betaread by gkmoberg1

Blinding by Florence + the Machine

Seems that I have been held, in some dreaming state

A tourist in the waking world, never quite awake

No kiss, no gentle word could wake me from this slumber

Until I realize that it was you who held me under

Chapter 19

Midday – more than twenty four hours since the trackerjacker attack – Winnow began to stir from her poison-induced unconsciousness.

Cato had risen and tried to give her water. But the small amount of water he had trickled down her throat had not gone well. Winnow had begun to hack and cough immediately – and that had put him off the task. He didn't dare try to forage for food – he would probably turn up with something inedible and poisonous.

He had been sitting at the cave entrance, watching the play of light through the waterfall. He could see a little past the pond that the waterfall fed into, and he kept a careful watch on what happened outside. As well he tried to keep an watch on Winnow's every movement inside the cave. But the moment she did wake up, Cato had been distracted by a movement outside.

When Winnow began to wake, her eyelids fluttered for a few minutes before she summoned the strength to actually open her eyes. It was as if she had been underwater all this time, and had finally broke the surface. She gasped out – feeling phantom hands thrashing her, pressure crushing her throat.

Cato scrambled to her side at the noise and tried to calm her flailing limbs. "Winnow, Winnow! Calm down!" he called, shaking her shoulder gently to call her to her senses.

The sudden shock of pain grounded Winnow – and she went still. A spell later, she willed her eyes open again, taking in the fuzzy blond before her. "Cato…?" she asked hoarsely.

Cato forced out a sigh of relief. "Yeah." He answered, smoothing a lock of hair from her sweaty forehead.

Winnow slowly began to take inventory of her aches and pains. She quickly found there were too many than she could account for. Everything hurt. And she didn't know why. "What… happened?" She questioned – her vision clearing the more she blinked.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Cato asked gently. He tried to ease her into a sitting position – but the grimace of pain that followed convinced him to leave her laying.

Winnow closed her eyes, searching back into the murky depths of her mind. Everything was so fuzzy, so cloudy – what had happened? "Trackerjackers," she answered suddenly, eyes snapping open. "I remember… Glimmer screaming, and then running. I don't know how I got away." Winnow continued, turning questioning eyes towards Cato.

"I think you jumped into a pond – the same one we found Katniss in." Cato speculated. "When you got out, a tribute attacked you. The boy from 10, I think," he continued. Winnow raised a shaking hand and lightly touched her aching throat – receiving a nod from Cato. "He strangled you with your chain," he said, drawing the chain from his pocket – broken in two.

At the sight of Winnow's wide eyes, Cato dug farther into his pocket and showed her the ring. She gave a sigh of relief at the sight. "Did you kill him?" She asked.

Cato shook his head – earning a look of confusion from his partner. "You did. I don't know how, but you did. When I found you, I thought you were both dead." He answered bluntly. Winnow watched his face carefully – and saw as he closed his eyes for a brief moment, an unidentified emotion passing over his face as his jaw tensed.

"You took care of me." She stated – she did not question. It was obvious. Cato nodded, some strange expression still on his features.

"I didn't know what to do… but I figured it out. Odair sent medicine, and Enobaria sent the blanket," he admitted. Cato shifted his hand to her forehead, frowning when he felt the heat that still resided there. "Your fever still hasn't broken,"

Winnow's dry lips smacked together. "Willow." She managed to blurt out. Cato tilted his head at her in questioning. "Kai taught me… willow's supposed to help with fevers." She explained.

Cato nodded firmly. "I'll find some." He told her as he stood and collected his sword.

"And water… my mouth is so dry," Winnow added before he could leave. Cato turned back towards her and approached, putting down his sword and reaching with his hands to Winnow's shoulders. "What are you doing?" she questioned.

"You'll have to sit up to drink," Cato explained, slowly pulling Winnow up into a sitting position, despite her wince of pain. He helped her to lean against the cave wall, and then put his canteen into her good hand.

From his boot, Cato drew a very familiar knife. "I think this is yours," he said with a smirk, placing it next to Winnow. "Just in case." He added, shuffling back and picking up his sword. "I'll be back as fast as I can." Cato promised before he left.

Winnow unscrewed the canteen lid and weakly lifted it to her lips. At first, she poured the water too fast – starting a coughing fit that had her spit all the water back out. Then she took a slower sip which went down much easier. Not to mention how much clumsier she was with only one good hand.

With her thirst sated, Winnow began to wonder at Cato's behavior. She supposed this was the ultimate sign of loyalty. He could have just let her die. He could have stayed away when he heard her scream. But he didn't. Not Cato – not honorable, loyal Cato. He had promised to be her partner – and he would not back out.

