I climbed up the side of the cave, my fingers gripping the rough stone, until I reached the small hole in the roof. From here, I could see everything below—the cold, damp cave where Katniss and Peeta slept, the rain pouring down in sheets outside, and the dark, endless sky above. It was quiet, but the storm seemed to press in from all sides, wrapping the world in a heavy, gray silence.

I didn't know how long I stayed there, watching, thinking, my mind replaying everything that had happened. I could still hear my mother's voice in my ears, warning me about the terrible future awaiting Katniss and Peeta. The thought of them facing that... it made my stomach twist. But right now, I was here. I was watching over them. And that was enough for now.

It wasn't until I heard the soft rustling below me that I snapped out of my thoughts. Katniss stirred, her breath sharp and unsteady. Slowly, she sat up, her hand reaching up to her head as though searching for something. Her fingers froze, brushing over smooth skin where there should have been a wound.

I leaned forward, holding my breath, watching her confusion unfold. She touched the spot again, like she was trying to make sense of it, and then her gaze flickered to Peeta, who was still stirring awake beside her.

"Katniss?" Peeta's voice was hoarse, weak, but concerned. "What's wrong?"

Katniss didn't answer right away. She just stared at her fingers as though not believing what they were telling her. Finally, she shook her head, letting out a soft exhale.

"Nothing," she muttered, but her voice didn't sound sure. Her gaze drifted to the cave entrance, and her stomach growled loud enough for me to hear.

I smiled faintly to myself. She'd always been too proud to admit when she was hungry.

"Guess I should have eaten that soup," she murmured, rubbing her stomach as if to silence it.

Peeta's eyes followed hers, and then he blinked toward the rain outside. "Still coming down. Looks like we're stuck for now."

Katniss sighed, glancing back at him. "I can't go hunting in this. We'll have to wait for it to stop."

The thought of her out there hunting, in the rain, made me want to do something. I had to do something to help. My mind flicked back to Paxton—his gestures, the way we had communicated without words. He was gone now, but I still remembered how to speak without sound.

I lifted my foot and stomped it once.

There was a rustle in the air, the familiar sound of a parachute descending. I caught it with practiced ease, a small sigh of relief escaping me. I held it in my hands for a moment, feeling the familiar weight of it, before letting it fall gently through one of the holes in the roof.

Down it went, softly landing in front of Katniss and Peeta, who both blinked in surprise as the package landed at their feet.

Katniss hesitated, glancing up at the ceiling. "Maybe Haymitch sent us food," she murmured, sounding both hopeful and confused.

"Could be," Peeta replied, leaning forward to unwrap the package. I couldn't help but feel a small flicker of pride at the thought of them having something to eat, even if it was just for the moment. They deserved it.

They dug in without hesitation, and I could hear the satisfying sounds of hunger being appeased. It was a relief—knowing I could take care of them this way, without them ever knowing I was there.

For hours, they slept. The rain poured outside, unrelenting, and the storm seemed to drag on forever. I didn't leave my perch. I couldn't.

I didn't want them to feel alone. Not with the danger they were facing, not with what I knew was coming.

So I stayed, soaked to the bone from the rain, my body growing cold as I kept watch. I used my gestures to do what I could—feeding them, making sure they didn't feel the weight of their hunger or their fatigue. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

For a while, I let them sleep. They needed the rest. And I needed to keep my promise, the one I had made to my mother—to protect them. To make sure they survived.

I wasn't going anywhere.