Setting: Tribute center, floor twelve (penthouse suite), Katniss and Peeta's bedroom, night two of the Games - @incaensio
It's the same dream.
Peeta is running through the woods stumbling over branches. Peeta! It's his name, shrieked in Katniss' voice, just like he remembers it after the announcement during the 74th games. He's coming... he'll get to her. Peeta!
He falls to the ground after tripping on a branch and there's an uncharacteristic amount of blood for such a small thing. He tries to get up - Peeta! - but he cries out in pain, falling to the side as he stands. Horrifyingly, he looks down and... his leg is gone. There is nothing to it but a bloody stump, the rest of it blasted away somewhere.
No - not blasted... Peeta! He hears his name again, but it's no longer in her voice. It's a growl and he turns to the side to see a mutt. The dog-like one from his Games, but transformed. It's not just the eyes that belong to Cato, but the voice too. The mutt is speaking to him, calling his name in his old ally's voice. Peeta! It's Cato. Peeta! Isla. Then Glimmer and Clove.
Finally, the eyes shift and he sees Chandler's gaze staring back. His soft voice speaking out Peeta's name, over and over again. Peeta, Peeta, Peeta.
Peeta gasps awake.
He blinks rapidly, trying to get his bearings. He's in the Tribute Center, up in his room, and he can feel Katniss next to him. Like always after his nightmares, he can't move. He can't speak or scream out for help. And he knows he'll see the last thing he did before waking, can sense it in the room with them.
As soon as he thinks it, it's there. The Chandler-mutt. Right on the bed with them, sitting at the edge. He can almost feel the weight on his good leg and his heart beats wildly. It's not real, he tells himself, but can't tear his eyes away from the beast that is ready to tear him up once more. He'd gotten Chandler killed, after all. Turned him into this.
How many deaths can someone bring before they deserve it, too?














