A million thoughts ran through my mind as I tried to calm down from the betrayal I felt in my heart, Why would Peeta be working with the Careers, and why would he be helping them to find me? It didn't make any sense. Was he faking his love for me all this time? Did he even want me to live? I needed to stop this, no matter the reason for Peeta's betrayal I had to steel my heart from it. I couldn't let this distract me in a place where almost every person wanted to kill me. Leaning back in my tree I allowed myself to drift off into a dreamless sleep to help distract me from the pain and rage I was feeling. Of course in the morning I would have to find another tree, one that was higher and harder to climb than this one.
I couldn't remember what woke me from my sleep, the hunger or the thirst, but either way I needed to sate both of them. First I'd have to deal with my thirst, after that I could deal with my hunger. From my high vantage point I could see from miles around, which definitely made finding water easier. From what I could tell it was at least Southwest of my position.
Slowly I began to descend the tree making sure I didn't disturbed any bark or loose branches on my way down. Then once I was on the floor's floor I was cautious not to step on any twigs or crunch too many leaves, after all there was a group of murderous teens out to get me. I readjusted my bow and quiver then set out for where I had seen the stream. Since I was taking my time not to make too much noise, it did take me a while to get to the stream, but only a few minutes.
I set to work filling up my canteen and taking my fill of water. I looked at my surroundings. It was a fair distance away from the tree I had spent the night in. I could see game trails in the ground, there were plenty of tall trees, and I had access to freshwater. I made up my mind then and there, this would be my home base at least until it became vulnerable to use. Now that I've decided where I was going to stay for the next few days I set out in making snares, being careful to conceal them within the leaves. It wasn't just the rabbits I was hiding them from. If any Career saw the snares they would know someone was nearby, so they had to be concealed so well that it was even difficult for me to find them again.
Unfortunately, the snares would take awhile to be filled so I ate the rest of my crackers and beef for breakfast. I was used to small breakfasts, so this was not uncommon for me. After eating my meager supply of food I looked around for the right tree to be my place of rest for the next few days. I selected the perfect one in only a matter of minutes, it was tall enough to disrupt others' view once I reached a high enough branch, it also appeared quite difficult to climb. Two factors which made the tree perfect.
Course what most people would find difficult to climb didn't mean it was hard for me. While not too difficult, I did almost lose my footing a few times. But I managed to make it to one of the higher branches that could support my weight. After I had settled in, a strange sound caught my attention. It was mechanical, something you wouldn't hear in a forest.
I looked about, searching for the location of that noise. It wasn't until I looked behind me that I realized what it was. It was a hidden camera. I remembered then that the Gamemakers had these cameras all over arenas, it was how they filmed the Games. They claimed it helped capture unanticipated and unexpected moments. During the Hunger Games section of History class, my teacher taught us that during the first Games the Gamemakers had tried using body cameras instead of hidden ones to catch the action in the Arena where the first 20 or so Games were filmed. Unfortunately this didn't workout very well and was deemed too personal. It was later scrapped for the hidden cameras that have been used to this day.
The little camera was settled within the hollow of the tree and was probably able to pick up everything around it. I could actually see the pinprick lens zooming in and out on me. Probably a microphone was programmed into the little device too. Good thing I wasn't a person who snored.
Since I was set on this being my temporary rest stop. I might as well make myself comfortable. I found a few thick broken branch ends to hang my bag, quiver, and bow and tightly tied the sleeping bag to the branch I had picked as my temporary bed. Once my home base was set up to my liking. I slung my bag over my shoulder and climbed down the tree, which was easier than I had thought it would be, and went to check on three concealed snares I had set up. Only one had yielded any results.
The rabbit that I had found with its leg in the trap was a bit on the small side, with snowy white fur that seemed odd for this time of year. I placed a hand on the small animal's back, causing it to shiver slightly. I could feel its fear under my fingers. I slowly began to stroke the soft fur, it seemed wrong to kill a frightened animal. Once the little creature was calm enough to stop shivering I slowly drew my knife, whispering, "I'm sorry, but I need meat if I want to make it out alive."
My stab was quick and killed the animal with one blow, a clean kill as my father would say. Drawing out an animal's death was cruel and unnecessary. I stopped stroking the soft fur of the rabbit and was quick to skin and clean the flesh. It wasn't long before I had a small fire going with the rabbit roasting on a homemade spit.
