Here's a new chapter! But I have a warning to give to my readers: I go back to college tomorrow and with a new semester starting, adding chapters to this story may not be as frequent as it has been recently. But with that said I want to continue this story and will try my very best to update this story as frequently as I can! So thank you for all of those who have showed that they like my story by reviewing and following and favoriting! It means more than you know and gives me the motivation to keep writing! So enjoy and hopefully I will be back with an update in the near future!
Katniss instantaneously recognizes her foolishness for shouting as her eyes grow wide and she covers her mouth with one hand. She doesn't move, her body taunt and alert as she waits to for an ambush now that she has revealed her position. But I just stare at Katniss and think she doesn't have to be alone, she can get help from Peeta. But then my thoughts trigger memories of Peeta and the love stories that he now shares with Katniss. This news at first hit me with happiness but as I remember Peeta and his confession, Peeta isn't particularly the person I wish was the one to help.
It's been a long while since we last seen Peeta who decorated his body with elements of nature to camouflage himself as a last resort to stay alive. He was gravely injured and I'm surprised that his picture hasn't lit up the sky yet. I have to tell myself to stop repeatedly as I continuously image Peeta confessing his love for Katniss to the whole nation.
Katniss has finally removed her hand from over her mouth now relaxed with the assurance that no one is coming to attack. I blink in confusion as she flashes a bright smile towards the cameras. What the hell is that suppose to mean? I feel my face contort into a grimace and I huff out a scoff. I thought I've seen the last of Peeta, but as I look as Katniss who has become more alive and buzzing at the news, I unfortunately will have to bare the encounters between them that are soon to come.
Katniss looks away from the camera and seems to get lost in thought as to what to do about this new change. At her silence, the camera shifts to the tributes of district 2, the only other team that this rule applies to. Their celebration consists of wicked smiles and tool sharpening as they plan to take out the biggest threat, which of course is Katniss.
I stop watching after Katniss is shown asleep. My brothers are still watching so I won't be missing anything. I walk into the kitchen where of course my mother is mingling and I immediately scold myself for not going out and hunting. I slip out before she sees me and go into my room and quickly throw on shoes and a jacket and grab a pack and leave my house.
I set up a few traps here and there and sit and wait as I nibble on some berries for the traps to be tripped. Shortly after I'm walking back with six fish, three birds, a squirrel and tons of berries and nuts. By the time I make it back the moon is high above my head and the temperatures have dropped considerably. When I make it back to my house I'm shivering under the lack of protection my jacket gives me.
I trudge inside, the weight of the pack finally off as I place it on the table. "Mom" I shout and she comes striding in, Pozy trailing behind. "Sorry I haven't gone in a while. But I got a lot." She thanks me and once again we split the catches and save the remaining things to give to the Everdeens. I tell my mom I'm going to quickly drop them off to them and I'm off and heading to the Everdeens.
As I casually walk towards their house, I think as to how they must be taking the news. They must be ecstatic about the fact that Katniss now is able to have a solid ally who won't turn their back on her at the last second. The walk is short and I'm already at their front door and knocking.
Mrs. Everdeen greets me with a hug and she feels thin and weak when I return it. I'm glad I went hunting tonight and I'm not leaving here until I see her eat. "I brought some food." And I place the bag like I did at my house on their kitchen table. She smiles warmly with a thank you begins to sort the goods.
Prim then makes her way over to me and with shining eyes she says, "Did you hear about the rule change?" Her voice is full of new hope, which makes images of Katniss as she heard the news flashes in my mind; they both have such similar reactions. "I know it's great news." Prim nods and as she walk over to put away what her mother has sorted while confidently saying, "Now she has even better of a chance of winning." I have to keep myself from bringing up the fact the Peeta is half dead right now because why bring up such negative thoughts when finally this family is feeling optimistic about Katniss' chances.
So I just agree and suggest making a meal for both of them. Mrs. Everdeen protested at first, saying I was the one who brought the food, she should be the one to cook it. But I insist to the point she can no longer argue. When I finally leave I'm filled with satisfaction after seeing Mrs. Everdeen eat the whole plate of food and wink at Prim who smiles with clear understanding for my actions.
