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¨Heˇll be hunting us by now；〃 says Peeta。 ¨Cato isnˇt one to wait for his prey to wander by。〃
¨If heˇs wounded 〃 I begin。
¨It wonˇt matter；〃 Peeta breaks in。 ¨If he can move； heˇs ing。〃
With all the rain； the stream has overrun its banks by several feet on either side。 We stop there to replenish our water。 I check the snares I set days ago and e up empty。 Not surprising with the weather。 Besides； I havenˇt seen many animals or signs of them in this area。
¨If we want food； we better head back up to my old hunting grounds；〃 I say。
¨Your call。 Just tell me what you need me to do；〃 Peeta says。
¨Keep an eye out；〃 I say。 ¨Stay on the rocks as much as possible； no sense in leaving him tracks to follow。 And listen for both of us。〃 Itˇs clear； at this point； that the explosion destroyed the hearing in my left ear for good。
Iˇd walk in the water to cover our tracks pletely； but Iˇm not sure Peetaˇs leg could take the current。 Although the drugs have erased the infection； heˇs still pretty weak。 My forehead hurts along the knife cut； but after three days the bleeding has stopped。 I wear a bandage around my head though； just in case physical exertion should bring it back。
As we head up alongside the stream； we pass the place where I found Peeta camouflaged in the weeds and mud。 One good thing； between the downpour and the flooded banks； all signs of his hiding place have been wiped out。 That means that； if need be； we can e back to our cave。 Otherwise； I wouldnˇt risk it with Cato after us。
The boulders diminish to rocks that eventually turn to pebbles； and then； to my relief； weˇre back on pine needles and the gentle incline of the forest floor。 For the first time； I realize we have a problem。 Navigating the rocky terrain with a bad leg well； youˇre naturally going to make some noise。 But even on the smooth bed of needles； Peeta is loud。 And I mean loud loud； as if heˇs stomping his feet or something。 I turn and look at him。
¨What？〃 he asks。
¨Youˇve got to move more quietly；〃 I say。 ¨Forget about Cato； youˇre chasing off every rabbit in a ten…mile radius。〃
¨Really？〃 he says。 ¨Sorry； I didnˇt know。〃
So； we start up again and heˇs a tiny bit better； but even with only one working ear； heˇs making me jump。
¨Can you take your boots off？〃 I suggest。
¨Here？〃 he asks in disbelief； as if Iˇd asked him to walk barefoot on hot coals or something。 I have to remind myself that heˇs still not used to the woods； that itˇs the scary； forbidden place beyond the fences of District 12。 I think of Gale； with his velvet tread。 Itˇs eerie how little sound he makes； even when the leaves have fallen and itˇs a challenge to move at all without chasing off the game。 I feel certain heˇs laughing back home。
¨Yes；〃 I say patiently。 ¨I will； too。 That way weˇll both be quieter。〃 Like I was making any noise。 So we both strip off our boots and socks and； while thereˇs some improvement； I could swear heˇs making an effort to snap every branch we encounter。
Needless to say； although it takes several hours to reach my old camp with Rue； Iˇve shot nothing。 If the stream would settle down； fish might be an option； but the current is still too strong。 As we stop to rest and drink water； I try to work out a solution。 Ideally； Iˇd dump Peeta now with some simple rootgathering chore and go hunt； but then heˇd be left with only a knife to defend himself against Catoˇs spears and superior strength。 So what Iˇd really like is to try and conceal him somewhere safe； then go hunt； and e back and collect him。 But I have a feeling his ego isnˇt going to go for that suggestion。
¨Katniss；〃 he says。 ¨We need to split up。 I know Iˇm chasing away the game。〃
¨Only because your legˇs hurt；〃 I say generously； because really； you can tell thatˇs only a small part of the problem。
¨I know；〃 he says。 ¨So； why donˇt you go on？ Show me some plants to gather and that way weˇll both be useful。〃
¨Not if Cato es and kills you。〃 I tried to say it in a nice way； but it still sounds like I think heˇs a weakling。
