As the sun's rays hit the arena Katniss came down from the tree she was sleeping on the whole night. The last of Peeta's hunt perished yesterday and even though she was still high on bread, biscuits and fruits, stocking meat would serve a good idea at the time being – with her being half-deaf already she needed time on her side afterall. She was still remorseful of Rue's death but she knew that this wasn't the time to mourn. It was when she was contemplating where possibly Peeta might have got those squirells that Claudius Templesmith's voice rung out in the arena. It was a bit odd as it was still too early in the Games to lure the surviving Tributes to the Cornucopia by giving a feast. And it wasn't like there wasn't any action in a while as she had bombarded the Cornucopia only yesterday. So she listened to the announcement with rapt attention.

Attention Tributes. As a part of the "Major Twist" of a Pre-Quell there is a slight altercation made in the rules of this year's Games. As from now on, two Tributes can be crowned Victors should both the Tributes hail from the same District. I repeat, 2 Tributes from the same District, if they survive to the end, can be crowned as the Victors. Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!

A lot of thoughts were spiralling in Katniss's mind as Claudius's announcement sunk in her mind. Then before she could even control herself, she was calling out for Peeta and running towards the general direction of the lake where Rue informed her that Peeta was hiding.

It's been about afternoon now that Katniss was touring the sides of the lake searching for any signs of Peeta and praying dearly that he isn't already dead as she has heard the canon blowing off once 5 minutes ago. Her only relief was the fact that the Hovercraft that appeared lifted the unrecognizable body from near the Cornucopia – a place where Peeta wouldn't appear so foolishly. So it was probably either the male from District 4 or 6 as the physique was distinctively male and wasn't large enough to be of Thresh. The other remaining males are in alliances by now so it would be highly unlikely that they are murdered in singles. She has to find Peeta soon as she might as well be the only duo who hasn't regrouped yet. And frankly she feels safer with Peeta around and she also knows that he is her only chance to walk out of the Arena alive. She was also quite relieved that both she and him can return home alive as she now doubted very much that she could find it in herself to kill him after the so many debts she owed him and the other Tributes couldn't do the job any better either.

It was finally another half an hour later that she finally gave up on her search and plopped herself down on the wet mud with the large bag, that she got from Marvel and which now held all of her collective belongings, at her side, without a care of the dirt. She was over such petty things for now. She finally laid down her head on the mud and sighed, "Where are you Peeta?"

She was pondering between whether to continue on searching Peeta or to go with her initial plan of hunting when suddenly to her horror, 2 hands came out from underneath the mud she was lying on and one hand strongly held her in position making it impossible for her to move while the other covered her mouth, not letting her make a sound. Fear coursed through her with dread thinking that some Career or another Tribute has got her and she is going to die when she finally had a good chance to win.

But then a very familiar voice breathed down on her good ear and saying, "Came here to finish me off sweetheart? Let's check out if the Girl-on-Fire is ticklish." And with that before relief could even replace her horror, the hand that was covering her mouth travelled to the other side of her body and the 2 hands started tickling her mercilessly. She squirmed, twitched and giggled uncontrollably and involuntarily. The torture continued for about 3 minutes before Peeta finally had mercy on her. "A much needed break from the settled tension," Peeta declared finally sitting up. A panting Katniss hit him hard on the shoulder making him yelp and was also trying her best to shoot at him a vicious glare and not smile in the process herself.

"You were camouflaging at the bank of the Lake?" asked Katniss after finally catching her breath and admiring how beautifully he had camouflaged himself with only mud and twigs.

"Not much to do than to heal my leg. Would have taken to the trees but the duo from 7 are scouring the Arena with the aid of trees. Underneath the mud of the lake it's the last place one would expect the brave Satanás to lodge," said Peeta.

"How's your leg?" asked Katniss suddenly with worry remembering the knife-hit.

Peeta grimaced and said, "Stopped it from flowing, getting infected and even sealed it once. Second throw from the fool again reopened it. The disinfectant boost will ensure no infection for sure. But this time lost a lot of blood at once and it isn't sealed either."

Katniss, though worried about the wound, was relieved that it wasn't anything worse. Some food, water and rest would probably help in making up for most of the blood lost, but she needed time for that. Though luck seemed to be in her favor this time, as the sky looked like as if the Game-makers were arranging for a few rainy days and maybe a storm as well. Perfect time for Peeta to recuperate. Another question was pondering in her mind though. "When did you confront Clove for the second time? And if you are alive then why is she as well?"

