Chapter Five - Challenge

My mind is still processing what my heart can't. Fluctuating indecisively on weather I should enlighten Peeta on the subject of our relations, I set out in search for food. I try to sear clear of thinking about my mother's possible lie and my relationship with Peeta. Anything that might drag me into devastation, I will avoid for now, at least until we get home.

The sweet scent of cranberries perfume the forest air, sending me desperately searching for them. Aha! There you are, I smirk, picking the first few signs foods since we emptied our packs last night. We slept apart, I couldn't bare the thought of the slightest touch of our bodies. He deserves to know what I know, but up to now, I've been unable to scavenge the right time to tell him. I'll do it now, right when I get back. I'm already regretting promising this to myself. I'm sure I can find the passion to forgive myself if I break this promise... Just this once.

When I see Peeta's face, so incredibly honest, it forces me to blurt everything out all at once.

"What? What are you talking about?" he asks, genuinely confused by my allegation.

I show him the photo and what's printed on the back.

"Where'd you find this?" Peeta questions, probably suspicious of its authenticity.

"It was in this locket. I found it when packing at my house." I admit, my eyes drifting downward. I can't look at him.

"And you just decided to show this to me now?"

"And you thought we were related this whole time?"

No, not exactly, I think. But whatever I say won't change the facts that I have now laid out, so I stay silent.

"Katniss, you do realize that that's not my dad." he says, slowly, almost trying to convince me of this jumble of nonsense.

"What do you mean? It looks just like him!" I actually just assumed it was Peeta's father, but this, I won't admit. The guy in the photo is wearing glasses, which deflected the camera's flash onto his lenses, so his eyes are not clearly visible. My mother's youthful beauty captured my attention, so I didn't give "Mr. Mellark" more than two glances. I see it now that I look carefully, concentrating on the faded features of the photo. Embarrassment overcomes any sense of relief I might feel as I proceed to pour the berries into the corner of my blanket.

"Katniss?" Peeta says.

"Yeah, what is it?" I reply, pretending that none of this happened.

"I get why you thought that. I just wonder why you didn't come to me at first. I'm always here for you, you don't need to be embarrassed-"

"I'm not embarrassed!" I hiss. It's a lie and my defensive actions reveal the obvious truth. I throw my backpack over my shoulder and wandering into night. Peeta's footsteps slowly meander in my direction, but the darkness conceals my body. I hear him call out to me a few times and in the midst of my mixed emotions I realize what a bitch I've been. He's injured, his walking abilities impaired and yet I let him chase me. It wasn't exactly my choice for him to come after me, but I should have known he would. How can I condemn him for caring about me? His soft tone, carrying out the three lettered confession still rings in my ears. I never returned it, but I know how I feel.

I begin hearing branches snapping and feet stomping, closing in on me. I yell Peeta's name and he returns my call, but he much too far away to be what I'm hearing. When I see a bloodthirsty bear, it confirms my suspicions.

I try to sprint as fast as I can, but the bear's large physique catches up to me. He's right on my tail when I begin climbing a tree and whips me to the ground. The force of the hit knocks the wind out of my chest, and I lay there quietly as it leans in for the kill. I'm completely frozen, fear tearing at every limb in my body. A rock. A rock! I scoop up the small boulder in my palm and toss it at the bear's head with every bit of strength I still posses. He growls painfully, feeling the immense sting the rock leaves. I toss another one, this time puncturing his left eye. Then I hear a gunshot and the bear falls helplessly to the ground.

"It's just a tranquillizer. Should wear off in a bit." A man says, pulling the spike from the bear's body. The man appears to be middle-aged, gruff from years of alcohol abuse – I've seen plenty of those in town – and clothed in what once looked like decent attire.

My first instinct is to run, but I don't. Instead I stay perfectly still. If he's interested in pursing my life, I should be dead right about now.

The warm smell of bread emanating from his cabin quickly lures me in. We sit down and talk – more rather, he talks and I eat – for what seemed like five minutes before he begins to bombard me with dozens of strange questions. I knew I should make a run for it, but something about the food – something so alluring – kept me in place.

This isn't right, I think as I tear through the food. Slowly, I begin to loose my balance as a woozy feeling overcomes my senses. I slip from the chair and land on the floor. My movements are impaired as I begin to grow unconscious. Someone – I'm placing my bets on him – sweeps their fingers through my hair. My eyes are becoming blurrier and blurrier as I use the last bit of strength to shoot a glance at the perpetrator.

Instead, I see bombs go off.

I hope Peeta isn't nearby, but I had told him I loved him.

Well, I hope this chapter cleared things up! To those of your who unalerted due to the "almost" sibling content should have stuck around! Anyways, where I've been? Busy! Thank you so much for reading ;)