『 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡 』𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

The Feast

TRIGGER WARNING: BLOOD, VIOLENCE, GRUESOME SCENES, AND DEATH.

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Getting the broth into Peeta takes an hour of coaxing, begging, threatening, and occasionally, kissing, but finally, sip by sip, he empties the pot. You let him drift off to sleep then and attend to your own needs, wolfing down a supper of groosling and roots while you watch the daily report in the sky. No new casualties. Still, you and Peeta have given the audience a fairly interesting day. Hopefully, the Gamemakers will allow us a peaceful night.

You automatically look around for a good tree to nest in before you realize that's over. At least for a while. You can't very well leave Peeta unguarded on the ground. You left the scene of his last hiding place on the bank of the stream untouched — how could I conceal it? — and you're a scant fifty yards downstream. You put on your glasses, place your weapons in readiness, and settle down to keep watch.

The temperature drops rapidly and soon you're chilled to the bone. Eventually, you give in and slide into the sleeping bag with Peeta. It's toasty warm and you snuggle down gratefully until you realize it's more than warm, it's overly hot because the bag is reflecting back his fever. You check his forehead and find it burning and dry. You don't know what to do. Leave him in the bag and hope the excessive heat breaks the fever? Take him out and hope the night air cools him off? You end up just dampening a strip of bandage and placing it on his forehead. It seems weak, but you're afraid to do anything too drastic.

You spend the night half-sitting, half-lying next to Peeta, refreshing the bandage, and trying not to dwell on the fact that by teaming up with him, you've made yourself far more vulnerable than when you were alone. Tethered to the ground, on guard, with a very sick person to take care of. But you knew he was injured. And still you came after him. You're just going to have to trust that whatever instinct sent you to find him was a good one.

When the sky turns rosy, you notice the sheen of sweat on Peeta's lip and discover the fever has broken. He's not back to normal, but it's come down a few degrees. Last night, when you were gathering vines, you came upon a bush of Rue's berries. You strip off the fruit and mash it up in the broth pot with cold water.

Peeta's struggling to get up when you reach the cave. "I woke up and you were gone," he says. "I was worried about you."

You have to laugh as you ease him back down. "You were worried about me? Have you taken a look at yourself lately?"

"I thought Cato and Clove might have found you. They like to hunt at night," he says, still serious.

" Don't worry Peeta," You smile softly, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder, " I was on my own before, remember?"

Peeta gives a half nod and lets out a heavy sigh.

" How many of us are left now? I've lost track." He asks.

" Well, there's us, Cato and Clove, Thresh, and Foxface. That's the nickname I've given the girl from Five." You explain. " How do you feel?"

" Better than yesterday. This is an enormous improvement over the mud," he says. "Clean clothes and medicine and a sleeping bag ... and you."

Oh, right, the whole romance thing. You reach out to touch his cheek and he catches your hand and presses it against his lips.

" None of that," You pull your hand away, " Not until you've eaten." You make sure to smile lovingly, you have a crowd to please afterall.

You get him propped up against the wall and he obediently swallows the spoonfuls of the berry mush you feed him. He refuses the groosling again, though.