Hi everyone This is my first fanfic as I'm quite new to this whole fiction writing thing. Story a bit AU with some twists and turns along the way. M for swearing and some sensual scenes later on. Let me know if you like the story so far!

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Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games.

The crackling of fallen saplings under heavy boots jolts me from my nap. I must have dozed off momentarily while Peeta was searching for berries, but I'm surprised it's taken him this long. Morning is not far off.

I look down from my makeshift nest to try to locate Peeta. He's making a furious racket with the snapping of twigs and crunching of leaves, although I can't say I'm surprised. He has a knack for attracting the attention of the other tributes. I sigh, untying the rope that's belting me tightly to the tree. I guess I'll have to rescue him before he wakes the whole forest.

Almost instantly, I freeze. Perhaps the dark is heightening my sensitivity or all these years of hunting have sharpened my sense of smell, but something isn't right. The scent of river and blood is on the wind. Peeta smells of earth and home.

"You can come on down, Fire Girl." A deep voice materializes from the forest floor, chilling me to the bone. "There's nowhere for you to hide now."

Right on cue, light illuminates the forest, enveloping the woods in a misty blue light. It's as if the Gamemakers want all of Panem watching this. Peering down I can just barely make out the hulking boy from District 2. Light glints off his large sword as he twists it impatiently in his massive hands. How did he find me? I've been with Peeta since the start of the Games…hunting and hiding in the woods for the past two days. The last I saw of the Careers was at the Cornucopia when Clove attacked me. The Cornucopia's at least a few kilometers away. Why aren't they preoccupied with the other tributes that are close by?

"I promise I won't bite," he grins up at me. Reflexively, I grasp the knife strapped to my thigh. It's a long shot, but perhaps I can manage to use it if I can get a bit closer. Escaping from up here doesn't seem to be a possibility. The other trees are much too far away to jump to without breaking my neck. If only I can keep him talking…

"Where are your friends?"

"That's none of your concern. We need to talk."

"And what would I have to talk about with you?"

"I have an offer for you. Come on." He pats his leg, beckoning me as if I'm a dog.

"So you can kill me?"

He smirks. "I'm not going to kill you."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Think about it 12. If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead by now." He crosses his arms over his chest. The veins protruding from his forearms remind me of how easy it would be for him to rip me to pieces. He sighs, rolling his eyes. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice."

I stare down at him in silence, desperately thinking of a way out of this.

"Get down here. NOW!"

His command startles me and I almost fall from the tree in my surprise. All too soon, he's hacking at the base of the trunk with his huge sword. The tree is a decent size, but so are Cato's biceps. Another minute or so of this, and this tree will be going down—I along with it.

"Alright, alright!" I shriek. The tree stops vibrating as Cato drops his sword. I let out a shaky breath, half in relief, half in trepidation. "I'll come down."

He chuckles, pleased with himself. "See that wasn't so hard was it?"

I ignore him as I climb down the tree. My hands and knees are shaking so violently, it's all I can do to keep my grasp on the slippery bark. Just before I reach the bottom his arms catch me around my waist, and he disarms me easily of my knife and pack. All the clawing and kicking in the world doesn't make him release his grip, as he slams the front of my body violently into the base of the trunk.

"Take it easy 12." His warm breath tickles my right ear. "Don't fight me. No one needs to get hurt here."

I try not to shake. I will not let this boy frighten me. But his body is much too close for my liking. I can feel every inch of his chiseled chest through the back of my sweat-soaked shirt. His arms tighten around me, and I try not to think about how easy it will be for him to end me here and now.

"Wha- what's your proposition?"

"You come with me. You join our pack. You do what I say." Pausing, he breathes deeply, as if contemplating what to say next. "And if the time comes Fire Girl…you're mine."

My throat feels as dry as sandpaper as I attempt to swallow. "You mean you get to kill me?"

He grunts noncommittally.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You'll understand if and when it happens."

"And if I say no?"

"This isn't negotiable." His left arm unwraps from my waist and moves up the side of my face, brushing the hair that has escaped my braid back into its rightful place. Rough finger pads trail down the back of my clammy neck, tightening as they turn my head, forcing my head back into an unnatural position. "So what will it be?"

"What do I get out of this?" Somehow, even though I'm absolutely terrified, I've managed to find my voice again.

His cruel laugh bounces eerily off the trees. He is amused with my tenacity. "Hmmm, well you get to live. For now. I won't kill you right away if you agree to my little plan."

"Is that a promise?"

"On my life." He pauses. "I'm even feeling generous today. I'm willing to extend my offer to letting you live and giving you protection from other tributes." His hand is now ghosting up and down my left arm. I shiver, trying to push the unexpectedly pleasurable feeling from my brain. He's only trying to intimidate me.

