"(Y/N), you have to go," Cato finally whispered.

"What do you mean? I can fight just fine," you said. But in reality, the world was still spinning around you, and even Cato started to look like he had three heads instead of one.

"No, you can't. Go after Peeta! I can fight her," Cato promised, just as the haunting voice of Pearl's got louder. "Go! Remember my promise! Just go!"

"I can't lose you!" you screamed, just as Pearl broke through the clearing and shrieked, "I...Will...KILL!"

"GO!" Cato cried to you. "Just go!"

You nodded as you wrapped your arms fiercely around him one last time. "Thank you, Cato," you murmured quickly. The embrace didn't last long, and you let go of him now, running...

"(Y/N)! Aggh, too tight...air..."

You thrashed around in the sleeping bag as your last moment with Cato came to you in full force, blocking you out from the real world until you heard Peeta's strangled gasp, and immediately, your eyes flew open to find yourself locking your arms tightly around Peeta, his face slowly turning purple under your grip.

"S-sorry." You released your arms from him and pulled back, finding yourself sniffling as you lifted a hand to wipe the tears that stained your face. Somehow during your watch last night you fell asleep, your arms around Peeta, before this memory hit. You glanced up beyond the entrance of the cave now to see that the sun has already risen high into the sky, and the mockingjays were out and about with their singing. A cold breeze suddenly stung your skin as you shivered, wrapping your arms around your jacket again, and you bit your lip in frustration. "Crap."

Peeta struggled to sit up now, and hesitantly he pulled you up and wrapped his arms around you again. "Shh, it's okay, it's okay," he whispered. "What happened?"

The sobs were racking your body so hard you couldn't stop shaking at all. You felt yourself trembling against Peeta's warmth as you kept crying, wiping your tears furiously with the heel of your hand. "I...I'm sorry," you said again. "Just a nightmare."

Peeta only nodded as he pulled you closer in his embrace. For a moment, the both of you said nothing...until he asked, "(Y/N), why did you join the Careers?"

"Hmm?" You looked up at him, your tears still glistening in your eyes.

Peeta moved a hand to brush aside a lock of your hair, looking at you in the eye. "Why did you join them?" he asked again, and this time you could hear the tremble in his voice as he started shaking. "I saw you with them, and then that boy from 2 wouldn't leave you alone...what was up with you? What was up with him? Why did you do what you did?"

Feeling embarrassed to a degree, you glanced down. "Peeta...I did what I did because...I thought I wouldn't ever forgive you for what you did at the interview. If I joined you, all we could ever do was fight. We'd never get along. So for me to join them, it helped me clear my mind," you started, being very careful not to mention your meeting with Cato on the balcony the night before.

"But the boy from 2?" Peeta prompted.

You bit your lip. "He had a name, Peeta," you reminded him. "And Cato and I...we...uh...on the first night, he made this promise to me. That when the time comes, we'll both be able to find you again, and we'd be together. You and me, I mean."

"I see." Peeta only frowned further as he removed his arms from you, though his hands were gently gripping on your wrists. "And did that promise involve him holding your hand? Putting his arm around you? Sleeping with you?"

To this, you blushed. "He's only trying to protect me," you realized, remembering what Rue said about Cato when he noticed you were gone.

"Uh huh. And so naturally, while he protects you, he has the desire to kill me," Peeta scoffed.

You gaped in complete surprise and shock. What was Peeta even doing?

"Peeta Mellark. Cato had NO INTENTIONS on killing you!" you cried, hoping that the cameras were turned away. "Question your humanity for a moment. Did you think that humans can only kill humans solely for the sake of entertaining the Capitol? Take a look at this, Peeta. You told me you didn't want the Capitol to change you, and it didn't. I can see that. But look at me, Peeta," you begged him, turning his face with your hand. "I didn't change either. You're you, I'm me, and we're human. Cato said the same thing to me too," you finally whispered. "Maybe we all have that desire to get out of the arena alive, to come out as a victor. But deep inside we know that sacrifices have to be made based on our own morals and beliefs. Peeta...he didn't want to kill you," you finished, removing your hand from his cheek. "The other Careers just didn't know that. But he did."

It took a moment for Peeta to register what you just said. So Cato and you...you never had any feelings for him. It dawned on him that you and Cato only relied on each other in the hopes of returning you to him, to make amends with him.

"Then I'm sorry," Peeta murmured, looking away again.

You raised your eyebrows. "Sorry for what?"

Peeta sighed. "For thinking you were going to kill me with them. I didn't mean to attack with the tracker jacker nest, but...they pushed me over the edge. The others, I mean."

"Three of the four of them are dead," you recalled. "Marvel died under my hand, Glimmer and Pearl--from 4--died of the tracker jackers. And for all I know, Cato and Clove are left."

"So Cato, Clove--both from 2, right?" Peeta asked.

You nodded.

"So...both from 2, the girl from 5, the guy from 11, and us," Peeta nodded. "Well then. That shouldn't be too hard. Just wait it out, and then we'll head back."

