being made aware of a plan would have aided in Katniss' drive to survive but it would have allowed her to accept more responsibility since she felt burdened for bringing past Tributes into the Games again. Her choice would cost many innocent people their lives and if she could help some of them, it would have eased the guilt she often found herself thinking about when she was alone. The ones who returned were strong but had suffered more than enough and then the others who were new to the Games, had a very unfair disadvantage to begin with. It was almost guaranteed that a Tribute would win the Games, not someone like Gale or Prim. But then that's where she wanted to defy the odds, if something happened to her, she wanted Haymitch to get them out alive, as well as herself.

She needed Peeta to promise to keep the others safe because too many bones had been thrown to her already, in her mind at least. Katniss wanted her sister to live a long and happy life and though it wouldn't be easy after the Hunger Games, Katniss wanted to believe it was possible. After all, in some other reality, she and Haymitch could have had a great future together but she knew their luck was soon to run out. While alliances were important and while she wanted to have a real future with him, she knew it wouldn't come easy or at a low price. Freedom was expensive and even then, hard to hold on to. After all, she and the other veterans assumed they wouldn't be called back and yet they were back again, back in the damned clutches of President Snow. "She was alright, nothing looked different about her." Katniss replied, though she knew the magic of the capitol and knew any injuries could be remedied quickly, after all interviews were coming up.

"Yeah you should try that, you've been working hard with the knives, you may want to break it up now with other exercises." Katniss agreed with Prim. The smaller girl then applied the ointment and Katniss watched for a moment or two before she went back to eating, feeling rather hungry, more so than usual. "I know." She looked up, giving Prim a look of exasperation. "We always seem to be busy, you with Gale and me with Haymitch." She frowned. She loved spending time with Haymitch but she did miss spending time with Gale and Prim, even Peeta who seemed to be even more elusive and hard to catch. It still didn't seem fair for either of them to be putting guys before their own family bonds. "I've missed you, little duck. We've hardly spent any time together and when we do we're eating or with everyone else." She said.

Though she wasn't great at heart to heart talks, or even talks in general, Katniss didn't want to spend their last days in peace, separated from one another. "We need to try spending more time together." It went without saying that their time together was becoming more and more limited. "Maybe we can try doing some training together this afternoon, doing that obstacle course or maybe doing some survival skills with fire or trapping." She suggested. Katniss felt like a bad big sister for always being so caught up in her own head and in the mess that she had made for everyone. It wasn't fair that Prim was where she was and Katniss would do anything to keep Prim safe. Anything. "You know mom might be a pretty good cook by the time we get home, after all it's just her and Buttercup." She joked a little, for now, not trying to think of the harsh truth that only one of them would be going back home.

As the others gave their advice on what to do, Haymitch soon spoke up and mentioned his sword. Gale figured he'd do that but he didn't think it was much of a show if he just swung at a dummy or the air. He'd need to figure out something noteworthy that made him stand out but then again, not too much. Haymitch's advice was blunt and not very helpful but he hadn't expected the man to be. Johanna then commented and he grinned at her, not minding the attention from the spunky older woman. She was deadly and smart and very easy on the eyes. He knew he'd be a fool to be in awe of her, when she probably had as many demons as Katniss did. "Thanks." He smiled to her, relaxing a little more. Of course Haymitch wasn't very amused by this and dismissed Johanna's advice but it was clearly a joke to Gale.

He went back to eating slowly and Haymitch reiterated his point about not worrying too much and to just do something with a sword. Gale gave a slow nod as he was still considering what to do. From what he had heard, Katniss had done something pretty bold last year and he wasn't sure if he could compete with that. But then again, he was sure Haymitch and Prim wouldn't try to be flashy either and all Katniss wanted to do was make a statement and piss people off, which he could tell was something Johanna also aimed to do. "Thanks guys." He just said and glanced back down at his tray of food. His mind soon wandered away from the expectations laid out in front of them and settled on Haymitch himself. They were teammates after all. While Districts didn't need to stick together, he knew Haymitch liked alliances and plans.

Gale knew there was a plan and he also knew who was in on it. He knew he could get along with most everyone but Haymitch was still a tough nut he had yet cracked. Katniss had clearly taken some kind of liking to him recently but Gale was still unsure of what the details were. He couldn't believe it could be romantic because both Haymitch and Katniss weren't the romantic types. Still, something was going on between them and Gale wanted to make sure they didn't clash the way they had done back home in the woods. The last thing the plan needed was for two of the strongest people in it, who didn't even know about it, to be at each other's throats over something surely petty. Still, it didn't seem like the right situation to bring up Katniss. Lunch was soon finished and Gale had remained quiet but still added to the conversation as directed. 

He was still keen to get to know the others and hear what advice they could offer him. Finnick excused himself, followed by the others who went to go clean up and wander before lunch was over in about ten or fifteen minutes. "I was wondering if we could talk about you and Katniss." He spoke up before he could stop himself. "I don't know what's going on between you but she means the world to me and I just want her safe and happy." He started to say, not sure where he was going though. "You're important to her but I want to make sure when we all go into the Games, we're not distracted, that we remember what's at stake and what needs to be done." He said. Gale knew he was being slightly hypocritical but he had faith in himself and Prim as well as the plan, and since he hardly knew Haymitch and knew Katniss was still deeply haunted by last year, Gale needed reassurance. Peeta could only do so much on the outside.