The sun continues to blind me, my podium in directly in its path. I look around the arena, unable to make out any figure that looks like Peeta. They've put him on the opposite side as me. The spray of the waves reaches my face as I stare into the center of the arena. I watch the countdown. Last year I was told to run, to avoid the blood bath that was sure to commence at the cornucopia. This year, I have to get the bow. 10…9…8…7…6… I prepare to dive off the platform. I'll go straight for the bow and get Peeta and we'll get out of here. 5…4…3…2…1… the gong sounds. I take a breath and dive into the water. The water is cold, but it's tolerable. I kick harder and swim faster. Finally, I reach the rocky path that leads to the cornucopia.
I pull myself up, slipping as I try to climb onto the rocks. Eventually I make my way onto the path and begin to run. I instinctively reach down to hold my stomach, for whatever good that will do to protect my daughter. I notice someone else running, I can't tell which district from here. I reach the cornucopia and grab the bow, swinging the bag of arrows over my shoulder and grabbing one, loading my bow. I hear someone approaching and shoot, striking one of the tributes in the ankle as they fall off the rocky path. I pull another arrow and draw back my bow, coming face to face with Finnick. He exchanges small talk with me about the water as I debate if I should shoot or not.
"Good thing we're allies right?" He smirks as he holds up his wrist.
He is wearing Haymitch's gold bangle on his wrist. I consider the possibility of this being a trick, but I know it's a message from Haymitch. He thinks I need allies and I need to trust Finnick. I made is clear I wanted it to be just Peeta and I, no allies. Apparently Haymitch has made those choices for me.
"Duck," he orders. I do as he says without question as he launches a trident over my head. The sound it makes as it pierces the skin of its victim is nauseating. I take a couple of deep breaths. "Don't trust one and two." He tells me as he pulls his trident from the body.
I quickly make my way to the edge of the rocky mound and lean over, throwing up into the water. This is something I don't have time for. I feel someone rubbing my back. Once I've emptied my stomach I look back, seeing Mags. Finnick is beside us guarding, however no one has tried to come near us during my episode. I rise quickly and gather more arrows from the pile of supplies and an extra bow. Finnick and I both take a side and I shoot at anyone advancing on us. I manage to land an arrow onto Gloss's calf as he dives back into the safety of the water.
"Katniss! Peeta's over here," Finnick yells at me as I run to where he is standing. I get there just in time to see Peeta struggling against a platform with another tribute. As I'm unloading my gear, Finnick grabs my arm. "What are you doing?"
"Let go of me. I'm getting Peeta."
"No, you're not. I'll go. Better not exert yourself, not in your condition."
He gives me a look. Right… the baby. He dives into the water. Peeta and the other tribute disappear beneath the waves. I hear the cannon sound. Finnick stops swimming. Mags is beside me and gently takes my arm. I don't fight against her, I know I could get her off and go after Peeta, but there's no use. I stand, watching for someone to come up from the water. There was only one cannon, one of them is alive. Within seconds, Peeta breaks the surface of the water. Finnick quickly grabs him and gets him back to the edge where I'm standing. I do a quick scan of the area, no one seems to be pursuing us. I kneel down and help get Peeta onto the rocks. He helps me to my feet and immediately pulls me against him.
"Hey," he smiles at me, "so we've got allies." He wastes no time pressing his lips against mine.
After he pulls away, we turn to face Finnick and Mags. He motions for us to join them. Once we reach them, he informs us we need to be leaving the beach and helps Mags onto his back. We all head into the jungle, trying to get as far away from the beach as possible before sundown, and hopefully find a water supply. We continue to make our way through the thick vegetation, Peeta walking in front of us with a long knife, cutting everything out of our way. Our goal is to reach the other side of the hill and begin looking for water. As we reach the top of the hill, I notice the glowing square area above the trees. I instantly connect it with the force field seen in the private sessions and on the roof at the tribute center. There is no other side of this hill, instead there is a force field directly in our path. Peeta continues swinging his knife, not noticing the danger ahead of him. I yell out as the illusion of trees disappears for a second and a zapping sound fills my ears. Peeta flies back at us, landing on the ground a few feet away from me.
I'm at his side in an instant, throwing myself to the ground, shaking him. I drag my finger across his lips, waiting to feel his warm breath, I feel nothing. I lay my head on his chest, expecting to hear his heartbeat, but I hear only silence. Finnick has Mag's on the ground and pushes me out of the way before I have the chance to act. He pinches Peeta's nose closed, he is trying to kill him! I lunge at him, and I'm met with his fist landing a blow directly to my chest, knocking me back. Mags is staring at us. He repeats the movement again, I draw and arrow back and am about to shoot, when I notice him pressing his lips against Peeta's. I notice Peeta's chest rise and fall and realize he's help get air into Peeta's lungs. He begins to pump the spot over Peeta's heart. I have only seen my mom do this a couple of times, usually by the time the person gets to my mother, it's already too late. It can't be too late for Peeta, I need him. Our daughter needs him. I hear a choked cough come from him and Finnick backs up. I fling myself onto him.