Peeta grimaced and said, "A long story. How about some other time?" Katniss nodded in acceptance and it was finally then that she recalled the reason for finding Peeta. Without a second thought she jumped on the startled boy hugging the daylights out of him, all the while babbling about the prospect that now they could both return home safely. After holding her for a few minutes as Katniss first cried in happiness for their chance, in grief for Rue's 'death' and finally in relief of finding him, Peeta finally said, "Um Kat? I'm loving the position I'm currently at, and the fragrance of your hair is heavenly by the way; and I'd be glad if I get to spend out my entire life like this. However right now if some Tribute comes to find us we'll be like sitting ducks waiting for them to slaughter us. So how about getting to somewhere safe?"

Katniss quickly broke the hug and blushed as red as a tomato thinking what she was doing all this while – and in front of entire Panem to boot. True, the act will get her sponsors in plenty but still it didn't at all end or even lessened her mortification any less. Moreover it wasn't like she needed to worry about food anymore with Peeta with her now. Though now with him being, wounded she didn't know for sure.

As if reading her thoughts, Peeta said while standing up, "Oh! By the way I shot a majestic stag this dawn and haven't even touched it yet. Went pretty bore with fishes so thought a "change in taste" was necessary."

'Trust Peeta to think about "change in taste" in the middle of the Hunger Games,' thought Katniss dryly. 'No wonder the Capitol is in love with him; or his sense of humor at least.' However a more shocking question was revolving in Katniss's mind as of now.

"When come they started keeping stags in the Games? And how on Earth did you shoot it?" exclaimed Katniss in both shock and awe.

"Do not know from when and why – must be the perks of a Pre-Quell? But I for one am not complaining. The fellow was nearby and didn't recognize my camouflage like you. I had a few darts I fetched from the Cornucopia. And I also kept a few cartridges filled with juices from a few berries I found earlier in my hunt with the Careers that work as analgesics for animals and if given a little more than necessary, than it induces them to a permanent 'sleep'. So in the lack of light, I took advantage to very discretely shoot the stag, and it even didn't realize what happened before it was out. Story finished," said Peeta while Katniss looked at him with hanging jaws. He then continued while walking behind some of the bushes, "I'm still well stocked on fishes, fruits and then there is all the supplies from Cornucopia I haven't even touched yet. They are all present in a cave that is hidden on the other end beneath the lake. With Tributes like Foxface around can't risk loosing my goods now can I?"

Katniss finally sighed and shook her head. Looks like Peeta wasn't keen on getting help from the sponsors at all. Why was she thinking he can't provide again? Then a thought struck her. "So this cave of yours. Can we bunk in there?" she asked Peeta as he returned with what even Katniss couldn't deny to be a great kill. He truly did mean it when he said a magnificent stag. For it looked roughly 2 meters in length, 2 ½ in height neglecting its antlers and pretty young for it to be that healthy.

A smile crept on Peeta's face as he saw Katniss's reaction at seeing his game. Dragging it towards the general direction of the cave he started limping his way, saying, "I was waiting when you will catch on. Coming along now?"

"Are you going to drag it all the way there? It'll leave behind a trail for others to follow," said Katniss incredulously.

In response Peeta halted in his tracks, turned about with a raised eyebrow, and then jabbed his pointing finger in upward direction. Katniss looked up to find that the sky is dark with hovering dark clouds, signaling for an upcoming storm. It was then that it hit her that no trail will survive the upcoming storm. With a sheepish expression she turned down to look at Peeta to find him walking away whistling merrily. Quickly she grabbed her backpack and scurried forwards to be near his intimidating (for others) – and rather sarcastic (even for her) – presence.

Good thing they didn't need to make a dinner tonight as Haymitch must have been impressed with their 'eating of each other's face' act, as he puts it in the note, and has sent them 2 steaming meals – that Peeta realized was his healing meal recipe and thus Rye's creation.

"Haymitch finally sent me something, though it's more like us, but I've no qualms against it," said Peeta in mock-relief.

"This is the first time Haymitch sent you something? I've got 2 deliveries already 1 of which was even unnecessary," asked Katniss incredulously.

"Apparently I was too self-sufficient?" offered Peeta as a form of explanation. Now that Katniss thought about it, that was a glaringly obvious truth. "That and I knew you were always his favorite."

"What!" exclaimed Katniss in shock. "We can't even stay in the same room for more than 10 minutes without trying to murder each other."

Chuckling at the description Peeta said, "Believe me. You both are too much alike to clash."

Hunger Games Headquarters, Capitol…

In a room at the Capitol's Hunger Games headquarters' lodging wing for District 12, 4 people sat eating their dinner at a table, while watching the Games.

