A Pact To Keep, A Game To Win

3

I wait in the hall of the Justice Building, outside the room they are holding Gale in, while what is left of the Hawthorne family goes in to say good-bye. I've never done this before so I'm not really sure how to proceed. I also wasn't sure who else I expected to show up, Gale was pretty popular at school, so a group of his buddies are crowded together including Thom, whom I've heard Gale mention multiple times. A few of the girls I frequently see ogling him are with them too, all teary eyed yet throwing me daggered looks in between sobs. I can't help but roll my eyes.Hazelle and the kids exit, Posy clinging to Rory's neck, Vick trailing behind his brother looking back at the door every few steps. Hazelle looks drained as she hugs me, "He's asking for you."I wipe a stray tear from her cheek, giving the bravest smile I can manage, which is not more than an upturned corner of my lip. "Mother and Prim are waiting for you outside. They'll take you home. I'll be by when I'm done."Once they have left the building I notice I am all alone in the long hallway- except for the Peace Keepers. In a matter of minutes Gale's group of friends exit, in varying stages of shock. Thom eyes me with a look of pity and acceptance. Gale's friends were definitely not my friends, honestly we have never spoken. But now there is no need for words, there is an unspoken bond between us. We all mourn for Gale.The Peace Keepers at the door gesture for me to enter. My best friend is standing, leaning on the wall staring out the window. I take on the careful tread I use when hunting prey in the woods, swift and quiet, so not to startle him. I am standing right at his shoulder before he reacts to my presence. His dark head turns slightly."Hey Catnip."There has never been anything romantic between us, we are hunting partners, best friends, but lover was never a title we associated with one another- he looks like he could be my cousin for crying out loud. Yet my heart aches as if it is being ripped out of my chest, he has been so vital to mine and my family's survival that I'm suddenly terrified about what will happen when he is gone.When he opens his arms I don't hesitate to go into them. His body is familiar to me- the way it moves, the smell of wood smoke, even the sound of his heart beating I know from quiet moments on a hunt- but this is the first time I really feel it, lean and hard muscled against my own."You're strong Gale; you'll be a rival to the Careers no doubt. And you're resourceful," I say. The next part comes rushing out. "Your best chance is to get your hands on some familiar weapons. You know how to use a bow and arrow, a knife, you're a genius when it comes to traps and snares, but... what if they don't... you need to ...""Katniss? I know, and I will.""They need you Gale.""Hey now," he says with a slight chuckle. "Don't tell me you're backing out of our pact?""Of course not! You know I'll bring them game. I'll help them however I can. I won't let them starve."Silence. We stand there staring at the each other. Both unsure what to say next. What do you say as possible last words to someone who has been the one stable, secure thing in your life for the past four years?"Wonder what the arena will be this year?" I imagine all the possible horrors; desert, volcano, frozen tundra, pit of wild animals."Does it matter? I'm still going to have to kill them. Suppose it'll be just like hunting, can't be much different. Just bigger versions of turkeys and squirrels.""Can you really forget that they are people?" I ask, horrified that ultimately I know he is right, this will be just like hunting in the woods- except this time the prey is hunting him too."Don't really have a choice now do I?" Gale retorts. I can see that dark look had returned, the hatred for the Capitol and what they're about to make him do. Suddenly I share his hatred too."You can't let the Capitol win." I bite out."I wouldn't give them the satisfaction." He reaches up and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear and something in his look changes. Softens. He knows I'm trying not to say good-bye, and I can tell he's struggling too, because if we say those words then they've already won. They have gotten us to admit defeat; succumbing to their power. Still that look unnerves me slightly.The Peace Keepers enter. That seemed too fast. They start to pull me away when I refuse to move right away. I cry out clinging to his hand. "Just come back in one piece okay? Good hunting partners are hard to find.""Don't worry, I will. Katniss, remember I—" The door slamming cuts off the rest of his words before I can hear them. Remember what? I've never forgotten a single thing Gale has ever told me, because I knew his words and knowledge were key to survival. The difference between having food and starving. His unknown reminder eats at me all the way back to the Seam. I feel just as sick over that as I do over him entering the Hunger Games. If I didn't remember whatever it was he wanted me to, our survival could very well be in peril. Before Gale came along I hadn't been doing a very good job feeding my family, I was struggling and we were almost dying of hunger. How is one girl supposed to keep seven people adequately fed? Even if he wins, by then he may not have a family to come back to. I shudder to think of taking out even more tessera, for surely Gale would not think twice about killing me if I let Rory take any out. Maybe I could at least bring Rory with me into the woods, teach him some basic snares. Have him pick strawberries or something.Strawberries! I stop short. I didn't say good-bye to Madge! Had anyone beside her parents gone in? I hadn't seen anyone else waiting in the hall. Like me she kept to herself at school, I could very well have been her only friend, and even that wasn't some official thing. Some friend I am, her feelings of betrayal must be even greater now. I hate good-byes and am terrible with words- especially idle girl talk. I probably would have just ended up making her feel worse about her odds of getting out alive. The truth was, if I was brutally honest, she had no skills- or at least skills that would be helpful in the bloodbath at the Cornucopia or for staying alive in the wild. Perhaps Gale will be able to say something to comfort her.By the time I reach the Hawthorns I'm physically ill with the crushing weight of responsibility and my conscience. Also that last look Gale gave me kept flashing in my mind, causing great confusion. What exactly had that meant?

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