Haymitch mentioned Snow probably wasn't behind the rules this time, but she wasn't so sure. And his nonchalant encouragement didn't help her much either. Katniss was still trying to figure out the mess. With double the opponents, her odds were pretty terrible. It hadn't crossed her mind that making any alliances would help. As Haymitch took another drink, she grabbed it from him as he said she would need to tell Peeta herself. That stung but she knew she had to. "You've had enough." If he was going to try and be useful, he needed to start cutting back on his nightly binges. She glanced at the contents, they were nearly gone which wasn't a surprise to her. Still, she couldn't believe she asked Haymitch and he agreed. She couldn't let anything happen to him now but taking on the role of guarding three others from District 12 was crazy. Katniss knew she needed to give Haymitch more credit, he was clever when he wanted to be.

"Thank you." Katniss said quietly. It wasn't easy to thank someone for their sacrifice. Katniss was determined to make sure Peeta was kept safe, and she hoped Haymitch wasn't the price she'd have to pay in the end. She really did hate herself for asking but the alternative was foolish, Haymitch had to go in. Did she have to ask him? The girl wasn't sure but she did appreciate him understanding, even in his drunken state. There was hope for him, under all the crap, she was sure he'd be alright. She took a drink and threw her head back, finishing off Haymitch's drink since, as she said, he had had enough. Her face scrunched up and she shuddered, face still cringing. "That is awful." She coughed and set the empty bottle beside her, away from Haymitch.

She did feel warmer though, for a moment at least. Katniss leaned over and placed her hands on Haymitch's arm, using him to help her get back on her feet, as the snow was heavy and tricky. "Come on." She tugged on his arm. "If I don't make sure you get home, you'll pass out along the way or take off or something." Katniss told him. Katniss was grateful for Haymitch's cooperation, it took her by surprise and she in turn felt responsible for him. In the back of her mind, the warrior wasn't sure how she'd cope with her family for the next month. Then there was Peeta, who she wasn't sure how he'd react to being their mentor. Katniss had faith in Peeta, everyone loved him. Well, everyone except her. This was the only way though. Katniss knew he'd be mad but as long as he was away from the Games, he could hate her for all she cared.

As she half walked, half guided Haymitch to his home, Katniss went from being hopeful about the Games to being cynical. Coping with stress wasn't her strong suit. Archery helped but right now she just needed to get back home where it was warm. She told herself that she'd see Cinna and his words would be golden. As she opened the door and turned on the light, she shook her head. Bottles were everywhere, it was a mess. Usually she'd say something sarcastic about how he lived but not tonight. Katniss helped him over to the touch and set him down. Then she went over and checked the heating system, it was on so he wouldn't freeze to death. The filter on her mouth kept a comment bottled in about how he'd be no good to her dead before the Games. Even she couldn't say something horrible like that. "Try to eat something." Katniss just sighed/

Moving to the door which she left open, she looked over her shoulder. Dread still infected her heart, now she had to go home and talk to Peeta and Prim and Gale, hopefully she could ignore her mother. Nothing else came to mind so she headed out, shutting the door behind her. She trudged back to her house and entered. She saw Peeta and her mother talking. "Katniss, I was waiting up for you." He said and she walked over to him. She glanced to her sister and figured this talk was better in private. She helped him to another room while Prim and her mom went to clean up. "I know this isn't going to be easy for us-"

"You're not going back in." She cut him off.

"What?"

"Haymitch will take your place, you'll be safer as our mentor. You're charming and sweet and-"

"I want to be with you, I can help."

"Yeah, just not in the arena. It's best for everyone if you-"

"I'm out of the way?" Peeta cut her off and looked down at his leg. "I can train and practice, hell, if I need to, I can use this as a weapon." He insisted.

"No." Katniss pleaded. "Peeta, please, let me do this. You know things will be different, much harder-"

"And I barely made it out the last time." He glared at her. "You're trying not say it Katniss but I know you better than to be tricked. If this is about you and me-"

"It isn't!" She rolled her eyes, patience thinning.

"I get it. I won't get in your way, I'll leave you alone." Peeta muttered and headed off to go home. Katniss followed him, trying to offer to help get him home but he waved her off. "Just do whatever you want Katniss, you don't care who gets hurt as long as you get your way! We're all just obstacles for you anyway!" He slammed the door behind him. Katniss turned around and rubbed her face, leaning against the door. She wasn't trying to be selfish, she was trying to keep him safe like he did for her. She knew he'd likely cool off in time but she couldn't stomach Peeta angry. It didn't suit him. Katniss thought she'd handle it if he was upset with her but now that he really was, she felt even more lost. She saw the mess was cleaned up thanks to Prim. Katniss headed into the kitchen and saw Gale and Pim had finished packing the food and everything else away.