"They are doing too well to loose now. If they win, which I know they would, they are finally going to make me the most popular Escort in the history of the Games," squealed Effie in delight. The other 3 occupants of the sofa, sweat-dropped at her such odd enthusiasm.

Ignoring her Cinna commented, "All aside, I genuinely feel that you may finally have two Victors this time around Haymitch."

Haymitch, for the first time to Effie's astonishment, didn't even touch alcohol since the Games began and was actually doing his best to ensure the survival of his Tributes – not that with Peeta around he really had to take much care of them as the boy was awfully self-sufficient and very overprotective of Katniss as well.

Shaking his head, Haymitch said, "Don't know Cinna. It's still not too late in the Game for a casualty to occur. But I've to give it to the boy. He is a great Tribute and the greatest strategist ever. It's a shame that his talent is put on into something as horrible as these Games."

Everyone nodded grimly at that – even Effie as despite the popular belief she didn't like the unfairness of the Games either. She was the only escort who always bonded with the Tributes she brought from 12 as her family and grieved their deaths secretly away from the Capitol's eyes or else she knew she was doomed. Previously she was also like the usual Capitolites but that soon changed when she watched her first escorted Tributes get slaughtered mercilessly a few years back. Her attitude changed that day but she hid it knowing for a fact that pointing it out would be nothing less of suicidal. So in a way she knew from where Haymitch was coming and why he always acted like that – a façade to hide his weaker and vulnerable self. And she also knew that this year what is having him get the drive to help out his charged Tributes – especially when he has the chance to fish out both of them alive.

"Yeah you are right. For Katniss may be a survivor, but I don't know what would have been her fate without all the help Peeta has given to her this far even before the announcement of the allowance of 2 Victors was made," said Cinna in admiration.

Portia, who has been silent so far, said, "I only pray that they both arrive safe and sound out of the Games. But something has been nagging me for a while. What do you think will be there in Peeta and Katniss's feast?"

"They are pretty well off and need nothing desperately for the moment. So they don't need to risk going for the feast either," said Effie with finality.

"If I know anything about the boy so far, then he'll definitely use this Feast for reducing a few more competitors for sure," said Haymitch with a laugh. "But a good question though Portia. Even I'm unsure as to what these 2 will gain from the Feast, as it's not very usually found when Tributes are in no need of absolutely anything so far in the Games. Even the Careers are usually desperate for something by this time while still being in the possession of the enormous resources of the Cornucopia. But lover boy here hunts a stag to 'change his taste' as he 'got bored of fish,'" said Haymitch imitating Peeta as everyone present chuckled at the humor. "Moreover he has just got his first fill from the massive sponsors he is accumulating with each passing day. And if it hadn't been his brother who sent the meal with enough Teserae to see it get in the Arena without any trouble, I wouldn't have interfered yet either."

"Peeta's brother has pulled off that much teserae?"asked a shocked Effie as Portia and Cinna nodded in shock as well.

Nodding Haymitch said, "Yes he has. He and Peeta are among the most brilliant ever born in our District – Peeta even more than Rye. The youngest and eldest Mellark brothers have enough brains to give even the best of District 3 brains a run for their money. They have been into profitable investment and are buying share markets since Rye was 9 and Peeta 5 years old. They earn a fortune fortune every year that their father has barred anyone but them from using. Then add to it that almost every month they win some Capitol organized competitions and in each of them they earn themselves prize money worth 2 years of a miner's salary." said Haymitch as the others gasped in awe. "A month prior to the reaping I also heard that Rye was only a signature away from buying a house in the Victor's Vill," finished Haymitch in awe as the others were slack-jawed after hearing that. Afterall you have to be a very wealthy and a filthily rich person to afford a plot in Victor's Vill much less buy one house.

(A/N) : Sorry for no action from the duo yet. But it was necessary for me to lay down the foundations of the Everlark romance (cave scene). Also felt to include the sentiments from the District 12 non-Tribute team. Than again everyone for bearing with me and wish again that all my readers leave behind their sentiments after going through my piece of work - even constructive criticism.

Oh! And just so you all might know, my plans for the rewrite of Catching Fire is in progress. Wanted to know what are all of your thoughts on a Haymitch/Cecelia pairing rather than the much popular Haymitch/Effie pairing. Seriously I believe Cecelia will be a much better companion to help out the drunken mentor rather than the the obnoxious Capitol Escort. However I'd still like to know about you people's thoughts on the prospect.

~Aeigns