Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or Alice in Wonderland.

Thank you to my beta, Vintagejgc and my pre readers NKubie & Guy.

Chapter Six: Logical Nonsense

Everything is still and quiet. Then, almost eerily, the mockingjays take up my song. I lean forward and press my lips against Rue's temple, silently saying goodbye as I lay her down gently.

The nightlock bush is no longer alive. It lies motionless at my feet but I kick it anyway, stomping on its berries, except for a few which I carefully place in my pocket before I rush away, cursing this wretched garden. I smile when its cannon fires.

I blindly run into the forest, wondering if I will manage to climb any trees at my height. Gale's voice is in my head- his ravings about the Capital are bolstered by Rue's death. Such cruelty! Such injustice! She was just a child, small and innocent, thrown into this place created by sick gamemakers who would dare to use flowers to disguise cold blooded killers.

I run until my chest burns and then I walk. My feet wander this way and that until the sun starts to set. I'm not afraid. I'm not watchful. I'm an easy target right now, but I can't bring myself to care.

The dense forest starts to thin, a full moon on the horizon. The birds fall silent. There is no wind, no movement at all. I should raise my bow. I should be surprised to hear a voice, but I'm not.

"Who are you?" the voice asks.

Before me is a giant blue caterpillar sitting on top of the biggest red-capped mushroom I have ever seen.

"Who. Are. You?" he repeats, looking at me expectantly.

"I...I hardly know, sir, I don't know who I am anymore..."

He laughs, his mouth open wide and white teeth blazing.

"Ladies and gentleman, Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire!"

I gasp, recognizing his voice, and his face.

Caesar Flickerman.

He gives me a wide grin, his gaze alternating between me and some non-existent camera. Wait, no... This is the hunger games... Of course there are cameras! They are everywhere!

But this... What is he doing here in the arena? Am I safe with him? Is he safe?

"Tell me, Katniss, how does it feel to be one of the final six tributes?"

I stay silent, a tear slipping down my cheek. I don't know how to answer his question. Am I glad that eighteen people are dead? No. Am I happy to be alive? Yes. I don't want to kill, but I want to survive. I'm stuck in this place where nonsense rules and there is no such thing as logic.

"You seem upset. Are things not going well?" He suddenly looks concerned, his brow all furrowed in mock sympathy.

"Well...I should like to be a little larger, sir."

"Why?" His brow furrows ever more.

"Well, after all, three inches is such a wretched height and-"

He gasps and scowls, his smile long gone. "I. Am. Exactly three inches tall, and it's a very good height indeed! Hmph!"

"But I'm not used to it! I can't defend myself against the Careers at this height, and you needn't shout!"

He eyes me warily, his brow finally relaxing. He taps the mushroom and says, "One side will make you grow taller..."

"One side of what?" I ask, eyes searching, I don't see any candy or cookies, no strange potions lying around.

"And the other side will make you grow shorter," he sneers and wiggles his eyebrows.

"The other side of what?"

"The mushroom of course!" He yells and I step back, unsure of why he is so angry.

"What is your problem?" I shout back, confused, irritated beyond belief.

He sighs. "I'm frightened, of course."

"Why?" I ask, just dumbfounded. "What have I done to scare you?"

He slithers further back on the mushroom, narrowing his eyes slightly before saying, "Birds eat caterpillars, Miss Mockingjay."

Before I can utter another word he collapses, caterpillar body convulsing, writhing, transforming.

A giant blue butterfly emerges with Caesar Flickerman's face. "Best of luck to you, girl on fire! I think I speak for all of Panam when I say, I've got money on this. Don't fuck it up."