A/N: Thanks for reading. Thanks to all who review, especially guest reviewers! Again I am borrowing some text directly from Suzanne Collins & claim no credit for her work.

When the alarms began sounding, I figured it was another drill. We've already been through a couple of drills since we arrived in district 13. This ear-splitting wail was different from the earlier drills, loud enough to drive anyone toward the emergency bunkers, but we had been told of the different levels of warning alarms and to expect random drills.

As we all tried our best to cover our ears and block out the piercing sirens, Posy ran to me crying. I lifted her up and tried to calm her while yelling for Vick and Rory, as if they could hear me over the sirens. Not a minute later we were headed out of the unit, hands linked together, Rory carrying a bag of whatever belongings he'd been able to grab before I pulled him out the door. We followed the evacuation route the boys had practiced when we first arrived.

We'd just reached the closest stairwell when Gale came running down the hall. He had been summoned on his communicuff shortly after dinner, and hadn't returned before the sirens began. A steady stream of people was already heading down into the earth. As I hustled the kids through the door, Posy perched on my hip, the boys leading the way with hands locked together, Gale's eyes skimmed over the four of us and he yelled, "I'll be right behind you" before veering off against the tide, up the stairs. It was already too late to try and stop him, so I hurried on, shooing Rory and Vick down the stairs. Down we went, further than I'd been before, until we were directed into to a huge cavern that serves as one of district 13's emergency bunkers. I couldn't help wonder just how far under the earth we were buried. The sound of the siren had faded immensely and blended into the noise of the people gathered in the bunker.

Now we wait. Gale still hasn't appeared and I can't help worry. More and more people flow into the cavern, but he isn't among them. The talk being spread as we made our way down is that no drill was planned, and that this is real. Where is Gale? We've already found our bunks, labeled for unit #47, and I'm trying to follow the "On Arrival" section of the Bunker Protocols that waited there. Except that the first item on the list is to make sure everyone is present and accounted for. We are still missing Gale, and there's nothing in the protocol telling me what to do about that, how to report that no, we do not have all members of our Compartment. So Rory is watching Posy, distracting her with a game of I Spy, while Vick and I wait in the line to collect our 5 survival packs from the Supply Station. The line is long, but I hardly notice it moving as I watch our area nervously, waiting for Gale to appear.

The longer we wait the more I worry about Gale. I can guess where he was going, anyway. As if he hasn't already done enough for the Everdeens. He can't accept that they might actually be fine on their own, that they could ever not need him. I have to trust he'll be down soon. While we are waiting in line, there's a commotion across the cavern as Katniss frantically fights her way to the door, yelling about Prim. Oh no. What happened? Where are they? I can't tell what's going on by the door, there are too many people in the way. I'm so distracted trying to tell what's happening that Vick has to pull on my sleeve to point out that we've reached the front of the line. We carry the packs back to our bunks, not very far, and I keep watch on the door, desperately wondering if they've made it down yet. Then the doors slam shut, and a panic hits me. Surely he made it. He couldn't still be up there. Could he? In a moment the crowds seem to disperse to their compartments and I catch sight of him. The tension in me snaps and I let out the breath I hadn't known I was holding. I almost collapse in relief at the sight of Gale and Prim, together; they both made it down. Prim is already headed to their compartment, carrying their cat from the looks of it. Gale is handing off a large box to Katniss, as well as a bag she slings over her shoulder.

My relief at his appearance replaces the worry, temporarily outweighing my growing anger at his behavior. Gale has scarcely made his way to our space in the bunker, allowing me to pull him into a hug, when the faint sirens end altogether and President Coin's voice announces, "Attention, district 13. Thank you for your exemplary behavior in our evacuation." I give my weary son a stern look as the din of the cavern falls to silence. Our family sits silently on the lower bunks of our space to listen. Posy climbs into Gale's lap and I wrap an arm around Vick's shoulders.

