AN. As promised, here's part 2. Enjoy.

CHAPTER 7 The Game (Staying Alive – Part 2)

A quiet stillness settled over the arena. Time seemed to slow down as four of the seven remaining tributes recovered from the tracker-jacker attack.

Marvel shivered under a tree, whimpering softly as all sorts of horrors danced behind his closed eyelids.

Cato, who was taller and stronger, had managed to reach the Cornucopia. He was lying on the ground with his knees tightly pressed against his chest in a fetal position. He mumbled incoherently in his sleep as he waited for the venom stored inside the stingers he hadn't pulled out of his body to stop poisoning his mind.

Next to him, the boy from District 3 bit his nails and wondered what had happened in the forest.

The boy had been instructed to keep an eye on the supplies while the careers went out patrolling. He had seen the fireballs dropping in the distance and had heard the quick succession of cannon blasts which followed. He hadn't expected to find Cato rushing back into the building looking like a man possessed or to see the faces of the three career girls looking back at him from the sky during the nightly recap.

Thresh and the red-headed girl from District 5 kept to themselves and carefully rationed their supplies. The strategy had worked for them so far, and neither one was willing to push their luck.

Back at the stream, Rue watched over Peeta. The young girl had gotten to work as soon as he had collapsed under the bushes. She had immediately located and extracted the stingers the mutts had left on his arms and face when they'd bit him.

After removing the small poisoned darts, she had taken a walk along the riverbank.

Katniss, Prim, and the rest of Panem kept their eyes glued to the TV screens as the girl from District 11 searched the water's edge.

Rue hadn't walked long when she found what she was looking for. A satisfied smile had crept up her lips as she inspected the dark green leaves which grew by her feet. Without much ceremony, Rue had grabbed a handful of leaves and popped it into her mouth. After chewing vigorously for about a minute, she spat the green wad of leaves and pressed it on her hand.

Katniss's eyebrows shot up when she saw what Rue was doing. "Have you ever done that?" she asked her mother.

With a shake of her head Mrs. Everdeen answered, "No, I've always used a mortar to mash up leaves. But it's not a bad idea, by chewing them she's releasing their oils, allowing them to come into contact with the skin. The spit just binds the whole thing together. She should notice the effects immediately."

As if to prove Mrs. Everdeen right, Rue's features had immediately relaxed. The pain from her injuries was obviously subsiding. Satisfied with the results, she had stuffed her pockets with leaves and headed back to the bush where Peeta lay hidden.

Back in their hiding place, she had repeated the procedure with the leaves, chewing, spitting and pressing the sticky glops everywhere Peeta had been bitten. Satisfied with her nursing efforts, she had covered him with the heat reflecting blanket she had found in Glimmer's bag.

After leaving a fresh water bottle within Peeta's reach, she had taken the backpack, and all her supplies and she had gone looking for a tall tree in which to spend the night.

Katniss's heart plummeted when she saw Rue climbing once more. She knew the girl was right, the branches had already proven to be the safest place for her. But her mind kept going back to Peeta, alone and sick by the water's edge.

XXXXX

Days went by. The tributes in the arena rested and waited.

Back in District 12, life continued as normal.

It was Saturday afternoon. Katniss was on the Meadow, sitting under a tree when she spotted Gale walking towards her.

Her eyes lit up, and she waved at him.

He looked so tall from where she sat, so grown up. She was shocked by how unfamiliar he seemed all of a sudden with his miner's clothes and hair cut short. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out how much time had gone by since they'd seen each other last.

He was still her hunting partner and her best friend. She visited his home and spoke to his family every day. But, between mandatory transmissions and his new obligations at the mine, they hadn't been spending any time together. She couldn't remember the last time she'd gone so many days without talking to him.

"Hey, Catnip!" he greeted her, "your mom said I'd find you here."

"Yeah, I'm not very hard to track down these days," she groused.

He chuckled as he lowered to sit next to her. "So, how have you been?" he asked.

"Fine. I've been making my rounds. It's incredible how much you can find out there right now," she reported.

Gale nodded. His gray eyes scanned the Meadow, and he smiled.

"Oh! I forgot to tell your mom!" she exclaimed, slapping her forehead with her open palm. "A couple of your snares got snapped. I think maybe a wild dog or a larger animal stepped on them. I tried fixing them, but they haven't caught anything since then. I might have done it wrong," she admitted with a disappointed scowl.

