Burning Heart ~ Cato 2 (Completed)

Chapter Twenty Two

      I subconsciously step forward, leaning down slowly and picking up one of Finnick's tridents. I pass it to him behind my back, my eyes never leaving their vivid yet empty eyes. In almost a slow motion, the mutt and my eyes slowly slide towards Haymitch. At the same moment, we both move. 

     The world is thrown into normal time. I dive at Haymitch at the same time the monkey does. All I see is a flash of orange fur as I cover Haymitch to the best of my ability. I feel sharp claws dig at my skin as I grasp for the arrow a few feet away from us. My fingers finally wrap around the metal and I drive it into the mutt. I buck it off me and help Haymitch up. I dive down and toss Haymitch a knife bundle, and grab my bow. 

     "Left underside!" Fin calls as I whip around and shoot the mutt. Everything happens so fast, I shoot the monkeys as fast as I can.

      My blood freezes as I grasp into an empty sheath. My eyes widen in horror as I whip around trying to find my extra one. 

      "Ash!" I turn to Haymitch and prepare to catch the sheath he is throwing at me. As the silver sheath throws through the air, so does orange fur. I only have time to dive as the mutt throws itself at Haymitch. 

     "Haymitch!" I screech and dive at him. Before I can reach him, someone dives above him. A loud noise fills the arena. I glance at Fin as the mutts retreat. I rush to Haymitch and his savior, who I recognize as the female morphling. We set her down and I notice the blood gushing from her chest. 

     "It'll be okay, stay with me. Okay?" I whisper as I cut the sleeves from my jumpsuit. I use them to put pressure on the wound. She looks away from me and grabs Haymitch's hand.

     "An eye for an eye," She says quietly. She conveys to him some secret with her eyes. He nods and turns to me. 

     "Let go," He tells me, grabbing my wrist.

     "No, she can make it," I breathe, pressing harder. Haymitch looks to something behind me and nods. I feel Finnick wrap his arms around my waist, pulling me away from the morphling. 

     "Finnick let me go," I say, noticing the tears dripping down my face. 

     "You can't save everyone Jay," He whispers in my ear, tightening his grip on me. The morphling looks up to me and gives a weak smile.

     "Sing?" She asks. Fin releases his grip and I kneel by her.

      "Sing?" 

      "I want you to sing," She says softly. I smile. I slowly begin a song from district six, its haunting lyrics drifting the Morphling to sleep. I cringe as the gong goes off. I give her the salute as Finnick begins to pull me away. 

     "We have to move," Haymitch says, gathering our weapon remnants and leading the way. We retreat into the forest and make camp.

     "Can I keep watch tonight?" I ask softly. Finnick shakes his head no.

     "Let me. Please," He says, and I notice the grief clouding his eyes.

     "Need company?" I ask. He looks up at me.

     "If you'll sleep," He gives a weak smile.

      I nod and lay down beside him, laying my head on his lap. My eyes close as everything from the past few days crash onto me.