On her way to the Cornucopia, at which each of the districts will be offered something it desperately needs, Katniss finds herself wishing Gale was with her. She recalls that Gale has proposed to her that they run away together and wonders whether they could have become more than friends. Now she is kissing Peeta to survive. Katniss wonders what Gale thinks. Gale is surely watching, as is everyone else in Panem. Katniss suspects that even school has been cancelled for this event.

At the Cornucopia, a table with four packs rises out of the ground. Before Katniss can decide what to do, the fox-faced girl hops out of the horn, grabs her bag, and runs off. The other bags still remain, guaranteeing that no one will chase her. It is a brilliant plan and Katniss is irritated she did not think of it. Now, Katniss realizes, she will have to go next or else risk allowing another district to steal Peeta’s medicine.

Katniss runs as fast as she can and a knife is thrown at her almost instantly. Katniss dodges, turns, and shoots an arrow into Clove, Cato’s partner from District 2. The arrow lodges in Clove’s shoulder, but she is still free to throw knives at Katniss with her other arm. Undaunted, Katniss rushes to the table and grabs the medicine. She turns and is nearly knocked unconscious with another of Clove’s knives. Before Katniss knows it, Clove has her pinned down and begins outlining what she will do to her. She says she will cut off Katniss’s lips and torture her the same way Rue suffered before she died.

Just as Katniss feels the first cut of Clove’s knife, Thresh arrives—he was Rue’s fellow tribute from District 11. He lifts Clove into the air and demands to know what Clove did to little Rue before he smashes her into the ground and attacks her temple with a rock. Katniss knows that Thresh has her and asks only that he make her death a fast one. Instead, Thresh asks about Rue’s death, and Katniss explains how she cared for Rue. As payment, Thresh lets Katniss go but says they are now even. Katniss escapes and considers whether Cato will pursue her. Most likely, he will pursue Thresh, who has his district’s prize. Katniss rushes back to Peeta and gives him the medicine.