

"To sleep?" Thresh asks.

"To death. I sang until she died," the girl from Twelve says. "Your district. . . they sent me bread," Katniss answers hurriedly, wiping her nose. "Do it fast, okay, Thresh?"

Instead of smacking her face with the rock, Thresh points it at her. "Just this one time, I let you go. For the little girl. You and me, we're even then. No more owed. You understand?"

"Clove!" Cato calls, speeding up at the sight of still there, still wounded on the ground.

"You better run now, Fire Girl," Thresh says calmly, almost kindly.

Katniss gets up and runs off, her pack and bow with her while Thresh takes both packs.

"Idiot," Blight says. "Why would he do that?"

"Maybe to get back at Cato?" Nyla answer, still sating at the TV.

"No," I murmur. "He did it to help Katniss, I think."

Johanna shrugs. "It won't matter in a few hours."

She's right though- Cato will just chase Thresh and they'll have a fight that Cato will probably win.

Speaking of Cato... When I turn back to the screen, he throws his spear onto the ground, cradling Clove's head.

"Clove, no, no. C'mon, Clove, you have stay with me," he sounds desperate or choked, or both. It dawns on me that he probably cares for her.

She doesn't even open her yes, just curls her fingers around his hand, the slightest smile on her face.

"Clove, please, Clove open your eyes," he begs, almost shaking her. "Clove?"

In answer, a cannon booms in the distance.

For a moment he stares at her, then his fists clench and his jaw tightens. He yells, standing up, grabbing his spear off the ground and running faster than we've ever seen him go towards the wheat field- all the while his eyes glistening with tears.

While he searches for Thresh, a look of pure hatred drawn on his face, we see Finch eating and Katniss running as if escaping a pursuer threw a rocky ravine.

Katniss runs into a cave, slips to the ground, yanks open the bag to find medicine for Peeta, and sticks the needle in his arm- the blacks out. Nothing happens for the next twenty minutes except Cato exploring the giant wheat field, and Finch resting in the woods. When Caesar stars to cover everything that happened we all start to stir again.

Alona comes back in, sitting on the table, sipping her drink. "I think that Finch girl should win."

I shrug. "Thresh is a real contender."

Johanna, however, scoffs. "Yeah, but he won't be after about four hours when that boy finds him."

"What about Katniss?" Rasp asks. "Her and Peeta are the only team left. Plus, she seems pretty confident with that bow."

"Enh," Nyla replies, waving him away. "It's jut for show. To match her pin."

"Well," Blight says, stretching his arms. "I'm gonna' go. Nothing's going to happen for a bit."

We all agree, slowly filing out the door.

"Hey," Axel says catching me when I'm by the fountain. "Do you want to see my newest carving?"

I grin as best I can. "Sure."

While he leads towards his porch, I start to feel a not forming in my stomach, like my insides are all shaking.

He picks up two things, showing me when we get there, each intricately carved and perfect.

"Is this a wolf?" I ask curiously, looking at the small figure.

He nods. "Mh-Hm."

I smile, glancing at him. For a moment I don't speak. Instead I notice his eye again. Their just a perfect silver, like someone weaved the soft metal into a storm cloud- mesmerizing.

When he gives me a funny look, I shake my head, clearing my throat. "It's wonderful."

"Keep it," he answers simply.

"Really?"

He nods, curls bouncing. "Yeah. You seem to like them."

"I do," I say quietly, glancing back at the wolf. It's standing there, proud and strong. Just staring off into the distance. "Thank-you."

"'Course," he says quickly. "It's an okay talent I guess. Keeps my mind off things."

"Oh," I say, giving him a look. "It's much better than mine. For a talent, I burn bread and cakes."

When he laughs, my skin prickles. I beam like never before, wanting to join in, but I don't. Instead I listen to him.

Saying nothing for once in my life.

SO! Give some reviews and I may post a chapter tonight!

CHRISTMAS BREAK! I'M SO EXCITED! YES! IT'S AWESOME!

Like I said, the more reviews I get the faster I update, and the faster we get to Catching Fire and the other Victors again.

Thanks to my reviewers already, and PLEAE REVEIW AWAGIN! I love seeing them!

Yep, that's about it. So, will Fern and Axel end up together? Maybe, maybe not! What do you think? I want to hear from you guys !

Thanks for reading, and please review!

~Meghan