I loved the taste of rabbit, in fact it was one of the game meats I really enjoyed eating. This was probably because my dad had taught me the best way to cook rabbit without seasonings. It was moments like these that I truly realized just how much I appreciated his lessons, it was surprising how much they had shaped my life over the past sixteen years.
I ate about half of the animal, wrapping the rest in a large leaf, Guess I know what I'm eating for supper. I chuckled at that thought. I looked up at the sky, it was hours to go until night was to break and I couldn't spend the entire day hidden up in a tree. I had to keep that place concealed from any tributes who might stumble across me during the day. I started walking away from my tree, leaving hidden markers on other trees to find my way back once night was threatening to come.
This expedition wasn't just a way to hide my rest spot from prying eyes, but in fact I had a good reason for my wondering. Food.
Rabbit was all and good for some to eat once in a while, but I knew I'd get sick if I didn't find something other than rabbit to eat. I'm in luck. Not a mile or so from the stream I find a thick bush of ripe blackberries. I picked one and popped it into my mouth, savoring the sweet flavour that exploded onto my tongue. I went in search of some leaves and found a safe spot from any enemies but in eyesight of the bush, I got to work on making a small basket which I assume will be able to fit most of the ripe berries. I didn't really need the basket, my backpack had a number of pockets I could have dropped the berries into, but I had nothing else to do.
The Careers would be the only tributes actively looking for other tributes to kill, Wheedling out the weaker tributes, as Haymitch would say. Many of the other tributes would be searching for safe bases like my tree or for food to eat. It took me several hours to construct the small basket, since all my senses were on high alert. I jumped the two times I heard a cannon fire during those hours. Inside I still prayed that it wasn't Peeta, despite his betrayal, or Rue, or Diane. Heck I was even hoping it wasn't Thresh or Trevor, despite his hatred of me.
The fake sky was just beginning to turn a mix of purple and blue by the time I had completed my basket. That was the sign to pick my berries and head back to my tree. I was able to fit half of the ripened berries into my basket, leaving the rest for later or even for someone else to find, I wasn't sure. After collecting my berries I slowly and cautiously began back to my rest area. I checked the snares for any more rabbits and then climbed my way up to my branch were my bow and quiver still hung awaiting my return. I dined on a third of the berries, the rest of the rabbit and some stream water for supper that night. A pretty good meal if I do say so myself.
The sound of the anthem echoed in my ears a while later, just after I had made myself more comfortable in my sleeping bag. The Capitol seemed fixed on not letting me sleep. With a deep sigh I looked up at the faces, wondering who Peeta had helped Marvel and Cato kill last night. Saffie's face was the first to light up on the screen, which meant that no one from the remaining Districts over Eight had died… yet.
Following her face was Carnwarn, which wasn't surprising, considering his training score had not been as good as his fellow tribute, Thea.
The last face caused the colour to drain from mine, Diane. Sweet, innocent Diane who never said a bad word about me. I didn't know her long, but the idea of her laying dead on the forest floor made my chest hurt. Or worst, what if she had been the poor girl who had been killed just feet from my first tree. God the idea was hurtful to think about. Peeta had been involved in that girl's death, he had helped to kill that girl this morning. I desperately hoped that the girl had been Saffie and not Diane. Not that Saffie being the dead girl made it any easier but at least I knew her less. The gut wrenching pain would be less for Saffie than Diane.
I also wanted to cry, but crying was a luxury I couldn't afford right now. Crying would give away my position and inform the Careers where I was hidden. I wasn't going to allow anyone to find my perfect tree… unless they were the Gamemakers, since I had no control over what those creeps got up to. Crying would also make me appear weak in the eyes of possible sponsors and Haymitch would never be able to convince them to sponsor me if they saw me as weak.
The urge not to cry engulfed my other senses and seemed to help me drift into another dreamless sleep.
The morning came by too quickly, and I slept through most of it to get some rest. I rolled my shoulders and shrugged off the sleep from my eyes before grabbing my bag, I hid my bow and quiver in the hollow of the tree where the camera rested, I couldn't let other tributes find them.
I climbed down the tree and looked in the snares to find one squirrel and two more rabbits, they would make it easier to survive for a few more days. I uncoiled my snares, I would reset them after my supplies drained. I put everything into my bag and began my unwanted search for other tributes. If I didn't at least look for them, the Gamemakers might try something cruel to get me in their vicinity.
