As Peeta leads us along a stream, I can't help letting my thoughts run wild.
Is he tricking us? Where are we going? Is the girl even back from the 'feast'? Has she noticed his absense? All these questions are just waiting to be answered. And I have to be patient enough to wait for the responses I'm looking for. "It's just up here!" Lover boy insists. "It'd be easier to show you if you just let go." He chokes through the collar of his shirt against his throat.
"I'm sure it'd be easier," Cato agrees, "for you to run off. But if I do that, this whole journey would've been a disappointment. Wouldn't it?"
I can see Peeta gulp underneath his shirt. Maybe that really was his plan. I guess he underestimates Cato, too much. As we keep walking, it leads to a big clump of rocks. Peeta guides Cato straight to a little opening and peeks in. "She's not here." He says, eyes frantic.
This, you can say, pisses Cato off. We just walked all this way. For nothing? No, not for nothing. Because before I even know what I'm doing,
I'm drawing my knife out of my boot. And come at Peeta. Cato immediately moves out of the way, knowing what I'm about to do. Peeta instinctively falls to the ground. I'm guessing his legs are weak, which is a perfect place to start. "Hi, Peeta," I smirk. I make a little cut in each of his pant legs. "How are you?" I ask, because he's obviously great!
"I was actually doing pretty well, until you showed up." He laughs. I slice my knife across his thigh.
"Joke with me again, I can do the same thing again." I tell him. "Please, I want to hear another joke."
"Nah, I think I'm all joked out." Peeta replies.
"Oh, well. I guess I don't have an excuse anymore." I whine, "Now it'll be for no reason." I ponder this for a moment, "Oh well. This should be fun." I slive his other thigh. It's not very deep, but no amount of bandages can cover him when I'm done. I repeatedly do this to both legs, all the way down to his ankles.
It is pretty fun, until I hear that damn girl, again. "Peeta!" She calls out for him.
"We better go." I tell Cato. I pick myself up off the ground. "Come on." I stretch my hand out to him. He intertwines his fingers with mine. We know we have to make it more fun for the cameras. So we run before the 12 girl shows up and sees Peeta. When we're out of sight, we slow to a steady walking pace.
"You know," Cato speaks up, "we haven't had a normal conversation in a long time." He smiles, "Let's have one now."
"Cato, not right now." I argue. "We have to get farther from them before I can even think about talking." I begin walking but Cato stands firmly in palce. "Cato, come on." I beg. His hand grips mine rather hard when I try to walk again. He pulls me to him, and holds my face in his hands. "Ca-"
"Shh. Let me talk for a second." He stares at me for a little longer before he continues, "I just want to be with you until we're the only ones left. I want to spend every last moment with you. Please, just, don't let us get split up again. I love you, Arriana."
"Cato, we'll have to split up one more time. I guess I should tell you how Clove died. I grabbed the packs while Clove guarded, when I turned around she was wrestling with the Katniss girl. I thought for sure Clove had her, until the District 11 guy, Thresh saved the girl and killed Clove. I thought you should know. And I want you to be the one to kill him. She was calling for you before the rock crushed her skull." I begin getting teary eyed. "You have to do it. I know where he is. But that's all I can help with." I wrap my hands around his, still holding my face.
