Author's note at the end!!

When the final bell rang signaling the end of the last period, I practically fly out of my seat and ran to the door. I'm the first one out of the building with Jell screaming behind me to wait up, she needs to talk to me about something. Like I give a shit. I mean I like Jell, she's nice and all… but she can get really clingy at times.

That's right, your heart already belongs to someone else. I like the letter K better then J as well, big guy.

Would you shut up already? I seriously think that I should start getting professional help… this inner voice is driving me crazy. I'll call him… Any, because he's so annoying! Yeah, I'm not very creative.

I run like crazy towards my home when I remembered about Prim and their mom. I should probably go and make sure everything is alright. I knocked on the door as gently as I could possibly (and it took a lot of effort not to yank the door open) just to hear a female voice from inside,

"Come in!"

I open the door slightly just to find Prim and her mother sitting on their worn out couch in front of the TV, their gazes locked on the slim figure that was still battling with the urge of water. I cant believe she didn't find a water source already! Maybe Haymitch just really hates her and does want her to die. Or maybe he's too drunk to notice that she's dying from this. Cant he see that he's sending her mixed signals?!

I let myself in and walked cautiously to the couch and set next to Ms. Everdeen while Prim was sitting on a worn out pillow on the floor. Her eyes looked dead, and I bet that she didn't drink or eat anything along with Katniss. She was also feeling guilty… I can tell. Her painful looking eyes were staring at the screen and I dared myself to look as well, afraid to see what was happening. Katniss was sitting in a puddle of mud while playing with it a little. She made circular motions with her hands and her eyes looked pained, but joyful at the same time. She looked high, though that wasn't possible. Unless they somehow put drugs in the rabbit that she ate earlier, but I highly doubt that's even possible. She kind of looked like a toddler playing in the mud and having a good time. I wish I were back to that time when all these worries were out of my head and the only thing I had to do was accept the food my mother would give me and cry when she didn't. Suddenly, Katniss made another movement. She started sniffing the air around her seeming to recognize a scent and started moving closer to it. She quickly got up to her feet and ran faster towards the smell when finally, her shoes made a splashing noise.

She found a pond!

We all sighed in relief as Katniss sipped the water intently. She filled her water bottle and drank it again while filling it up once more. She looked so happy again, so alive that I wanted to jump around in joy.

Dude, you have it bad.

Any was back in the game. Screw him. Prim suddenly got up with a joyous look on her face. Also Ms. Everdeen seemed more relaxed now that Katniss was hydrated.

"Are you guys okay?" I ask uncertainly.

"Are you kidding? We're more then okay now! Wow, Katniss almost gave me a heart attack with all that mud. It was like she was making her death bed ready!"

Was that what she was doing?

"I'm going to drink." Said the mother.

"Well, how are you guys coping with food? Do you have enough? Should I go hunting again?" That thought terrified me. If I went hunting, it would mean that I wouldn't be able to see Katniss!

"Gale dear, we've been doing just fine. You go when you think it's time. We'll be fine." She said from the other room. Prim was dancing around the room in joy and Ms. Everdeen returned to the living "room" with a plastic cup in her hand.

"Would you like anything? I'm sorry I can only offer water. Do you want some?"

I shook my head, "I should probably go now though. I just stopped by to see how you were doing."

And with that I stepped out of the house and started running to my house. It was dark, and I was getting really tired. Hopefully nothing alarming would happen while I crashed…

*

I woke up to the sound of the TV volume pick up and rubbed my eyes to clear my vision. Still, the only thing I could see was red. I tried to sit up but got light headed and the red turned to black, which turned back to red. Flame like red. Another thing I noticed is that, the flame like red was only on the TV, which meant…

I gasped loudly turning the volume even higher then it was, but not high enough to wake up the whole house. To the small light that shone from the window, I guessed it was a little before dawn.

Red flames tickled the screen, making it harder to see what was going on.

"Come on! Let's move!" I recognized Cato's tone coming out of the speakers and the screen cleared a bit. Just enough to see the Careers struggling to get a hold of all of their stuff – food – as they tried to clear the place. Next to camera flashed to little Rue who was frantically jumping from tree to tree trying to run away from the fire. Her expression seemed panicked and a little pained. One of her plants got on fire and with a sigh she let it fall underneath her. She kept running for a place where it was fire free, which is probably no place. Next up was Foxface. She didn't seem too bothered by the fire; she actually seemed kind of amused by it. With no problem at all, she escaped it with her light skips. Not even one cough came out of her.

Weird, I know.

Thresh was still sleeping in his cave, untouched by the fire. Apparently the Gamemakers let him off the hook this one time and didn't put up his little place on fire. They probably wanted him to look in charge of the game for now.

What about Katniss?? Why weren't they showing her?

