betaread by gkmoberg1
Shake it Out by Florence + the Machine
And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn
And I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart
Chapter 21
It had been three days and Winnow was still completely deaf in her right ear. At first it had just been an annoyance - but now the Careers were coming to realize it was a handicap. Whenever they left their little camp (which they had moved farther into the forest), Clove and Cato were careful to keep Winnow on the left side – so either of the District 2 tributes could hear anything that may come from the right.
Winnow's 'handicap' – oh, how she detested thinking of it as that – hadn't caused any problems yet. And the trio wasn't sure it would – but they didn't want to risk it. It was only Clove who thought of Winnow's partial deafness as truly dangerous. Cato did not think much of it, and Winnow would rather not acknowledge the weakness at all.
Except for Winnow's ear, she was as healed as she could be. She had been restless and quick to anger these past days. But in a stunning role reversal, it was Cato and Clove who advocated for patience.
Clove was still reeling from Marvel's unexpected death – an unforeseen reaction to all three Careers. Cato insisted on the trio staying where they were – and allowing Winnow to finish healing – out of concern for his lover.
When Winnow became irate – and there had been many times these last few days – it had been Cato who soothed her. The surprising part for Cato was that it was rather unintentional. Lately, all it had taken for him to calm Winnow was a look.
Cato would fix Winnow with a look of exasperation and before he could even open his mouth – she would blush and seem to forget whatever she had been raging about. And then he couldn't help but kiss her for that reaction.
While he found it puzzling, Cato couldn't say he didn't find it pleasing. It wasn't sex or physical affections that reduced Winnow to a romantic mess, but the affections expressed out loud. And three days later, Winnow apparently still thought of it every time she looked at Cato.
And while Cato thought she had taken entirely too long to return his affections (she had even teased him!) – he knew that Winnow would never say something she didn't mean. She might twist her words to suit the situation if needed – but she never lied.
Cato and Winnow were not in one of those curious moments now – with the latter pacing restlessly through the little camp. "What has your panties in a twist now?" Cato asked incredulously.
Winnow flashed him a weary look. "Nothing's happened in days." She responded.
"So?" Clove interjected.
"Don't you remember the previous Games?" Winnow asked, shaking her head. "When nothing happened, the Gamemakers made something happen." She continued, raking a hand through her dark hair.
Cato and Clove traded a glance – concluding that Winnow was right. "There's no point in worrying, Winnow. We'll be ready." Cato assured her, patting the ground beside him.
Winnow gave a slow nod in agreement, reluctantly settling at Cato's side. Idly, she bound her hair up into a tight ponytail to get all that hair out of her way. She had firmly decided to crop all her hair off – if she made it out of this arena alive.
It was as Winnow swatted at Cato for pulling on her ponytail that a loud click echoed through the arena. "Attention tributes – there will be a feast at the Cornucopia tomorrow morning. Every tribute will find what they desperately need." Claudius Templesmith announced before the transmission ended in another loud click.
The Three Careers traded a mystified look and stayed silent for several minutes – wondering at what they needed most. Winnow could not think of anything she desperately needed – except for medicine for her ear.
"I'll go." Clove volunteered suddenly.
Cato looked repulsed at the very idea. "No!" he refused swiftly. "It's too dangerous for you to go alone, Clove." He added after a moment – seeing the look of shock on the two girls' faces.
"I want to kill Katniss," Clove argued. "And she'll be there! She'll have to be, with how bad off Lover-boy must be by now," she insisted.
Winnow's brows drew together in confusion, and she raised her hands to call the attention to her. "Wait, wait – what happened to Peeta?" Winnow interjected.
Clove sighed. "When Katniss dropped the trackerjacker nest on us, everyone but you and Glimmer ran to the lake and jumped in to escape the trackerjackers. Lover-boy was quick, and was already back in the forest by the time we were climbing out of the lake." She explained.
"And I was suspicious, so I went after him. When I found him, he was warning Fire-Bitch off. So I confronted him – I was going to kill him. I stabbed him in the thigh – and then I heard you scream, Winnow." Cato continued, turning a pained look towards her.
"And?" Winnow asked.
Cato shrugged. "I went after you. I left Peeta there. He got away. I can't believe he hasn't died yet, but his picture hasn't been in the sky." He answered.
Winnow didn't respond. She merely thought for a few moments. She had liked Peeta, she truly had. But Winnow had known from the beginning that he was a disposable ally. That was all he could ever be, when his loyalty was to Katniss.
"I don't see what's wrong with Clove going. She wants to," Winnow remarked, referring their conversation back to the original topic.
"It's too dangerous!" Cato exclaimed – looking outraged that Winnow hadn't agreed with him.
Winnow sighed, eyeing Clove – who nodded to her. "She can defend herself. Isn't that right, Clove?"
"Yes." Clove agreed. "Hey – if anything, one tribute will be eliminated. Does it really matter who it is?" she suggested.
