In a place specifically built for death, witnessing it was not easier than anywhere else. In fact, it made all the pain feel more suffocating. Cato was always of the opinion that it was worse to know you are going to die, more painful to live in suspense until the moment you go. He figured it would be easier if you never saw it coming.
Perhaps, Rue knew she was going to die. Maybe that was how she stayed so calm as her crimson red blood spilled onto his shirt as he caught her in his arms. Maybe she had accepted it when her name was reaped, a tiny 12-year-old girl coming to terms with the probability of her demise. It would explain the smile on her face as she looked up at them, her two protectors. It would explain the steadiness in her voice as she spoke her final words.
"You two take care of each other, okay?" She asked them. They couldn't reply, throats both choked with grief.
"Promise me one of you will win. You have to- you have to win. So, you can see Alice and Prim again." Tears started to fall from her eyes, even as she smiled.
Katniss gripped the girl's small hand in hers as she gasped, trying to force back the grief in her voice as she answered "I promise. I swear."
Suddenly, Rue's eyes were on him. He was still frozen, his entire body shaking. "Cato, you are not the monster you think you are. You are- "Blood spurted from her lips as the small girl coughed, regaining his senses he reached forward with his free arm to wipe it from her chin. "You are good. Promise me you will remember that."
He shook his head, blinking as tears leaked from his eyes. He tried to force a small smile as he looked into Rue's big brown eyes, "I promise Rue. I- "His voice shook as he adjusted the tiny purple flower behind her ear. "I'll tell Alice you said hello."
The girl smiled, tears slipping down her cheeks, before she turned to Katniss. "Will you sing?"
Of all the things Cato has experienced, the haunting tune of Katniss's grief filled voice forcing out a melody for a dying girl will be the memory that is the most painful to relive. The birds, Rue's mockingjays, joining in on the beautiful tune she sung. Their haunting melody carried deep throughout the forest before it was abruptly cut off by the loud boom of the cannon. The sight of Rue's eyes glazing over as Katniss's voice cracked will be there every time, he closes his eyes. He knew this now, as grief nearly swallowed his entire being. He reached forward, closing the girl's eyes for the last time with shaking hands.
Katniss' wailing tore through the silent arena like a knife through flesh. He felt his own resolve breaking as he placed Rue's body down gently, moving to wrap his arms around Katniss. She sobbed into his chest, her bloodstained hands fisting in the back of his shirt as she gasped for air. He felt himself comforting her, but his mind was far away. He was lost in his own grief, the only outward sign the tears falling slowly down his cheeks and the pain in his eyes. Looking at Rue, he felt the pain morph into anger.
"She deserves better. She cannot lay to rest like this. She is worth so much more this." He seethed, whispering to Katniss. He felt her mirror his own emotions, forcing herself to her feet. Gently, he reached down and gathered Rue's tiny body in his arms. He led Katniss to the meadow that Rue had found earlier, a lifetime ago it felt since the last time he had been here. The flowers had lost their charm now that they had been transformed from an oasis to the sight of a burial.
Katniss reverently started to pick flowers as Cato placed the girl down in the center of the field. He crossed her arms, zipping up her jacket to cover the wound that had killed her.
"The purple ones are her favorite." He called to Katniss as he plucked some of his own. He surrounded her in a field of purple flowers, the different shades looked as if they were grown to look beautiful next to her peaceful body.
"You may have never gotten to live in a purple house, but I will lay you to rest surrounded by purple." He vowed as Katniss approached with a bouquet. With tears still streaming from her grey eyes, she placed the bunch of purple and white flowers in Rue's hand before leaning down and placing a kiss on the girl's forehead. Cato mirrored her actions, feeling his heart shatter as he said goodbye to the tiny girl.
Helping Katniss stand, they stood over her for a few moments before turning and making their way out of the clearing. Right at the edge, Katniss stopped, her hand still locked with his as she raised three fingers to her lips and then held them out to the sky. Respect. Honor. Goodbye. The same symbol 12 had used to say goodbye to Katniss.
Silently, they made their way back to the clearing where the third pile still stood unburned. The grass was stained with blood, Marvel's body missing. Together, the two of them gathered their supplies. The forest was completely silent when the sound of a parachute landing caught their eye.
Katniss opened the container to find a small loaf of bread, an 11 stamped into the crust. He felt his hands start to shake again as Katniss ripped the loaf in half, placing one half in his hand.
"It's unheard of to receive a gift from a district other than your home district." He said in awe, taking a bite of the seeded bread.
"It's more than likely a thank you." Katniss replied.
"Our thanks to the people of District 11." Cato yelled, holding his half of the loaf in the air, and turning to show his gratitude.
Then, for the second time today, he felt the earth shatter out of control as he turned around to be faced with the sight of Clove driving a knife into Katniss's side, her hand wrapped around the smaller girl's neck. She sneered, a devilish smile spreading as Katniss's face twisted in pain.
"Am I interrupting something?"