I couldn't bring the deer back into town by myself. I had to enlist the help of one of Gale's friends from the mines to help me carry it back. It took us forever, and I was sweating profusely by the time we hauled it to the edge of town. My shoulders ached and my arms burned. Even my legs where on the verge of collapsing.

Fortunately, Rooba was still at the shop by the time we dragged the carcass into the town. It was dusk as I dropped the bound legs I was holding and knocked on the back entrance door. For a fleeting moment, there was no response, and my heart sank. I had not thought through what I would do if she'd already closed up for the evening.

A moment later, the door swung in. My shoulders sagged with relief. While I didn't have to shoulder the weight of fear of getting caught by Peacekeepers, I had to shoulder the literal weight of the deer. It was almost a harder feat. As she squinted at me in the growing darkness, I side stepped and let her get a good look at what we'd brought in.

The somewhat sour look on her face instantly morphed into what I would almost call delight. "And they say you've lost your touch," she said with a shake of her head and a merry chuckle.

My feathers ruffled at that. I hadn't heard any such claims, but I wanted to know why she'd even thought it. Still, it was a question for another time. She motioned us to bring it in, and with a grunt I lifted it once more. My sockets screamed and my vision tunneled as I tried to focus on anything but the pain. Even in the fittest shape of my life, this haul would have been an ordeal.

The deer I'd taken down was massive; by far the biggest I'd ever seen in our woods. It had been a perfect first hit, but I'd still had to track him for a good ten or fifteen minutes until I lodged the final arrow that quieted him permanently. It had taken me another ten minutes to even approach the stilled body. Partly because I was waiting to see if it stirred, partly because I'd stepped on a large twig hidden beneath the bush in the chase and twisted my ankle, and partly because I feared that on approach I would see a different sight entirely. When I went to observe the kill, I expected my mind to morph it into a human.

Thankfully, my addled brain behaved for once. If only the rest of my body had been up for the task. Rooba, taking a hint from my labored breathing and my grunts, helped us lift it up onto the closest table. I almost collapsed when I finally let go. She disappeared into the room, telling me to wait for a moment. I tried my best not to look around at my surroundings.

When she returned, she held a small bag that jingled as she carried it. As was our custom before, we did not haggle over price. Whatever she offered was fair, and that was what it was going to be. She handed me the bag, but I hesitated. I wanted to give it back, but knew it would only insult her. People didn't mind when we paid for items we wouldn't use, but they didn't want our charity. The people of the Seam and of Twelve in general were much too proud for that.

So I took the bag with a heavy thanks, and then limped out of the shop without further ado. Gale's friend, I couldn't for the life of me remember his name, made to head out, but I called him up short. Pulling the twine from the pouch, I pour half the coins into my pocket. Then I retied the pouch and handed it over.

He looked at me as if I were mad. He gave the bag a good shake for emphasis. "Half is fair," I justified. "You did half the leg work of carrying it here. I never would have managed it by myself." He still looked uncertain. "Take it," I insisted. "And thank you."

Most of the guys from Gale's crew cast me weary looks when we passed on the street. I didn't know what he had told them about me, if anything, but it was clear they didn't hold me in the highest regard. It was probably taboo for him to offer his assistance, as he had when he'd seen me shuffling out of the woods and heading into town.

With a nod he accepted it before heading out without another word.

My walk back home was painful. It reminded me of my trip over the fence, when they'd reinstated the electric perimeter. It wasn't quite so bad, just a sprain at most this time, but the heavy lifting and the additional weight on it had not helped matters. It was going to be tender for at least a few days. If I had the stomach for it, I would ask Hazelle to help wrap it the next time I saw her.

As soon as I opened the front door, a wonderful aroma slapped me in the face. I had no idea what it was, but it smelled incredible. I lingered in the front hallway as I eased off my boots, hissing as it brushed up against my bad ankle. My jacket was even more painful to remove. My shoulders screamed murder as I arched my arms back to slide it from my shoulders. I barely had the strength to lift my arm to hang it on the coat rack.

Yet, through it all, I felt strangely invigorated. I'd never taken an animal as big as a deer down without Gale. I hadn't thought it had been possible. But I'd proven it to myself today. I only wished I'd been able to show it to him. I missed him, but now I knew that I didn't need him. Not entirely. It hurt, it ached, but it was possible to go on living this life without him here.

"Where have you been?" Peeta asked, appearing at the end of the hallway. He wasn't accusing, just curious. I couldn't remember the last time he'd beaten me home, but it had to have been before the bakery opened for business. He followed his question up quickly with, "You look like shit."

Peeta never cursed so it gave me pause. I almost laughed; I would have, if I hadn't been worried about how it would have made my abs ache.

"Well, I feel like it too. And probably smell along the same lines." No doubt I'd carried in some of the woods' less pleasant scents, along with my own foul odor from sweating so much. Dinner called out to me, but at the moment all I wanted was a bath. "But I bagged a big one."

I realized, then, that it had only been that afternoon when I'd made the deal with Rooba. He didn't know I'd spent the day hunting in the woods. Perhaps the only thing he did know was that I hadn't shown up for my afternoon cheese bun like I always did. And that I looked like shit, apparently. "I'll explain," I promised as I took the first few steps towards him in wincing limps.

Immediately, he arrived at my side. Sliding an arm around my waist, he pulled me against him to carry the burden of my weight. "Thanks," I said with a small grunt. "Any chance you think we'll make it up the stairs and to the bath? I need to soak my ankle before it swells. And the rest of me," I added, "before it falls apart."

In response, he tucked his arm behind my knees and lifted me as if I weighed nothing. Even the simple task of wrapping my arms around his neck for support took an effort I almost couldn't muster. Once he set me on the edge of the tub and began to run the water, I started at the beginning and told him everything. When he told me he missed me at the bakery, I told him I missed my cheese bun. He smiled, telling me he'd had a feeling and brought one home for me.

"We'll have fresh venison tomorrow," I told him, "as soon as Rooba finishing skinning and gutting it."

Peeta nodded as he turned off the water. "Do you need help in?"

I truly did, but there was no way I was going to say so. Just the thought of Peeta helping me strip off my clothes was more than I could process. "I'll manage," I lied, but I thanked him.

"Let me know if you need help back downstairs." He stood but did not leave. Then his thumb brushed across my forehead, and I could feel the grime caked against it. "I'm proud of you," he said. "And I'm looking forward to the venison."

As he left, he pulled the door shut behind him. I ached so badly, I dropped into the bath fully clothed.