In the end, it was fire that brought them back together. Entirely different from the fire that had drawn him to her, the steel smoke in her eyes at the reaping, the artificial flames Cinna had wrapped around her, their conversations on the roof, her fighting with him, her touch, her kiss. That fire was always beautiful. It made the sensation of burning enjoyable, he had craved it since the moment he had last felt it. But the fire in the arena, it was a searing relentless inferno. It did not burn the way her fire did, it burned with vengeance. It burned with the harrowing cruelty of the capitol. The smoke had filled his lungs, singed his eyes. He had caught himself on the edges of the flames, felt the pain rip through his body. Katniss's flames were designed to heal, but these flames… these flames were designed to hurt.
Of course, the day had previously been filled with the usual routine. The careers were too predictable. Feasting on the cornucopia supplies, packing for the day, gearing up. Cato had always ensured to carry much more than he needed with him. The others were nearly empty handed. But he had chosen the largest pack from the pile, filled it with weapons, water, and food. He had multiple blankets, sleeping bags, jackets, bandages, medicines, hell… he even had soap. He always had it with him just in case. He carried 2 swords just in case. He had been stealing all the extra arrows in the pile, storing them in his massive pack, just in case. In case they found her, and he needed to end the alliance. He was ready, always ready. Yet, the same anxiety always filled him when he walked through the forest. He was constantly contradicting himself, yearning to see Katniss yet constantly worrying about the possibility of doing so.
He was sure his lack of sleep was finally catching up to him. He had barely slept a moment since they arrived in the arena. 5 days with nothing but necessary naps, and it was starting to show. He was sure if he looked in the mirror, he would find bags growing under his eyes. He didn't trust any of them enough to let them stand guard while he was awake. They were slowly getting more frustrated as the days passed without kills. They hunted all day, every day. But since the first day, they had seen no trace of anyone. The bloodthirsty members of his alliance were restless, craving action and violence. Even Peeta seemed to be getting a little anxious, the days passing by without any sign of other tributes also meant days passing by without signs of her. Cato understood his plight, feeling the same nervousness chewing away at him.
The had already been out for hours whenever they smelled the smoke. Positive that it was another case of a tribute lighting a fire, they all sprinted towards it. Of course, that's how they ended up surrounded by fire. Cato was sure it was a punishment. Maybe Brutus was wrong, and the Capitol had fixed the rooftop surveillance, all his and Katniss' secrets were now available to Snow. Maybe there had been backlash at his secret alliance, his secret relationship with her. Perhaps Snow didn't like seeing a Career drop the bloodthirsty killer act. Maybe he had ordered the gamemakers to kill Cato in the same fashion he had originally intended to die in, death by fire. Of course, Cato had intended for Katniss' fire to be the end of him. He had intended to use his life as fuel for the flames.
He had choked on the smoke, it wrapped around him like a blanket. The heat surrounding him was slowly melting him away. The burns nipping at his side felt as if someone was ripping out chunks of his flesh. He was sure it bled out black tar, the smoke running its course through his bloodstream. He wretched multiple times, throwing up until there was nothing left. Then, he had to lean over to dry heave. He heard the sounds of the group around him suffering as well, but he was unable to focus on anything other than forcing his legs forward.
And finally, they found their way to the river. Its water was like an oasis in the desert. He was positive when his body hit the water, it sizzled and steam rose up. He had heard the others find their way here as well. He was shocked the flowing cold waters weren't boiling with the heat from their bodies. He shoved his head underneath the water feeling as the smoke was cleansed from him. He coughed over and over on the shoreline, dry heaving again. He had barely caught his breath when he heard Marvel start shouting. And all at once, all the smoke and flames had been expelled from his body. All at once, all his blood froze. His heart stopped beating. He wasn't sure it would ever start again.
About 40 yards down the river, Katniss had dived into the water. The flames had got her worse than him. She was stumbling as she ran away, limping. An injury. Her jacket was singed, her braid falling lose. He forced himself to run alongside the group chasing her, panic filling his entire body. He couldn't feel anything other than fear, it was the moment he had been dreading this entire time. He had watched as she scrambled up a tree, noticed the massive burn blistering along her calf. Finally, after all this time apart, he had finally found her.
And now, there he stood. At the base of the tree, staring up at her as the group around him screamed and taunted her. He contemplated his choices. Him and Peeta could probably take them, but they were too excited now. He hoped there would be no way for them to get to her. He watched as Glimmer tried to shoot arrows and missed, Marvel threw a spear, Clove tried to work out an aim to her to no avail.
This could work.
"Give me that." He snatched the bow out of Glimmers hands. She stood shocked for a moment before slinging the arrows off her shoulder and handing them to him. He quickly got in position, even if he was trying, he could never hit her from this angle. She was too far up, too hidden by the leaves, her body was pressed flat against the tree.
"Come down girl on fire, we don't bite!" Clove sneered up at her.
He aimed far left of her. The arrow sailed through the air, missing her completely. Feigning frustration he aimed again, this time he hit the branch she sat on about 4 feet away from her. He forced himself to look angry.
"Why don't you climb up to that branch and aim from there, or you could just go get her." Peeta suggested. He was afraid too, the wavering in his voice gave it away.
What's he playing at?
"We could always just wait her out. It's either come down or starve to death." Marvel was glaring up at the girl as he spoke.
Cato looked up to where Katniss was hunched in the tree, now he could see the burns that marked up her leg. No. He couldn't sit down here and make up a plan, he had to act now.
You're holding the bow, idiot.
He cursed himself internally, realization dawning on him at the plan Peeta had formulated.
Yes, that will work.
"No. I'm going to get her." He snapped at Marvel as he picked up his sword. He sheathed it, slinging the bow and arrows onto his back. He didn't dare to take his pack off, this is what he had been preparing for. The first few climbs were the hardest, he hadn't realized how much was weighing him down. All his weapons and supplies added up to a lot of added weight, but he powered through. He used his determination to protect Katniss to force himself upwards. About halfway up, he looked to see her big grey eyes staring at him. Questions were swimming in her eyes, and he tried to answer them with his own. He pleaded with her internally as he stared up at her, as if he was coaxing a wild animal from its den.
I have your bow little flame, come get it.
She moved then, shifting down towards him. The branches were getting thinner now, creaking under him. He realized that these flimsy branches would not be able to hold his weight and the supplies strapped to him. Only about 5 feet below her, he stepped onto a branch and knew it was going to snap. Faster than he realized he was able to move, he grabbed the bow and arrows from his back. He threw them in her direction just as the thin wood finally gave way.
Katniss, I am begging you. Please, please catch it.
The arrow had imbedded itself into Glimmer's chest before he even hit the ground.