But here… it was something more than his word - his honor - at stake. When Winnow had questioned him, Cato had looked overcome for just a moment. He had been different. The way he had looked at her… something had changed in him.

Winnow did not have time to contemplate this thought further – for Cato returned with several strips of bark and a victorious smile on his lips. He sank against the cave wall beside her and handed the bark to her. "What now?" he asked.

Winnow grimaced at the bark in her hand, recalling Kai's lesson. "I need something to spit into," she informed him. Cato rose quickly and returned with a small silver canister.

"It held the medicine for your stings," he informed her, opening it up and setting it in her lap.

Winnow sighed, taking a swig of water and tossing the willow bark strips into her mouth and began to chew. She grimaced and squeezed her eyes shut – ignoring the sound and look of disgust from Cato. After a long, long moment, Winnow spat the gooey mess into the canister bottom. Then she cleansed her mouth with water and spat again into the dish.

Cato took the canister from her hand and fastened the lid on it before he placed it aside. "We need to get back to camp," Winnow remarked, leaning her head back against the cold wall behind her, letting her eyes fall shut.

"Rest a while longer, Winnow," Cato said in response, a half-smile rising on his lips as he saw sleep tugging at her again.

"Only a little while," she warned even as sleep pulled her down into pleasant unconsciousness. It felt like only seconds later when Winnow woke again, the blanket had been draped over her and she could feel that Cato no longer sat beside her. "We should go," she said quietly, not bothering to open her eyes.

Cato chuckled softly and got to his feet from his perch at the cave entrance. He strode over to her, laying the back of his hand against her forehead. "You do feel a little cooler." He acknowledged.

"I feel better." Winnow said decisively, drawing another laugh from the blond. It wasn't that Winnow was lying – exaggerating, maybe – but that she said it only to get them on the move.

"Alright." Cato conceded. "But you're not walking." He added, watching with amusement as Winnow tried to stand.

"Then how am I going to get back to camp!?" Winnow questioned sourly.

"I'll carry you." Cato answered matter- of- factly. She flashed him a look of surprise that he disregarded, plucking the blanket from atop her and folding it up. He managed to fold it small enough that it halfway fit into a pocket on the inside of his jacket – which he then zipped up and secured to himself.

Crossing the cave, Cato and brought a familiar jacket towards Winnow, holding it out towards her. "It's still a little damp from your jump into the pond, but it's much better," he informed, holding it out for her to put her arms into.

"Thank you." Winnow said quietly as she shrugged the jacket on and zipped it up. She picked up the knife at her side and stowed it up her sleeve.

With everything packed up – and his sword in hand, Cato crouched before Winnow, his back to her. "Climb on. This is the only way I'll be able to hold my sword and carry you,"

Winnow heaved a sigh and reluctantly clambered forward. She laced her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist loosely, and Cato got to his feet with a grunt. Winnow tightened her legs around his waist and tried to keep her arms around his neck from choking him.

"You'll have to stay awake," Cato said, beginning to pick a path out of the cave and down towards the pond's shore. "Keep an eye on the surroundings, and hold on,"

"I can do that." Winnow promised – as lightheaded as she was. Cato didn't run; Winnow was likely too heavy for him to do that. But he took long strides that didn't seem to tire him.

"We'll get back to camp. You'll rest, and we'll get Fire Bitch back. You can count on that," Cato said with an edge to his voice. Winnow didn't have to be able to see his face to know it had hardened. "Look what she did to you. To Glimmer," he growled.

Winnow's brow furrowed in confusion. "Glimmer?" she asked.

Cato paused for a moment before he started moving again, faster than before. "Trackerjackers killed her." He said flatly.

A sour pout crossed Winnow's lips. "She was supposed to be my kill." She muttered.

Cato didn't turn his head to look at her, simply continuing on his path. "Fire Bitch had no right. It was our kill, and she took it from us. Glimmer had to die, but she didn't have to die like that." He informed her.

So that was the truth of the matter. It wasn't so much Glimmer's death that Cato had a problem with. It was her suffering that he had a problem with. Cato knew his allies – his friends – had to die, but he didn't want them to suffer. Winnow supposed she agreed.

"The death I had planned for her would have been quick," She offered.

Cato was silent for several long moments. "Katniss' won't be."

(Bold first Character equals shift in time)

Winnow had been dozing fitfully on her bedroll – thermal blanket spread over her – when the shouting started. She sat up quickly, reaching for her knife as reflex – wincing when she gripped it with her injured fingers.

Cato, Clove and Marvel were standing outside the circle of awnings, armed and pointing to the several plumes of smoke emerging from the forest. "What's going on?" Winnow asked loudly – finally gaining the others' attention.

Clove pointed towards the smoke. "Someone's setting fires. A trap, most likely." She speculated.