Coin's voice continues, "This is not a drill. There is a credible chance of an attack from the Capitol government. I repeat, this is not a drill and there is a real possibility of attack on district 13. Moments ago, in a televised interview broadcast from the Capitol, District 12 Victor Peeta Mellark made reference to a possible lethal attack on district 13. Though we do not know the source of his information, we are treating this as a credible threat to our district and are taking every precaution. We have now sealed off all emergency bunkers from the upper levels. All citizens will remain in the bunkers until such time as the threat of attack has passed. I assure you that the bunkers will protect us from any threat. If an attack should come, we will be doing everything in our power to protect our home and our way of life. Thank you again for doing your part to ensure a speedy and smooth evacuation. Further announcements will keep you all informed of the situation."

The bunker had fallen into silence in order to better heard the announcement, but now a low hum of noise fills the cavern as everyone digests the news. Gale has turned his attention to his younger siblings, perhaps hoping to avoid the conversation with me over his disappearance earlier. I'm looking at my children when I feel the impact ripple through me. The whole cavern shudders and the lights flicker out, leaving us in complete darkness. Vick clings to me, and I hold him close. Posy, a short distance from me, whimpers and I can hear Gale whispering to her, trying to calm her. With my free hand I reach out and find Rory. He grabs my hand and we all sit, waiting fearfully for what will happen next. Then the generators turn on and a low light fills the cavern, almost like candlelight. I recall a faint memory from orientation, when they told us something about the different missiles that could be used in an attack.

Soon Coin's voice returns, grimly confirming, "Apparently, Peeta Mellark's information was sound and we owe him a great debt of gratitude. Sensors indicate the first missile was not nuclear, but very powerful. We expect more will follow. For the duration of the attack, citizens are to stay in their assigned areas unless otherwise notified."

Between the impact of bombs that regularly shake my trust in this supposedly secure facility, assigning the children their bunks and getting them ready for bed, I don't have an immediate opportunity to confront Gale. I've long since learned that sometimes I have to control my emotions and impulses and focus on the family's well-being. While I am relieved we are all as safe as we can be given the circumstances, I'm still angry that he would take that kind of risk. But for now, I need to make sure that we all get through this okay.

I doubt any of us will really sleep tonight, though I hope Posy does. Of course she's scared, but she doesn't really understand what's going on, so I stay with her after I've tucked her in, sitting on the edge on her bunk as I quietly sing her a lullaby. Quietly, but loud enough that the boys can hear it too. They'd never admit to it but I hope that it can help calm them too.

It's not until the next day that I can talk to Gale, and even then I'm all too aware of how closely packed we are with everyone else in the bunker. I want to give him a good dressing down. I want to yell at him for leaving his family and putting himself at risk. He's still young and he thinks he's invincible, especially here in 13, a soldier fighting for the rebellion. I can't tell him not to help the Everdeens, though I wish he didn't try to be a hero. But by the time I get a chance to talk to him, my anger has dissipated somewhat.

At least the bombs have lessened. The cavern still shudders from an impact once every hour or two, but we've almost gotten used to it. Vick is visiting his friend Will, a few compartments over in the bunker. Across the cavern at the Everdeen's section, a crowd has gathered to watch Katniss and Prim playing with Buttercup. Rory has taken Posy over to watch the cat's antics, leaving me with a brooding, sour-faced Gale. He made some excuse for not going with Posy, though now he's watching the gathering from our bunks.

Instead of railing in to him, I say, "Why don't you get some rest? You must be tired."

"I'm okay," he says halfheartedly, staring through the gloom of the cavern.

"You worried me half to death, you know. Cutting it so close," I tell him.

Gale knows better than to raise his voice but he glowers from his seat on the bunk. "I had to make sure they were out. And Prim was up there alone, trying to get that stupid cat of hers."