"Hey." Gale smiled slightly, having heard the last bit of the conversation. He'd love to take a shot at Peeta and comfort Katniss but he couldn't do it. "He'll come around, catnip. I think what you're doing is brave. Same with Haymitch." Gale said, trying to be supportive, aware of how badly things had gotten in such a short amount of time. He looked to Prim, knowing she was still upset about his idea of volunteering. He knew she didn't like it and he knew Katniss wouldn't either but Katniss proved that choices made were about survival, not being liked. He wondered if Prim would tell Katniss about what he said. He wished he hadn't, he wished he had kept it to himself. He was still considering it though, regardless of what Prim though. Gale could understand that she didn't want to possibly lose her sister or him. His goal was to help Katniss, not hurt Prim in the process. "I better be going soon too. I can drop some leftovers at Haymitch and Peeta's. And make sure Peeta made it back okay." He offered, knowing the girls wouldn't eat all the food themselves.

He knew Katniss probably wasn't up for talking and he also knew it was more of Prim's place to comfort Katniss right now. He grabbed two small boxes and put some leftovers in each of them and headed for the door. He didn't feel right leaving, not if Prim was upset with him. He didn't mean to upset her at all. He hoped she saw the logic behind his idea, as crazy as it was. The other candidates for the reaping weren't great and Gale could change his mind. Either way, they shouldn't worry about things that had yet to take shape. Gale doubled back and motioned Prim to meet him in the living room as Katniss got herself some hot tea. Good. "Listen, it was just an idea I had, it makes sense to me but I can see why it wouldn't to you." He considered. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or make you worry more than you probably are. I wish I considered that before blurting it out." He told her.

Gale sighed softly, fairly certain that she wouldn't tell Katniss since it would only make matters worse. At least Prim thought before she spoke, a talent Katniss had yet to figure out. And her blunt approach had rubbed off on him but thankfully it wasn't too bad, usually. "I'll see you later." He smiled gently and turned back to head out. It was late and Gale still had to make some stops before he got to see his own family. Thanks to Katniss, his family wouldn't freeze or starve. She had been generous with her new found luxuries. Kindness was a trait which both Primrose and Katniss thankfully possessed. As he walked out and off to right, he got to Peeta's home first. He gave his mother the box of leftovers and she thanked him. It seemed Peeta made it back alright, though his mood was still rather rotten. Gale then stopped by Haymitch, someone he didn't know well but knew Katniss looked up to, even if she'd never really admit it. 

Knocking on the door, he set the food down and headed out of the village of modern styled homes and headed for his own humble abode. Back in the kitchen, Katniss finished making her tea and went out to see what Prim and Gale were up to. It seemed Gale was gone, like the wind. Katniss looked to her sister. "Come on." She said to Prim, It seemed their mother was already in bed which gave the sisters time to talk. Katniss went into Prim's room which was a lot more inviting than her own, and sat on the edge of the bed. It was so soft and comfortable compared to sleeping on the ground in the arena, or in a tree, or one a makeshift hay filled bed like the one in their old home. It was fine and nice but Katniss could never enjoy it without thinking about Rue and the others who had to die in order for her and her family to be safe. She patted the spot next to her for Prim, figuring the company shared would be welcomed after quite a turn of events. 

Once home, Gale set his own leftovers down and saw his mother asleep, as were Rory and Vick but Posy was up and seemed to be waiting for him. He laid down beside her and pulled her close, glad to be home. Posy asked how Katniss and Prim were, inquisitive as always. Posy was the youngest and the only girl so Gale was pretty protective of her. Rory and Vick were protective of her too and sometimes hung out with him and Prim during the Hunger Games. He told Posy a story and she was quick to go to sleep. He stayed up, just watching the fire near the door. He was unsettled, he had a few reasons for being so, but even knowing them didn't give him a lot of comfort. Gale wanted to keep Katniss safe but he had his own family to worry about. Even if he didn't end up volunteering, his name was in the reaping ball, on about 50 slips now. His odds were pretty awful. How could he sleep knowing Katniss was already leaving? Who else would the Capital kidnap from their home? 

Thankfully, Prim's name was in the reaping ball on less than ten slips of paper. Her odds were much better and that was sort of comforting. He didn't think his own idea of volunteering would give Primrose any crazy ideas, she was smart. She wasn't a fighter, she was safe at home, like Peeta. Gale just wanted to do something because he was sure that he could. He closed his eyes and figured he'd see Katniss and Prim sometime the next day. Maybe they could go out and get their minds focused on something else. Gale soon drifted off to sleep, after adding another log to the fire, the pile was huge thanks to Katniss. As she sipped her tea, she wasn't sure what to say to her sister. She just set it down on the floor by the bed and pulled Prim into her arms, propping her own chin on Prim's slim shoulder. Katniss had no idea what to do anymore. Did she make the wrong choice? Did it matter if she would be dead in the end? "I want to come back to you." She muttered to Prim, voice pained.