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It should be up there it might now I'm figuring it out

DISCLAIMER: NOT MINE! This chap sorta sticks to canon HG lol.

Chapter Seven

The 74th Hunger Games: What Doesn't Kill You…

Katniss quickly unbuckled herself from the tree, somehow her fumbling fingers release the buckle and she falls to the ground in a heap, still snarled in the sleeping bag. There's no time for any kind of packing. Fortunately, her backpack and water bottle are already in the bag, Katniss quickly shoves the belt in, hoists the bag over her shoulder, and flees. The world has transformed to flame and smoke. Burning branches crack from trees and fall in showers of sparks at her feet.

All Katniss can do is follow the others, the rabbits and deer and she even spots a wild dog pack shooting through the woods. Katniss trusts their sense of direction because their instincts are sharper than any human's. But they are much faster; flying through the underbrush gracefully while Katniss' boots catch on roots and fallen tree limbs, that there's no way she can keep the same pace as them. The heat is horrible, but worse than the heat is the smoke, which threatens to suffocate her at any moment. Katniss pulls the top of her shirt up over her nose, grateful to find it soaked in sweat, and it offers a thin veil of protection.

Katniss runs, choking, the bag banging against her back, her face cut with branches that materialize from the gray haze without warning, because Katniss knows she is supposed to be running. The Gamemakers clearly decided today was to slow; things have been too quiet today. No deaths, perhaps no fights at all. The audience in the Capitol will be getting bored, claiming that these Games are verging on dullness. This is the one thing the Games must not do.

Katniss knows that better than most, However, I still am baffled by their decision for the 72nd Games Arena. The water wasn't as exciting as this fire is, must be a personal gift from the Gamemakers for me. Oh, Joy. How thoughtful of them to be ironic, Katniss thought to herself sardonically. This fire is designed to flush the non-Career tributes out, to drive them towards the Career for entertainment naturally. It may not be the most original device in Hunger Games history has seen, but it's very, very effective.

Katniss hurdles over a burning log, but not high enough unfortunately. The tail end of her jacket catches on fire and she has to stop to rip it from her body and stamp out the flames. But Katniss doesn't dare to leave the jacket, scorched and smoldering as it is, she takes the risk of shoving it in her sleeping bag, hoping the lack of air will quell what she didn't extinguish. This is all she has, what she can carry on her back, and it's little enough to survive with.

In a matter of minutes, Katniss throat and nose were burning; the coughing begins soon after and her lungs begin to feel as if they are actually being cooked. Discomfort turns to distress until each breath sends a searing pain through her chest. She manages to take cover under a stone outcropping just as the vomiting begins, and she loses her meager supper and whatever water has remained in her stomach. Katniss knows she needs to keep moving, but she's trembling and lightheaded now, gasping for air.

Katniss allows herself about a spoonful of water to rinse out her mouth and spits, and then take a few swallows from her bottle. You get one minute, Katniss thinks to herself. One minute to rest. She takes the time to reorder my supplies, wad up the sleeping bag, and messily stuff everything into the backpack.

Where are the Gamemakers driving me? Back to the lake? To a whole new terrain filled with new dangers? I had just found a few hours of peace at the pond when this attack began. Would there be any way I could travel parallel to the fire and work my way back there, to a source of water at least? Katniss thinks furiously to herself, trying to figure out the Gamemakers next plan before they make their next move. The wall of fire must have an end and it won't burn indefinitely. Not because the Gamemakers couldn't keep it fueled but because, again, that would invite accusations of boredom from the audience.

Katniss just decided to try and loop back around, although it will require miles of travel away from the inferno and then a very circuitous route back, when the first fireball blasts into the rock about two feet from the Girl on Fire's head. Katniss springs out from under the ledge, energized by renewed fear. The fireball hits a tree off to her left, engulfing it in flames. To remain still is death. Katniss was barely on her feet before the third ball hits the ground where she was lying, sending a pillar of fire up behind her. Time loses meaning now as Katniss frantically try to dodge the attacks.

There's no time to judge if a move is the correct one. When there's a hiss, I act or die.

A lifetime of watching the Hunger Games lets Katniss know that certain areas of the arena are rigged for certain attacks; plus her own experience as both tribute and mentor.

And that if I can just get away from this section, I might be able to move out of reach of the launchers. Katniss muscles react, only not fast enough this time. The fireball crashes into the ground at her side, but not before it skids across her right calf.

