Chapter 81: Allies

The next day dawns bright and clear...for Katniss and Peeta, for the Tributes, and for Haymitch.

As he exits the train in the Capitol, Haymitch decides the best way for him to make contact with Gale is to use Effie as his cover. He hadn't seen her in a while and wonders how she has been. Haymitch knows where to find her, she has always been fairly predictable, and he hails a cab to take him to her downtown apartment. It's early, so Haymitch's best guess is that Effie will still be either in bed or just getting up and ready for the day. He knocks on her door.

"Who is it?" Effie calls through the door.

"Haymitch" he calls back.

"Oh, my goodness!" he can hear Effie mutter, panic stricken on the other side. "Just a minute" she says in a sing song voice as she rushes to find her gown and check herself in the mirror before opening the door. She isn't expecting company and can't imagine why Haymitch would be calling on her, especially so early in the morning. As far as she knew, he was back in District 12 and Effie decides this would be a good opportunity to get an update on Katniss and Peeta's situation. Everyone knew they were under House Arrest…word gets around quickly in the Capitol.

Haymitch takes in the vision of Effie as she opens the door and decides she hasn't changed much since the last time he saw her. She hasn't had a chance to dress, of course, or apply any extravagant make up. He quite likes the look of Effie when she doesn't try so hard to impress. Haymitch decides to take her in his arms in a big hug, just because he likes to shock Effie and wants to see her reaction. Effie repeats herself saying "Oh! My goodness!" and laughs like a schoolgirl.

Haymitch slowly puts Effie down as she offers him some coffee. It's already prepared and smells delicious. He takes it all in…the smell of the coffee, the unusual normality of Effie and the luxury of the furnishings in her apartment. Effie hadn't done so badly after all. Being "kidnapped" by the Rebels in District 13 had obviously not affected her status in the long run. Haymitch thinks this is a good sign and sips some of Effie's coffee while she chatters away about the shock of the Games, the Tribute Parade, the interviews and Peeta and Katniss' house arrest. Haymitch can't get a word in and lets Effie run herself out before finally giving her an update on the reason for his visit.

"Effie, it's great to see you" he begins with a smile. "There's a lot I can't say right now, but here's what I will say. We all want these Games brought to an end as soon as possible and we can only do that by getting a lead on the whereabouts of Coriolanus Snow. He's the reason the Games have been instituted again and that is why I am here".

Effie does her best not to look too disappointed, although she can't for the life of her think why she would be disappointed that Haymitch is not just her to see her. She knows she has a soft spot for him, but doesn't want that to get the better of her…Haymitch is unpredictable, thanks to his problem with alcohol, and she knows better than to get too close to him in the circumstances. He is obviously here for another reason and she wants to know what that reason is.

"Haymitch, I don't know what I can do to help. I feel so useless sometimes, with all this going on around me, but I am also very concerned for Katniss and Peeta. How are they coping?" she asks.

"They told me to give you their best, and they are fine. Of course, it's difficult for them being confined to the Village, but Peeta has found a way for me to get a message to Gale and I was hoping you could help" says Haymitch.

Effie hesitates for a moment. She has never been very good at defying the Capitol.

"Of course, I will do whatever I can, but I'm not a very good liar…"Effie says uncertainly and being her usual forthright self.

"I just need you to get word to Gale that I am here and I will do the rest. Do you have access to any trustworthy people in the Capitol that can get a message to him and ask him to meet me?" Haymitch asks.

"Well, I do have some connections at the Presidential Palace and might be able to reach him that way. Are you sure he is still in the Capitol?"

"Yes. He wasn't allowed to travel back to District 12, so I am assuming Paylor has him close by to keep an eye on him. That could be a problem…" says Haymitch.

"Peacekeepers need time off, too" says Effie, remembering Gale's comment to her on the way back to the Capitol from Katniss' and Peeta's wedding. "I will arrange a soiree that Gale can attend and that should create an opportunity for him to leave the Palace without raising too many eyebrows".

"That would be great, Effie" says Haymitch. "I knew I could count on you". He gives her a winning smile and takes her in his arms again. Pecking her on the cheek, he tells Effie he will meet her at the café on the corner around noon the following day. It's the best he can do and Haymitch hopes everything is OK back in District 12. For now, he will spend some time watching the progress of the Games on the big screen in the Avenue of Tributes. With surviving tributes still in the Games, he wants to get an update.

Lorcan and Ottilia had seen the tally in the sky the previous night. Another four were gone, including Verity. They knew there wasn't much chance she could have survived the tornado. Ottilia had become teary and Lorcan comforted her as best he could. He told Ottilia there was a good chance they would find the exit soon and, as "allies", they had a better chance of surviving together. His words seemed to calm her down and she eventually settled into a fitful sleep with Lorcan by her side. He had tried to sleep, but he felt responsible for Ottilia and, even though there were no other tributes to fear at the moment, he feared the Gamemakers and their twisted inventions more. It was a restless night and the morning came much too soon.

With the sun rising, Lorcan nudges Ottilia awake, telling her they needed to keep moving. He says they will find food along the way, and they occasionally stop to pick berries that are safe to eat while scouting for spots to set a snare or two. Eventually, Lorcan decides they need to stop for water as the heat is becoming intense. Even in the shade of the trees, it seems unnaturally hot. Lorcan tells Ottilia they should rest for a while and goes about setting his traps further into the woods. He can check them later. Spotting some small fish in the water, Lorcan manages to spear a couple while Ottilia helps to gather wood for a fire. There's no shortage of wood, after so many trees had been ripped apart during the tornado, and it doesn't take long for them to get the fire started with the matches Lorcan had found in Ramsay's bag. Soon Lorcan and Ottilia are feasting on fish, and nuts that they have roasted over the fire, in the best meal either of them have had in days. It lifts their spirits enormously.

The snowstorm on the top of the mountain had finally abated, running its course during the night and coating the whole mountain in a deep blanket of pure white perfection. Ebony wakens in the darkened chamber, created of ice, and flexes her fingers and her toes. The igloo had retained her body heat and kept Ebony warm during the night, but now she needed to escape from its confines. The ice was beginning to melt and, after catching as much as she could to drink and rehydrate herself, Ebony begins to make her way out of the entrance and into the cold, hard light of day. A good deal of snow has drifted across the entrance and Ebony clears it as quickly as she can with her hands before she scopes out the desolate landscape once again. There is no sign of clouds on the horizon and no sign of life either. She thinks there is one more tribute out there…she missed the tally last night… but she just doesn't know where. Ebony is about to find out.