It felt like hours and I was well away from the tree when I smelled the smoke. I thought maybe it had been the fire I had set up to cook my lunch for the day, but I had dosed that, there was nothing left to cause this much smoke. I turned all around me, searching for the location of the fire. That's when I found it, I stared wide eyed at the blazing forest not two leagues from where I stood. The fire spread quickly, too quickly. It was not a natural fire. This was man made.
After only a second later, without any hesitation I began to run in the opposite direction of the fast-spreading fire. The Gamemakers must have set it, was the day going too slowly for them they needed some disaster to help speed things along. I thought they'd do something cruel but not something like this.
Flames seemed to shoot up from the trees all around, giving me only one avenue of escape, closer and closer to the edge of the arena. I kept running though, trying desperately to escape a burning death. I jumped other fallen trees and grass, moving further and further away from the blaze beyond me. I assumed I was beating the fire until a whistling sound echoed behind me.
I flipped around only to catch the tail end of a fireball striking the ground with incredible force and setting all around it ablaze. They were throwing fireballs at me!? I heard the sound again and just barely had time to duck before another one flew past my head, striking the ground behind me. To hell with this, I think as I start running faster then I had before, dodging three more fireballs as I run.
Just as I find a way out, a tree falls, blocking my only escape from the blazing inferno. Or so I assume, because as I'm looking for another way out I see my right side is clear of flames. Without a second thought I ran for the opening just as another fireball flew in beside me, nicking my leg. I involuntarily scream ducking into a corner. I've never experienced this much pain before in my life and I don't have time to rest as another fireball appears right in front of me.
I roll as quickly as I can with my injury, missing it just in time. Wincing I rise to my feet and feebly run with my leg burning in unimaginable pain. My throat burns as I move through the thick gray smoke that surrounds the burning forest. I have never felt such excruciating pain before, not just in my leg but also in my lungs, nose and throat. I don't know how many times I coughed before I heard the muffled sounds of… water? Was that water? I have to get there, and soon. I limp as fast as I'm able towards the sound, and I am pleasantly greeted by a pool just below me. Without even thinking I jump in allowing the cool water to surround me and my burning leg.
I dunk under letting some of the water into my lungs to soothe them also. I stay under for a few moments before swimming towards an outcropping of rock almost like a shallow cave. I rise to the surface and float on the surface for a time, soaking in the water and my surroundings.
I float there for only a few moments before I hear the sounds of multiple footsteps above me. Other tributes, Careers most likely. I stay silent and clear as carefully as I can, unfortunately the combination of smoke and water has clogged my ears which makes their conversation distorted.
"Are you… came this way…" What I assume is Cato's garbled voice growls out above me.
"… if you… me, then look… her… self…" Glimmer shouted her chopped sentence at Cato, I see some of the gravel dislodge into the water, obviously she was stomping her foot to show her frustration. "She… gotten far."
They must be arguing about not finding me.
"Should have… boy with… helped… find her…" Clove's muffled voice chimes in. Was Peeta not with them?
"Let's go… him then." Cato exclaimed angrily.
What are they going to do with Peeta?
I wait until the sounds of their footsteps can no longer be heard and emerge from my hiding place. Had Peeta deserted them? How had he gotten away without them killing him? These were all questions that I needed to be answered, but now wasn't the time.
I looked about slightly annoyed by the fact that the Gamemakers had made me circle around back to the stream that was close to my tree. Thankfully, the Careers had been heading back to their base of operations by the Cornucopia, a common trait for Careers, which was in the opposite direction of my hiding place.
It took me at least thirty minutes to limp back to my tree and haul myself back onto my branch. Once I was secure enough not to fall, I looked over my leg. I cringed at the sight, the place were my pants had ripped was already starting to blister where the fire had brushed against it. I grabbed my canteen which was hooked to my bag and poured a splash of water onto the wound.
Shit, I should not have done that! I bite down on my jacket to keep from screaming at the pain I feel in my leg. I can't scream out though, especially if any of the Careers decide to round back and start searching for me. To distract myself from the excruciating pain I check on the contents of my wet bag. Thankfully it was obviously designed to keep water out as not a single drop had gotten onto my supplies. I breathed a sigh of relief.
