The Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen Blogs

Cornucopia Catastrophe

It was clear that the Gamemakers thought it was time for Peeta and I to fight Cato. When we woke up, the stream near the cave was completely drained. It looked as if it never contained water in the first place. It was obvious that the Gamemakers wanted us to go to the lake, which was where Cato probably was.

As we walked to the lake, fear filled my body. It was truly the end. In a few short hours, I could be on my way home to District 12, or my lifeless body could be resting in a hovercraft. I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't come so close to victory, only to lose. I knew that Prim was holding in her breath, waiting for the Games to be over, for me and Peeta to win...But what if we didn't win? What if I died? For the first time since coming to the arena, I actually feared death. All those other times, I was certain that I would get out of whatever situation I was in. However, I worried that Cato actually did stand a chance of defeating me.

Peeta and I approached the lake, but Cato was nowhere in sight. I looked down at the mockingjay pin on my shirt, and I was instantly reminded of Rue. My heart panged with grief and a dull, throbbing sadness as I thought of Rue. I still hadn't gotten over her death. I don't think I ever could. I was practically reliving recent memories as I whistled Rue's four-note tune. For a few minutes, I listened to the sweet sound of their tragically beautiful melody. I only cried over Rue's death on that terrible day. However, just because I didn't cry didn't mean I wasn't sad. Rue's loss hit me as hard as the impact from the explosion that I'd set off earlier in the Games.

The mockingjays' song stopped abruptly. The ground seemed to rumble with footsteps. However, I knew Cato wasn't that big. The footsteps couldn't possibly be his. So whose were they?

The next second, my question was answered. Cato entered my peripheral vision, and I saw that he was running for his life. He raced past us and sprinted towards the Cornucopia. That's when I knew that Cato was running from something much more dangerous than Peeta and I. A large pack of what looked like dogs shot out of the woods. Without hesitation, Peeta and I dashed towards the Cornucopia. As we climbed, the hot metal (which was warmed from the sun) burned our hands, but that was the least of our concerns. Our top priority was to get away from the dogs as quickly as possible.

As soon as Peeta and I got to the top of the Cornucopia, I knew we were safe. From the dogs, at least. However, as I got a closer look at them, I realized that they weren't actual dogs. They were designed to resemble dogs, yes, but it was clear that they were genetically engineered from the Capitol. Which could only mean one thing: muttations.

I knew the story behind the mockingjays, what with the jabberjays and all, but these dog-things were nothing compared to them. Each claw was as long as my finger, and their eyes flashed with an unnatural glint. Their eyes...I suddenly realized that they didn't look like dog eyes at all. They looked exactly like human eyes! As I studied the dogs, I noticed that they all had different pelt colors and eye colors. Each of them also had a collar with a number engraved into the plate. Something inside my brain clicked, and the realization dawned over me. The muttations were each designed to replicate a fallen tribute! How sick! How disgusting, how the Gamemakers had the audacity to create a dog for every fallen tribute, as if each person were nothing more than an object to be experimented on! It was one thing for the Gamemakers to use muttations that resembled regular dogs, but it was another for them to make them look like the fallen tributes! I looked down at the muttation that resembled Rue, and I thought about how the Gamemakers turned this sweet, innocent girl into a ruthless monster. Now, when the people across Panem look at their screens the last thing they will remember about Rue was that the Gamemakers made her heartless.

Cato was curled up in a ball, trying to catch his breath; however, he quickly lifted himself to his feet. Before I knew it, Cato's arm was wrapped tightly around Peeta's neck, cutting off his airway. If Cato threw Peeta down the Cornucopia, the mutts would tear him into shreds. I whipped out my bow and arrow, the arrow aimed directly for Cato's forehead. However, if I released my arrow, Cato would fall to the ground with Peeta. Either way, Peeta would die. I couldn't bear that. I wouldn't come so far just to see Peeta killed before my eyes. I wouldn't. Newfound courage blazed within me. I knew that there was a solution to the problem. There had to be. There always was.

If the Capitol wants a fight, I thought, I'll give them one.

I shot my arrow into Cato's hand, and he instantly released Peeta, screaming from the arrow implanted in his flesh. With a swift kick, Peeta knocked Cato off of the Cornucopia. The mutts were down there.

It was obvious that the Gamemakers wanted Cato to have a long and painful death. Peeta and I sat on top of the Cornucopia, watching the bloodred rays of sunlight beam across the field. Underneath of us, inside the Cornucopia, the mutts were literally ripping the flesh off of Cato. When I heard his screams, full of agonizing pain, I couldn't help feeling terribly sorry for Cato. I forgot that he had wanted to kill me. I forgot about his past actions. He was a human, just like Peeta and I. It dawned on me that just like Peeta and I, Cato was also a pawn in the Capitol's Games. Just because he was from District 1 didn't mean that he had some type of privilege.

I remembered when Peeta told me that he wanted to die as himself and he didn't want the Games to change who he was. I think I finally understood what he meant, and I agreed with him. I didn't want to turn into some sort of ruthless monster. I know that I'm responsible for the deaths of several tributes in the arena. But I don't really consider myself a murderer. But I am one, aren't I? The thought makes me uncomfortable.

In the morning, Cato will probably be dead. Then Peeta and I can go home together, both the winning tributes from District 12. Back home, we will hopefully be safe from the Gamemakers, the Capitol, and President Snow.

But it's probably a false hope. Something tells me that this ending is only the beginning of a much darker time.