Without thinking, Katniss rips away the remaining fabric with her bare hands, she sits on the ground, a few yards from the blaze set off by the fireball. "The girl who was on fire. Indeed" Katniss said sarcastically, grimacing at the pain in her calf.

I should draw my knife as a precaution, but I doubt my ability to hold it for long. The pain in my hands can in no way compete with that in my calf. I hate burns, have always hated them, even a small one gotten from pulling a pan of bread from the oven. It is the worst kind of pain to me, but I have never experienced anything like this.

Katniss was in such intense pain she didn't even notice that she was in the pool until she was ankle-deep. Isn't that what my mother always says? The first treatment for a burn is cold water? That it draws out the heat? But she means minor burns. Probably she'd recommend it for my hands. But what of my calf? Then I remember my mother saying that if a burn's severe, the victim might not even feel pain because the nerves would be destroyed.

Encouraged by this, Katniss sits up and swings her leg in front of her. The flesh is a brilliant red covered with blisters. Katniss forces herself to take deep, slow breaths, feeling quite certain the cameras are on her face.

I can't show weakness at this injury. Not if I want help. Pity does not get you aid. Admiration at your refusal to give in does. Water and time will probably be all I have to work with. Katniss spots some water plants with edible roots and make a small meal with her last piece of rabbit. She sips water and watches the sun make its slow arc across the sky.

If the Careers want me, let them find me, Katniss thinks before drifting into a stupor. Let them find me, it's not like I was plan on winning but I won't go out without a fight.

And find her, they do. It's lucky for the people who are rooting for Katniss to survive that she's ready to move on because when she's hear the feet, she has less than a minute head start. Evening has begun to fall. The moment Katniss awakes, her survival instincts take over despite her plans for the Games. She's up and running, splashing across the pool, flying into the underbrush.

Katniss' leg slows her down, but she senses her pursuers are not as speedy as they were before the fire, either. Katniss hears their coughs, their raspy voices calling to one another. Katniss does what she does best and picks a high tree and begins to climb. If running hurt, climbing is agonizing because it requires not only exertion but direct contact of her hands on the tree bark. Katniss is fast, though, and by the time they've reached the base of the tree, she's twenty feet up.

For a moment, the Careers and Katniss stop and survey one calms down, when recognizing the fact that none of the Careers could ever make the climb, so she smiles. Katniss hears the sharp intake of breath from both Cato and Marvel after she smiles.

What the hell is that about?, Katniss wonders.

"How's everything with you?" Katniss calls down cheerfully, with a huge smirk plastered on her face. This takes them aback, but Katniss knows the crowd will love it.

"Well enough, Beautiful." Cato said with a cocky grin on his face. Katniss grimaces at the term of endearment leaving his mouth.

"Yourself?" He asks.

Katniss' grey eyes sparkle with mischief as she answers, "It's been a bit warm for my taste."

Then she smirks before continuing, "The air's better up here. Why don't you come on up?"

Cato leers at her before answering, "Think I will." Cato says arrogantly. Katniss gives Cato time to hoist himself into the tree before she begins to climb again.

"Now, now, little squirrel. There's no reason for you to run I won't hurt you…well not without making sure you enjoy yourself first." Cato said the leer obvious in his voice. Katniss scoffed in disgust. She's another thirty feet in the air when she hears the crack and look down to see Cato flailing as he and a branch go down. He hits the ground hard and then he gets back to his feet, swearing like a fiend. Katniss couldn't help but snicker at the arrogant boy from District 2.

Cato glares at her, but there's an obvious red tint on his cheeks. Glimmer scales the tree until the branches begin to crack under her feet and then has the good sense to stop, by the time Katniss is at least eighty feet high up in the tree. Glimmer tries throwing a knife at Katniss and fails so miserably both Clove and Katniss let out scoffs of disgust at Glimmer's so-called 'attempt' at knife-throwing. The girl from 2 and the past Victor from 12 give each glares at having the same reaction. But, then a smug grin blooms on Katniss' face as she recalls training.

Wonder, if Clovie-ikins remembers I bested her at the knife-throwing station? Based on how Clove Isenhower's scowl darkens, Katniss knows that she does, plus the fact she missed Katniss during the bloodbath.

"Hey, Clovie-ikins? I never did thank you for the knife, I appreciate it. It's been real useful." Katniss taunted her voice cocky. Clove's expression was murderous,

"Why you little bitch-"

Katniss cut her off with smug laughter, "Oh, little one. You are three inches shorter than me and a year younger than me. That makes you the little bitch and me the big bitch in the Arena. If I do die in the Arena I doubt you'll be the one to kill me. Keep dreaming, kid." What, Clove does next causes Katniss to howl in laughter, she pouts like Tel does when Katniss sends him to bed without singing him to sleep.

