Katniss spends the night guarding the cave and trying to manage Peeta’s fever. She coaxes broth into him, then realizes that staying with Peeta leaves her more exposed than when she was alone, but she accepts that risk because she chose to save him. By morning Peeta’s fever seems to have broken slightly, and Katniss feeds him Rue’s berries mixed with water. Peeta worries about Katniss’s safety, and after he eats, he insists that Katniss sleep while he keeps watch.

Katniss wakes much later than planned and discovers Peeta did not wake her because he wanted to let her rest. When Katniss examines him again, she sees that his leg is far worse: the swelling has increased and red streaks show that blood poisoning has set in. Katniss understands that her home remedies cannot save him and that only expensive Capitol medicine could stop the infection. She hides how frightened she is, makes more soup using hot stones and sunlight, and stays close to the cave because she does not want to leave Peeta unprotected.

While caring for Peeta, Katniss distracts him by telling him a story about the happiest day she can remember: buying Prim’s goat, Lady. Because the story is being broadcast, Katniss changes details to protect the people in District 12 who illegally traded with her and Gale. She describes using money from a successful hunt to buy the injured goat from the Goat Man, bringing it home to Prim, and watching Prim and Katniss’s mother nurse it back to health. The story deepens the sense of closeness between Katniss and Peeta, even as Peeta’s fever keeps rising.

At sunset, Claudius Templesmith announces a feast at the Cornucopia at dawn, promising that each remaining tribute can obtain something desperately needed in a district-marked backpack. Katniss immediately realizes District 12’s pack may contain medicine for Peeta, but Peeta forbids her to go and threatens to drag himself after her if she tries. Katniss cannot openly defy him without risking his life, so she pretends to give in and tells him to rest, drink water, and eat.

After a sponsor parachute arrives, Katniss briefly believes Haymitch has sent the medicine she needs. Instead, she finds sleep syrup and at first feels furious, until she understands that Haymitch expects her to use it on Peeta so she can leave safely for the feast. Katniss hides the syrup in mashed berries, feeds it to Peeta, and when he realizes what she has done, she forces him to swallow. Peeta loses consciousness, and Katniss is left with the knowledge that she has betrayed him in order to try to save his life.