"You're not going after them, are you?" Winnow questioned.

Cato nodded. "Clove noticed a pattern in where they're being set. Marvel will wait at the end, while Clove and I chase whoever it is towards him." He explained.

Winnow's lips pursed. While the plan wasn't completely idiotic – the fact that they knew it was a trap and intended to go after it anyway… She didn't approve. "I'll go with Marvel," Winnow remarked, pushing back the blanket and began to get to her feet.

Cato rushed towards her, shaking his head. "No. You'll stay here." He said authoritatively.

Winnow scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Cato. It's been two days. I'm fine." She bit out at him, bending to pick up her trident. She had forgotten it when the trackerjackers attacked, but Marvel had recovered it when he and Clove had looked for Winnow and Cato.

Cato shifted his gaze from the purpley-green ring around her neck to her likewise bruised fingers. "You can only use one hand. You're still weak from the fever," he said.

Winnow turned a glare on him – knowing every word rang true. "Marvel shouldn't go off on his own." She argued. Marvel averted his eyes from the quarrel, strolling away a few steps. As if he would get involved between those two – it was like a clash of the titans.

"If you're fine… give me your hand," Cato requested with a solemn expression. He knew his request would call her bluff – especially at the look of trepidation that appeared on her face. He would have her stay back one way or another.

If Winnow had been angry with him before – oh, it had multiplied. Brutus would call the expression on her face the 'kiss of death'. Cato had asked her to admit her weakness – or allow him to show it to the others by exploiting that same weakness.

Winnow tossed her trident down by her bedroll, turning to glare at Cato. "This is the only time I'll let you go without me," she hissed, sitting down heavily.

"Let?" Cato responded with a look of amusement. The look Winnow shot him had Cato backpedaling quickly. "Oh, yes, yes. Let." He said, drawing back towards the others.

Marvel, Cato and Clove conferred for a few moments before Cato turned back towards the circle of awnings. "Three!" he bellowed.

Chase's head shot up from where he sat idly a few yards from Winnow's bedroll. He had mostly been ignored in his time with the Careers - whenever they had gone out to hunt, Chase had stayed to guard the supplies. Since his job was done with trapping their supplies, he knew it was only a matter of time before he messed up and they killed him.

"You'll stay here, guard the supplies." Cato ordered him. Chase nodded quickly in response. The blond's eyes darted towards Winnow who still glared at him, arms crossed over her chest childishly. "If a hair on her head is harmed in our absence… I'll kill you." He warned.

Chase nodded shakily, stepping away from Cato. With those words – the boy from District 3 knew his death was impending. If anyone tried to attack while the others were gone, there was little chance that Chase would win. But if he ran… and Winnow got hurt - Cato would hunt him down. Chase could only hope like hell that nothing would happen while the Careers were gone - and that they wouldn't be gone long.

Once Cato, Clove and Marvel had left Winnow's sight, she flopped down onto her back on the bedroll. She was still pouting. Winnow knew she was being childish, but she was tired of being treated like an invalid. If not for her fingers, she could have pushed through the remnants of her weakness.

A quick glance around saw Chase sitting nearby, a spear held loosely in his hands. She scoffed at the thought of him protecting her. Winnow had heard Cato's quiet threat – and honestly, it was amusing. Anything Chase could fight off was no danger to her.

It was as Winnow began to doze off that a sudden movement woke her. Chase stood abruptly, knocking over the crate he'd been sitting on. She sat up slowly, rubbing at her eyes with her injured fingers – ignoring the pulse of pain. "What's going on?" she asked sleepily.

"I think I saw something." Chase answered without looking at her – eyes searching the surroundings carefully. "I'll be right back!" he exclaimed, taking off running towards the forest.

Alarm began to thrum through Winnow – her eyes going wide. She reached for the knife at her side and started to get to her feet – her calves trembled at the exertion. Winnow took a few steps – in the direction Chase had run off and closer to the supplies.

She rolled the knife in her hands, turning her head and glancing to the supplies. They looked undisturbed. Winnow returned her gaze towards the forest line that Chase had disappeared into.

As soon as she had looked away, a loud thunk, thunk, thunk followed. Winnow's head whipped towards the pyramid of supplies – jaw dropping in horror as she saw a burlap bagful of apples spill to the ground.

With a flash the world lit on fire and she was blown backward in the air from the force of the explosion. She collided hard with the ground, her vision going black for a few moments. Winnow lay flat on her back, chest heaving and ears ringing.

After a short while when Winnow was sure it was safe to move, she slowly sat up. Disregarding the shooting pain from her fingers, she used her hands to push her to her feet. A sharp pain suddenly afflicted her right ear – accompanied by wetness trickling from it.

