Голодные игры

           Reassuredbyhisperiodicwhistles,Iallowmyselftodriftfartheraway,andsoonhavetworabbitsandafatsquirreltoshowforit.Idecideit’senough.Icansetsnaresandmaybegetsomefish.WithPeeta’sroots,thiswillbeenoughfornow.

           AsItraveltheshortdistanceback,Irealizewehaven’texchangedsignalsinawhile.Whenmywhistlereceivesnoresponse,Irun.Innotime,Ifindthepack,aneatpileofrootsbesideit.Thesheetofplastichasbeenlaidonthegroundwherethesuncanreachthesinglelayerofberriesthatcoversit.Butwhereishe?

           "Peeta!"Icalloutinapanic."Peeta!"Iturntotherustleofbrushandalmostsendanarrowthroughhim.Fortunately,Ipullmybowatthelastsecondanditsticksinanoaktrunktohisleft.Hejumpsback,flingingahandfulofberriesintothefoliage.

           Myfearcomesoutasanger."Whatareyoudoing?You’resupposedtobehere,notrunningaroundinthewoods!"

           "Ifoundsomeberriesdownbythestream,"hesays,clearlyconfusedbymyoutburst.

           "Iwhistled.Whydidn’tyouwhistleback?"Isnapathim.

           "Ididn’thear.Thewater’stooloud,Iguess,"hesays.Hecrossesandputshishandsonmyshoulders.That’swhenIfeelthatI’mtrembling.

           "IthoughtCatokilledyou!"Ialmostshout.

           "No,I’mfine."Peetawrapshisarmsaroundme,butIdon’trespond."Katniss?"

           Ipushaway,tryingtosortoutmyfeelings."Iftwopeopleagreeonasignal,theystayinrange.Becauseifoneofthemdoesn’tanswer,they’reintrouble,allright?"

           "Allright!"hesays.

           "Allright.