Chapter 19

The Careers surveyed Katniss, and I quickly realized they actually haven't spotted me yet.  I looked back at Katniss, who was looking at the Careers.  She suddenly smiled and said in a cheerful voice, "How's everything with you?"  I almost fell out of my tree.  Why in the world would she say that?  Well, I knew the Capitol crowd will love it.  I could have practically heard them laughing.  Cato said, "Well enough.  Yourself?"

Katniss called down, "It's been a bit warm for my taste.  The air's better up here.  Why don't you come on up?"  My mouth gaped open.  She must have been very brave or very stupid -or both- to say something like that.  "Think I will."  Cato replied.  Glimmer said, "Here, take this, Cato."  She offered him her bow and arrows.  I noticed Katniss' eyes flash with jealousy.  Cato pushed away the bow and said, "No.  I'll do better with my sword."  The short, heavy blade on his belt glinted in the sunlight and I covered my mouth with my hands so I wouldn't shout out a warning to Katniss.  She was a goner.  It was strange, because she really seemed like a survivor.  

Cato hoisted himself onto the tree and started to climb.  Katniss climbed higher, and I began to see what her plan was.  After she climbed about thirty feet and was as high as me, she stopped and I heard a branch snap.  I looked down, now realizing Katniss' plan as I saw Cato fall to the ground and hit it with a thud.  I winced, thinking he might possibly be dead, but he got back up, swearing.  

Glimmer started to climb up, but stopped once the branches started to snap under her.  She fired an arrow at Katniss, but she missed and the arrow hit a tree near her.  Katniss grabbed it and waved it tauntingly above her head.  The Careers group together and talked furiously, angry that Katniss had made a fool out of them.  I giggled quietly behind by hand.