You nodded again, moving away from him and stretching. "I guess I'm going to go hunting," you finally decided. "And you better rest up that ankle of yours," you added, gesturing to his ankle.

"Okay. Don't be gone long, alright?" Peeta asked, pouting slightly at the thought of you leaving.

"Alright," you agreed, kissing him on the cheek before getting up and heading out of the cave.

As soon as I saw (Y/N)'s figure exit the mouth of the cave and disappear from my view, I slowly eased myself back onto the rock of shelf behind me and let out a long sigh, slowly moving my ankle from left to right to test it. Surprisingly, I felt little to no pain, but my other leg is a different story. Removing it from the dirt, I almost fainted at the sight of it. Dirt and rocks were stuck to the burn, leaving my flesh looking more ragged than I remembered. Slowly, I picked up a bandage that (Y/N) left behind and wiped the wound as best as I could. It's not as good as I thought, but I tried.

So, she and Cato had nothing between them, right? I don't mean to be overprotective or anything, like her mom, but is she really befriending a Career? Letting him into her life, the same way she did with me since we were children? I could be underestimating her right now, but being the friendly and fierce person she is...maybe she could gain benefit, befriending people outside her district. The last thing I want is for her to get into trouble, just talking to me so freely like this.

The moment the dirt was gone, I wasted no time in applying the medicine to my leg, then struggled against the wall to get up on my feet. Instantly, the pain rebounded into my right leg and I bit my tongue to prevent myself from screaming. How amazingly strange it is for me to have sprained my ankle about a week ago, and now to find that it wasn't healing at all.

I hope there's another solution to this. I sank back onto the ground, wincing as I clutched onto my ankle, trying not to scream.

As the sun began to set, I heard footsteps approach the cave. Assuming that it could be any tribute, I immediately raised the knife that (Y/N) gave me to defend. But soon the figure came into view--it was (Y/N), carrying with her two cooked squirrels and a huge bird, as well as two full water bottles and a bag full of berries.

"Here," she said, handing me a squirrel. "I know it's not shot the same way Katniss probably would, but hey, it works." She then gave me a part of the huge bird, which she said was called a groosling, and I didn't dare argue with her. My stomach was already at the point of aching for food.

"Thanks," I said, digging into the meal. Judging by the way the squirrel was cooked, I assumed that she did most of the hunting and cooking while she was with the Careers. I guess she's more resourceful than I thought.

Halfway into the meal, we heard Claudius Templesmith's voice boom through the arena again. Wait a second. What does he want now?

"Attention tributes. Attention. There will be a feast at sunrise tomorrow at the Cornucopia. Now, this is no ordinary occasion. Some of you might think about turning us down, but this is something that you would need."

Something...anything. I guess I need more than just one something by this point now, don't I? I can't just let my ankle make me give in. I glanced at (Y/N), but she looked thoroughly confused.

"Each district would receive a bag. This bag would contain one thing from your own home for each tribute. Of course, your sponsors would be able to send these to you personally, but we plan to be generous hosts and pass them to you ourselves. Think twice before refusing, as your days are numbered and you may never see your home again. All the best to you, and may the odds be ever in your favour."

A burst of static followed, and then silence. There was something in (Y/N)'s eyes that I couldn't read at first, before she opened her mouth and said, "I'll go."

"(Y/N), no," I begged, grabbing onto her arm. "You can't do this."

"Peeta, this is your last chance of staying alive right now," she told me. "Everyone at home is still there, rooting for the both of us as best friends to get home together. So by this point, what do we have to lose? We have nothing to lose, Peeta. My mom is behind this, Haymitch must be behind this, your dad and brothers, the Everdeens, Delly...Peeta, this is our last reminder of home. You'd do it for me if I was injured. Wouldn't you?"

It seemed like you were both stuck for a stalemate. Peeta refused to let you go, and this was getting tiring.

"Why are you doing this?" he suddenly asked.

That kiss yesterday...did it mean something? It had to. If he didn't see enough sense to realize what was going on, then he was pretty thick. Besides, he was the one who apologized for hurting you. Now it's your turn to help him out of the guilt that he somehow landed himself in.

Cupping his face with your hand, you leaned in again and kissed him, full on the lips. It didn't matter if the Capitol thought anything different, as if it was wrong for two best friends to be kissing when Peeta supposedly had a girlfriend back home waiting for him. Whatever the Capitol is thinking right now is the least of your worries. For Peeta, you swore you would do anything. And this had to go beyond absolutely secure friendship. Way beyond it.

When you let go, you faced Peeta with an air of determination. That regardless of the danger ahead, you would still do anything for your best friend.

"This isn't the time for comfort," you said simply. "We have to face the truth at some point. That this would never be over until someone makes a move. And I'll be the one to do it. Play with their game, until it's over."

For a moment, it seemed like Peeta would disagree. But eventually, he gave in with a shrug and smile. "Alright then, just..." He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, then turned back to you, his blue eyes piercing through your (E/C) ones. "Just don't die on me."

"I'll be careful," you promised, smiling back. And eventually, you both fell asleep, enveloped in each other's embrace.