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s my face without being seen。 Under the hood； I silently say good…bye to Thresh and thank him for my life。 I promise to remember him and； if I can； do something to help his family and Rueˇs； if I win。 Then I escape into sleep； forted by a full belly and the steady warmth of Peeta beside me。
When Peeta wakes me later； the first thing I register is the smell of goat cheese。 Heˇs holding out half a roll spread with the creamy white stuff and topped with apple slices。 ¨Donˇt be mad；〃 he says。 ¨I had to eat again。 Hereˇs your half。〃
¨Oh； good；〃 I say； immediately taking a huge bite。 The strong fatty cheese tastes just like the kind Prim makes； the apples are sweet and crunchy。 ¨Mm。〃
¨We make a goat cheese and apple tart at the bakery；〃 he says。
¨Bet thatˇs expensive；〃 I say。
¨Too expensive for my family to eat。 Unless itˇs gone very stale。 Of course； practically everything we eat is stale；〃 says Peeta； pulling the sleeping bag up around him。 In less than a minute； heˇs snoring。
Huh。 I always assumed the shopkeepers live a soft life。
And itˇs true； Peeta has always had enough to eat。 But thereˇs something kind of depressing about living your life on stale bread； the hard； dry loaves that no one else wanted。 One thing about us； since I bring our food home on a daily basis； most of it is so fresh you have to make sure it isnˇt going to make a run for it。
Somewhere during my shift； the rain stops not gradually but all at once。 The downpour ends and thereˇs only the residual drippings of water from branches； the rush of the now overflowing stream below us。 A full； beautiful moon emerges； and even without the glasses I can see outside。 I canˇt decide if the moon is real or merely a projection of the Gamemakers。 I know it was full shortly before I left home。 Gale and I watched it rise as we hunted into the late hours。
How long have I been gone？ Iˇm guessing itˇs been about two weeks in the arena； and there was that week of preparation in the Capitol。 Maybe the moon has pleted its cycle。 For some reason； I badly want it to be my moon； the same one I see from the woods around District 12。 That would give me something to cling to in the surreal world of the arena where the authenticity of everything is to be doubted。
Four of us left。
For the first time； I allow myself to truly think about the possibility that I might make it home。 To fame。 To wealth。 To my own house in the Victorˇs Village。 My mother and Prim would live there with me。 No more fear of hunger。 A new kind of freedom。 But then 。 。 。 what？ What would my life be like on a daily basis？ Most of it has been consumed with the acquisition of food。 Take that away and Iˇm not really sure who I am； what my identity is。 The idea scares me some。 I think of Haymitch； with all his money。 What did his life bee？ He lives alone； no wife or children； most of his waking hours drunk。 I donˇt want to end up like that。
¨But you wonˇt be alone；〃 I whisper to myself。 I have my mother and Prim。 Well； for the time being。 And then 。 。 。 I donˇt want to think about then； when Prim has grown up； my mother passed away。 I know Iˇll never marry； never risk bringing a child into the world。 Because if thereˇs one thing being a victor doesnˇt guarantee； itˇs your childrenˇs safety。 My kidsˇ names would go right into the reaping balls with everyone elseˇs。 And I swear Iˇll never let that happen。
The sun eventually rises； its light slipping through the cracks and illuminating Peetaˇs face。 Who will he transform into if we make it home？ This perplexing； good…natured boy who can spin out lies so convincingly the whole of Panem believes him to be hopelessly in love with me； and Iˇll admit it； there are moments when he makes me believe it myself？ At least； weˇll be friends； I think。 Nothing will change the fact that weˇve saved each otherˇs lives in here。 And beyond that； he will always
be the boy with the bread。 Good friends。 Anything beyond that though 。 。 。 and I feel Galeˇs gray eyes watching me watching Peeta； all the way from District 12。
Disfort causes me to move。 I scoot over and shake Peetaˇs shoulder。 His eyes open sleepily and when they focus on me； he pulls me down for a long kiss。
¨Weˇre wasting hunting time；〃 I say when I finally break away。
¨I wouldnˇt call it wasting；〃 he says giving a big stretch as he sits up。 ¨So do we hunt on empty stomachs to give us an edge？〃
¨Not us；〃 I say。 ¨We stuff ourselves to give us staying power。〃
¨Count me in；〃 Peeta says。 But I can see heˇs surprised when I divide the rest of the stew and rice and hand a heaping plate to him。 ¨All this？〃
¨Weˇll earn it back today；〃 I say； and we both plow into our plates。 Even cold； itˇs one of the best things Iˇve ever tasted。 I abandon my fork and scrape up the last dabs of gravy with my finger。 ¨I can feel Effie Trinket shuddering at my manners。〃
¨Hey； Effie； watch this！〃 says Peeta。 He tosses his fork over his shoulder and literally licks his plate clean with his tongue making loud； satisfied sounds。 Then he blows a kiss out to her in general and calls； ¨We miss you； Effie！〃
I cover his mouth with my hand； but Iˇm laughing。 ¨Stop！ Cato could be right outside our cave。〃
He grabs my hand away。 ¨What do I care？ Iˇve got you to protect me now；〃 says Peeta； pulling me to him。
¨e on；〃 I say in exasperation； extricating myself from his grasp but not before he gets in another kiss。
Once weˇre packed up and standing outside our cave； our mood shifts to serious。 Itˇs as though for the last few days； sheltered by the rocks and the rain and Catoˇs preoccupation with Thresh； we were given a respite； a holiday of sorts。 Now； although the day is sunny and warm； we both sense weˇre really back in the Games。 I hand Peeta my knife； since whatever weapons he once had are long gone； and he slips it into his belt。 My last seven arrows of the twelve I sacrificed three in the explosion； two at the feast rattle a bit too loosely in the quiver。 I canˇt afford to lose any more。
¨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