Gale considered Katniss's words for a moment. "Maybe," he said, "or maybe it's just the large animal's scent that's driving the others away. I might have to find a new place for them. I'll figure it out tomorrow."

Katniss nodded.

The hunting partners sat in silence for a while.

Katniss focused on the sound of her friend's breathing. She was soon comforted by the familiarity of it. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sense of calm and peace which surrounded her.

A pang of nostalgia hit her as she remembered that moments like this one, peaceful and quiet out in the open with him, had already become a rarity. Gale would never be free to go out into the woods during the week again. And once he started a family, he was bound to start spending more time with them than with her.

Gale had never mentioned what his plans for the future were. As far as Katniss knew, he wasn't involved with anyone. But boys in District 12 became men the second their last reaping was over. The crowning of a new victor was usually followed by announcements of toasting ceremonies and betrothals.

That's one thing Seam folk and merchants have in common, Katniss thought, they're all too eager to start living. They all mistake aging out of the reaping with being free.

On top of everything else, Katniss knew Gale was very popular among the female population. Between his handsome features, his hunting, and his bargaining skills, he was what many referred to as a "good catch." It wouldn't be long before Gale chose his bride and, once that happened, things would change even more. Because who would be happy to have their significant other traipsing around the woods with an unmarried girl?

After a few minutes, Gale broke the silence. "So how about that girl from 11, huh? Who would have thought she had it in her? Getting rid of two careers in one blow."

"Yeah," Katniss agreed, "she's smart," Appreciation colored her words as she added, "and resourceful. She's even taking care of Peeta now."

"Well," Gale scoffed, "I wouldn't call that smart."

The disdain in his voice hit Katniss like a slap in the face. Surprised, she turned to face him. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"C'mon, Catnip, they're TRIBUTES," he said, emphasizing the last word as if he was speaking to a small child. "She should be running away from him, not helping him heal." With a shake of his head and a chuckle, he added, "What do you think is gonna happen once he wakes up? Do you think he's gonna hold her hand and start skipping around the forest?"

Katniss's eyes widened in shock when she realized what he was implying. "You think he's going to attack her?"

"Of course he is! He'd be a fool not to!"

Katniss held her breath for an instant, she didn't care for Gale's dismissive tone. She was only two years younger than him, she didn't need to be treated like an infant. And she definitely didn't like what he was saying.

"Peeta wouldn't do that!" she blurted out.

Gale's eyes turned steely under the afternoon sun. Katniss could feel them burning a hole through her as he asked, "How do you know that?"

"What?" she asked, suddenly feeling like a rabbit caught in a snare.

Gale's carefully enunciated words cut through her like a sharp blade. "Yeah, Catnip, how do you know what the baker's son would or wouldn't do?"

"Well, I…-"

"Because this isn't the first time you've made a comment like that, you know? So, I'd like to know where you're getting your information from."

Katniss stood still, every muscle in her body tensed as she watched her friend's mind at work.

She had seen this before. Gale was practically famous for analyzing and dissecting every bit of information he had, especially when that information came from the Capitol. He would turn over every single statement and idea until he found the "true meaning" behind each word. Watching him now, as he considered her words, made her feel like a traitor. She didn't like it.

Silence, tense and anxious, stretched between them. Katniss folded her arms in front of her chest and waited. She didn't like being questioned. If Gale thought he could bully her into talking about Peeta, he was in for a surprise.

A couple of minutes later, Gale relented. He groaned loudly, throwing his arms in the air, and exclaimed, "Fine! Have it your way. Don't tell me anything. Why don't I tell you what I know instead?"

Without even glancing in his direction, Katniss shrugged.

With a dry chuckle and a shake of his head, Gale continued, "So far, Mellark hasn't behaved like a vicious killer -I'll give you that. He's spent most of his time walking around, setting up house, and staying out of trouble.

"Yes, he did protect the little girl," he acknowledged, "he saved her from what sounded like a horrible death. But, that actually worked in his favor."

Katniss's eyes snapped open, and she glared at him.

Gale raised his hands defensively. "Just think about it," he asked, "Clove was ruthless. We all saw what she was capable of. So, he saw an opportunity to get rid of her while she was distracted, and he took it. Or what, do you honestly think he got rid of a career just to help the little girl?" he scoffed, "That would make no sense, Catnip, no sense at all."

