The remainder of the trek through the ice and snow was a long and guilty one for the Girl on Fire, who kept to the rear of the line.

'Maybe I can just ask her for the cordial. Or what if I can just find something else to replace it.'

After that thought, Katniss kept an eye out for any special looking Narnian items. Several times one of the children had to turn back to make sure Katniss was still keeping up.

"Come on, we don't want to be caught out here after night fall." The Beaver urged.

When Susan looked back she noticed Katniss had a handful of odd and ends. Susan frowned and went back to walk with her.

"Katniss? What are you doing?"

Katniss glanced at Susan, then at her collection and said. "Souvenirs."

Susan allowed a small laugh but then became serious.

"I don't believe that is quite legal. And for goodness sake stay with us!"

Katniss ignored the remarks and asked,

"What is going on anyway?"

Susan gave a frustrated look. "Apperently we humans are not supposed to be here."

"Why not?"

Before Susan could answer, Peter called back from the front.

"Susan, Katniss, do hurry up!"

Susan took off jogging but the Victor still legged behind. Looking down at her armful of rocks, pinecones, and twigs she sighed.

"Who am I kidding? No one would want this junk."

With that she tossed the miscellaneous Narnian nature on the snowy road and hurried to catch up. They found themselves standing before a beaver's home. From the door came a voice.

"Beaver, is that you? I've been worried sick! If I find you've been out with Badger again-"

Katniss watched in amusement as the beaver gasped in seeing the strange company.

"Look at my fur! You couldn't have given me a ten minute warning?" The female beaver went on.

Katniss inwardly shrugged. 'The fur looks fine to me. It could easily be traded for day old cheese at the Seam.'

Katniss forced herself to stay focused. After all, she had a quest to complete. The children were filing inside the little home. Edmund was looking behind at some mountain peaks.

Once inside, Katniss took a seat beside Lucy at the little table. Food and drink were passed around.

"Is there anything we could do for Mr. Tumnus?" Peter was asking.

Katniss took a quick drink out of a mug and ended up having a coughing fit.

Lucy looked over and patted Katniss on the back a few times. Finally the fit decided to end. By now her throat was feeling raw.

Mrs Beaver chipped in, "Fish N Chips?"

Katniss shook her head. She had to much to think about to eat. Here she was, away from her own home where people love to watch betrayal, and now she had to betray an innocent little English girl. Worst of all, Lucy reminded her of both Prim and Rue.

Katniss caught the tail end of a conversation.

"- lots of hope."

Hope. It was what the Mockingjay stands for. It is the only thing stronger than fear.

Suddenly she found herself standing up. With venom and passion she said,

"If we burn, you burn with us!"

The room was deadly silent. Katniss, feeling most embarrassed, took her set and kept her head down.

Lucy and Susan looked at Katniss with concern. Peter frowned. Edmund laughed.

That last one made Katniss look over and glare at the boy. 'I wouldn't mind stealing from him!'

Peter turned back to the Beaver and asked. "If you please, what were you saying before?"

The beaver's eyes lit up with excitement."Aslan is on the move!"

Each of the travelers felt a sensations at the same name. Excitement, happiness, bravery and even fear and guilt.

Reader- *cough* Edmund *cough*

Me- now there no need to rub in the fact that he is a selfish, deceitful traitor.

Reader- I see.

Me- even a traitor may mend.

Reader- even Glitter?

Me- maybe.

Reader- is umm..... Sprinkles?

Me- NO! Poor Sprinkles is only a victim.

Reader- whew! That's a relief.

Me- yes, now let's get back to the story.

Then the mentioned above- traitor asked, "Who's Aslan?"

The Beavers laughed. That was the last of their merriment-

Eager reader- Glitter?

Me- yes!!!

All of a sudden the beavers began to, to change. Their entire sweet, helpful, and loyal disposition changed. Katniss noticed right away. She stood from her chair and shouted,

"We need to leave now!"

The others were a bit slow on the uptake.

"What ever do you mean?" Asked Susan.

"If you look at this logically, the beavers have gone bad!" Shouted Katniss.

"What's your hurry?" Asked Mr. Beaver in a slow and creepy tone.

"I haven't laid out the dessert yet my dears." Added Mrs. Beaver.

Peter stood up abruptly. Followed by Susan and Lucy. Katniss grabbed her loaded bow and aimed at the beavers.
"Outside, quick!" She said over her shoulder to the children.

Lucy's lip started to quiver.  "But-"

Before she could say another word both Peter and Susan had pulled her out of the house. Katniss backed up slowly, still ready to kill the beavers.

"You're not from here." Mrs. Beaver said easily.

Katniss made no reply.

"We know what you've been sent here to do. Traitor!" At the last word, Mr. Beaver jumped at her.

Katniss let the arrow fly and quickly replaced it. She watched as the beaver lay on the floor, moaning with an arrow in his arm.

"Traitor! Traitor!" Screamed Mrs. Beaver.

Katniss ran outside. The air seemed colder and the sky was dark. The children were no where to be seen, except for their shoe prints; they were very much visible in the snow.

Katniss at once took off! Her mind was full of guilt and anger.

'I am a traitor. But not by choice.' She finally concluded.

She ran for what seemed hours before finally spotting them. Katniss picked up the pace so as to catch up with them. To her surprise, they were taking shelter beneath some sort of snow covered overhang/cave/rock.

Katniss had been running so fast that she slide down (like sliding into home) to sit with them. She was out of breath.

Lucy saw her and engulfed the Victor in an enormous hug. Katniss returned the hug. She was relieved to see everyone safe and together. Peter, Susan, Ed-

"Where's Edmund?" Whispered Katniss

Susan and Peter exchanged painful looks.

"He's gone. To the White Witch."

Katniss nodded as solemnly as a she could. She still had not been told what was going on.

'I guess it's better if I don't get too involved.' She thought sadly.

Suddenly a large dark shadow appeared on the snow mound before them. They all held their breath and watched as it stood there, then walked away.

"I'll go." Offered Peter.

"No stay here." Ordered Katniss. She was used to running off to uncertain danger and making others stay behind.

The others watched as Katniss left the comfort of the shelter. It wasn't long before she jumped back down smiling,

"It's safe, come on."

Hesitantly, they got up and folllowed. To their surprise, they saw a large man with a long white beard. Behind him, was a sleigh with reindeer.

"Merry Christmas sir!" Said Lucy happily.

Katniss smiled and watched in amusement. She vaguely remembered Christmas's. They were cheap but Prim always had that same sparkle of wonder in her eyes.

Katniss missed some of the conversation but heard,

"-Not for a long time. But the hope that you have brought, your majesties, is finally starting to weaken the witch's power."

The children and Katniss were shocked to hear this. If you remember, they hadn't been told about the prophecy yet.

"Still-" began Santa who took no notice of the surprised looks. "I dare say you could do with these."

Katniss felt a horrible sensation well up inside her. This was it. She watched as Santa took out a large sack from his sleigh and pulled out an item.

Lucy stepped up. Katniss gulped hard.  Santa knelt close to the little girl and held out a clear glass bottle inside a red velvet case.

Some unknown and unwanted desire to snatch it pulled Katniss closer.

"The juice of a fire flower." Said Santa.

'NO!'  Katniss thought angrily. Closer and closer she stepped.

"One drop will cure any injury."

Santa held out the gift and Lucy took it. Without a second passing, Katniss grabbed it from the little girl.

As she was vanishing, Katniss called out "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

To be continued....

So sorry for the long chapter!! Had a lot to say.