Katniss is rescued...again

I haven't watched every edition of the Games, but I suspect this is the first time something like this has happened.

Tributes repeatedly pranking another Tribute instead of killing them? I suppose the Capitol's love of my naked body was why they hadn't intervened.

My chest bounces as I try and fail to free myself. My whole body is simultaneously on fire and freezing cold, and it's taking all of my concentration not to wet myself. I glance down (or should that be up?) and blush at my bulging stomach.

I don't see Rue until she materialises out of the undergrowth.

"What would you do without me?" she laughs. As soon as she removes my gag, I spit out the leaves.

"Unite me! Quickly!"

My shoulders scream when I'm able to move my arms again, but as I'm enjoying full movement of my upper limbs, I tumble to the ground as Rue cuts my remaining bonds.

I roll around on the forest floor, stretching out my cramped body. I snatch dock leaves from Rue's hands and press them against my torso, moaning as their coolness spreads over my skin. At some point, my bladder must have released, as the pressure was gone from my abdomen, and the ground beneath me was wet.

"How are you doing, Katniss?"

Even though Rue has seen me naked from every angle, I still scream and curl into the fetal position. I know how pathetic I must look to the millions watching around Panem...but I couldn't help it if I hated people seeing me naked!

"Come on, I'll make you some new clothes," Rue giggles. I stumble to my feet, hug my boobs with one arm and clutch leaves between my legs as I shuffle after her.

The plants Rue is looking for only grow near water, which gives me the opportunity to bathe while she works on my outfit. One positive of having no clothes to wear is that I don't have to worry about them getting wet after my swim.

As I wash my hair, a terrified scream rips through the quiet forest.

"Katniss!"

Damn. The last thing I wanted to do was run around soaking wet with no clothes on, but I couldn't just abandon Rue!

I loudly splash back to dry land, hesitating only long enough to wrap my arms around my torso. I follow the sounds of Rue's screams, foliage whipping painfully against my wet skin.

I stumble into a clearing to see a tribute holding a knife to Rue's throat.

"Nice of you to join us, virgin," he grins, his eyes roving over my wet, shivering body.

"Let her go!" I demand, but even I can hear how pathetic and weak my voice sounds.

"Show me your tits."

"Not a chance!" I spit back at him, tightening my grip on my chest.

"You're really going to let her die over some boobs?" he asks. Drops of blood appear on Rue's neck as he presses the knife into her skin.

"Katniss, don't!" Rue cries when she sees that I'm about to acquiesce to his demands.

I lower my arms to my sides, and refuse to let any tears fall. My skin crawls at his lecherous gaze; I want to do nothing more than cross my arms over my breasts, but I force myself to stay strong even as the uncontrollable shivers take over.

"Perfect he says," and plunges the knife into Rue's stomach.

"NO!"

I launch myself across the gap between us, but he's already gone; I had no hope chasing him down barefoot. Instead, I cradle Rue's small body. Even with my lack of medical expertise, I can tell that she's beyond saving.

"I'm sorry!" I cry, the tears finally beginning to flow. "I should have-"

"It's o-okay," Rue murmurs, "you were...so...brave."

To my bewilderment, she starts to laugh.

"You...you'll be the first...naked person...to win the Games!"

"I...I'll try my best!" I promise her.

She reaches up one small hand and brushes my breasts, before going limp, as a cannon sounds.

My scream sends the birds flying from the tree tops. I curse about the unfairness of it all; how unfair it is that Rue has had her life so suddenly ripped away, how the Capitol is depriving me of clothes, how I wasn't able to protect Rue. I don't care how loud I'm being. In fact, I'd rather another tribute finds me and finishes the job.

When my throat is hoarse, I wipe away my tears.

Rue wanted me to win, and that is exactly what I was going to do.

I contort her body to make it look like she was just sleeping, and decorate her with flowers I find growing around the meadow. I knew the cameras would be watching. These were the last images her family should have of her.

I pick up Rue's backpack, knowing that she would want me to have it, when I notice that she had finished making my outfit. Silently thanking her for this final gift, I stepped into the grass skirt, and pulled on the top, which this time was the correct size for my chest. They were slightly uncomfortable on my wet skin, but ironically, a lot more comfortable than if I'd been wearing regular clothes. As I was rebraiding my wet hair, Claudius Templesmith's voice echoed through the forest.

"There has been a slight rule change. There will now be two victors, provided both victors come from the same District."

Kneeling in the grass, skin glistening and shivering, one word came to my lips.

"Peeta."