Katniss sighed, she was running out of patience for her hunting partner's narrow-minded notions.

"I know it's not the usual behavior for a tribute," she said. "but he won't hurt Rue. Why do you think he gave her the backpack? If he wanted to kill her, he would have done it already. She was standing right in front of him. Why wait?"

"I don't know," he admitted, "The tracker-jacker venom was probably messing with his brain. You saw how badly he was shaking when they reached the river bank." Gale rolled his eyes, his voice was full of contempt when he added, "One would think a merchant kid would have a higher tolerance for these types of things. You know what, though? It doesn't even matter. Even with Rue's nursing efforts, he might not make it through the night."

Gale's words pushed the air right out of her lungs. As the world around her began to spin, Katniss gasped for air and closed her eyes. She refused to think about Peeta dying under a bush by the stream.

"I wouldn't rule him out," she muttered, trying to keep her words from betraying the fear she felt, "he's been avoiding conflict, and he's in bad shape right now. But he's a real contender."

"He is?" Gale questioned. Sarcasm dripped from every word as he added, "Ok, this you're gonna have to explain."

Katniss steeled herself against Gale's mocking gaze. Slowly, she enumerated all the relevant information she remembered about Peeta. "He's very strong. He's a good wrestler. He's smart." Her voice was barely a whisper when she added, "And he can handle pain."

Gale looked away. His voice was cold and distant when he asked, "So you do know him then."

With an exasperated huff, Katniss explained, "I've seen him around, ok? In the market, at school. We're in the same grade. We've had classes together. Plus, everyone knows he finished second in last year's wrestling tournament."

Gale tilted his head to the side. His eyes shone like silver coins when he asked, "What about that pain part? What did you mean by that?"

Katniss shrugged. "Well, he's managed to survive under his mother's care. You know what that witch can be like when she's in one of her moods."

Gale nodded, Mrs. Mellark's temper tantrums were known all over the district.

Katniss took a calming breath before she continued, "Think about his competition. The only careers left are Cato and that Marvel guy. They're strong, but they're not very smart. Other than that, there aren't that many people left in the arena. You do the math."

Gale regarded her thoughtfully and asked, "You actually believe he has a shot at winning this, don't you?"

"Yes. I do," Katniss admitted turning her eyes to the ground. Her hand reached out to the soft blades of grass which grew under her, she pulled a couple out and began twisting them in her fingers. "Honestly, I think the odds are in his favor."

"So that means you agree with me," Gale concluded, a sly smile settling on his lips.

Baffled by her friend's change in demeanor Katniss mumbled, "What do you mean?"

The coldness in Gale's clear voice sent a shiver down her spine. "That girl from 11 you like so much?"

"Uh-huh?" she asked.

"She's as good as dead."

XXXXX

Katniss hurried back home.

Her conversation with Gale had left her feeling restless. She knew he was right, of course, the rule was very clear.

Only one comes out.

She had made her peace with it. She had long accepted that, for Peeta to survive, others had to die.

So far, Peeta had only attacked the girl from District 2, but he wouldn't be able to make it back home without facing some of the other tributes. She knew that.

She also knew that Rue, with all her skills and courage, was one of the people who stood between Peeta and the victor's crown. She hoped that circumstances and fate would make it so that it wasn't the two of them battling each other for the title.

Something deep inside told her that wouldn't be the case. Alliances in the arena had a tendency to end quickly. Most people preferred to split with their partners long before they were forced into a confrontation. Generally speaking, tributes weren't killers. That was why the arena was full of mutts and traps. They were the tools the game makers used to make sure only one person survived.

XXXXX

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another nighttime recap of the 74th Hunger Games!"

Katniss and Prim winced at the high-pitched voice which rang loud and clear through loudspeakers all across Panem.

Tanya Larson was in 'super enthusiastic' mode. Her purple eyelashes matched her nail polish, and the lime green wig she wore sparkled under the studio's neon lights. Next to her, Cornelius Lovejoy, with his orange suit and hot pink tie, looked like elegance personified.

"It looks like our tributes have finally woken up from their beauty sleep!" Tanya announced cheerfully. "Let's take a look at what they've been doing today, shall we?"

An image of the Cornucopia, glittering under the midday sun, appeared on the screen.

As announced, Cato was already up and about. His hands were a bit shaky and he kept glancing nervously around himself.

