summarizer 22-27

Chapter 22

Katniss wakes up, weak and dizzy to find Peeta. She tells Peeta about everything that happened at the Cornucopia, including Thresh letting her go because he owed her a debt. Peeta doesn't seem to understand, but Katniss says it's like the bread he gave her as a child. Katniss feels tears in her eyes thinking about Thresh dying. She tells Peeta she wants to go home. Katniss said that the first kiss she's had with him that makes her want another. The next day, the rains continue. Katniss asks Peeta when he got a crush on her. He tells her the first day of school. He also mentions that his own father wanted to marry her mother. Peeta said he knew he was a goner for her when in music class she stood up and sang the valley song. Katniss is happy but also confused. When Katniss leans in to kiss him she hears a clunk outside: a tureen of lamb stew and rice.

Chapter 23

Katniss and Peeta eat a small portion of the stew. Katniss teases Peeta for liking a girl from the Seam, but he reminds her that if she wins, she'll be living in Victor's Village in a fancy new house. Their neighbor, would be Haymitch. Katniss realizes that she might not get along with Haymitch very well in person. Katniss asks Peeta how Haymitch won the Hunger Games. Peeta says by outsmarting the others. Maybe Katniss has been underestimated Haymitch. Katniss finds out Thresh is dead. They realize Cato will be hunting them. The two take turns sleeping and watch`ing and eating. Katniss considers that they might actually win. She thinks of Gale. In the morning the two eat the rest of the food and set out to hunt. As the two move through the forest, Peeta is, SUPER-loud. He stomps and clumps and scares off the game. Katniss asks him to take his boots off and the two of them are a little quieter, but not much. The two decide to split up. She teaches him a whistle to use to say he's OK. She whistles, no response. Back at their meeting point, she sees a bunch of berries that have been gathered, but no Peeta. Suddenly, he appears and Katniss is relieved but still angry at him for not whistling. She also notices that some of their food is gone. That's when the cannon fires. They see Foxface lifted out of the arena. Foxface ate some of the berries Peeta collected. Apparently, they were poisonous.

Chapter 24

Katniss explains to Peeta that Foxface must have been watching him and eaten his berries. They save a handful of the berries, just in case they can fool Cato in the same way. Katniss suggests they make a fire, roast their meat, and wait to see if he shows up. He doesn't. Time to make camp for the night, but Peeta can't climb, so Katniss agrees to head back to the cave. The next day the Gamemakers must be driving them to the lake for a "bloody fight to the death". At the lake, there's no sign of Cato. Katniss makes Rue's mockingjay call and the trees come alive with the song. The song is cut off, when someone smashes through the trees: Cato wearing body armor. He's not running for them. He's running FROM something! He's being pursued by creatures. Katniss stumbles after Cato. And runs.

Chapter 25

The creatures chasing them are big old wolves engineered by the Capitol. Cato reaches the top first, and then Katniss. Just as she's about to draw an arrow to shoot him, she hears Peeta cry. She helps him climb to the top. That's when Katniss realizes that the Capitol has somehow engineered the dead tributes into KILLER WOLVES. Katniss recognizes Foxface from district 5, the boy from District 9, and RUE. Peeta recognizes them too. Peeta and Katniss fight, but then Cato comes up behind Peeta. Katniss doesn't know what to do. If she shoots Cato, he'll take Peeta down with him. Peeta tells Katniss to shoot Cato's hand, and Cato releases. Cato is being torn to bits by the wolves. They can hear Cato slowly dying. What's worse is that Peeta is losing blood from his leg. Listening to Cato die is a nightmare and Katniss just wants his suffering to end. Katniss makes Peeta stay awake through the night so he won't lose consciousness. They move down to the lake where the announcer's voice booms out that there has been YET ANOTHER change in the rules. Now there can only be ONE winner. Katniss draws her arrow but can't kill Peeta. She won't let him kill himself. Katniss grabs the poisonous berries that killed old Foxface they both take some in their hand. Peeta kisses her and then they start to pop them in their mouth. Suddenly, the voice of the announcer: "Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am leased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark"

Chapter 26

Katniss and Peeta spit the berries out and flush their mouths with water. The hovercraft lands at the Training Center, and Katniss starts throwing herself against the glass. Then she's jabbed with a needle and all goes black. When Katniss wakes, her body is totally clean, and all her scars are nearly gone. An Avox comes in and Katniss asks if Peeta made it. The Avox said yes. The waking, sleeping, and eating cycle continues for a bit. All her scars are gone. Katniss dresses and immediately finds Effie, Haymitch, and Cinna. They hugs all around. Katniss tries her best not to be annoyed by the prep team. Cinna brings out a simple yellow dress that is padded with curves since Katniss has lost weight. Haymitch says that Peeta is "already there" . Katniss knows she's in danger. So is Peeta, and possibly her family.

Chapter 27

The reunion show begins. The support team comes out and then Katniss and Peeta are transported to the stage. She runs to his arms and they kiss. The two sit in a love seat. President Snow appears on stage with a crown which he breaks in half and puts one on Peeta's head and the other's on Katniss's. Afterwards, Peeta and Katniss are separated and sent to separate rooms to sleep and prepare for the final interview. The next morning when the interview is over Katniss gets the mockingjay pin from her room and then is whisked away to a train to be taken back to District 12. The train stops for fuel, and she and Peeta walk outside for air. She can only think of Gale. Peeta thought that love stuff back in the arena was real, but Katniss didn't. She doesn't know what she feels. The closer she gets to home, the more confused she is. When the train pulls into the station, there are cameras everywhere. Peeta extends his hand to Katniss and says, "One more time? For the audience?" Katniss takes it as they step onto the platform.