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ool and pungent with dying things。 Iˇd spent the morning peting with the squirrels for nuts and the slightly warmer afternoon wading in shallow ponds harvesting katniss。 The only meat Iˇd shot was a squirrel that had practically run over my toes in its quest for acorns； but the animals would still be afoot when the snow buried my other food sources。 Having strayed farther afield than usual； I was hurrying back home； lugging my burlap sacks when I came across a dead rabbit。 It was hanging by its neck in a thin wire a foot above my head。 About fifteen yards away was another。 I recognized the twitch…up snares because my father had used them。 When the prey is caught； itˇs yanked into the air out of the reach of other hungry animals。 Iˇd been trying to use snares all summer with no success； so I couldnˇt help dropping my sacks to examine this one。 My fingers were just on the wire above one of the rabbits when a voice rang out。 ¨Thatˇs dangerous。〃
I jumped back several feet as Gale materialized from behind a tree。 He must have been watching me the whole time。 He was only fourteen； but he cleared six feet and was as good as an adult to me。 Iˇd seen him around the Seam and at school。 And one other time。 Heˇd lost his father in the same blast that killed mine。 In January； Iˇd stood by while he received his medal of valor in the Justice Building； another oldest child with no father。 I remembered his two little brothers clutching his mother； a woman whose swollen belly announced she was just days away from giving birth。
¨Whatˇs your name？〃 he said； ing over and disengaging the rabbit from the snare。 He had another three hanging from his belt。
¨Katniss；〃 I said； barely audible。
¨Well； Catnip； stealingˇs punishable by death； or hadnˇt you heard？〃 he said。
¨Katniss；〃 I said louder。 ¨And I wasnˇt stealing it。 I just wanted to look at your snare。 Mine never catch anything。〃
He scowled at me； not convinced。 ¨So whereˇd you get the squirrel？〃
¨I shot it。〃 I pulled my bow off my shoulder。 I was still using the small version my father had made me； but Iˇd been practicing with the full…size one when I could。 I was hoping that by spring I might be able to bring down some bigger game。
Galeˇs eyes fastened on the bow。 ¨Can I see that？〃 I handed it over。 ¨Just remember； stealingˇs punishable by death。〃
That was the first time I ever saw him smile。 It transformed him from someone menacing to someone you wished you knew。 But it took several months before I returned that smile。
We talked hunting then。 I told him I might be able to get him a bow if he had something to trade。 Not food。 I wanted knowledge。 I wanted to set my own snares that caught a belt of fat rabbits in one day。 He agreed something might be worked out。 As the seasons went by； we grudgingly began to share our knowledge； our weapons； our secret places that were thick with wild plums or turkeys。 He taught me snares and fishing。 I showed him what plants to eat and eventually gave him one of our precious bows。 And then one day； without either of us saying it； we became a team。 Dividing the work and the spoils。 Making sure that both our families had food。
Gale gave me a sense of security Iˇd lacked since my fatherˇs death。 His panionship replaced the long solitary hours in the woods。 I became a much better hunter when I didnˇt have to look over my shoulder constantly； when someone was watching my back。 But he turned into so much more than a hunting partner。 He became my confidante； someone with whom I could share thoughts I could never voice inside the fence。 In exchange； he trusted me with his。 Being out in the woods with Gale 。 。 。 sometimes I was actually happy。
I call him my friend； but in the last year itˇs seemed too casual a word for what Gale is to me。 A pang of longing shoots through my chest。 If only he was with me now！ But； of course； I donˇt want that。 I donˇt want him in the arena where heˇd be dead in a few days。 I just 。 。 。 I just miss him。 And I hate being so alone。 Does he miss me？ He must。
I think of the eleven flashing under my name last night。 I know exactly what heˇd say to me。 ¨Well； thereˇs some room for improvement there。〃 And then heˇd give me a smile and Iˇd return it without hesitating now。
I canˇt help paring what I have with Gale to what Iˇm pretending to have with Peeta。 Hootives while I do nothing but doubt the latterˇs。 Itˇs not a fair parison really。 Gale and I were thrown together by a mutual need to survive。 Peeta and I know the otherˇs survival means our own death。 How do you sidestep that？
Effieˇs knocking at the door； reminding me thereˇs another ¨big； big； big day！〃 ahead。 Tomorrow night will be our televised interviews。 I guess the whole team will have their hands full readying us for that。
I get up and take a quick shower； being a bit more careful about the buttons I hit； and head down to the dining room。 Peeta； Effie； and Haymitch are huddled around the table talking in hushed voices。 That seems odd； but hunger wins out over curiosity and I load up my plate with breakfast before I join them。
The stewˇs made with tender chunks of lamb and dried plums today。 Perfect on the bed of wild rice。 Iˇve shoveled about halfway through the mound when I realize no oneˇs talking。 I take a big gulp of orange juice and wipe my mouth。 ¨So； whatˇs going on？ Youˇre coaching us on interviews today； right？〃
¨Thatˇs right；〃 says Haymitch。
¨You donˇt have to wait until Iˇm done。 I can listen and cat at the same time；〃 I say。
¨Well； thereˇs been a change of plans。 About our current approach；〃 says Haymitch。
¨Whatˇs that？〃 I ask。 Iˇm not sure what our current approach is。 Trying to appear mediocre in front of the other tributes is the last bit of strategy I remember。
Haymitch shrugs。 ¨Peeta has asked to be coached separately。〃
9
Betrayal。 Thatˇs the first thing I feel； which is ludicrous。 For there to be betrayal； there would have had to been trust first。 Between Peeta and me。 And trust has not been part of the agreement。 Weˇre tributes。 But the boy who risked a beating to give me bread； the one who steadied me in the chariot； who covered for me with the redheaded Avox girl； who insisted Haymitch know my hunting skills 。 。 。 was there some part of me that couldnˇt help trusting him？
On the other hand； Iˇm relieved that we can stop the pretense of being friends。 Obviously； whatever thin connection weˇd foolishly formed has been severed。 And high time； too。 The Games begin in two days； and trust will only be a weakness。 Whatever triggered Peetaˇs decision and I suspect it had to do with my outperforming him in training I should be nothing but grateful for it。 Maybe heˇs finally accepted the fact that the sooner we openly acknowledge that we are enemies； the better。
¨Good；〃 I say。 ¨So whatˇs the schedule？〃
¨Youˇll each have four hours with Effie for presentation and four with me for content；〃 says Haymitch。 ¨You start with Effie； Katniss。〃
I canˇt imagine what Effie will have to teach me that could take four hours； but sheˇs got me working down to the last minute。 We go to my rooms and she puts me in a full…length gown and high…heeled shoes； not the