My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Orange? Like Effie's hair?" I say. "A bit more muted," he says. "More like sunset.

I have not wept since the death of my parents," said Luxa quietly. "But I am thought to be unnatural in this respect.

Oh, no. It costs a lot more than your life. To murder innocent people?" says Peeta. "It costs everything you are.

What say you, Luxa?" said Vikus. "What can I say, Vikus? Can I return to our people and tell them I withdrew from the quest when our survival hangs in the balance?" said Luxa bitterly. "Of course you cannot, Luxa. This is why he times it so," said Henry. "You could choose to - " started Vikus. "I could choose! I could choose!" retorted Luxa. " Do not offer me a choice when you know none exits!" She and Henry turned their backs on Vikus.

"Clove!" Cato's voice is much nearer now. I can tell by the pain in it that he sees her on the ground. "You better run now, Fire Girl," says Thresh. I don't need to be told twice. I flip over and my feet dig into the hard-packed earth as I run away from Thresh and Clove and the sound of Cato's voice. Only when I reach the woods do I turn back for an instant. Thresh and both large backpacks are vanishing over the edge of the plain into the area I've never seen. Cato kneels beside Clove, spear in hand, begging her to stay with him. In a moment, he will realize it's futile; she can't be saved.

It's not easy to find a topic. Talking of home is painful. Talking of the present unbearable.