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aft appears a hundred yards or so away。 Whatˇs left of Foxfaceˇs emaciated body is lifted into the air。 I can see the red glint of her hair in the sunlight。
I should have known the moment I saw the missing cheese。 。 。 。
Peeta has me by the arm； pushing me toward a tree。 ¨Climb。 Heˇll be here in a second。 Weˇll stand a better chance fighting him from above。〃
I stop him； suddenly calm。 ¨No； Peeta； sheˇs your kill； not Catoˇs。〃
¨What？ I havenˇt even seen her since the first day；〃 he says。 ¨How could I have killed her？〃
In answer； I hold out the berries。
24
It takes a while to explain the situation to Peeta。 How Foxface stole the food from the supply pile before I blew it up； how she tried to take enough to stay alive but not enough that anyone would notice it； how she wouldnˇt question the safety of berries we were preparing to eat ourselves。
¨I wonder how she found us；〃 says Peeta。 ¨My fault； I guess； if Iˇm as loud as you say。〃
We were about as hard to follow as a herd of cattle； but I try to be kind。 ¨And sheˇs very clever； Peeta。 Well； she was。 Until you outfoxed her。〃
¨Not on purpose。 Doesnˇt seem fair somehow。 I mean； we would have both been dead； too； if she hadnˇt eaten the berries first。〃 He checks himself。 ¨No； of course； we wouldnˇt。 You recognized them； didnˇt you？〃
I give a nod。 ¨We call them nightlock。〃
¨Even the name sounds deadly；〃 he says。 ¨Iˇm sorry； Katniss。 I really thought they were the same ones youˇd gathered。〃
¨Donˇt apologize。 It just means weˇre one step closer to home； right？〃 I ask。
¨Iˇll get rid of the rest；〃 Peeta says。 He gathers up the sheet of blue plastic； careful to trap the berries inside； and goes to toss them into the woods。
¨Wait！〃 I cry。 I find the leather pouch that belonged to the boy from District 1 and fill it with a few handfuls of berries from the plastic。 ¨If they fooled Foxface； maybe they can fool Cato as well。 If heˇs chasing us or something； we can act like we accidentally drop the pouch and if he eats them 〃
¨Then hello District Twelve；〃 says Peeta。
¨Thatˇs it；〃 I say； securing the pouch to my belt。
¨Heˇll know where we are now；〃 says Peeta。 ¨If he was anywhere nearby and saw that hovercraft； heˇll know we killed her and e after us。〃
Peetaˇs right。 This could be just the opportunity Catoˇs been waiting for。 But even if we run now； thereˇs the meat to cook and our fire will be another sign of our whereabouts。 ¨Letˇs make a fire。 Right now。〃 I begin to gather branches and brush。
¨Are you ready to face him？〃 Peeta asks。
¨Iˇm ready to eat。 Better to cook our food while we have the chance。 If he knows weˇre here； he knows。 But he also knows thereˇs two of us and probably assumes we were hunting Foxface。 That means youˇre recovered。 And the fire means weˇre not hiding； weˇre inviting him here。 Would you show up？〃 I ask。
¨Maybe not；〃 he says。
Peetaˇs a whiz with fires； coaxing a blaze out of the damp wood。 In no time； I have the rabbits and squirrel roasting； the roots； wrapped in leaves； baking in the coals。 We take turns gathering greens and keeping a careful watch for Cato； but as I anticipated； he doesnˇt make an appearance。
When the foodˇs cooked； I pack most of it up； leaving us each a rabbitˇs leg to eat as we walk。
I want to move higher into the woods； climb a good tree； and make camp for the night； but Peeta resists。 ¨I canˇt climb like you； Katniss； especially with my leg； and I donˇt think I could ever fall asleep fifty feet above the ground。〃
¨Itˇs not safe to stay in the open； Peeta；〃 I say。
¨Canˇt we go back to the cave？〃 he asks。 ¨Itˇs near water and easy to defend。〃
I sigh。 Several more hours of walking or should I say crashing through the woods to reach an area weˇll just have to leave in the morning to hunt。 But Peeta doesnˇt ask for much。 Heˇs followed my instructions all day and Iˇm sure if things were reversed； he wouldnˇt make me spend the night in a tree。 It dawns on me that I havenˇt been very nice to Peeta today。 Nagging him about how loud he was； screaming at him over disappearing。 The playful romance we had sustained in the cave has disappeared out in the open； under the hot sun； with the threat of Cato looming over us。 Haymitch has probably just about had it with me。 And as for the audience 。 。 。
I reach up and give him a kiss。 ¨Sure。 Letˇs go back to the cave。〃
He looks pleased and relieved。 ¨Well； that was easy。〃
I work my arrow out of the oak； careful not to damage the shaft。 These arrows are food； safety； and life itself now。
We toss a bunch more wood on the fire。 It should be sending off smoke for a few more hours； although I doubt Cato assumes anything at this point。 When we reach the stream； I see the water has dropped considerably and moves at its old leisurely pace； so I suggest we walk back in it。 Peetaˇs happy to oblige and since heˇs a lot quieter in water than on land； itˇs a doubly good idea。 Itˇs a long walk back to the cave though； even going downward； even with the rabbit to give us a boost。 Weˇre both exhausted by our hike today and still way too underfed。 I keep my bow loaded； both for Cato and any fish I might see； but the stream seems strangely empty of creatures。
By the time we reach our destination； our feet are dragging and the sun sits low on the horizon。 We fill up our water bottles and climb the little slope to our den。 Itˇs not much； but out here in the wilderness； itˇs the closest thing we have to a home。 It will be warmer than a tree； too； because it provides some shelter from the wind that has begun to blow steadily in from the west。 I set a good dinner out； but halfway through Peeta begins to nod off。 After days of inactivity； the hunt has
taken its toll。 I order him into the sleeping bag and set aside the rest of his food for when he wakes。 He drops off immediately。 I pull the sleeping bag up to his chin and kiss his forehead； not for the audience； but for me。 Because Iˇm so grateful that heˇs still here； not dead by the stream as Iˇd thought。 So glad that I donˇt have to face Cato alone。
Brutal； bloody Cato who can snap a neck with a twist of his arm； who had the power to overe Thresh； who has had it out for me since the beginning。 He probably has had a special hatred for me ever since I outscored him in training。 A boy like Peeta would simply shrug that off。 But I have a feeling it drove Cato to distraction。 Which is not that hard。 I think of his ridiculous reaction to finding the supplies blown up。 The others were upset； of course； but he was pletely unhinged。 I
wonder now if Cato might not be entirely sane。
The sky lights up with the seal； and I watch Foxface shine in the sky and then disappear from the world forever。 He hasnˇt said it； but I donˇt think Peeta felt good about killing her； even if it was essential。 I canˇt pretend Iˇll miss her； but I have to admire her。 My guess is if they had given us some sort of test； she would have been the smartest of all the tributes。 If； in fact； we had been setting a trap for her； I bet sheˇd have sensed it and avoided the berries。 It was Peetaˇs own ignorance that brought her down。 Iˇve spent so much time making