𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

── saviour

          𝔚hen I was younger, my mother had always cautioned me that what I gave out into the world was what I would get back from it. If I was kind to others, the world would be kind to me. I'd always scoffed aloud at the notion, for the universe was not kind to my family, or my district, but some part of me still believed it and I suppose that's why I made the decisions I did.

It was why Katniss Everdeen was watching me with narrowed eyes, distrust clear in the grey hues, as I chewed slowly on my food.

"You saved my life." She muttered, her hand gripping onto her bow as she watched me. "Why?"

I brushed at my mouth with the back of my hand, before looking up at her. "My mother would be disappointed in me."

"What?"

"She's be disappointed." I shrugged. "I'm not going to disappoint her."

I didn't want my mother to watch as I lost my humanity. Until my inevitable death, I would continue to try and show my parents that I was the same daughter that they had raised. I didn't want to become a monster.

Katniss faltered at that, something changing in her eyes that I recognised. She had someone at home that she didn't want to disappoint, someone who's moral compass would probably hold up even if they found themselves in the Hunger Games. 

Maybe it was her sister, the one she'd volunteered for.

"What do you want in return?"

"Nothing." I shook my head, before standing and brushing my trousers off. Looking up, I find that the sun is about to start it's descent, and that this is my cue. "You're well enough to fight, yes?"

"Yes. Wait...where are you going?" Katniss struggles to her feet as I pick up the spear and pack that I still had on me. For three days, I'd stayed with her prone form in this little camp area and for three days, I'd been terrified that someone would find me and kill me.

With every infrequent cannon blast, that fear had grown. Now, I wanted to get on. I had to find a new place to sleep.

"I'm leaving. You're well now."

"You're abandoning me?" Katniss' tone is confused. "But, you healed me. Why would you do that only to leave? Don't you want an alliance or something?"

"No. I just didn't want the Capitol to have the satisfaction of pitting us against each other." I sighed. "You and I are the same. We're from outer districts, volunteering to be here for our younger siblings. They've been trying to pit us against each other from the start."

"Then, we should make an alliance."

"There are nine of us left in the arena. The alliance will only work for a short amount of time." I countered.

"Then, we should cause the most damage in that amount of time." Katniss stumbled over her words, as I turned. "You saved my life, allow me to repay that debt."

"I'm not planning on being mortally injured any time soon." I laughed at the thought. If I became mortally injured, I'd prefer to die. I did not want to have to survive, not when there were people hunting me.

"No, but the Careers are holding all of the supplies. If the Gamemakers cut the food and water supply, then they'll have an advantage." Katniss replied, a small smirk forming on her face. "If they don't have that supply, everyone is level once more. We do this together, because a second person is needed for the plan to work, then we go our separate ways."

"You want to destroy the Careers supplies? How? They're not just going to let us waltz into their camp."

Katniss held up the bow, as her plan finally registered.

"Oh."

"So, what do you say?" Katniss put the bow down, before holding her hand out. "Allies for a common cause."

I hesitated, thinking of Geare and his words, but another thought dragged me back. I could survive without food, and had done for years. What could the Careers do? They were used to being fed, and if they weren't, what would happen?

Would they finally weaken? Would it give us a chance?

It took me all of a few moments to make up my mind and then I was shaking her hand and nodding my head.

"Sure." Katniss grinned, before we sat once more to talk on the plan.

──⭒─⭑─⭒──

As we were planning together, another cannon shot went off. We both froze, looking up from our large bundles of green leaves.

"How do you think that one went?" I questioned, looking over at Katniss, as we heaved the large bundles over our shoulders. 

"It's not something we need to dwell on." Katniss shook her head. "Better for us though. The Gamemakers will be satisfied."

"What do you mean?"

"They won't need to orchestrate any deaths if the deaths occur naturally." I hummed, following her through the woods to our designated clearings that we had picked. "So, what did you do? Before all of this."

"Dairy farmer." I chuckled, missing my cows more than anything. "Family farm and all."

"No way."

"Yeah." I laughed. "We had about one hundred and fifty cows."

"My sister loves cows." Katniss revealed. "She thinks calves are adorable, from when we occasionally see them."

"Calves are lovely, but I prefer my herding dogs." I explained, dumping the leaves down easily. "I have two, to help me with the cattle."

"Twelve doesn't really have pets. We struggle enough to feed ourselves, let alone a pet as well." Katniss sighed. "But my sister has this stray cat that comes and goes, Buttercup."

"Buttercup's a nice name."

"It's an ugly cat." Katniss corrected, causing the two girls to laugh. "What about your dogs?"

"Caspar and Mick. Mick's still a pup, I'm trying to train him up." Mitzi's face dropped. "Hopefully my dad's training him for me now."

Both of us fell silent, before we finished arranging the leaves into a large pile.

"Well, we're done." Katniss looked towards me, before grinning. "Ready to put back on even ground?"

"Absolutely." I knew my job, knew what I had to. The matches rattling in my pocket were a stark reminder of that. "You're gonna be alright, Twelve?"

"They couldn't catch me if they tried." After this, she would not return. The two of us would not rendezvous again. This would bring us to the end of our time together. "Good luck, yeah?"

"Thanks. I'm gonna need it."

"You've lasted this long, that has to mean something, right?" Katniss chuckled. "But, here's hoping that one of us is getting out of here soon."

"I doubt it will be me, but I have hope for you." I held my hand out. "Just, do me a favour. If you make it out, and I don't, look out for my little sister?"

"The same goes for you." Katniss nodded. "Prim needs someone around to help out. She's still a bit too young to be doing it all on her own. She likes healing."

"Rue likes music, any and all type. She sings it to the mockingjays." I tapped at the golden ornament on Katniss' jacket. "She'd like your pin."

"I'll give it to her if I make it out." Katniss smiled sadly. "I hope I don't see you, Eleven."

"Same goes for you, Twelve."

──⭒─⭑─⭒──

Hiya,

So, it's been a while. But, Katniss and Mitzi met, came up with a plan, realised that they'd end up killing each other, so then left all in the same chapter. Them asking the other to look out for their sister is super sweet, and this is mildly rushed cause I'm about to head to labs.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx