Chapter 6:
Katniss awoke in a cold sweat. She sat up and noticed she was in a cave. It was nowhere she had any recollection of ever being.
She wiped her brow with the back of her hand and then saw that the bow and quiver she had collected was placed by her side and her backpack was what she had been using as a pillow.
"Katniss, you're alive!" Rue, the little girl from eleven (who reminded Katniss of Prim) walked to her with a big grin on her face.
"Really? Because I don't feel like it." Katniss' throat was hoarse and her voice was raspy.
"You got stung a lot back there. But it's okay though. I treated them with some leaves. Tracker Jackers are common in my district."
"Thanks." Katniss' memory was fuzzy. "What... Happened?"
"Your friend brought you to me and I healed you." She smiled sweetly. Rue sat cross-legged on the dirt floor.
"Friend?" Katniss couldn't put a name to this person.
"Wow, those stings must have effected your memory worse than we thought Fire Girl." Katniss turned to see Clove grinning at her from the entrance of the cave.
"Clove!" Katniss tried to stand, but her legs would not obey, Katniss fell forward. Clove caught Katniss and helped her sit down again.
"Take it easy, the venom hasn't worn off yet." Clove sat behind Katniss to support her up.
Katniss couldn't help but relax into Clove. She felt calm and safe. These were two things she thought she'd never feel in the arena.
Clove's lips were just next to Katniss' ear. Katniss could feel Clove's warm breath with every exhale. This made Katniss feel warm, like a roaring bonfire and her skin felt tingly, like her body was rising to Clove's every move. It was as if she were under a spell.
"You were out for two days Katniss." Clove said softly.
"Thank you Clove, you saved me."
"And you warned me about the Tracker Jackers, we helped each other."
The two of them looked into each other's eyes and Katniss felt drawn to Clove, she wanted to touch and to feel, to admire and be admired.
Clove inched closer and Katniss' eyes darted to Clove's soft pink lips and then back to her gentle dark eyes. She saw a rosy blush creep up Clove's cheeks and Katniss grinned and was happy to fill the gap between them.
Their lips brushed in a chaste kiss but then Clove grew stiff and hesitant. She drew back. Katniss cast her eyes down and said innocently: "Did I do something wrong?"
Clove couldn't help but notice the hurt in Katniss' tone. "I... No, nothing was wrong but..."
Clove's eyebrows furrowed in thought. "I can't do this."
Her words hit Katniss like a slap in the face. "What? You mean this was all for nothing? You were just playing or something, was that it?!"
"No! No that's not it! I just can't." Clove said defeated.
"Then what is it? Don't you think you owe me a straight answer after all we've been through?" Katniss asked angrily.
Clove shook her head then looked up at Katniss sadly with big soft eyes. "I need some time to think."
Katniss was left sitting there as Clove stood and left the cave. Rue watched this scene unfold with confusion and a little uncertainty. But as you may have guessed, Rue was quite intelligent for her age she said:
"Katniss... Are you okay?" Rue asked this as if Katniss were an animal she didn't want to scare away.
"I don't know Rue. I'm not exactly sure what just happened, I think I just got dumped." Katniss curled up into a ball and hugged her knees to her chest tightly.
Katniss missed Clove's touch and her promise of warmth and comfort that her presence offered. Katniss was just starting to make sense of her feelings, why she didn't love Gale and why she definitely didn't love Peeta. Everything was falling into place, and then this happened.
"I don't think you got dumped." Rue said after careful thought.
Katniss looked at Rue questioningly. "Well think about it. She risked her life saving you from the careers and she didn't have to. She's here with us now and that proves that she trusts you. She could be with Cato right now, they know each other from their district, but she still chose to be with you."
"She's just scared like you are and like me. It's the games, they mess up your head." Rue said simply.
Katniss nodded slowly and uncurled herself. "You're very smart."
Rue grinned slyly. "I was surprised though, I thought you and Peeta were together. I guess I was wrong."
Katniss felt her face redden and she felt very uncomfortable. Rue beamed at Katniss and suddenly she felt sorry for her. Rue's chances of survival were very slim, but she was so sweet. Katniss was disgusted by Snow and the arena.
