Author's Note: Don't own the Hunger Games. Also, I'm gonna try writing from Venus's point of view here. If you don't like it, feel free to bash the sudden shift. I just want to see inside her head because it's my story and I've hit a road stiff at the third person view point. So… semi-experimental.

"I've just never felt so at ease with anyone… not since Artemis."

My eyes darted around the familiar landscape, shocked at how unfamiliar it seemed without my delusions there to accompany me. The White Rabbit was usually poking his way out of the house, but it seems I didn't need him there with me. The delusions seemed to be muted by Gale's presence, and I couldn't figure out why. He was a soothing presence, that was true enough. My sanity couldn't just reappear, though. I knew that. My head seemed to be spinning more constantly, and thus I was dizzy almost half the time. I jumped at Gale's hand reaching for mine. I kept forgetting about physical affection… mainly because I didn't like it. However, it was clearly a ridiculous time to bring that up when I've seen him naked and he's seen me naked. He smiled, and I knew he was nothing like… that awful man.

However, it wasn't like I couldn't help thinking of those dark times… it was poison for my mental health, I knew. I forced a smile. I was happy, but it still didn't make it any easier to smile. It's kind of hard to smile when I was reminded of the war, of the Games… and I wasn't exactly stable to begin with. I was pretty sure hallucinations weren't normal… though of course, what did I know?

My mind was hard to keep a grasp on… or was it reality? Something seemed off about the lake, like it was a lot less shinier than I remember… I didn't like the idea of forgetting everything but it seems like memories were slipping away… like I could barely touch them. I turned to Gale… and I knew that he was safe, good, trustworthy… and there was that blasted cat. I jumped as Gale said something… what was it? Oh… "How did you come across this place?"

How did I come across this place… I couldn't remember. I just remember finding it, though it was shinier. I looked over at him with a small smile. "Magic."

This answer seemed to placate him. Or maybe he was confused by it. Who knows? I'm not even sure I understand my own emotions. Everyone I'd know before had tried to manipulate my emotions and treated me with no respect. It was a hard reminder of those times. I was barely paying attention to Gale now. The cat from my childhood was just standing there, with a smile on his face, his tail pointing to the lake. I blinked, and he had disappeared. I stood up and I just barely registered Gale's voice. "Where are you going?"

I knew just jumping into the lake would be stupid. I pulled my jacket off first then remembered my clothes would cause me to drag down like a rock. I hadn't lasted this long by just jumping into strange lakes. The lake did seem to be shifting in color though. The soft grass seemed to change color, to a soft purple. I pulled off the soft shirt that smelled so lovely (almost like sage and rosemary) and set it aside. I heard Gale again. "What are you doing?"

"Going for a swim. You can join, you know."

I tossed my shoes off before running to the lake and just jumping in. The water was cooler than I thought. Almost soothing, though. The cold I could power through. The cold reminded me that even a fire dies. I heard Gale swearing somewhere over my head and felt the water move with his entrance. I smiled over at him before swimming after the cat. What a cat was doing underwater was confusing, but I knew I had to follow. However, I felt Gale grab me around the waist and pull me up above the lake. I was confused. "Why did you do that?"

Gale frowned. "You were under the water for five minutes. I thought you had drowned."

Five minutes? I was only under for a few seconds. He had to be exaggerating. I cocked my head to the side and said, "Gale, it was only a few seconds. You're being too cautious."

I lifted my hand to feel my hair, knowing my curls were soaked. His brow furrowed, and I still couldn't tell what he was thinking. "Venus, that was five minutes… Did you hit your head down there or something?"

I shook my head, looking down in the lake. The damn cat was still there, and I shimmied down out of his grasp, diving headfirst to the cat. I heard something but ignored it. The cat was pointing to a group of rocks. I frowned, clawing into the rocks to find something interesting. It looked like a cave. I swam in, and was shocked to find that there was more leg room in there. I stood up, finding oxygen instead of water. I gasped in surprise.

The water shifted and I was prepared to attack if I had to. It turned out I didn't need to worry. It was just Gale. "Oh… hi."

He looked surprised as he took in our surrounding. I started wandering into the darkness when he asked, "Have you been here before?"

Honestly, no I hadn't. But I knew he wouldn't trust that answer, or anything I told him. I didn't answer instead. Better to say nothing than lie… that's what I was always told anyway. I continued down the path, the lights going away as I went. I knew Gale was following, though I was confused as to why. He could always go back. This wasn't the best place to be, I knew. I wrung my hair out before continuing down. I saw the glistening and knew where we were instantly.

This was a diamond mine.