A Pact To Keep, A Game To Win

4

"What's today's special?" I ask Greasy Sae as I hop up onto her counter, setting a racoon and two rabbits down beside me."Soup from those greens you and Ga—" the old woman stops short, giving me a sympathetic look.I knew what she wanted to say, That you and Gale traded me yesterday. If I had thought yesterday was hard, today was even worse. Gale may be on his way to the Capitol right now by train, in the lap of luxury, but life here still had to go on.When I woke this morning with Prim next to me, it felt like any other day. There was a heaviness on me though that I couldn't quite place, something was amiss- like when the furniture has been slightly rearranged. I shrugged it off, climbed silently out of bed, braided my hair, dressed quickly and grabbed my game bag. On the way out the door I stepped on that God awful cat Buttercup's tail and it yelped, hissing at me. "Oh shut up." Ugh, just one more reason for it to hate me; not that I'll lose sleep over it.Climbing through the uncharged fence that separated the Meadow from the woods, the weight lifted a bit, things always made sense out here in the open, but something still didn't feel right. So I collected my father's bow and arrow from the hollowed out log and sat and waited for Gale to appear. Half an hour, then an hour passed with still no sign of him, which was odd, so I gathered some berries, the herbs I knew my mother needed for medicines and even ventured down to the lake to collect Katniss roots.The woods were so quiet it was eerie. If only Gale would show up it wouldn't seem so quiet, even if we didn't talk and worked along in comfortable silence, there would at least be someone close by.I went to sit and wait again, at the spot where just yesterday Gale talked of running off into the woods. I still think he was crazy. We would never have made if far. Plucking a round juicy blueberry off the bush next to me, I smile."And may the odds..." I toss it straight up in the air. "Be ever in your favor." I catch it on my tongue. Breaking the berry's flesh with my teeth sweetness fills my mouth, but that sweetness is short lived and quickly turns bitter. I gag. Gale is in the Hunger Games. He must fight to the death for the Capitol's entertainment. I may never see him again!This is the first and only time I allow myself to cry. I never cry. I hate crying. Actually I hate the weakness that is displayed by crying. I feel so utterly alone in the big open expanse now and I feel like I am 12 again, before I met Gale; father gone and no one to guide me through the woods, to keep me on track and on target. Once I finally reconcile with myself that he will not be coming today, or tomorrow, or possibly ever again, I pick up my weapons and start hunting.My focus was terrible; it felt like half of me was missing. Every time I targeted game, they transformed before my eyes into the teenage tributes and my shot wavered. I had no clue how Gale would be able to do it. Distance himself and harden his heart that much. I mean some of those kids were Rory and Prim's age. In the end all I managed was two pitiful looking squirrels. The sun told me it was about noon and my stomach told me it was time to eat. Shoving the squirrels in my game bag I looped back around to check the snares Gale had set up. All four had caught something, including a wild turkey- that will go to Cray for sure. My heart swelled with pride. That boy had a talent. I allowed a tickled of hope, he could at least to some serious damage with snares in the arena."I had an idea," Greasy Sae said while handing me a bowl of her latest concoction. "Gale and that girl are going to need sponsors. How about we start a collection here within the Hob so we can send something when they need it?"Blowing on the spoon gives me just enough of a pause to think it over without coming off like I hate the idea. It is actually a good idea but arena gifts are so outrageously expensive, how are a bunch of poor black market vendors, who can barely afford to keep themselves alive possibly going to come up with enough to be of any impact during the Games? Chances are all we'd be able to purchase would be a single drop of water. But really I'm willing to do anything if it will help keep Gale (and Madge too) alive longer."Sounds good. We better start collecting right away.""Collecting for what?" Darius, the young red headed Peace Keeper asks. He tries to look stern and intimidating but he can't; not with that hair or his goofy boyish looks.Removing his arm from my shoulder I explain Greasy Sae's plan."Well as your Peace Keeper I am required to advise you to be cautious with how you gain this money- no unlawful pursuits that could get you into trouble. Set that fact aside and I say go for it. I'll even ask some of the guys if they want to chip in- won't be the same around here without the other half of your duo."This makes me sad because I do wonder if people will still be willing to trade with me without him. Some trade with me because of my father, some because of Prim and some because of Gale, very few simply because of me. I'm not the best people person ever. Darius must have noticed the change in my mood."Is that two rabbits I see there Miss Everdeen? My offer of one kiss per rabbit still stands you know. Except this time I'm even willing to throw in an extra kiss, because that's just the kind of guy I am. I'd say you're getting quite the deal." He says with a cheeky grin, while draping his arm over my shoulder again.Swatting his arm away for the second time I give him a look of mock disgust, "I wasn't desperate enough last time and I'm not desperate enough now.""Ahh, Katniss you wound me." He clutches his heart."Boy stop harassing my customer and trying to steal my meat," Greasy Sae shakes her ladle at him, but there is no harshness in her voice. "Either buy some soup or shove off. Don't you have pressing Peace Keeper duties to attend to?"I can't help but laugh as he pushes himself away from the counter, stands at attention giving her a salute. "Yes ma'am." And with a smile he saunters away.

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