I regretted that sigh a second later after hearing a twig snap in the distance. Damn it, did the Careers find me so quickly? I grab my bow and ready myself to fire it at whoever or whatever emerges from those trees. The light is dimmer, so unless I make a noise whatever is in the trees won't know I'm up here until it's too late.
A figure slowly comes into view and I notice three distinct things about them. One; they're carrying a weapon, a spear or a long sword, and a bag across their back. Two; they're walking with a slight limp which means they were injured recently, which excludes any Careers. Three; I know this figure anywhere, even with my eyes closed, "Peeta." I say softly under my breath so that it's even hard for me to hear.
Is he looking for me? Did the Careers do that to him? Were they trying to kill him? Or did they hurt him to find me so they could follow?
It didn't matter to me anymore, he was alone and that was all that mattered to me. I aimed my bow carefully and fired… right into a tree inches from his side. Peeta looked startled in the dimming light, glancing around for where the arrow had been shot from. I can almost see the wheels turning in his head until he looks right at me. I almost catch a glimmer in those brilliant sapphire eyes of his.
He pulls the arrow out of the tree, probably to keep my position secret and climbs the tree closest to mine. The branch I'm hidden on is so close to the branch of this tree that you could almost touch it.
"Are you alright?" He whispered, looking me over for injuries. I can see the black eyes and bruises to his arms that he's suffered. It almost makes my heartbreak seeing it, "I saw you running out of the fire. You scared me half to death."
I don't say a word, what could I say to justify the pain and anger I felt right now. I also know every camera is on our every word and gesture, "You… you allied yourself with the Careers…" My voice is rough from the smoke I inhaled earlier, "Did you do it to kill me?" I asked, the words felt wrong to say, but I knew I had to get them out sooner than later.
"What?! No, no, of course not!" He said, a little too loud to be safe. I prayed no Careers were around to hear him, "I allied myself with them in order to find you. I knew once I did I would leave their group and come back to you. I would never betray you Katniss." Peeta whispered those words, obviously realizing he needed to be quieter, "You're my everything. I'd die if you died." He suddenly leaned over then and pressed his lips to mine more forcefully than usual.
I didn't want to admit it, but imminent death made our kiss feel so much more passionate and hungrier than it normally did. As we pulled away from each other I gently placed my hand on his cheek, "Peeta, I..."
I was about to say something until a shrill laugh echoed below us, "I knew if we followed Lover Boy we'd find you." Glimmer appeared in the middle of the dense woods with her own bow and quiver in hand, flanked by Auricula who was holding a sword with her right hand.
"How sweet. A final kiss before you die!" Auricula said with a frightening laugh.
I shot a hateful look at Peeta, but it slowly disappeared as he looked just as surprised as I was angry. He obviously hadn't believed he was being followed when he went in search of me.
"Cato wanted to be the one to kill you, but we got to you first." Glimmer grinned viciously at me, "I'm gonna have so much fun marking you." She raised her bow and aimed an arrow straight at me, "Say goodbye to your girl on fire, Lover Boy." The arrow stuck just above our heads.
"Damn it!" Glimmer growled and knocked another arrow, missing us once again, this time it was too low.
"Give me that." Auricula growled and ripped the bow from Glimmer's hands. Her shot didn't hit remotely close to us.
I looked at them, wondering if they noticed my own bow yet. Obviously not, because the surprised look on Glimmer's face at the arrow that stuck out of Auricula's head was enough to send her running back through the forest. The canon shot through the sky as I looked down at the girl I had just killed.
"Katniss?" Peeta whispered, gently pulling the bow out of my slackening hands, "You had to do it. If you didn't they would have killed us." Justifying didn't make it any better.
I stared at him with clouded eyes, "Glimmer will be back." I whispered, not wanting to think of what I had just done.
My Peeta nodded, hanging the bow back on the broken branch, "Not until its light. She wouldn't risk an ambush this late. My guess is she'll make camp and return with back up before first light. We have until then to make a plan and rest. I'll take the first watch."
I wasn't in my right mind to argue, just realizing how tired I really was. I couldn't even stop my heavy eyelids from shutting. As I slowly closed my eyes, I saw a shadow moving through the trees. Who could that be? I ask myself as I drift into sleep under Peeta's watchful guard.