It really wasn't fair.

Of course Katniss knew she was in bad shape if a rock was giving her trouble. "Shut up." She snapped at him, having already contended to her inability to conquer it. When Haymitch helped her up, she bent her knees, tucking them against her chest. Even though the rocks were warm, they wouldn't keep them cozy for very long. As she pulled open her pack and began setting up the tinder and twigs she brought to make a small fire, she was asked what sort of arena she'd prefer. A dry sarcastic smirk made its way to her lips as she began to hit her two stones together that were made to create a spark. "I know what I don't want and that's water. Not a fan of swimming, let's say it's out of my depth." She could swim but she wasn't great, probably not even good by most standards. There was a lake in their district but because it was hard to get to, most people didn't swim. "I'd like a forest like last time, it at least makes me feel like I could be home and not running for my life." 

She then considered as she finally got some spark to snag on the tinder. She blew into it and the smoke circulated around them. She coughed, trying to unclog her throat as she let it sit between her and Haymitch as she added some of the sticks and twigs she brought along with her. Her survival skills had been improving but she knew she had other areas that needed improvement. She wondered what she'd get to brush up on when it came to train in the Capital. They would have a week, that was a lot of time. Katniss hadn't thought about who the other two would be, she would want to look out for them, even if she didn't know them. They would be like family to her, no matter what. That was a weakness she couldn't concede. "I doubt they'll do it again though." She shrugged as she turned toward the fire, a lovely heat and light source. It was windy but there was no hint of snow or rain in the air. 

For once it was dry and meant change was indeed coming to the tiny coal mining district. Her mind could only think about places she would hate to be in, like sand or rock. Or water. She rubbed her hands together and pulled her own leather gloves off before she got another item out of the pack, two small loaves of french bread courtesy of Peeta and his parents. They weren't burnt. She handed one to Haymitch and looked at hers fondly, that day in the rain meant different things to both her and Peeta, she never thought she'd be fighting for her life alongside him years later. Nor did she think she'd even be talking to the town drunk. She had been so used to see him lurk around that when she first saw him on the train, outside of the district, she was a bit shocked. Though that likely had to do with her just leaving District 12. She took a small bite and chewed. 

Even though she still considered Haymitch her mentor and looked up to him, they knew very little about one another. Maybe that was a good but then again, maybe it wasn't. Either way, she was struggling to make idle chit chat, it wasn't her strong suit either. They may have more in common than they realized. A part of her wanted to ask about his friends who would be showing up but she really didn't want to hash details about the Games. Training was tiring enough and for all she knew, she wouldn't have another chance to talk to Haymitch candidly before cameras were watching their every move. As she tried to sift through her thoughts, all she kept coming up with were rude things to talk about, and she was trying to work on her personal skills. "You remind me of a fox you know. It might typical to say wolf but I don't think you're that vicious. Foxes can survive on their own, sure but they do well with others even though they might not admit it. And foxes are more cunning I think, always so damn hard to catch so I'm sure a fox and a mockingjay can catch a bunch of career snakes without too much trouble."

He wasn't sure what to say, let alone do.

If her mother hadn't said anything, Gale would have been fine with turning around and going back home. At least there he wouldn't have to deal with a bunch of petty dram and awkward interactions which he hated. He didn't like feeling this way towards Prim. He had no idea if she was still mad at him. He was pretty sure she was still holding some sort of grudge like her older sister could. Even though she offered for him to stay, he wasn't sure how to respond. Gale wondered if she was just being polite in front of her mother. Prim was normally nice to most people, but he wasn't sure if her vision of him had changed over the time since they last spoke. He didn't know and he didn't like it. Should he go back home to his own family or should he stay? If Katniss was around, he probably would have stayed but he would have preferred to stay because of Prim, not out of guilt or duty. Nothing like that.

He glanced up to Prim and then to her mother who was also awaiting his reply. "I haven't eaten yet, no." He admitted. The house smelled good, as it usually did. He knew if he didn't come back home soon, that his family would assume he was with Katniss and her family. Several times they had come over to the Everdeen household for weekend dinners together. It was nice but Gale was never fully relaxed in such lavish settings, nor was Katniss from what he could tell. Maybe that was why she liked to train or hunt as often as possible. While the reward of the home and money and goods were amazing, he had a feeling his friend would trade it all if it meant never having to go back and leave her family. Gale figured spending some time with Primrose wouldn't be so bad, he did miss her. He just wasn't sure if she missed him.

"I can stay a little while, thanks." He ended up giving in. If things between Prim and himself could be mended, that would be great but he wasn't sure what to expect really. The last thing he wanted though, was for him to end up leaving Primrose with them still on bad terms. No, he wasn't sure if he'd volunteer but if he did, he would prefer having the support of Prim, even if she wasn't happy about it. Gale couldn't really go if he didn't have someone like her to come back to. Katniss was lucky to have a loving sister who could put up with her. And in turn, Prim was lucky as well, for so many reasons. He was sure the sisters' relationship was still strong and that was what was most important. The boy walked in further as the mother headed into the kitchen. "It's been a while." He commented to Prim as he followed the older woman into the kitchen to see if he could do anything to help now that he was staying.

From the look of things, the table was already set for three people so he didn't have to help there. And whatever was in the oven was just about done. He moved over to the sink to wash his hands. He was still adamant that he said all he could. If Prim wanted to stay mad, he'd understand but he had nothing else to say on the matter of him volunteering. It was a heavy topic and one he didn't want to bring up until it really mattered. "Anything I can do?" He decided to ask, just in case. The mother waved him off and told him it would be another ten minutes and that he could go hang out with Prim until then. Nodding, he headed back out of the kitchen and up the stairs, surprised to see Prim hadn't moved from where she was. Evidently they weren't sure how to act around one another, as they hadn't gotten into many fights before and weren't sure how to act. "What have you been up to, with Katniss always away?" He worried if she was lonely or trying to get used to her sister being gone again, the idea unsettled him greatly.