Part 2, Chapter 18:
"Here is the place where I love you."
And within one sentence of the chapter, District 1 Boy is dead by Katniss' hand, which technically ups her total kill count to three, having eliminated three of the five Careers to survive the initial battle. Sad for him that he doesn't even get a name when he was killed by the main character, but then again, he just stabbed Rue with a spear, so f*** that guy. And now we come to the most emotional moment in the book thus far. Once again, f*** Prim and f*** Katniss for confusing Rue with Prim. Rue is far superior and Katniss needs to recognize that. But yeah, Katniss sings a lullaby to the sister she never had as Rue dies in her arms, and you have to picture that this is the first moment where Katniss isn't cocky. She isn't panicked. She isn't being a b**** just because. This is the first time we see her weak, and I don't mean physically, because she has taken more of a beating thus far than Rhianna. I mean emotionally.
But then she's right back in game mode. After all, she has a 1-in-6 shot at winning the whole game, and really, it's 1-in-5 since Peeta's not really a threat to her at this point. Hell, I'd say that in terms of overall odds of winning at this point in the book, it'd be:
1. Thresh (Not tied down by alliances or district loyalty.)
2. District 2 Girl (Has her head in the game, unlike Cato.)
3. Cato (Still physically fine compared to the bottom 3.)
4. Katniss (This high by virtue of being better in combat than Foxface/Peeta.)
5. Foxface (Not injured to the point of death, at least if Cato is to be believed.)
6. Peeta (lolpeeta)
But anyway, Katniss leaves the spear in Rue just to get it out of the Arena...but I have to say that if she REALLY wanted to do something like that...she should've removed it and stabbed District 1 Boy's corpse. Just get some of that pent up rage and aggression out of the way. But she's got a bunch of supplies now, both from Rue and from D1B (can't wait until I can actually use his name, goddamn spoilers).
Then this chapter continues to show Katniss' vulnerable side (which is a good thing) as she gives Rue a funeral. It's a really touching moment, and it shows just how close these two have gotten in so short a period of time. The District 12 salute is cute, but I feel like it's not something you can do for real, because it'd look like you're heiling Hitler. Seriously, I'd tried to do it, but I always feel awkward and racist afterwards. It makes me uncomfortable.
And apparently District 11 is just as awesome as Rue, because they totally help Katniss out now that Rue's dead. So sweet of them, and so sweet of Katniss to thank them on live television. And then more boring survival stuff...but interspersed with that is an assessment of the remaining competition, somewhat, which is always interesting. Interpersonal stuff always intrigues me more than survival on Survivor too. Thresh/Foxface/Peeta vs. the Careers. Also, don't sell yourself short, Katniss, Glimmer and D4G totally count for you. You should be proud to have killed them. It's what makes you badass, compared to Peeta, who has only KINDA killed one person thus far, and even them, it was off-screen and not a guarantee.
And what a way to end the second section, just like they did with the first section, with something to once again make Katniss' heart skip a beat. That she and Peeta can both survive if they can manage to become the last two standing. Or I guess Cato and his partner could do the same, which honestly, I could totally see them having sex after that announcement, just because it wouldn't f***ing matter at that point, and there's gotta be some kind of connection between the two as fellow District 2 competitors still alive together. If so, good for you guys. Hope you wore protection.
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Captain Tracy Mombaro and Agent Mirasuke Inhara: Two of the toughest, hottest furrs you'll ever meet.