Cato nodded his head emphatically. "Yes, Clove, it matters!" he retorted.
Winnow stayed quiet for a few minutes, letting the other two argue as she thought about the plan. "What if she didn't go alone?" She interrupted abruptly, earning rude looks from Cato and Clove.
"Katniss wouldn't come out if she saw Cato there. She wouldn't risk it!" Clove said, nixing the idea quickly.
Winnow shook her head and Cato seemed to catch wind of her idea. "She doesn't mean me," he said sourly.
Winnow nodded. "Look – Clove and I are small enough that we could hide and she wouldn't see us. Or if she did, we wouldn't seem like that much of a threat. Clove could go ahead to kill Katniss, and I would follow shortly to grab our things from the Feast – and provide back-up if needed," she suggested.
Clove nodded after a moment. "It sounds sensible to me."
Both girls looked to Cato afterwards, looking for his approval. This didn't fool him at all – he knew they would do as they wished no matter what he said. "I still don't like it." Cato said weakly.
"We'll be fine." Clove insisted – glancing to Winnow who nodded in agreement.
"You needn't worry," Winnow murmured, leaning in to kiss Cato's cheek. Clove rolled her eyes when Cato responded to the other girl's affections.
"What about the girl from Five?" Clove interjected, distracting her allies from each other.
Cato struck her with a look of fake confusion. "Who?" he said - as if the redhead required no thought at all.
Winnow laughed. "She's made it this far for a reason," the District 2 girl said.
"What do you think, Winnow?" Cato asked.
Winnow shrugged. "She's clever. Far too clever by half," she suggested.
"Then... she'll be at the Feast. You two will be busy," the blond hinted.
Clove and Winnow looked at each other for a long moment. Winnow gave a slight nod. "If you wait at nearby, you can watch for her. Or anyone, really, while we go for the Feast." Clove said reluctantly. A brilliant grin lit Cato's face - and he crossed his arms over his chest in triumph.
Clove and Winnow stood in the brush of the tree-line circling the Cornucopia. They would be approaching from the left – not a direction they had favored, due to Winnow's partial deafness. But they didn't dare circle around and risk running into another tribute. The Cornucopia lay to their right - they could only see the structure's side from this point.
Both girls were heavily armed. Their mission was all about speed, so Winnow had decided to leave her trident hidden back at their camp. Cato had been upset and reluctant to let them go - but he had been much happier when the two girls had agreed to let him wait in the woods nearby. It wasn't so much that he thought they needed him to protect them - Winnow thought, but being there if the girls did end up needing his protection. Cato was waiting a short distance away, within full view of the Cornucopia.
Winnow touched Clove's shoulder lightly, earning the girl's attention. "Just in case something happens – yell, scream loud." Winnow urged her. "I'll do the same."
Clove nodded, though she pursed her lips – not liking the thought of it. "I will. But I'm hoping I won't need to." She responded. Clove drew two knives from her pockets, tightening her grip around them. "It's time."
"I'll follow shortly." Winnow said, nodding to her ally. "Good luck."
Clove nodded again, her eyes carefully combing the clearing in front of them before she darted out. She didn't go straight for the Cornucopia, instead wove around it and disappeared from Winnow's view.
Only a moment later a red-headed girl sprinted out from the mouth of the Cornucopia, snatching the bag marked '5' and escaping into the forest without issue. Winnow could see brush move where she knew Cato had been watching - he was probably on his way to intercept the clever red-head.
Winnow waited a minute before she ran from the tree-line, heading straight for the Cornucopia. She heard nothing but the thundering of her own heart and the wind from her left – and absolutely nothing from her right.
When she reached the Cornucopia from her straight run from the forest, she stood between the metal structure and the tables. The table was set with four bags, each with a number on it.. Winnow assumed each was for each district that was left. That was when she heard Clove scream. "CATO! CATO, CATO!"
Winnow had never heard such a desperate tone to her ally's voice and immediately started moving towards it – until she heard the cannon. The cannon's crack froze Winnow in place – completely dumbstruck. "Clove!" she uttered in disbelief.
She had never thought this would happen. Never thought it possible. Winnow had been so sure of their success. Who could possibly have gotten the drop on Clove? Katniss? Ha! Fire Bitch was dangerous from a distance, but Clove was quick enough at closing a gap.
Suddenly Winnow felt vibrations in the ground and could hear heavy footfalls – and she saw Thresh round the edge of the Cornucopia towards her. Her eyes went wide with shock and fear – and she only had time to take one step back when Thresh collided with her – plowing her straight into the Cornucopia's opening edge.
Winnow cried out in pain – the wind being knocked out of her with her body's hard impact against the metal structure. Thresh held her by the jacket – high enough for her feet to dangle off the ground, panting loudly with his nostrils flaring like a bull's.
"CLOVE!" Cato bellowed distantly – making Thresh and Winnow both pause for a moment to consider him. Over Thresh's shoulder, Winnow could see Katniss dash by, grabbing her bag without casting Winnow a single look.