The next morning my brothers are awake and scuttling off to school. I follow suit sullenly and barely can contain myself at the recaps given over the announcements. Katniss has apparently been on the move and is trying to confuse her enemies by lighting a fire, then heading of into a different direction. My friends Aria and Aleta are at my side telling me about the updates they've heard but nothing is interesting to me. I just need to know about Katniss.
I think I'm extra impatient and even though I hate to admit it, but Katniss could be with Peeta right now. I don't want to miss it even though it might make me angry, I rather be able to see Katniss. I rush past my friends with a sorry as I once again decline their invitation to hang out. But I'm lucky because they all answer back with positive comments and I know they're all letting me off the hook considering the circumstances.
I'm greeted by my mother who is cleaning up around the house and say, "
Have I missed anything important?" She looks up and replies, "She found him." I immediately drop my bag on the ground and slide into the room where the TV is. There I see Katniss with Peeta. My mother joins as she begins to clean this room and says, " It was a couple of minutes before you got back. He was so well hidden by all the camouflage he made, that she nearly stepped on him!"
There she's helping Peeta wash off all the grim and filth that has caked onto his clothes and skin. His camouflage is starting to fade and slowly Peeta is returning to a boy and not a part of the surrounding nature. She applies some of the leaves that Rue once did to her tracker jacker stings and you can see Peeta relish in the comfort as it soothes the stings. She then tries to feed him medicine and as she does she says, "You must be hungry." Peeta obliges without hesitation and after he swallows them he replies, "Not really it's funny, I haven't been hungry for days." His words are back up when Katniss tries to feed him groosling and he looks at it like it's the most disgusting thing in the world.
After that attempt Katniss decides to focus on his injured leg. She undressed his lower half, even removing his pants and I have to keep myself from getting mad at the scene. I can Katniss trying not to show her surprise as she now has a full view of the cut. The cut is even worse than it was when Cato attacked him. Now it's is swollen from the blood and pus that is slowly leaking it's way out. I hear my mother gasp at the sight and she takes Pozy out of the room so she won't have to see the brutal image. Peeta is no fool of his condition as he states, "Pretty awful, huh?" Katniss looks up from his leg as she realizes she was staring and places a mask of indifference on her face, "So-so, you should see some of the people they bring my mother from the mines." She continues to work on him by cleaning off more of the mud and crushed leaves and when you thought the cut couldn't look worse, as more dirt is washed away the cut looks so deep and infected, it's an absolute miracle that he is still alive.
I can tell that Katniss has no idea where to begin with actually treating the cut. But eventually she hands Peeta some food for him to eat as she checks on his clothes to make sure they're drying and begins to put some of the leaves she put on the stingers. As she places them on the wound, they begin to draw out the pus. So much is leaking out and I can see Katniss become woozy at the sight. She's never been good with the medical stuff like Prim and her mother and I wonder what they're thinking as they see her try to work out such a drastic injury.
I remember one time when we were little I was running to my house, Katniss a few steps behind me. When I went to enter the door I slid my hand against the wooded wall and pulled it back in pain to see three splinters imbedded into my fingers. Katniss quickly said, "You should show your mom." But at the time I thought I was a strong tough man, tired to get them out with my fingers, which only logged them in further. By the time I finally gave in and let my mother take them out they have bubbled with pus and when removed the pus ran freely. Katniss turned so pale at that little amount I can only imagine how this sight is turning her stomach.
Peeta speaks up then, "Katniss?" He stares at her and then only mouths something that I can't make out. Whatever he said Katniss breaks out into a fit of laughter. I look at my mom and say, "Did you see what he said?" She just shakes her head and goes back to cleaning. I know I should get up and help her, but I just can't let myself miss anything that is going on at the moment.
Katniss says," I… I'm no good at this. I'm not my mother. I've no idea what I'm doing and I hate pus." Katniss finally let's Peeta see her disgust as she takes the leaves covered with the stuff she hates and replaces them with fresh ones. I seeing her cringing and so does Peeta, "How do you hunt?"
