[Flowers] • The Hunger Games

Twenty

It became a waiting game.

Asteria knew the end was near. The tributes were too weak or scared to prolong the games anymore. If Thresh found anyone, they were dead. Regardless of Rue. Cato might even engage Thresh if he could find him. They were all itching for the thrilling conclusion.

Haymitch, Effie, Portia and Cinna stayed out in the town. Putting in the utmost work to get sponsors. Convincing the sponsors for the other living tributes to switch to their side. Calling in favors, doing and saying anything to get enough money pooled together.

Haymitch sent them some soup.

Asteria and Finnick watched from the couch as the parcel descended just outside of the cave Madge and Gale rested inside of. She was better now, having woken up. Her eyes were attentive and she could walk again. Her hearing even seemed to be partially restored, as she no longer tilted her read to the left to hear from her right one when Gale talked to her. Whatever medicine they'd sent worked miracles.

Madge had Gale's knife, and he'd spent his free time crafting up some more arrows. He used feathers from the animals he hunted, sticks and rocks from the arena. They weren't perfect by any means but they were good enough.

It took them nearly a day to hit the bottom of the soup, which held the note. Taped to the bottom with clear tape. Letting them read it if they were attentive enough.

Asteria held her breath. Gale went to put the canister away. She thought, for a moment, it had been pointless. That they wouldn't see the concealed message. But something at the bottom caught his eye.

He read it silently. He made no note to Madge, and the camera couldn't see it. He seemed to be a bit confused for a few moments. He put the canister down and continued as if nothing had happened.

"He saw it." Finnick confirmed. "He had to have."

"I hope so." She breathed out.

"We should hunt today." Gale decided. He looked over at Madge. "Now that you're better, we still need to get you stronger."

"Don't you miss pasta?" Madge asked with a smile.

Gale let out a short laugh, hanging his head as he, too, smiled.

"Yeah. Hate to admit that Asteria was right." Gale chuckled as he leaned back on his hands.

"Damn right I was." She mumbled from the couch, crossing her arms as she smiled a bit as well.

"You think we'll see her again? Haymitch, our families? The district?" Madge asked.

"I think we definitely have a pretty good shot." Gale reasoned. "We're the only team left. Cato's hungry, we ended up with the bag from two, so he didn't get anything from the feast. Thresh let me live once, when I was alone. But with both of us it'll be a more fair fight."

"Foxface is out there somewhere, too." Madge noted. "We can't assume she's already out of the running just because she's not as strong as Cato or Thresh. There's other ways to win." She told him.

"You're right." Gale nodded. "But that's only three tributes standing between us and home. We could go home, Madge." He told her.

She smiled back at him. Her hand came to hold his, and he didn't pull away. The two sat like that for a few moments. Truly seeming to enjoy one another's company.

They might not be together. Definitely not the star-crossed lovers like the world thought they were. But, undoubtedly, the two had formed a bond during their time in the arena. A bond that, if they both made it out, would be unlike anything anyone else had. It would be completely unique to them. And Asteria thought that was...heartbreakingly beautiful.