"Oh, little one. You're adorable when you pout." Katniss taunts. Clove glares at her fellow Careers as they snickered behind her.

"You're right about one thing, Beautiful. She won't be the one to kill you," Clove pouts again as Cato addresses Katniss, he continues, "That will be my pleasure and only mine. You can count on that, Firegirl." Cato smirks, but Katniss rolls her eyes unimpressed.

"What I can count one is my track record with District 2 tributes, you know the fact I'm the one who finishes them off." Katniss smirks at him, Cato glares. Then, the Careers regroup on the ground and she can hear them growling conspiratorially among themselves, furious that Katniss has made them look foolish. But twilight has arrived and their window of attack on her is closing.

Finally, Katniss hears Clove say harshly, "Oh, let her stay up there. It's not like she's going anywhere. We'll deal with her in the morning."

Well, she's right about that, I'm not going nowhere. All the relief from the pool water has gone, leaving Katniss to feel the full potency of her burns. She scoots down to a fork in the tree and clumsily prepares for bed, puts on her jacket and lays out her sleeping bag. Belts herself in and try to keep from moaning. The heat of the bag is too much for her leg, Katniss cuts a slash in the fabric and hangs her calf out in the open air. She drizzles water on the wound and her hands.

All my bravado is gone. I'm weak from pain and hunger but can't bring myself to eat. Even if I can last the night, what will the morning bring?

The eyes of some animal peer at her from the neighboring tree — a possum maybe — catching the firelight from the Careers' torches. Suddenly, Katniss is up on one elbow. Those are no possum's eyes, I know their glassy reflection too well. In fact, those are not animal eyes at all, in the last dim rays of light, Katniss makes her out, watching her silently from between the branches. Rue.

How long has she been here? The whole time probably. Still and unobserved as the action unfolded beneath her. Perhaps she headed up her tree shortly before I did, hearing the pack was so close. For a while the two girls hold each other's gaze. Then, without even rustling a leaf, her little hand slides into the open and points to something above Katniss' head, Tracker Jackers' nest.

If I can drop it down on them, I may be able to escape. But I'll risk my life in the process. Of course, I'll never be able to get in close enough to the actual nest to cut it free. I'll have to saw off the branch at the trunk and send the whole thing down. The serrated portion of my knife should be able to manage that. But can my hands? And will the vibration from the sawing raise the swarm? And what if the Careers figure out what I'm doing and move their camp? That would defeat the whole purpose. Katniss realizes that the best chance she has to do the sawing without drawing notice will be during the anthem. That could begin any time.

Katniss drags herself out of the bag, make sure her knife is secured in her belt, and begins to make her way up the in itself is dangerous since the branches are becoming precariously thin even for Katniss, but she perseveres. When she reaches the limb that supports the nest, the humming becomes more distinctive. But it's still oddly subdued if these are tracker jackers.

It's the smoke, Katniss thinks, It's sedated them.

With that resolve, Katniss takes her hair out of her braid so her face will be better covered, she takes the pair of leather gloves from the backpack and slips them on for protection. The seal of the Capitol shines above her and the anthem blares out. It's now or never, Katniss thinks, and begin to saw. Blisters burst on her right hand as she awkwardly drags the knife back and forth.

Once she's got the groove, the work requires less effort but is almost more than she can handle. Katniss grits her teeth and saw away occasionally glancing at the sky to register that there were no deaths today. Which, isn't good, that gives Katniss less time to saw. But the anthem's running out and Katniss was only three quarters of the way through the wood when the music ends, the sky goes dark, and she's forced to stop. She's decides to leave the rest for morning.

In the faint light of the Careers' torches, she inches back down to her fork to find the best surprise she's ever had. Sitting on her sleeping bag is a small plastic pot attached to a silver parachute. My first gift from a sponsor! Haymitch must have had it sent in during the anthem.

Katniss smirks before softly saying, "It took you my third games for you to finally send a sponsor gift, huh, Sugar? Guess, we know who's the better mentor is, don't we, Sugar?" Katniss chuckles softly before opening it to find burn ointment.

