Hunger Games 1

Chapter 45 The Fox Face and the Wild Fruit (2)
"But you won't be alone." I whispered to myself.I have mom and Prim.Well, now that's it, then what? ... Prim is grown up, my mother is dead, and I don't want to think about the future.I know I will never get married and take the risk of bringing a child into this world, because the victor cannot fully guarantee the safety of his own child, whose name will be put on the big tree at the Harvest Ceremony along with everyone else's. In the glass ball, I swore I would never let this happen again.

The sun finally came up, and the sunlight shone in through the cracks in the stones, shining on Peeta's face.What would his life be like if we could actually go home?This incomprehensible but kind boy would spin a convincing lie to convince the whole of Panem that he was madly in love with me.And I admit, a few times, even I believed him.At least, I think we'll be friends, we've saved each other's lives, that's the truth.No matter what, he will always be the boy who gave me the bread, a good friend.Besides... I feel like Gale's gray eyes have been following me and Peeta from District [-] to the arena.

I was lying uncomfortable, moved, turned around and shook Peeta's shoulders.He opened his sleepy eyes, and when he woke up and his eyes fell on my face, he pushed me down and kissed me long.

"We're wasting hunting time," I said, breaking free of him at last.

"I don't think so." He sat up and stretched himself. "Then, is it easier for us to catch prey with an empty stomach?"

"No," I said, "we'll have more energy when we're full."

"Count me in," Peeta said.I handed him the rest of the rice stew, and he was surprised, "Eat it all?"

"We'll earn it back today," I said.We ate.Even cold, it was the best food I've ever had.I put down my fork and scrape up the last bits of gravy with my fingers. "Effie Trinket's mouth will curl when she sees me like this."

"Hey Effie, look at this!" Peeta said, throwing the fork behind him and licking the plate clean with his tongue while making loud contented noises.Then he blew her a kiss and yelled, "I miss you, Effie!"

I put my hand over his mouth, but I laughed too. "Stop barking, or Cato will be outside the cave."

He grabs my hand and pulls it aside, "What do I care? You're protecting me now," Peeta said, pulling me toward him.

"Stop making trouble." I was anxious and wanted to break away from his grasp, but he still kissed me first.

We packed our bags, came outside the cave, and immediately became serious.For the past few days, Cato has been tracking Saresh, we hid in the hole of the heavy rain, and the tension was temporarily relaxed, as if we had spent a vacation.Now, although the sun is shining and the weather is warm, we both feel like we are back in the Hunger Games again.I hand Peeta the knife, whatever weapon he used to have and it's gone now, and he straps it to his waist.My last seven arrows—the original twelve, three spent in the blast and two at the banquet—clanged in the sagging quiver.I can no longer lose my own arrows.

"He's looking for us," Peeta said. "Gato isn't the type to wait for prey to come."

"If he gets hurt—" I said.

"It's okay," Peeta cut me off, "if he can move, he'll be looking for us."

It had rained for several days and the water had risen several feet on both banks.We stopped to fill our water bottles.I checked the sets I had placed a few days ago and got nothing.In this weather, it is not surprising.Also, I haven't seen many animal sightings in this area.

"If we're going to get game, we'd better go back to where I was hunting," I said.

"At your command, you just tell me what to do," Peeta said.

"Look around carefully," I said. "Try to walk on the rocks. There is no need to leave his footprints. You have to listen carefully for us." It is now clear that the explosion has completely deafened my left ear.

I walk in the water so that no traces are left.But I'm not sure if Peeta's injured leg can handle the force of the stream.Despite the anti-inflammatory effects of the medication, he was still weak.The knife wound on my head still hurts, but it has been three days and the bleeding has stopped, but I still have a bandage on my head to prevent external shocks from tearing the wound open again.

As we walked up the stream, we passed where Peeta had camouflaged himself in the grass and mud.Fortunately, under the washing of heavy rain and torrents, all traces have disappeared.This means, if necessary, we can return to the cave.Otherwise, I wouldn't risk Cato following us.

As we walked forward, the stones became smaller and smaller, from big stones to small stones, and finally to pebbles. I was relieved, and we returned to the gentle forest area covered with soft pine needles.But for the first time, I realized that we have a problem. Walking on a rocky place with a bad leg will definitely make noise. Even if you walk on the soft ground covered with pine needles, Peeta's footsteps are also loud. .The more I thought about the loudness issue, the more I felt that Peeta's footsteps were loud, like stomping, and I turned my head to look at him.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Take your steps lightly," I said. "Forget about Cato, you've scared the rabbits away for ten miles."

"Really?" he said, "I'm sorry, I don't know."

We walked on again, and his footsteps were a little quieter, but even with a good ear his voice was usually enough to make me jump.

"Can you take your boots off?" I suggested to him.

"Here?" he asked suspiciously, as if I wanted him to walk barefoot on coals.I had to remind myself that he was still very uncomfortable with the forest, which was a terrible exclusion zone outside the twelve-area barrier.Then I thought of Gail's light footsteps again.It was strange how low his voice was, and when the leaves were gone it was difficult to walk quietly over the ground even without chasing prey.I'm sure he's laughing at home!
"Yeah," I said patiently, "I'll take it off too, so we're both much quieter." It's as if I, too, have a pretty loud voice.Then we both took off our boots and socks.The sound was quieter, but I'm sure he was stomping hard on every branch.