If I ever get out of here alive, I'll do everything I can to stop Snow from doing this again.
Katniss' stomach rumbled and she suddenly felt hungry. "I need to check my snares." Katniss mumbled to herself.
"Don't worry." Rue said and opened her backpack. "I've got some berries and roots from the woods, it should be enough for a little while."
"Thanks Rue." Katniss picked up a plump blueberry. She doubted it was poisonous, why would Rue help her so much just to kill her?
"So... What have the careers been up to?" Katniss asked.
"Since the Tracker Jacker accident, they've been laying low. The careers have a camp by the Cornucopia, they've got so much food stored up in a pile that they don't need to go out hunting. They're probably the healthiest group in the whole arena."
I'd love to see what the careers would do if they lost their food supply since they don't know how to hunt for food. Chances are they would starve. Katniss thought. Katniss grinned. That's how I can win! I'll sabotage their food. Katniss started to formulate a plan.
As Clove walked though the forest, she was deep in thought.
She sighed tiredly. What have I done? I finally got her to show me some sign that she liked me then I pushed her away. I guess I just don't want to lose her...
Clove kicked some dirt by her feet. But I know that I will lose her one way or another, so what's the point? Maybe I should just tell her how I feel and maybe we can enjoy what little time we have left. Carpe diem right?
Clove nodded, assuring herself. I have to tell her I love her.
She turned around and started to run back to the cave. She ducked under a low branch and found herself face to face with Cato and the remnants of the career pack.
"Clove! I wondered where you'd gone. For a moment I thought you'd left us for Fire Girl since I saw you carry her away and all." He drew his sword.
Clove backed away slowly and walked into Marvel with his spear pointed at her. She froze and didn't have time to think as she was smacked on the head and made unconscious immediately.
Katniss stretched out lazily after feasting on berries and a rabbit that got caught in her snare. Katniss was waiting for Clove to come back, she had been gone for a while now and she was starting to worry.
"Maybe something's wrong." Rue suggested.
"For Clove's sake I hope that's not true." Katniss responded.
Katniss stood with her bow in hand and quiver on her back. "If anyone had a chance at hurting Clove, it'd be the careers... I think we need to put our plan in motion a little sooner than expected."
Together, the two of them exited the cave that they had called home for the past few days and set off for the Cornucopia.
"Remember to signal me okay? I'll hear the mockingjay signal and I'll know you're not in danger." Katniss repeated again as their destination got closer. Katniss knew she was getting repetitive but she couldn't help it, she felt nervousness grow in the pit of her stomach.
"Don't worry Katniss. I'll be fine, I know what to do." Rue smiled. Katniss was amazed at this girl's ability to keep it together in situations like this. To Katniss' surprise, Rue threw her arms around her and quickly withdrew. "Good luck Katniss."
Rue began to climb a tree and work her way to the clearing a short distance away. This is where they would separate.
"Good luck." Katniss said quietly and turned away. She went in the opposite direction to Rue, towards the career camp.
Katniss could see the entirety of the camp from her place in a copse at the edge of the forest. She could see Cato and Glimmer, a scrawny haired boy from 3, Peeta, Marvel and Clove. Katniss was relieved to see Clove alive, although she appeared to be injured. She was hunched over and breathing heavily as if she had just been struck. She had been tied to a tree with rope.
Hang on Clove. I'm coming for you.
Katniss was briefly amused when she saw everyone except Clove had large red lumps over their faces and bodies. They must not have had the sense to pull out the stingers.
"Where is she Clove?"
"Screw you Cato." Clove coughed.
Cato grabbed Clove by the neck and slammed Clove's head into the tree. Even from here, Katniss could see her glare at Cato.
"It's not too late y'know, ditch Katpiss and join us again, just tell me where she is."
"You'll have to kill me first." Cato punched Clove hard in the side of the face and she grunted but still managed to appear threatening. Katniss knew she had to act fast, Cato's patience was evidently wearing thin. Katniss looked around.
The Cornucopia was in it's original position, but it had been picked clean of supplies. Everything useful was stacked high in a pyramid of crates and containers that probably held food and weapons.
The pyramid was a questionable distance from their camp and only had a net to protect it from the birds. This whole set-up was utterly perplexing, it had to be a trap.