Just as I thought, the camera flickered to Katniss. She was coughing madly and sweating like hell. Her coat caught on fire but she quickly put it out and stuffing it in her backpack. It was one of her few things she had, couldn't let it go just yet. She stood there breathing heavily having one minute of rest, when the fire eased. Katniss looked extremely confused, but decided to keep moving. Just as I thought (as well as everyone else I imagine) that the fire was going away for good, a fireball shot up near her head. I could feel my body covering up in a small layer of sweat. Katniss dodged the first one quickly, and the next one was caught on a tree near by. The fireballs keeps shooting at her but she manages to escape them all, though she did get a little burnt in her calf. She winced in pain, which made me want to scream. But the camera once again flickered to the Careers who were running away from the fireballs. They lost one of them on the way, but I don't bother to listen to their convo of who it was. Unfortunately, it's not Cato, or Clove. I also realized the direction they were taking.

Towards Katniss.

The fireballs are starting to stop and-

"What are you doing up so early?" My mother looking exhausted entered the living room. Her eyes were bloodshot from the lack of sleep and she looked worn out. "It's Saturday honey, you can go back to sleep."

I don't answer her but keep my gaze on the Careers as they breath heavily but keep going.

"Oh my God, Gale." My mother was now right next to me, "You're shaking." She put her arm on my shoulder but I shook it off. She then glanced at the screen that was clouded in smoke from the catastrophe.

"What happened?"

"Fire" I answer monotone. She didn't ask any more questions but just watched the TV along with me. Soon my siblings woke up as well and we all crowded over the TV. The camera was on Rue now; she was catching her breath on a tree near by. It was already light outside. Foxface, still seemed unfazed by the fire was still running off somewhere far away. Maybe the Gamemakers didn't want her near by. Thresh was still snoring in his cave and so the camera flickered to Katniss. She was sitting half way in the water with her calf in her hands. She tired to sooth it with water, but only winced in pain as she did. Did she know the Careers were coming? Why wasn't she moving? They'll kill her!

Chill.

Stupid Any.

Anyways, soon, there was a crack and Katniss head snapped up. She seemed to finally realize how close she was to danger (I think she already knew but didn't bother doing anything about it… lazy ass) and with a sigh she climbed on to the nearest tree. Still, the Careers had caught her. There was silence as they were staring at each other in hatred. Finally Katniss spoke up, "How's everything with you?" she smiled at them cheerfully.

I crack a smile.

They seemed to be taken aback from her forwardness but still, Cato spoke up, "Well enough. Yourself?"

"It's been a little bit warm for my taste." My smile grows bigger. "The air is better up here. Why don't you come on up?" I know that she's just playing with them. There is no way that even if they can climb trees, that they will reach her. Katniss is like a squirrel. I always teased her about that.

"Think I will."

"Here take this, Cato" Glimmer said handing Cato the Bow and arrows. Katniss eyes lit up - as well as mine – but then they darkened. I could see anger erupting her beautiful features and it makes me sad. The camera zoomed to her hand that was in a tight fist. She had to get them.

"No, I'll do better with my sword." He then tried to climb up and Katniss started climbing even higher. Cato tried as well, but failed miserably and fell. His face flushed red from the failure. Glimmer tries to climb after that, and stops at a good place before she, like Cato, fall. She then shot her arrow, but missed by far. Katniss smiled brightly and reached for the arrow and waved it above her head teasingly. If only she could get that bow…

The Careers then go to a tight circle and whisper furiously so Katniss wouldn't hear, but the cameras always do.

"What do we do now?"

"You didn't say anything about climbing." Clove addressed Peeta.

"We weren't that close." Peeta spat back.

"Stop arguing! We have to get her down here somehow!"

"How?"

"Anybody else wants to have a go at climbing that tree?"

"How can we kill her if she wont come down?"

"Oh, let her stay up there. It's not like she's going anywhere. We'll deal with her in the morning." Peeta said loud enough for Katniss to hear and I could see her sigh a little. They all prepared to go to bed, Katniss up with her sleeping bag and the Careers down with… whatever it is that they have. Before I could see Katniss putting her head back for a nice sleep, her gaze was caught up on something. No, someone. She looks at them intently until finally reorganization hits her. The camera moved to the near by tree just to see the little girl watching Katniss intently.

Rue.

Heyy guys! So I updated again... this time, my chappie is longer! So I'm pretty proud of myself :D Anyways, I wanted to ask you guys if you think my writing style has changed? For the better, for the worst? plzzz let me know! Did u lik this chappie? and im rly happy cuz i have 42 reviews! plz keep it up... i know i dont update that often but plz.... r/r? for me? ok thats stupid.... for the story? mebbe then for Paris Hilton? haha sry.. i had to say that :P i'm not a fan it was just the first name to pop into my mind... ok im rambling.... so just let me know how u like it!

thnxxxx and 3 u guysssss :-*

-Loli