"And why would I ever trust you?"

"You'd be a fool to trust me. But since you don't really have any other choice, and I could snap your neck as easily as a twig right now, I would suggest it's in your best interest to agree. Especially if you want your little boyfriend to live."

"You have Peeta!" My cry sounds foreign even to my ears. I buck against him, but he keeps me in place easily.

"Clove is taking very good care of him."

"I swear to God if you hurt him I'll—"

I feel his lips curve into a smile at the back of my neck. "You'll what?"

I'll…nothing. I have no answer. He has me and he knows it. Spinning me around, his cold blue eyes meet mine. He is deadly serious again.

"We have a deal?"

I bite my lip and nod. There is literally nothing I can do. I have to help Peeta, especially after he fed me, and saved my family. After he declared his love for me to the world. Picking up my pack, I allow Cato to yank me out of the forest and towards the Cornucopia.

An hour passes and finally I can see the golden horn of the Cornucopia shining through the patchwork of trees and bushes in front of us. I sigh inwardly in relief, before fully conceptualizing what arrival at the Career's base camp actually means. Regardless of my no doubt imminent death, I'm eager to finally be free from Cato's unbreakable grip. He sets a relentless pace. And he's made it abundantly clear that his sympathy does not rest with the uncoordinated. The beginnings of large purple bruises are already snaking their way around my wrist and forearm. From fingertips to shoulder a burning pain registers in the deepest parts of my muscles, suggesting that he's done more than bruised it.

"Oh look, Cato's brought us a present." The little dark haired girl from District 2 stares at me from across the meadow. A maniacal grin mars her otherwise average features, speaking volumes of her ability to kill despite her tiny stature. One might even consider her a bit pretty. If she wasn't clearly insane. The District One boy looks up at me in disinterest and drops his eyes back to the fire he is sitting in front of. He is immersed in sharpening his spear.

Clove laughs wickedly, slashing her knife through the air as she speaks. "We're going to have so much fun with you Katniss. Lots and lots of bloody fun."

Cato drags me a few more yards to the mouth of the Cornucopia. The taunts from his district partner fall on deaf ears. A few sharp words from the leggy blonde girl from District 1 however, stop him dead in his tracks.

"What the hell is she doing here Cato!" The girl's eyes flit back and forth between Cato and me, finally resting on the death grip he has on my arm. Plump lips, the color of pink sunset, purse in disapproval before pushing out into the most persuasive pout ever demonstrated. She could put three-year olds to shame.

Uncharacteristically, Cato stumbles over his words as he tries to explain himself all at once. "Just try to understand, Glim. I had to." He steps closer to the girl, dragging me after him. Fingers twitch against by wrist and his sweat slides down my arm. I have never seen him look so nervous. Hell, I didn't even think monsters like Cato were capable of any form of the emotion.

Glimmer's pale green eyes narrow on his.

"She has to be part of the alliance, okay?" Cato reaches up with his free hand to massage Glimmer's shoulder, but she slaps him away as if she's been burned. He grits his teeth. "With a fucking 11, she can't be entirely useless. And she brings the other tributes to us. Bread Boy," he emphasizes.

Wait, so they don't actually have Peeta? The fucking bastard tricked me. I groan inwardly. God, I'm such an idiot. This is exactly the type of tricks Haymitch was trying to warn me about in training.

Glimmer's eyes glide up and down my body like a knife. She's sizing me up like a goat for sale at auction, but surprisingly, her anger doesn't scare me. The dynamic between these two is too fascinating; I find that it's easy to forget that I'm surrounded by four very skilled murderers.

"Do whatever you want with your pet. I really could care less."

Cato opens his mouth as if to argue, but one look from Glimmer and it's snapping shut. Wow. Mighty Cato silenced by one glance. That girl really has him whipped.

"She's your responsibility. Make sure she stays in line. Next time, try to consult your allies first before going and kidnapping a liability! Sometimes I really wonder where your head is."

Cato flinches like a little kid who's just been caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. He nods once at her, eyes downcast, "You're right. I promise you won't regret it."

"Fine," she snaps, stalking around the back of the Cornucopia.

Cato watches her leave, an unreadable expression on his face. Three seconds later he turns his wrath on me. He wrenches me over to a small fire and drops me at the District 1 boy's feet.

"Sit down. And shut up." His voice is cold. Uncaring. Unemotional. His demeanor is once again the all powerful warrior. Any trace of the weird trance Glimmer put him in has evaporated. "Watch her," he says to Marvel, pointing his finger at me, "I have to go do damage control." Cato drops his weapons in a heap at the foot of the fire, much akin to a child's temper tantrum, before he stomps off in the direction Glimmer has gone.