A close-up of his face, neck, and arms showed the swollen bite marks which covered his skin. Their sickly green color made Katniss want to gag.

"That doesn't look good," Katniss said, "How can he be awake when his wounds are that infected?"

"They're not infected," Prim replied, "they look that way because he's slathered some ointment on them. It would have been better if he'd removed the stingers, but that's some heavy-duty medicine right there. It won't take long for him to heal. He's probably still hallucinating, though. Look at how unfocused his eyes are."

The next tribute was Marvel.

According to the map on the screen, the career from District 1 wasn't very far from where he'd slept. He had managed to hold onto his spear, which he now used as a walking stick to balance his unsteady steps along the unattended paths.

Judging by the size of the backpack he carried, he still had plenty of supplies.

"I wonder where this little explorer thinks he's going!" Tanya exclaimed from the studio. "Cornelius, do you think he's noticed that the path he's on keeps going around in circles?"

"My dear Tanya, I don't think the poor boy knows which way is up or down! He's already passed that cluster of trees three times and it doesn't look like he's going to change his route anytime soon."

"He probably should have done something about those tracker-jacker bites," Tanya chimed in, "Everyone else seems to be doing so much better than him."

"And, on that note, let's take a look at little Rue and her patient," Cornelius snickered, "Last time we saw them they were getting ready to head back to Peeta's cave."

Katniss fidgeted anxiously in her seat. Peeta had spent the last few days lying and twitching on the ground while he mumbled incoherently in his sleep. She couldn't wait to see him up on his feet once more. She needed to know he was ok, and she was desperate to prove Gale and his theories were wrong.

Rue and Peeta came up on the screen. They were making their way up along the riverbank towards Peeta's hideout. The tributes walked side by side, the only sounds around them were the rustling of leaves and the heavy stomping of Peeta's feet against the ground.

"Oh, Cornelius! Just look at these two!" Tanya exclaimed, "Things are definitely looking up for the tributes from the outlying districts. Thanks to Rue's nursing skills, our new set of allies is looking better than ever!"

"Right you are, Tanya," Cornelius agreed. "Right now we have two alliances in play. On one side we have Cato and the boy from District 3. On the other, we have twelve-year-old Rue and the boy from District 12."

With an exaggerated pout of her purple lips, Tanya asked, "Unlike the original alliance, these seem a bit… uneven, don't you think?"

"Yes, absolutely. The first alliance was much stronger," Cornelius agreed, "Tributes like Clove and Glimmer had a lot to offer. But don't forget, strength comes in many shapes and sizes. Each one of these tributes has already proven they have what it takes to survive."

Katniss stared at the screen and tried to block out the commentators' chatter. Peeta and Rue had already reached his cave, and she didn't want to miss any details.

The look of surprise on Rue's face when Peeta showed her the curtain he'd made to camouflage the cave put a smile on Katniss's face. Even though she couldn't hear what they were saying, she could tell the two tributes were bonding.

Watching them now, as they interacted with one another, convinced her of one simple truth. It didn't matter what people thought about their strengths and weaknesses. Peeta and Rue were a team and they would stay that way for as long as they could.

XXXXX

Mrs. Everdeen had just turned on the TV when Tanya Larson's enthusiastic voice came pouring out of the speakers

"And here's another last-minute report!" the presenter squealed in delight. "The food pile in front of the Cornucopia just blew up in pieces! We will have exclusive footage in just a few minutes. But, in the meantime, our wonderful head game-maker Seneca Crane is here to give us all the details. Seneca?"

"Thank you, Tanya," Seneca's oily voice dripped through the loudspeakers. "It seems that this year's tribute from the technology district was entrusted with the task of creating a system which allowed the allies to leave their food and supplies unattended while they scoured the arena. Apparently, the boy did his job a little too well. Using all 24 explosives from the startup launch pads, and creating an incredibly delicate mechanism.

"As you all know, the bright girl from District 5 understood the device right from the start. She used the food pile as her own personal pantry, astutely taking only what was strictly necessary to avoid detection. Until this morning, that is."

Seneca Crane's throaty chuckle made Katniss's blood curdle.

"A few minutes ago, the lovely redhead decided to store up on goodies. She was almost finished when the boy from District 3 saw her. True to his duty as keeper of the food pile, the boy called out to her. Startled, the girl tripped over one of the crates. Her sudden movement brought a sack of apples tumbling to the ground. The apples activated the explosives buried underneath the supplies. In less than a second, the whole pile had gone up in flames."