"Trust me killing things is much easier than this" Katniss replies and continues, "Although for all I know, I'm killing you."
"Can you speed it up a little?" Peeta asks and Katniss glares back and relies, "No. Shut up and eat you pears." Katniss stops messing with the leaves and
instead tells Peeta that she'll wash his shorts. "Here, cover yourself with this."
She hands him Rue's backpack. Peeta takes it but says, " Oh, I don't care if you see me." I just glare at the screen, wishing I could tell him to shut up.
"You're just like the rest of my family. I care, all right?" Katniss turns her back
to him as he strips off the shorts and Peeta playfully throws them into her direction and they land in the stream. As Katniss cleans his shorts Peeta says, "You know, you're kind of squeamish for such a lethal person. I wish I'd let you give Haymitch a shower after all." Katniss keeps cleaning but he face contorts in distaste at the thought. "What's he send you so far?" Katniss asks. Peeta replies,
"Not a thing… why did you get something?" Katniss doesn't look a Peeta as she apprehensively says, " Burn medicine. Oh and some bread." Peeta shakes his head and states, "I always knew you were his favorite." Katniss objects with,
"Please, he can't stand being in the same room with me." Peeta just makes a face a mumbles, "Because you're so like." Katniss stops cleaning for a second at his words but quickly decides not to respond.
After their talk, Peeta drifts off into sleep and Katniss sits waiting for his clothes to dry. Katniss seems think that being out in the open isn't smart and shakes Peeta awake, "Peeta, we've got to go now." Peeta get's dressed slowly and as Katniss helps him stand Peeta face goes pale from the pain from trying to put weight on his leg. After a while Peeta almost blacks out from the agony caused by his leg so they make a pit stop as he recovers. Katniss scans the area in search of a place they can reside in for the time being. Her eyes land on something that she must find suitable and she makes Peeta stand.
With Katniss taking half of Peeta's weight as he leans on her they come upon a cave that was form from rocks. Katniss places Peeta outside of the cave and starts to cover the floor with pine needles. Then she goes to her pack and pulls out her sleeping bag and unrolls it. She then carries Peeta inside and tucks him in the newly made bed.
She makes a few attempts to make him eat, but he's not budging. He'll take some sips of water and with that she gets to feed him some medicine from the first aid kit. As Peeta relaxes Katniss tries to find any way to conceal the cave. She make an attempt to cover the opening by places a bunch a vines at the mouth, but unsatisfied with her work rips it down looking defeated.
"Katniss?" Katniss turns around at the sound of her name and meets Peeta's eyes. "Thanks for finding me." Katniss moves over to wear he lays and shrugs as she says, "You would have found me if you could."
"Yes. Look, if I don't make it back-" Katniss doesn't let him finishes as she states, "don't talk like that. I didn't drain all that pus for nothing." Peeta gives a weak smile, but he's not convinced that his options lead to living. "I know. But just in case I don't-" Katniss interrupts him by placing a finger on his lips to silence him and firmly says," No, Peeta. I don't even want to discuss it." Peeta doesn't give up,
"But, I-"
Suddenly Katniss is kissing him. Her lips are pressed firmly against his, Peeta all but forgetting what he was saying. She breaks the kiss and softly pushes the sleeping bag up to cover him more. "You're not going to die. I forbid it. All right?" She stares at him and finally Peeta gives in as he replies, "All right."
She kissed him. Willingly kissed him. My mom isn't cleaning in here anymore and my anger is at full force. Without thinking I punch with all my might at the wall , my knuckles immediately protesting at the impact and I rub them as my eyes train back on to the TV. I feel my mom staring at me the corner of my eye, my punch drawing her to investigate the commotion that is caused. She doesn't approach me, she just let's me hash out my inner turmoil myself. I breathe heavily and tell myself to calm down. Anger isn't going to make me the fact that Katniss kissed someone untrue.
Katniss is standing outside the entrance of the cave when a parachute lands in front of her. Katniss doesn't waste any time as she hastily open it to reveal soup. She looks at it confused, but doesn't question the gift as she stands up and says in a sweet voice I've never heard her use, "Peeta, look what Haymitch has sent you."