Голодные игры

           Severalmorehoursofwalking-orshouldIsaycrashing-throughthewoodstoreachanareawe’lljusthavetoleaveinthemorningtohunt.ButPeetadoesn’taskformuch.He’sfollowedmyinstructionsalldayandI’msureifthingswerereversed,hewouldn’tmakemespendthenightinatree.ItdawnsonmethatIhaven’tbeenverynicetoPeetatoday.Nagginghimabouthowloudhewas,screamingathimoverdisappearing.Theplayfulromancewehadsustainedinthecavehasdisappearedoutintheopen,underthehotsun,withthethreatofCatoloomingoverus.Haymitchhasprobablyjustabouthaditwithme.Andasfortheaudience.

           Ireachupandgivehimakiss."Sure.Let’sgobacktothecave."

           Helookspleasedandrelieved."Well,thatwaseasy."

           Iworkmyarrowoutoftheoak,carefulnottodamagetheshaft.Thesearrowsarefood,safety,andlifeitselfnow.

           Wetossabunchmorewoodonthefire.Itshouldbesendingoffsmokeforafewmorehours,althoughIdoubtCatoassumesanythingatthispoint.Whenwereachthestream,Iseethewaterhasdroppedconsiderablyandmovesatitsoldleisurelypace,soIsuggestwewalkbackinit.Peeta’shappytoobligeandsincehe’salotquieterinwaterthanonland,it’sadoublygoodidea.It’salongwalkbacktothecavethough,evengoingdownward,evenwiththerabbittogiveusaboost.We’rebothexhaustedbyourhiketodayandstillwaytoounderfed.Ikeepmybowloaded,bothforCatoandanyfishImightsee,butthestreamseemsstrangelyemptyofcreatures.