"Oh, Haymitch," Katniss whispers. "Thank you." Katniss doesn't want to think about which sponsors helped her get this and why. Instead, she treated her burns and wrapped the pot in the parachute, then she nestles it safely away in her pack. Now that the pain has eased, it's all Katniss can do to reposition herself in her bag before she plunges into sleep.

A bird perched just a few feet from Katniss alerts her that a new day is dawning. In the gray morning light, Katniss examines her hands. The medicine has transformed all the angry red patches to a soft baby-skin pink.

Her leg is still inflamed, but that burn was far deeper. Katniss applies another coat of medicine and quietly pack up her gear. Whatever happens, she's going to have to move and move fast.

Katniss also make herself eat a cracker and a strip of beef and drink a few cups of water. Katniss looks down to see all of the Career pack passed, and then she looks around for Rue to warn her.

"Rue!" Katniss whispered, pointing to the nest and made a sawing motion. Rue nodded and began leaping from tree to tree gracefully, like she was flying.

Katniss stared at her in awe, "Whoa, deju vu. If I'm a little squirrel then she's a little bird" Katniss comments before finishing sawing at the nest, she manages to only get stinged once on the neck.

She pauses it to witness the chaos she caused, she smirked before pulling out the stinger, quickly took off the gloves so she could scamper from tree to tree. When she was a good distance away, she tied herself to another tree before the Tracker Jacker venom overtook her.

Katniss woke up, feeling a little better, confused from her hallucinations but decided to focus on building her strength up. She drinks left over water and moves on hunting on the way. After about an hour, Katniss finds a stream, shallow but wide, and more than sufficient for her needs. The suns hot and severe, so while she waits for her water to purify before she decides to clean herself off. Refreshed, Katniss treats her burns again, braids her hair again, and redresses in the damp clothes, knowing the sun will dry them soon enough.

Following the stream against its current seems the smartest course of action. Katniss is traveling uphill now, which she prefers, with a source of fresh water not only for herself but possible game. Katniss easily take out a strange bird that must be some form of wild turkey plus two rabbits.

Anyway, it looks plenty edible to her. Katniss builds a small fire to cook the meat, betting that dusk will help conceal the smoke and she can quench the fire by nightfall. She cleans the game, taking extra care with the bird, but there's nothing alarming about it. Once the feathers are plucked, it's no bigger than a chicken, but it's plump and firm. Katniss just placed the first lot over the coals when she hears the twig snap.

It's Rue. "You know, they're not the only ones who can form alliances," Katniss says softly. For a moment, no response. Then one of Rue's eyes edges around the trunk.

"You want me for an ally?" Rue asks surprised.

Katniss smiled softly at her, "Of course, I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it little bird."

Rue grinned at the nickname before shyly asking, "Why?"

Katniss grinned at her sweetly before saying, "Not only do you remind me of my little duck but you remind me of myself during my first games. And besides, why not? You saved me with those tracker jackers. You're smart enough to still be alive. And I can't seem to shake you anyway"

Rue grins a little at that, "You saved me first during the bloodbath."

Katniss shakes her head, "I put you in danger with my birdcall in the first place."

Rue bounces on her feet, "That's okay, that birdcall was totally awesome. The Careers were so baffled it was funny." Rue giggles, causing Katniss to laugh in return. Rue's stomach growls

"You hungry?" Katniss asked with a soft smile.

Rue nods tentatively. Katniss hears another twig snap and sees a flash of red hair.

"I've already had two kills today, I have more than enough to share. Come on out, Foxface. There's a rabbit for you, too." Rue and Foxface stare at her in shock.

"You aren't going to kill me?" Foxface asks surprised.

"After, I saved you in the bloodbath? Why, would I do that?" Katniss smirked at the younger confused girl. Vixen Ripley aka Foxface studied the infamous fiery girl before her critically.

"The question I want to know is why did you save me during the bloodbath?" Foxface asked perplexed.

Katniss sighed, "Here, you two sit down and eat. You two are the smallest and the youngest and will need your strength."

Both younger girls from District 5 and District 11 sat down by the fire each taking a rabbit.

"I'm sure you two know that I have sisters your ages, but what you don't know is I have no plan on winning these games."

They stared at her in shock.

"Why?" Rue asked upset. Foxface looked intrigued.

Katniss smiles sadly at them, "I've already won twice it's highly unlikely to win for a third time. I volunteered twice for my sisters to protect them from this. The two of you remind me of them, how could I win and survive the guilt of little girls like you dying?"

Foxface pouted, which caused Katniss' lips to twitch in amusement.

"I'm not little, I'm two years younger than you." Foxface protested.

