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“Ohhh.” The sound comes out of my mouth before I can<br />

stop it. It’s as if the leaves are actually leaching the pain right<br />

out of the sting.<br />

Rue gives a giggle. “Lucky you had the sense to pull the<br />

stingers out or you’d be a lot worse.”<br />

“Do my neck! Do my cheek!” I almost beg.<br />

Rue stuffs another handful of leaves in her mouth, and soon<br />

I’m laughing because the relief is so sweet. I notice a long burn<br />

on Rue’s forearm. “I’ve got something for that.” I set aside my<br />

weapons and anoint her arm with the burn medicine.<br />

“You have good sponsors,” she says longingly.<br />

“Have you gotten anything yet?” I ask. She shakes her head.<br />

“You will, though. Watch. The closer we get to the end, the<br />

more people will realize how clever you are.” I turn the meat<br />

over.<br />

“You weren’t joking, about wanting me for an ally?” she<br />

asks.<br />

“No, I meant it,” I say. I can almost hear Haymitch groaning<br />

as I team up with this wispy child. But I want her. Because<br />

she’s a survivor, and I trust her, and why not admit it? She<br />

reminds me of Prim.<br />

“Okay,” she says, and holds out her hand. We shake. “It’s a<br />

deal.”<br />

Of course, this kind of deal can only be temporary, but neither<br />

of us mentions that.<br />

Rue contributes a big handful of some sort of starchy root<br />

to the meal. Roasted over the fire, they have the sharp sweet<br />

taste of a parsnip. She recognizes the bird, too, some wild<br />

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