Murderous Love 4 (Rated PG)

Gale sat perched in a tree outside of District 12, watching the ground as game passed by. He had his bow sitting next to him on the limb, perched against the trunk. Gale also had a backpack with him filled with food, water, and anything else he might need for his hunting trip. He also had a knife hitched to his side in case he had to gut anything or kill something up close. His knife had a slight blood stain on it from his last kill, a deer which was pretty rare to find around District 12, especially where he usually perched. That deer had lasted his family at least 2 weeks and now it was time for more food.

Gale, at the moment, was waiting to kill a rabbit. These soft little creatures were the most common game of the Woods of District 12. They were also the easiest to hide when going back into the district. Gale had planted several traps at the base of the tree, in case anything happened to be unlucky enough to come on by, and had hung a net of fruit and other good from a limb just above the majority of the traps.



Katniss sat behind a large bush, watching as small animals scurried by after smelling her presence. She had her bow at her side and her hand rested casually on it, waiting for an unlucky animal to get close enough to her that she could shoot it right through the eye, her usual shot. Her life had been confusing ever since Madge had kissed her the night before. It was so weird …. and yet so right. She loved to feel her lips on her own, but hated herself for liking it. It was wrong! Humans weren't designed to like people of the same sex! What was she going to do?

A small bunny scurried by and Katniss took her aim. The bunny stopped for a moment, sniffing the air, and Katniss took this chance to shoot it. She released the arrow and it plunged straight at the bunny. It went directly through the poor animals pupil and Katniss grinned with respect for herself. She stood from her hiding spot and went to loot the animal. As she skinned it she felt bad. She was killing an innocent creature for her own gain. Was it worth it? The animal was already dead, but Katniss couldn't help not approving of what she had done. After skinning it she tied it to a pole and took it back with her to her hiding spot.



Gale was about to take aim on a rabbit when all of a sudden an arrow pierced it right through the eye. Katniss. There was no one else who could have made that impossible shot. His guess was then clarified as she stood from her hiding place and skinned the animal. Skinning was fine if you were the one doing it, but watching Katniss do it Gale had to turn and think about other thoughts … like Peeta. Was he really Gale's true love or was Gale just lonely and needed someone to love, someone to feel right with? Who was it Katniss truly was in love with? Who's heart was she playing with now?

When Katniss was finished skinning the rabbit Gale jumped down from his perch to go and meet her. He watched where she went to hide and followed her, not even making a sound on the leaves as he made his way to her hideaway. He breathed in the deep scent of the trees and sighed with satisfaction. When he reached her hiding spot he smiled. Now they could finally talk and get this entire mess straightened out. They could figure out who was in love with who and why. They could be friends again … hopefully.

“Hey Katniss,” he offered. She jumped with surprise and brought her hand to her heart in fear. When she turned to face Gale she sighed with dissatisfaction.

“What do you want, Gale?” She spat out his name with so much disgust it looked as if she was spitting out the last pieces of asparagus at the dinner table.

“I just wanted to talk,” Gale said kneeling down to sit next to her. He crossed his legs in front of him and said, “I'm sorry for what you saw when you went to Peeta's house last night …. are you mad at me?”

“Of course I am mad at you! But not for falling in love with Peeta! For not listening to me when I was talking to you at my door! I would have explained everything to you, but no! You have to take things to such drastic measures all the time!”

“Then tell me what you were trying to tell me then,” Gale said, trying not to show sadness because of how she had yelled at him. She never yelled at him.

“I was going to tell you that I DID love you, but I couldn't. I know what I said, but as I did say it I knew it was a lie. I just didn't want to love you because of how complicated my life was! I wanted you to be happy and you couldn't be with me!”

Gale sat in surprise, bringing his knees to his chest he hugged them. So she did love him. He had ruined things with her for a gay lover ….. what was he going to do? The only thing he could utter out of his surprise was one word that meant nothing. It only showed how he felt which was obvious. Gale said, “Oh,” and then a tear managed to slide down his face, landing with a splash on the brown leaves on the dirty earth below.