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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 exertion should bring it back。
As we head up alongside the stream； we pass the place where I found Peeta camouflaged in the weeds and mud。 One good thing； between the downpour and the flooded banks； all signs of his hiding place have been wiped out。 That means that； if need be； we can e back to our cave。 Otherwise； I wouldnˇt risk it with Cato after us。
The boulders diminish to rocks that eventually turn to pebbles； and then； to my relief； weˇre back on pine needles and the gentle incline of the forest floor。 For the first time； I realize we have a problem。 Navigating the rocky terrain with a bad leg well； youˇre naturally going to make some noise。 But even on the smooth bed of needles； Peeta is loud。 And I mean loud loud； as if heˇs stomping his feet or something。 I turn and look at him。
¨What？〃 he asks。
¨Youˇve got to move more quietly；〃 I say。 ¨Forget about Cato； youˇre chasing off every rabbit in a ten…mile radius。〃
¨Really？〃 he says。 ¨Sorry； I didnˇt know。〃
So； we start up again and heˇs a tiny bit better； but even with only one working ear； heˇs making me jump。
¨Can you take your boots off？〃 I suggest。
¨Here？〃 he asks in disbelief； as if Iˇd asked him to walk barefoot on hot coals or something。 I have to remind myself that heˇs still not used to the woods； that itˇs the scary； forbidden place beyond the fences of District 12。 I think of Gale； with his velvet tread。 Itˇs eerie how little sound he makes； even when the leaves have fallen and itˇs a challenge to move at all without chasing off the game。 I feel certain heˇs laughing back home。
¨Yes；〃 I say patiently。 ¨I will； too。 That way weˇll both be quieter。〃 Like I was making any noise。 So we both strip off our boots and socks and； while thereˇs some improvement； I could swear heˇs making an effort to snap every branch we encounter。
Needless to say； although it takes several hours to reach my old camp with Rue； Iˇve shot nothing。 If the stream would settle down； fish might be an option； but the current is still too strong。 As we stop to rest and drink water； I try to work out a solution。 Ideally； Iˇd dump Peeta now with some simple rootgathering chore and go hunt； but then heˇd be left with only a knife to defend himself against Catoˇs spears and superior strength。 So what Iˇd really like is to try and conceal him somewhere safe； then go hunt； and e back and collect him。 But I have a feeling his ego isnˇt going to go for that suggestion。
¨Katniss；〃 he says。 ¨We need to split up。 I know Iˇm chasing away the game。〃
¨Only because your legˇs hurt；〃 I say generously； because really； you can tell thatˇs only a small part of the problem。
¨I know；〃 he says。 ¨So； why donˇt you go on？ Show me some plants to gather and that way weˇll both be useful。〃
¨Not if Cato es and kills you。〃 I tried to say it in a nice way； but it still sounds like I think heˇs a weakling。
Surprisingly； he just laughs。 ¨Look； I can handle Cato。 I fought him before； didnˇt I？〃
Yeah； and that turned out great。 You