Surprisingly； he just laughs。 ¨Look； I can handle Cato。 I fought him before； didnˇt I？〃
Yeah； and that turned out great。 You ended up dying in a mud bank。 Thatˇs what I want to say； but I canˇt。 He did save my life by taking on Cato after all。 I try another tactic。 ¨What if you climbed up in a tree and acted as a lookout while I hunted？〃 I say； trying to make it sound like very important work。
¨What if you show me whatˇs edible around here and go get us some meat？〃 he says； mimicking my tone。 ¨Just donˇt go far； in case you need help。〃
I sigh and show him some roots to dig。 We do need food； no question。 One apple； two rolls； and a blob of cheese the size of a plum wonˇt last long。 Iˇll just go a short distance and hope Cato is a long way off。
I teach him a bird whistle not a melody like Rueˇs but a simple two…note whistle which we can use to municate that weˇre all right。 Fortunately； heˇs good at this。 Leaving him with the pack； I head off。
I feel like Iˇm eleven again； tethered not to the safety of the fence but to Peeta； allowing myself twenty； maybe thirty yards of hunting space。 Away from him though； the woods e alive with animal sounds。 Reassured by his periodic whistles； I allow myself to drift farther away； and soon have two rabbits and a fat squirrel to show for it。 I decide itˇs enough。 I can set snares and maybe get some fish。 With Peetaˇs roots； this will be enough for now。
As I travel the short distance back； I realize we havenˇt exchanged signals in a while。 When my whistle receives no response； I run。 In no time； I find the pack； a neat pile of roots beside it。 The sheet of plastic has been laid on the ground where the sun can reach the single layer of berries that covers it。 But where is he？
¨Peeta！〃 I call out in a panic。 ¨Peeta！〃 I turn to the rustle of brush and almost send an arrow through him。 Fortunately； I pull my bow at the last second and it sticks in an oak trunk to his left。 He jumps back； flinging a handful of berries into the foliage。
My fear es out as anger。 ¨What are you doing？ Youˇre supposed to be here； not running around in the woods！〃
¨I found some berries down by the stream；〃 he says； clearly confused by my outburst。
¨I whistled。 Why didnˇt you whistle back？〃 I snap at him。
¨I didnˇt hear。 The waterˇs too loud； I guess；〃 he says。 He crosses and puts his hands on my shoulders。 Thatˇs when I feel that Iˇm trembling。
¨I thought Cato killed you！〃 I almost shout。
¨No； Iˇm fine。〃 Peeta wraps his arms around me； but I donˇt respond。 ¨Katniss？〃
I push away； trying to sort out my feelings。 ¨If two people agree on a signal； they stay in range。 Because if one of them doesnˇt answer； theyˇre in trouble； all right？〃
¨All right！〃 he says。
¨All right。 Because thatˇs what happened with Rue； and I watched her die！〃 I say。 I turn away from him； go to the pack and open a fresh bottle of water； although I still have some in mine。 But Iˇm not ready to forgive him。 I notice the food。 The rolls and apples are untouched； but someoneˇs definitely picked away part of the cheese。 ¨And you ate without me！〃 I really donˇt care； I just want something else to be mad about。
¨What？ No； I didnˇt；〃 Peeta says。
¨Oh； and I suppose the apples ate the cheese；〃 I say。
¨I donˇt know what ate the cheese；〃 Peeta says slowly and distinctly； as if trying not to lose his temper； ¨but it wasnˇt me。 Iˇve been down by the stream collecting berries。 Would you care for some？〃
I would actually； but I donˇt want to relent too soon。 I do walk over and look at them。 Iˇve never seen this type before。 No； I have。 But not in the arena。 These arenˇt Rueˇs berries； although they resemble them。 Nor do they match any I learned about in training。 I lean down and scoop up a few； rolling them between my fingers。
My fatherˇs voice es back to me。 ¨Not these； Katniss。 Never these。 Theyˇre nightlock。 Youˇll be dead before they reach your stomach。〃
Just then； the cannon fires。 I whip around； expecting Peeta to collapse to the ground； but he only raises his eyebrows。 The hovercraft appears a hundred yards or so away。