"Tell me something, Seneca," Tanya asked, "The blast from the explosion was so loud that I don't think the other tributes heard the cannon announcing the female tribute's death. What do you think?"

"You're probably right, Tanya, the other tributes are in for a surprise tonight!"

"Well thank you for that wonderfully detailed recap," Tanya beamed. "It looks like the footage is ready to be transmitted. Ladies and gentlemen, let's go back to the arena!"

Katniss and her family watched in silence as the events they had just heard played in front of their eyes.

Bits and pieces of rubble and flaming debris were still falling from the sky when Cato, who had been alerted by the explosion, left the Cornucopia where he had been taking a nap. As soon as he saw the flames, he knew what had happened.

The tribute from District 3 never stood a chance. In one swift motion, Cato grabbed the boy by the head and twisted it in his hands.

The sound of the tribute's neck breaking echoed against Katniss's living room walls.

XXXXX

The news spread like wildfire through the district. Rue was dead.

The twelve-year-old girl had been gathering berries for dinner when Marvel found her. In an instant, the tribute from District 1 speared the little girl, snuffing out her fire forever.

Katniss was at the Hob; she had been trading the morning's haul when she heard the news. She considered rushing back home and waiting for the mandatory transmission to begin, but she needed to know what was happening in the arena, and the screens in front of the justice building were the only ones showing the events in real time.

Just as she was leaving the Hob, she heard it. The unmistakable blast of a cannon. She knew it couldn't be Rue's, the girl had already been dead for a few minutes.

Katniss ran. Her heart raced madly inside her chest as she sped towards the town square.

Her every thought flew back to Peeta. His ally was dead. Had he tried to protect her? Was he injured? Was that cannon for him? Had he been killed while she wasn't looking?

Katniss ran as fast as she could. Her lungs were on fire, and her legs felt as stiff as boards, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. She had to know what had happened. She needed to make sure Peeta was safe.

She reached the square and was greeted by a large crowd. People had heard the news and, like her, had rushed to see what was happening.

Anxiously, she pushed through the crowd and tried to get a better view of the screen.

Suddenly, she stopped. There, as big as the Justice building itself, was Peeta.

Katniss let out a shaky breath, tears welled up in her eyes as she took him in.

He was beaten up and bruised, but alive. He was leaning against a tree. His face and shirt were splattered with blood but, as far as Katniss could see, most of it wasn't his.

The sadness on his face made her tremble. She wrapped her arms around herself and wished she could hold him.

Peeta's blue eyes glistened with pain and sorrow. Silent tears streamed down his cheeks as he waited for the hovercraft's metal claw to collect Rue's body.

Just as Rue was being lifted from the arena, Peeta pressed the three middle fingers of his left hand to his lips. Katniss held her breath as he raised them in his ally's direction.

Rue was gone.

Peeta collapsed on the floor. He curled into a ball, wrapping his arms around his folded legs and cried.

A faint murmur of sobs filled the square. Katniss felt it echo and bounce all around her. Surprised, she glanced around. All over the town square, people sniffled and wept. Some were more discreet than others, but there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

Katniss braced herself for the next few days. There were only 3 tributes left in the arena. It wouldn't be long before the Game came to an end.

XXXXX

Later that night, there was a knock on the door. It was late. The call bounced off the walls of the darkened house and startled Katniss awake.

She rushed to answer, pulled the door open, and found Gale Hawthorne standing on the other side.

Her chest tightened. Their last conversation was still fresh in her mind.

"What do you want?" she muttered.

Gale let out a deep breath. He looked pale and tired. Katniss didn't remember ever seeing those dark circles under his eyes.

"I'm sorry about the other day," he said.

Slowly, Katniss nodded.

With a brittle smile, he continued, "I know it's not an excuse, but… these Games… they're getting under my skin. Rory's been so anxious this year and watching all those recaps while I work. It… it makes me feel like a trapped animal, you know?"

Katniss waited in silence. If Gale had something to say, she wasn't going to stop him.

He sighed deeply. "Anyway, you were right. The baker's son didn't go after the small girl," his voice dropped to a whisper, and he added, "Actually, people down in the mines keep talking about the way he saluted her. No one remembers a tribute saluting a fallen ally like that."

"He did the same thing when Tessa died," Katniss reminded him with a pointed look.