That pause ended quickly for Thresh – who began shaking Winnow violently, bashing her back against the Cornucopia. "DID YOU KILL RUE!?" he demanded, breath flaring out harshly.
"No! No, I didn't!" Winnow cried out desperately.
The beefy boy from District 11 didn't seem to care what her answer was – continuing to throttle the girl pitilessly. Winnow didn't – couldn't fight back. She had never been so frightened in her whole life.
"I thought you were different!" he yelled, slamming Winnow's back into the Cornucopia one final time. "This is your one." Thresh said darkly, suddenly dropping his hold on her – causing Winnow to fall in a jumble against the metal structure.
Winnow lay against the Cornucopia wall, battered and aching – no will to stop or resist as Thresh moved to snatch up all of the remaining bags on the Feast table. She could do nothing but watch as Thresh took two bags in his fist. He reached for the final one, his clumsy movements knocked it onto the ground on the other side of the table.
He had paused for a moment – before he shook his head and ran – his decision reinforced as he heard Cato bellow again for Clove. Cato came dashing out of the forest just as Thresh disappeared into the wheat fields.
Cato saw Winnow first. He sprinted towards her and pulling her to her feet. Winnow winced, falling back against the wall of the Cornucopia - but shook away his concern. "Clove – I think it was Clove!" she choked out. Cato stared at her with wide, fearful eyes, before he took off in the direction Winnow pointed.
Winnow pressed a hand against her sore ribs and moved slowly, limping around the edge of the Cornucopia to make her way towards Cato.
He knelt at Clove's side – sword dropped next to him. He stared at Clove – her head beaten in with a rock. Winnow made it to his side, still shaky and nervous. No-one had ever managed to put their hands on her like that before.
Winnow put her hand on Cato's shoulder. "We have to go." She told him gently. Cato said nothing, only staring down at his best friend and partner. Winnow resolved to wait as long as she could – until she heard the motors of the hovercraft approaching. "Cato!" she exclaimed, "I'm sorry, but we have to go!"
Cato hadn't uttered a word, hadn't looked at his last remaining ally - but he allowed Winnow to tug him to his feet and be pulled into her arms. "Thresh?!" he stammered, picking up his sword.
Winnow nodded cautiously – remembering her own hysterical reaction to Kai's death. "Let's get back to our campsite." She suggested.
"No. I'm going after him," Cato said, turning towards the wheat fields. Winnow was concerned by his reaction – he was so calm. It was unlike Cato. He never hid his emotions – he was the first to show joy, anger, anything.
"We have to go back first. We have supplies there," Winnow attempted to convince him. "And I need medicine," she added – hoping to draw Cato's attention from Clove's death and his lust for revenge.
Cato nodded slowly – seeming to come to his senses enough to offer his arm to Winnow. And she was aching just enough to accept it and lean on him. It was as they moved past the Feast table that Winnow noticed the bag laying in the dirt. An image of Thresh snatching up the other bags flashed through her mind. "Cato," she said, drawing his attention. She pointed to the bag laying in the dirt.
Cato carefully detached himself from her and crossed the short distance to the bag. He plucked it up and returned to her quickly. "It's yours." He said slowly. "Where's mine?" Cato then asked.
"I think he took it." she answered quietly, letting Cato lead her to their camp.
As soon as they reached their campsite, Winnow immediately went to one of the packs and drew out a tin of medicine and started to apply it to her aching body.
It was also once they reached the campsite that Cato's grief and shock turned to rage. "I want to kill him!" the blond exclaimed, fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword. He had been pacing the length of their campsite for nearly ten minutes now – waving his sword around as he ranted.
"You will, Cato, you will. And I will help you. We just have to do it a certain way," Winnow soothed him, finally opening her bag from the Gamemakers and smirking at the contents.
"A certain way?" Cato sneered, turning to look at her.
"Yes. The way that guarantees our success." Winnow answered.
"I can guarantee our success. With this." Cato retorted, gesturing to his sword.
Winnow merely laughed in response, taking Cato aback. "You want your revenge, Cato? I will hand it to you on a silver platter. You just have to wait." She told him.
Cato narrowed his eyes at her, hesitating. "What will you do?" he asked curiously. Winnow showed him her bag, but he only shook his head – not understanding the significance of the long coils of rope curled in the bag.
Winnow shook her head and smirked. "I will weave a net. I will find Thresh in the fields and I will trap him. And then I will leave him to you, of course." She answered darkly. "This is synthetic rope, the best money could buy. Even you couldn't escape a net I made with this," Winnow explained.
A vicious grin curved Cato's lips. "Perfect," he said – drawing Winnow to him for a harsh kiss. She trembled a little at his unforgiving lips and fingers – still tender from her run-in with Thresh. Winnow merely kissed him harder, knowing her lover needed the distraction.
A/N: Four chapters left!
Thanks for the reviews from last chapter - and please review again? Love you guys!