after a little run in with katniss, cato had been injured. nothing too big, just an arrow to his shoulder, but it had left him to take it easy for a few days — much to his dislike. being to last two careers left — and the games beginning to come to an end, a heavy weight was on both of your shoulders. you were searching for food, trusting cato to pick some berries. you had left to search for any source of meat. with your dagger on your hip, lips curled anxiously, you slipped through the bush. mind soon wandering away from the murderous and injured career behind you.

after what felt like hours, you had managed to get a small squirrel. you had no doubt the game masters were trying to shorten everyone's supply. you huffed, a bit disappointed you weren't able to fill cato's and your belly today. not to fret, you tried to lighten your mood, turning away with the squirrel in hand, deciding to look for more. there is still more -

your thoughts came to a crashing end the moment the loud, near cannon shot. rocking the sky like some earthquake. your careless thoughts exploded into cato. had you misjudged the distance you had left him? had someone gotten to him? had you perhaps not heard him if he had been in trouble? you didn't waste anymore time, turning and sprinting back the path you had came.

you came crashing through the underbrush. heart pounding while your eyes scoped the clearing. the pile of berries left on cato's jacket. you crouched next to them, pulling a berry up and inspecting it. nightlock. your brain screamed — and, for a moment, you felt your heart had just stopped.

until a shadow fell over you, a panting voice gruff and hissing-like. "there you are! holy shit, {{user}}, thought that was you." cato glared, however his anger wasn't completely directed at you. you stood up suddenly, staring at him. he looked you over, his eyes observant before sighing. "it's okay now, 'm alright, you're alright, take some deep breathes, you look pale."