Winnow groaned – a noise she couldn't hear amidst the ringing in her ears. She raised a hand to her damaged ear and found blood upon her fingers. She swayed weakly and her knees buckled a little – it was by sheer force of will that Winnow remained standing.

Glancing around found Cato and Clove sprinting towards her – mouths wide open and moving, but Winnow could hear nothing but the ringing in her own ears. Cato skidded to a stop nearby to avoid colliding with her, and then pulled Winnow to him.

Winnow stumbled, but found her balance much steadier leaning against him, resting her hands on his hips. Cato cupped her face in his hands, mouth moving and a look of concern on his features.

Winnow could only shake her head at him. He gently shifted her face towards the side, his jaw working at the sight of the long trail of blood from Winnow's right ear. Cato tried to wipe the blood away with the sleeve of his jacket, but his attention abruptly shifted and Winnow followed his cue.

Chase had returned – his ashen skin turning white at the sight of the ruined supplies and the livid expressions on both District 2 Tributes' faces. Clove moved towards him quickly, knives held at ready and herded the boy towards Cato and Winnow.

Clove forced the boy to drop his spear and she kicked it away, while Cato turned to Winnow. He nodded to her reassuringly, and drew her back a few paces and helped her to settle on the ground. Looking quite dazed, Winnow didn't object and sat in the grass quite easily.

With a furtive glance back towards Winnow, Cato motioned to Clove. "Keep an eye on her. I will take care of this." He commented, turning towards Chase – who turned an even more alarming shade of white.

Clove nodded – lips set in a firm line as she retreated towards Winnow, getting her back on her feet and leading her towards their relatively undisturbed camp.

Cato rolled the hilt of his sword in his hand – it was a habit of Winnow's that was starting to rub off on him. "What happened?" he asked quietly.

"I- I- I-" Chase stuttered, unable to form an answer.

"I warned you. I warned you, and you weren't here. Our supplies were blown up… and more than a hair was harmed on Winnow's head." Cato said, the anger beginning to grow in his voice. "What do you have to say for yourself?!" He thundered.

Chase shook his head. "I saw something. I- I went after it! I was only gone a minute!" he said shakily.

A savage, bloody grin grew on Cato's mouth. "So it only took you a minute to fuck up." He concluded. Cato dropped his sword and moved forward quickly, dipping behind the boy and gripping Chase's chin and the back of his head. "It'll take me less than a minute to fix your mistake." He whispered before jerking his hands – snapping the frail boy's neck.

Cato let the body fall to the ground and stood still – waiting – until he heard a cannon boom. Then he recovered his sword and started moving towards the circle of awnings that still stood. Clove had sat Winnow down on her bedroll, and then the smaller girl had begun to put together some packs.

"We need to clear the area. Hovercraft will come soon," Cato remarked as he reached the two girls.

Winnow's head did not turn at his voice, but Clove swung round to glare at him. "Well, I'm trying to get what little supplies we have left together – and I could use some help, but deaf girl over there can't hear a damn thing I'm saying!" Clove ranted angrily.

Cato held his hands up in defeat. "I'll help you. Let's just get it done." He tried to placate his district partner, who took in a deep breath.

"She's going to need medicine. For her ear," Clove said suddenly, nodding towards Winnow. "I don't think we can get that kind of medicine," she added seriously.

Cato shrugged. "We'll make do," he said as he started stuffing random supplies into a pack.

"Deafness is a problem, Cato." Clove said, her dark brows furrowing.

He sighed. "Only the one ear is bleeding."

"Any deafness is a problem, Cato!" Clove repeated strongly, slinging one of the packs she made up over her shoulders.

Cato repeated her action with a pack of his own – another dangled from his grip as he leaned in towards his district partner. "It's a problem I'll deal with." He said seriously. Clove nodded shortly.

"And Marvel?" she asked tentatively.

The blond took a few steps towards Winnow, bending down and helping her to her feet. "We'll wait a few hours – at the tree-line," Cato said as he handed the pack to Winnow, and she slung it over her back easily, and bent to pick up her trident.

Winnow watched him carefully – wondering what they were doing and where they were going. Cato pointed towards the forest, the farthest point from where the last fire had been lit. With a hand on Winnow's back, he began guiding her in that direction with a gentle push until she got the idea. Even then he stayed at her side, Clove leading in front.

It wasn't a long trek, they stopped at the very tree-line – hidden among the brush, but with a good vantage point of the camp. Two cannons cracked in quick succession, startling Clove and Cato. "Marvel?" Cato wondered – and Clove shrugged uneasily. The characteristically unemotional tribute was not able to conceal her concern.

I want to thank my one reviewer for the last chapter - and gkmoberg1 as always.

Now - please, please review. Just a few simple words means the world to me.