Katniss smiles, "Whatever, you say little fox."

Vixen couldn't help but feel comfort from the familiar nickname.

"My brother, Crevan calls me that" Vixen smiles wistfully.

Katniss smirks, "You're family must loves foxes. Vixen and Crevan both mean fox."

Foxface beamed, "They are the most intelligent animal there is, we have two as pets."

Rue and Katniss looked at the District 5 girl like she was insane.

"Hey, if you know my name, why do you call me Foxface?" Vixen asked.

Katniss shrugged, "It suits you"

Vixen/Foxface smirks, "Of course, it does. I'm the smartest tribute here." She stated proudly. Rue giggles at her arrogant behavior.

Katniss just laughs, "I believe that Foxface. So, allies?" Foxface nods.

Rue beams, "I was hoping to be your ally, it's why I followed you during training." Katniss stared at the little girl with interest.

"Why'd you want to be my ally little bird?" Katniss asked obliviously.

Foxface snorts at the stupid question, "You're the Katniss Everdeen! Why else?" Katniss rolls her eyes.

"That's not why though! Haulm, was my cousin! Our whole family loves you! His little brother Hugo has a crush on you, he's my age. Haylee and Henlee, his twin sisters are nine, they really adore you. The whole family gets together on Reaping day to sing the song you sang to him." Rue gushed out, smiling softly at Katniss. The past Victor's eyes began to water.

"Oh, Rue. That means a lot little bird." Katniss whispered softly.

"Katniss, would you sing for me?" Rue asked shyly.

Katniss looked up at her teary eyed, "It's settled for Haulm, I'm making sure you are going to win this. I'll sing something to encourage you and you shouldn't count yourself out, little bird. I was your age after all, when I won the first time." Katniss started singing before Rue could respond:

You know I dream in color and do the things I want, you think you got the best of me, think you've had the last laugh

Bet you think that everything good is gone, think you left me broken down, think that I'd come running back

Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller

Katniss playing around pulled Rue up standing, and jokingly fixed her posture, causing the little girl to giggle.

Katniss grabs Rue's arms and starts forcing her to dance, Rue's giggles were as heart-warming as Prim's. Then, she grab's Foxface hand, who doesn't look as amused as Rue just like Sia when Katniss tries to get her to dance.

Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone, you didn't think that I'd come back

I'd come back swinging, you try to break me, but you see, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller

Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone, what doesn't kill you makes a fighter

Katniss flexed the muscles in her arms as she sang this causing Rue to giggle. Foxface looked at the older girl like she was crazy.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger. Just me, myself and I

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller

By this time Rue and Foxface both decided let go and let themselves act their ages and started dancing with Katniss.

Rue gasped in awe, "You're voice is more amazing in person."

Foxface looked amused as Katniss blushed at Rue's compliment.

Katniss uncomfortable decided to change the subject, "So, besides the two of you, there are two others that I want to win. Peeta and Thresh, speaking of Peeta, do you guys know where he is?"

Rue was the one who answered, "He's in an alliance with Thresh and the crippled boy from 10. I think both of them wanted to give Bantu from District 10 a fighting chance." Katniss smiled, feeling proud of Peeta's goodness, he deserves to live but Katniss knows he won't let her help him. Then the three began plotting, planning, and sharing stories about their Districts.

The girls decided to get some sleep, since Foxface couldn't climb trees she decided to head back to her previous hiding spot with the promise to meet them there in the morning.

"Be careful, little fox." Katniss said softly.

Vixen smiled from ear to ear at that and responded with a, "You too, Firefly."

Katniss and Rue laughed, "Gotta say haven't heard that one before." Katniss said amused. Vixen smirked before taking off. As, Rue and Katniss settled in Katniss' sleeping in a tree.

Rue whispered a, "Katniss?"

Katniss smiled with her eyes closed Rue sounded like Prim.

"Yeah, little bird?" Katniss asked sleepily. Rue giggled softly.

"Thank you, Katniss." Rue whispered kindly.

The older girl swallowed thickly before responding with a, "You have nothing to thank me for, little bird."

I just hope I can save you, Rue. For Haulm. Katniss thought desperately to herself before drifting off to sleep.

AN: Awww tell me what you guys think?! I don't want to beg for reviews but this is the eight chapter and this awesome story (in my opinion) hasn't even gotten twenty yet lol

SONG: What doesn't kill you (Stronger) by Kelly Clarkson

Rd, Enjoy, & Review :)