Needless to say, although it took me several hours to walk to Lulu and I's original camp, I didn't catch a single game.If the trickle is gentle, you can still catch fish; but now the stream is very fast.As we sat down to rest and drink water, I wondered what I could do.I left Peeta to pick roots and go hunting myself.That way, he would have only one knife for self-defense and against Cato's lance, who clearly had the upper hand.So the best thing to do is to hide him in a safe place and go hunting and come back to him later.But I feel that with his conceited character, he will not agree to do so.

"Katniss," he said, "we must part, I know I've scared the prey away."

"Just because your leg hurt," I said, being considerate of him.In fact, this is only a small problem.

"I know," he said, "then why don't you keep going? Tell me what plants are edible, so we can both have work."

"It's not good for Cato to come after you." I tried to speak in a gentle tone, but it sounded like I still thought he was weak.

Surprisingly, he just smiled. "You see, I can handle Cato, I've fought him before, haven't I?"

Yes, he did a great job and nearly died lying in the mud, that's what I want to say, but I can't.He did confront Cato head-on and save my life, and I tried to convince him with another tactic. "What do you think of you climbing up a tree as a sentry while I hunt?" I said, trying to make his job sound important.

"You tell me what's edible, and then you go get some meat, what do you think?" he said, imitating me, "just don't go far in case you need help."

I had to sigh and tell him which plant roots and wild vegetables can be eaten.We do need food, no doubt about it.An apple, two omelettes, and a hunk of cheese the size of a plum won't last long.I'm only a short distance away, and I hope Cato is still far away.

I also taught him a bird song—not Lulu's beautiful tune, but a simple two-note call—so we could communicate and say we were safe.Fortunately, he learned quickly.Leave him the bag, and I'll go hunting.

I felt like I was 11 again, and my safe range of movement was now defined by a fence and now marked by Peeta, and I only allowed myself to go twenty or thirty yards away from Peeta.Although not far away, without Peeta in sight, the forest is alive again with the sights and sounds of animals.Hearing his bird song, I was relieved and walked a little further away.Soon, I hit two rabbits and a fat squirrel.I think that's enough, I can make some more tricks, catch a few fish, plus the roots and wild vegetables that Pita dug, it's enough to eat for a while.

I started walking back.Thinking that I hadn't contacted for a while, I immediately sang a bird, but there was no reply.I ran back quickly, and soon, I saw the backpack, a pile of plant roots neatly placed beside it, and a layer of berries on a piece of plastic sheeting on the ground, with the sun slanting on it.But where is he?

"Peeta!" I yelled, panicking. "Peta!" There was a rustling sound from the nearby bushes, and I raised my arrow, almost piercing Peeta's heart.Luckily, I pulled the bow high at the last second and the arrow landed right on the trunk of an oak tree to his left.He jumped back, throwing the berries he was holding onto the floor.

I was startled and angry, "What are you doing? You should stay here instead of running around in the woods!"

"I found some berries by the stream," he said, confused by my anger.

"I was singing, why didn't you hear back?" I robbed him and said.

"I didn't hear it. The water was too loud, I suppose," he said.He came over and put his hands on my shoulders, and that's when I realized I was shaking.

"I thought Cato killed you!" I almost shouted.

"No, I'm fine." Peeta pulled me into his arms, but I didn't respond. "Katniss!"

I pushed him away, trying to calm down. "If two people agree to use a signal, they have to do it, and if one doesn't answer, it means he's in trouble, shall we?"

"Okay!" he said.

"Okay. Because that's what happened to Lulu, and I watched her die!" I said.I turned my back on him and took another bottle of water out of my backpack, even though I still had water in my own.I'm not going to forgive him.I noticed the food, the apples and the egg rolls were untouched, but the cheese had apparently been taken by some. "When I'm not around, you still eat alone!" Actually, I don't care, I just want to find fault with him.

"What? No, I didn't," Peeta said.

"Oh, I guess the apple ate the cheese," I said.

"I don't know what ate the cheese," Peeta says slowly, word for word, as if trying not to lose his temper. "It's not me, I've been picking berries by the stream, would you like some?"

I actually wanted to eat it, but I didn't want to let it go so soon.I walked over and looked at the berries, I had never seen this variety before.Oh no, I've seen it, but not in the arena.Although it looked like the berry Lulu was talking about, it wasn't, nor was it like the berries I'd known in training.I leaned over to pick up some, twiddling them between my fingers.

Dad's voice echoed in my ears. "You can't eat this, Katniss, don't ever touch this. It's a 'killing fruit', and you'll be poisoned to death before it reaches your stomach."

Just then, the cannon rang.I dodged, expecting Peeta to fall, but he just raised his eyebrows.The helicopter appeared about a hundred yards away and hoisted Foxface's gaunt form into the air.I could see her hair glowing red in the sun.

When I saw Cheese for the first time just now, I should have thought of her...

Peeta took my arm and pushed me towards a tree, "Climb up, he'll be there in a while, it's better for us to attack him from the tree."

I calmed down and stopped him. "No, Peeta, you killed her, not Cato."

"What? I haven't seen her since day one, how could I kill her?" he said.

In answer to his question, I held up a berry in my hand.

(End of this chapter)