"Cato! Look at that!" Marvel pointed to the trees and Katniss knew that Rue had lit the first bonfire.
Cato grinned at Clove. "Looks like your girlfriend wants to test her luck. I'll bring her back here so you can see me kill her."
The pack ran off, leaving Peeta, the boy from 3 and Clove behind. Only the unnamed boy was in her way, he was guarding the supplies and facing where the careers had ran off to. Now was her chance.
Katniss was just about to move when a sudden movement catches her eye. A flash of bright hair darts across onto the plain and Katniss realises it's Foxface.
Peeta seemed to be busy talking to Clove and the boy from 3 wasn't paying attention. He seemed to be fiddling with something shiny in his hands.
As quick as lightning and as silent as a mouse, Katniss is shocked as Foxface draws a knife, sneaks up to district 3 (who has his back to her) and slits his throat before he has any notion of what happened.
Foxface set him down silently on the dirt, then made sure the other two didn't see her. She cast her eyes over at the large pile of loot then did some kind of weird dance getting across, like a strange version of hop-scotch.
She stuffed what she needed in her pack, then did the same pattern of steps with her feet and disappeared into the trees safe and sound.
Then it hit her. Mines! If I could shoot something so it fell in the right place...
She hoped that Clove and Peeta were far enough away.
Katniss could see a burlap sack of apples and Katniss knows she's found her target. She moves a little closer so she's in range and shoots three arrows with her meticulous aim. The first tears though the sack, the second leaves a gaping hole, the third rips open the bag.
The next thing Katniss knew was the ear-splitting bang as the apples fell and triggered the pressure plates.
Katniss sprinted to the Cornucopia and saw Peeta was knocked back by the wave of sound and Clove was gritting her teeth. Katniss' ears were ringing, she just hoped the damage wasn't permanent. She couldn't be a good hunter if she wasn't aware of her surroundings.
With the knife that was thrown at her earlier, Katniss cut the rope that restricted Clove and pulled her to her feet. Clove looked at Katniss in surprise as if she wasn't sure she was real. "Katniss?" Clove mouthed.
Wait a minute, she isn't mouthing, I'm deaf! Katniss realised.
Katniss tugged on Clove's arm desperately, too shocked to find words but knowing the careers would be back in seconds. Clove picked up Peeta who was slack in her arms and hauled him over her shoulder then ran off in the direction of the cave.
They both ran for a good distance until they were sure they wouldn't be followed any time soon. Katniss hoped that the careers thought that whoever set off the mines died doing so. The cannon blast marking that person's death wouldn't have been heard over the explosions. Perhaps they wouldn't follow them yet.
Clove and Katniss had returned to their cave that was concealed by vines and ivy. Inside the cave Clove dropped Peeta down on the ground where he slumbered.
She turned to Katniss and put her hand to Katniss' cheek. She brushed her skin gently with a calloused, yet smooth thumb. She was obviously worried about Katniss' health as she hadn't said a word to Clove at all. She frowned and her eyes were soft and glistening, silently asking the question: Are you okay?
Katniss pulled Clove to her and kissed her deeply. She felt Clove tense, then relax as Katniss held her with both hands. Clove's hands migrated to Katniss' waist and neck. They stayed there, simply feeling each other and revelling in their closeness as the barriers around them were let down momentarily.
When they broke apart, Clove looked at Katniss with a canted grin, her eyelids were lowered slightly. Katniss returned this look of approval by nuzzling her neck.
Katniss felt content for a short moment when all she thought of was Clove. She stayed snuggled into Clove's shoulder for maybe a second? Perhaps a minute? She wasn't sure.
Clove suddenly froze, Katniss looked up at Clove confusedly. Clove's eyes Bolted upwards, snapped out of this trance by what must've been a startling noise.
"Rue!" She said, then it dawned on Katniss with what she had heard. It couldn't have been good. No matter how much she hoped otherwise.
Author's Note:
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that was reviewed, followed, favourited or simply had read my story this far. Your support and encouragement means a lot to me.
P.S. In case you hadn't already guessed, I'm aiming to make this story a little different than the events in the book, but if I told you why or how it would spoil it for you. That's said, I hope you all enjoy what's to come.