"Peeta, you… you were dead. Your heart stopped," I can't stop the tears flowing freely down my face.
"It seems to be working now." He smiles at me, his smile bringing even more tears, "Katniss, it's okay. I'm okay."
"She can't help it. The hormones," Finnick retorts as he sits against a tree beside Mags. I don't try to argue with him.
I press my lips against Peeta's, fully aware that this is probably being broadcast on every screen in Panem. Peeta hesitates at first before kissing me back. He intertwines his fingers in my hair as he continues to kiss me.
"And that would be the other hormones," I hear Finnick laugh. I pull away from Peeta and help him up.
"Careful Katniss," he jokes, "There's a force field ahead."
"I know," I don't realize I said it until I notice all of them looking at me. I quickly make up an excuse, "I could hear it."
They all fall silent as they listen for it, none of them hearing anything. I pretend to listen too, knowing I won't hear anything either. I turn my head to the other side, pretending to hear from only one ear.
"Funny, I can only hear it from my left ear," I try to shrug it off and being walking sideways, parallel to the force field.
"The one that the doctors reconstructed?" Peeta questions me.
"Yeah, they must have done a better job than they planned." No one questions me after that.
We continue to walk for a while. Peeta continues to insist upon walking, however I think he needs to lay down for a while. I'm satisfied with the progress we've made, and the sun is starting to set. I glance behind me, noticing Peeta's red face and the sweat pooling on it. I stop and look back at them.
"Let's stop. I want to get a look at our surroundings from above and you all need to rest," I look straight at Peeta, wanting him to realize I mean he needs to rest. Everyone nods and Finnick helps Mags settle into a spot.
"You're not climbing that tree," Peeta locks eyes with me, "Don't even think about it. You're resting with me. You are 33 weeks pregnant and could technically make yourself go into labor at any time if you're not careful."
"You two rest. I'll take first watch." Finnick responds.
I don't try to argue with Peeta. I'll at least lay with him until he falls asleep. We find a spot under one of the trees and he helps me down. I lay next to him, my head on his chest. He wraps and arm around me and kisses me on the forehead, telling me that he loves me. I don't sleep. I want until I hear his breath even out and risk looking up at him. He is sleeping now. I slowly and carefully scoot away from him and stand up. I need to look around the arena. I look around at the trees and see one that looks pretty sturdy, I pull on one of the first branches, it doesn't even bend. I'm pulling myself up onto the first branch when I hear someone behind me, I glance back quickly, I'd forgotten my bow on the ground.
"Peeta was right you know. You shouldn't be climbing trees. You really need to take it easy and let us do stuff this year. You have to protect that baby and the easiest way to do that is to keep it inside of you."
"It's a girl and she'll be fine. I'll be fine."
"You do you Katniss, but I'm not going to pretend Peeta's wrong. I'll keep watch until you get back down, then if you're not going to sleep, I am."
I nod and continue to climb up. I stay close to the trunk, just incase any of the branches would snap. Once I'm up far enough to see, I look for the squares that hint at the presence of the force-field. I see a few of them. There's just enough light in the arena to make out the outlines of the cornucopia, the beach, and the jungle surrounding it. The force-field forms a dome around the arena. I sigh as I make my way back down the tree slowly. Once down, I shake my head at Finnick.
"It's a dome. The beach is in the center and the jungle surrounds it." I glance over to Peeta and Mags. The sun has now completely set and they're both sleeping. I have no way to know what time it is. "There's nothing but jungle and the only directions we have to go are to the sides or back to the beach."
I hear the capital anthem and look up at the sky. The bright reflection of the seal is shown, followed by the pictures of the victors that have been killed. Eight of them. There are 16 of us left. The dryness of my mouth is becoming more obvious.
"We need water," Finnick seems to notice, "Did you see anything else while you were up there?"
"No. Just the sea and.." I'm interrupted by beeping coming from the sky. I look up and notice a parachute. Finnick grabs it and opens it up, looking at the object confusingly. I quickly take it from him, "It's a spile."
"It's a what?" He half laughs at me.
I grab Peeta's knife and make a hole into one of the tree trunks, wedging the spile into it quickly. After more twisting, a stream of water begins to come out. I waste no time holding my mouth under it and drinking. I move to let Finnick drink and wake up Peeta, pointing to the water. I help him over to the tree and he drinks. Finnick cups his hands and fills them, going to Mags, waking her and helping her drink.
"You stayed up and climbed the tree, didn't you?" Peeta asks later as we sit back where we were laying earlier.
"It's a dome. It's just the beach and the jungle surrounding it."
"Katniss, you have to be careful. I'm going back to sleep, please get some rest."
"Okay," I lay back down beside him and curl up to him.
Finnick promises to wake me when he gets tired. Peeta quickly falls asleep again, his hand resting on my stomach. I feel our baby girl kicking and place my hand over my stomach, beside Peeta's. Finnick was right about one thing. The best way to protect her is to keep her inside of me in the arena. I fall asleep, expecting to be woken up shortly by Finnick.