"I know, but that was different. Tessa was his partner. People saw that as a show of district pride. Honoring someone from a different district… people don't do that."

Katniss nodded. She wanted to say that Peeta wasn't like most people. She didn't.

"Can I ask you something?" Gale said.

There was a gentleness in his tone which surprised her, she turned to face him. His eyes shone brightly under the pale moonlight, and there was a vulnerability reflected there she had never noticed before.

Feeling suddenly ill at ease, Katniss quickly turned away and nodded.

"What's the deal with you and the baker's son?" Gale asked softly.

Discomfort gave way to irritation. "Deal?" she hissed, "There's no deal! I've told you. We went to school together. He was in my class, that's all."

Determined to end the conversation with an annoyed glare, Katniss turned to face her friend. She was expecting to find anger, flaring nostrils, and narrowed eyes. She was stunned to discover sadness and hurt instead.

Gale's pleading eyes locked with hers and she took a step back. She would have run back into her house if she thought she could get away with it. But she knew Gale, he wanted answers, and he wasn't going to let up until he got them.

Desperate to end this uncomfortable and intrusive conversation, she spat, "What's this sudden obsession? What do you care? You and I are friends, hunting partners. That's it! You're not my brother, and you certainly are NOT my father. You have no right to meddle in my life."

Gale narrowed his eyes as he studied her. His gaze reflected the battle of conflicting emotions going on in his head. Not surprisingly, anger won.

His voice was tight when he spoke. "You're right, I'm not your brother or your father. But, like you said, I am your friend. And I'm worried about you. If you don't want to tell me what's happening, that's up to you. But just, please, don't lie to me. Stop pretending."

"Pretending? What do you mean?" she asked.

He looked pointedly at her and said, "We both know you didn't care about Tessa being reaped. Because, as it turns out, you didn't even know her. But, you do know the baker's son. That's who you went to see, right? After the reaping? He was the reason you were so bent out of shape that day. He's the reason you've been following these Games so closely, isn't he?"

Katniss scowled. She didn't like the turn the conversation had taken. She wanted to protest, but she knew her words would only fuel Gale's anger. So she waited, listening to her friend as he ranted.

"And don't bother denying it," he said, "I know what I've seen. You're never this concerned over someone you're not related to. Let alone someone you've barely even met! So, forgive me if I'm not eager to buy into this whole 'I hardly know him' crap."

His eyes narrowed, silver daggers flew at her as he said, "You have been rooting for him all along. Wanting him to come home. Well, congratulations! He probably will. And, when he does, he'll be a victor. And you? You'll still be a girl from the Seam.

"You think merchants are deplorable, Catnip? Using and disposing of Seam girls however they please. Just wait and see what this brand-new Capitol pretty boy will do to you if you give him half the chance."

Red hot anger flared in Katniss's chest, and she yelled, "Leave. NOW!"

Gale glared at her. Things had obviously not gone the way he'd intended. With a loud huff, he turned on his heels and stormed away.

Katniss leaned her back against the wall and closed her eyes. The world was spinning. Her heart was racing, and her chest felt like it was about to explode.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she let them fall. She didn't understand what had just happened. How had things gotten so out of hand? One moment Gale was apologizing and the next he was yelling at her. He had never treated her like that before.

Over the years, she had seen Gale Hawthorne hollering and complaining many times. His hatred for the Capitol and the town's merchants was nothing new. But he had never directed his anger towards her before.

A part of her knew that her friend was just worried. She knew this was how Gale protected the ones he loved. But she hadn't asked for his protection, and she resented his approach. She wasn't going to be bullied into accepting his point of view. Especially when he didn't even know what he was talking about.

Even if the Peeta who came back from the Capitol wasn't the same boy who had given her the bread all those years ago, there was no way he'd do the things Gale had implied. A simple look at his actions in the arena was evidence enough of his decency. Surviving what was left of the Games wouldn't turn him into an abusive bastard.

As her thoughts settled, Katniss realized Gale had been right about one thing. Being a victor wasn't the same as being a merchant.

She had never found a way to thank Peeta for the bread while he was a merchant boy sharing a classroom with her. How was she going to approach him now? What could she possibly offer him once he came back as a victor?

XXXXX

Cornelius Lovejoy looked like he was about to have a stroke. His face and hands had been tinted a pale yellow, and his whole body vibrated with nervous energy as he addressed his audience. His voice, shrill and almost manic over the loudspeakers, made Katniss cringe.

