Catching Fire: The New Story

Chapter 79

Peeta's POV

I groan as a knife flies by my shoulder, splitting the skin in half. I could care less about the pain, as I just saw Katniss sprawl into the water by the pressure pushed onto us from the spinning island of the Cornucopia. It finally slows to an immediate stop, moving all of us. I jumped up to a run, paining my leg with its prosthetic as I press too hard down on it. I search for Katniss in the shuffled water. Johanna informs me she's around where she was, possibly. The waves may have push her further away from this spot. Finnick doesn't dare enter the water, the waves strong enough to keep even him under. I begin to worry Katniss might not come up.

I take the risk and jump in. The small lesson Finnick and Katniss gave me the knowledge to at least keep me afloat, plus the inflated belt wrapped around my waist. I search the water for any signs of Katniss. A brown braid, blue uniform, anything. Something shines in my eyes, and I catch her Mockingjay pin on her arm. I reach down for her as the waves calm, they help bring her up. Once she's out of the water, she doesn't do anything. No movement. Finnick jumps in and assists me in pulling her on the spoke closest to us.

Johanna is the first to try making Katniss cough up the water she swallowed. She pumps her chest for a minute, then she breathes. I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding in. I bend down to Katniss, placing her head on my lap as she coughs up the water. I brush back the hair stuck to her cheeks and forehead. I've seen her in this position too many times only this year. We sit her up, pulling her weapons onto my shoulders. We hurry to the shade of the weapons piled up. Hidden from others.

I pick Katniss up and hold her against my chest. Her belly is against my chest and I can feel a heartbeat against me. I smile while Katniss catches her breathe.

"Which is noon?" Finnick asks, still breathless. I look around, Beetee, Johanna, Finnick, Katniss, and I. Two down, five left.

"The Gamemarkers spun the Cornucopia purposely, to get us off track. If we head in any direction, we might get hit by an hour's nightmare." Beetee says.

"I say, let's head that way." Johanna says, ignoring Beetee'a conclusion. She points to a spot of the jungle in front of the Cornucopia. I look at Katniss, her face is still filled with shock laying against my shoulder. Her breathing is hitched, and she looks tired. The purple rings under her eyes show it's true.

"Go to sleep." I whisper in her ear. She nods, and quickly slips into a deep sleep. I watch her eyes close gently, and her breathing become even.

"Shut up!" Finnick screams, making everyone jump. Katniss didn't even move, she is fully asleep. "Johanna, stop trying to get in a fight with everyone. Alright? Good, we need to move. Let's just head where Johanna pointed. We head that way, but keep walking."

"Fine." Johanna says.

"Okay." Beetee says, after a moments thought.

"What about you lover boy?" Finnick asks me. He twists his head to see Katniss, how she was doing. "Princess asleep?"

"Yeah. Let's go." I mumble. We start walking wherever Johanna pointed to, reaching the end of the spoke in about thirty minutes. My mind doesn't register whats going on around me, but Johanna keeps me stead on my feet while I think. We reach the jungle and enter until the heat has gotten to us. Beetee mumbles to himself while he uses a stick to write something on the dirt. Only I could hear the snores of Katniss as she continues to sleep. Finnick starts pouring water out of a tree near by, everyone gets water. Johanna brings me a leaf filled with it, and helps me drink while I keep hold on Katniss. Finnick quickly weaves a mat to lay Katniss on, and I watch her sleep soundly on it.

"Got it." Beetee mumbles.

"What?" Finnick asks. He walks over to Beetee, sweat running down their forehead from the heat.