"And the box? What else did you rescue?" A sharp tone has edged into my voice despite my better intentions. Gale glares at me, snapping back, "It didn't slow me down, Ma. It's just some things from 12. What does it matter? We hardly have anything from home anymore - why not save what we can." He sounds almost defeated.

I wonder. They must have collected some things from 12 when they were there two days ago. Gale had been dead on his feet when he came home from that trip.

"Are you okay, Gale?" I ask him, "I still can't believe you agreed to go back there."

His lips twist into a half-smile, and he looks up at me. "I had to, Ma."

"I know," I answer quietly. I walk over to the bunk and rub my hand across his shoulder, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "I know. You can talk to me about anything, you know that right?"

"I know. I'm fine." he says in return. "Maybe I'll take that nap."

I let him alone, knowing I won't get anything out of him if he doesn't want to talk. He sleeps, or at least, pretends to sleep, so I wander over to where Vick is visiting his friend. I chat a little with Will's father, Charles, while the boys shoot imaginary weapons at invisible enemies.

Later, after we've participated in the scheduled exercises and had something to eat, everyone is instructed back to their compartments. Though we're still trapped in the bunker, everyone is in pretty good spirits now. If the Capitol's bombs haven't reached us yet, what are the chances they will now? Other than going stir-crazy, there's no immediate threat. Gale started the kids on a game of "I Spy..." but they've long since run out of things to spy here in the cavern, so now they've added to the challenge by including things from anywhere - from our old home in the Seam, from here in district 13, as long as it's somewhere everyone has visited.

The last round was "something black" which turned out to be our old coal stove back in district 12. Now it's Gale's turn. He gets a sneaky gleam in his eye as he starts, "I spy in my mind's eye ... something green."

Rory and Vick immediately vie to ask the first questions. Gale lets Vick ask first, and he blurts out, "Is it smaller than a washtub?" Yes, it is. Rory's turn. "Is it a living thing?" Yes again. Posy's turn, "Is it .. is it a piece of grass?" No, not grass. Back to Vick. "Is it outside?" No, it's not outside. I'm assuming something in the hydroponic farm here though - which we all toured soon after our arrival in 13. There are plenty of agricultural areas underground here, so I'm not surprised by Rory's question. "Is it a plant?" Not a plant. I raise my eyebrows to Gale, curious now of what trick he's playing. What green living things aren't plants?

Posy's turn. "Is it a bug?" I smile, that she'd think of the possibility of a bug, but that's wrong too. Rory and Vick sits quietly, faces twisted in thought. What could it be? Nobody can even think of a good question at this point.

I chime in, just to keep the game going. "Does it have fur?" Gale winks at me, answering, "Nope, No fur."

Vick's face brightens. "Does it have scales?" Gale laughs and shakes his head. No scales. Vick sighs with disappointment. Rory asks, "Does it have feathers?" Gale's teeth gleam in the low light as he grins and triumphantly answers, "YES! It has feathers." Posy's eyes get big as she asks wonderingly, "Is it a bird?" Yes, it's a bird.

"Cheating!" Vick declares. "No fair. We haven't seen green birds. We don't all go hunting in the woods, Gale."

Gale smirks and admits, "Okay, you got me. But you're too smart for me. I picked something you haven't even seen and you still figured it out!"

Posy asks him, "Are there really birds that are green?"

Gale crouches down next to Posy and tells them all quietly. "There sure are. You'd love them Posy, they're little just like you. And they can flap their wings so fast you can't even see them." Posy's face is full of wonder just at the thought. Vick and Rory don't look quite so please at Gale's trickery, though.

Rory gripes, "But you said they were inside, Gale."

Gale answers, "They are! There's a whole room of them in Special Defense. And you know what? As soon as we get out of here and I get the chance, I'm going to take you all on a special trip and show you them myself."

A/N: The green bird refers to hummingbirds that 13 has used to study aerodynamics. Katniss & Gale see them (& Gale and Beetee discuss snaring them) when they visit Beetee after Katniss agrees to be the Mockingjay.