"Welcome back, Citizens!" the anchor greeted. "Oh boy, do we have a treat for you tonight! All the way from our studios in the Heart of the Nation, Caesar Flickerman, Claudius Templesmith, and their panel of experts will be guiding us through every step of the final moments of the 74th Hunger Games. Are you ready?"

"Yes, we are!" An equally excited Tanya Larson piped in. "For those of you just tuning in, here's our most valued Hunger Games expert, Claudius Templesmith, with a quick reminder of what happened this afternoon. Claudius?"

"Well, hello Tanya. Thank you for that lovely introduction!" Claudius Templesmith was calm and collected as he outlined the events of the day.

Katniss held Prim's hand in hers and tried not to fidget as the commentator explained how a pack of beasts resembling huge wolves had been released into the arena.

The blood-thirsty mutts had immediately headed towards the area with the tall grasses which had become Thresh's sanctuary. It hadn't taken long for the genetically engineered animals to locate the tribute from District 11. And, according to Claudius's commentary, it had taken even less for the animals to dismember the boy, who although big and strong, hadn't had any real weapons to defend himself.

"And now, let's go back to the arena," Claudius said.

With Thresh out of the way, the mutts went looking for their next victim.

The screen split in two, providing a simultaneous view of both remaining tributes.

Every muscle in Katniss's body tensed as she saw the location of the two tributes on the map. They weren't too far from each other. Under normal circumstances, their paths wouldn't have crossed. But there was nothing normal about anything at this point.

The mutts found Cato first.

The tribute from District 2 had been exploring the area near the stream when he heard the beasts howling. Alerted by the sound, he began running back to the Cornucopia.

The wolves were hot on his heels, but the career was in excellent shape. He ran fast and hard with the pack trailing behind him.

On the other half of the screen, Peeta stood still. His eyes widened in terror as he heard the beasts' call. He looked around as he tried to figure out where he was.

It didn't take long for him to realize he had two choices, he could go back to his cave or rush towards the Cornucopia.

He ran.

Prim pointed at the map. "He's running towards the Cornucopia!" she exclaimed.

Katniss watched, petrified in horror, as she realized Cato and the mutts were headed in the same direction.

Agonizing minutes went by as the two tributes ran towards the building which would shield them from the creatures who wanted them dead.

Peeta was ahead of the group, but not by much. Cato and the angry mutts followed close behind.

Peeta had just reached the top of the building when Cato caught up to him. The career grabbed the neck of Peeta's jacket and pulled.

The metal structure resounded loudly as Peeta landed on his back. Quickly, he turned on his side, reached out for Cato's leg and pulled. Caught by surprise, the career fell next to him.

Katniss watched. She hardly blinked as the two tributes wrestled at the top of the Cornucopia.

The mutts waited.

Cato was on top of Peeta, a smug smile danced on his chapped lips as he pressed his hands into Peeta's chest.

"Say 'Goodbye,' Twelve," he said.

Katniss's chest tightened. Peeta closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Tears welled in her eyes as she saw the color draining from his face.

Suddenly, Peeta twisted his body. Using the last of his strength, he placed his hands on his opponent's arms and pushed.

Cato fell backward, hitting his head hard against the metal floor. His arm dangled off the side of the Cornucopia. He didn't move.

The mutts, thirsty for blood, began jumping against the side of the building. Each attempt brought them closer to Cato's hand.

On the other side of the building, Peeta coughed and wheezed as he tried to catch his breath.

The biggest mutt reached Cato's hand and pulled.

The unconscious tribute from District 2 tumbled to the ground where 22 genetically engineered wolves were waiting for him.

It didn't take long for Cato's cannon to go off.

The 74th Hunger Game was over.

Peeta Mellark collapsed in a heap on the metal floor, despair and exhaustion finally taking over his battered body.

On the other side of the country, huddled in front of a rickety television, a drained Katniss Everdeen wept.

Big, fat tears loaded with relief washed over her face. It had been a long, horrible ride, but the boy who had given her the gift of hope had survived.

A shy smile settled on Katniss's wet lips. Peeta Mellark was coming home.

XXXXX

AN. I want to thank the lovely AlwaysEverlark for the beautiful banner she made for this story.

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The Hunger Games Trilogy is the property of Suzanne Collins. No money was made off of the creation of this fanwork.