"Welcome to the annual 20th hunger games! This year we have 24 contestants from 12 different districts. Now, you all know the rules, don't you? This time, bla bla bla bla..."

It seemed as if Frances Manross was going to talk forever, but thankfully, Sophie Aruqa cut in and stopped him. Rye kept listening in anxiety, when someone grabbed his shoulder. It was his tutor, Acorn. Acorn saw his troubled face and said, " Don't be worried, just follow what I said." Then Acorn led Rye to the pod. Rye closed his eyes and when he felt the cold air of the arena, he started to get more troubled and nervous. He tried to look around instead.

On the right, he saw TJ and Julia from District 1, Connor and Pepper from District 2, and Liam and Quinoa from District 3. On the left, he saw Olive and Topeka from District 7, Will and Sapphire from District 12, and Dmitri and Villa from District 5. He couldn't see young, frightened Tito and his arrogant partner Charlotte from District 10, nor could he see his own partner from District 9, Marigold.

The countdown was ticking, and everyone was getting ready to run. Some looked determined, some looked scared, and yet, some just glared. Rye tried to think of what Acorn had taught him, but the only quote that came to his mind was from his brother, Oak: "Stay away from the Cornucopia, and run straight into the woods."

3...2...1...GO! Time froze for Rye, and he started to see blurry. He regained his senses after seeing TJ roaring and stomping towards him. Rye immediately ran for the woods. He picked up a small box on his way, and when he reached the forest, he climbed a tree. Rye remembered being called "Little Squirrel" for having the great ability to climb trees. When he reached a sturdy branch, he opened the box. Rye almost shrieked in joy when he saw that it was fresh water, a meager amount of food, and a small knife. He also saw a small container labeled: Burn Ointment. He immediately ate some of the food and drank a sip of water. Then he forced himself to lay down. After a few hours, he heard a noise.

It was Olive. As he was passing by under Rye, a bow zipped throught the air and hit Olive, instantly killing him. Rye sucked in his breath. Seconds later, TJ and the rest of District 1 and 2 came to the body, laughing. They looted Olive and found a med kit and some apples. Rye's heart was pounding so loudly that he thought the Tirades (the nickname for District 1 and 2 tributes) could hear him. Thankfully, the Tirades walked away to find their next victim.

Rye started to become sleepy and he closed his eyes. Suddenly, old country music started to play, scaring Rye half to death. The fallen tribute ceremony had begun. Rye learned that Quinoa, both from District 4, 6, and 8, Olive, and the male tribute from District 11 had died. He closed his eyes again and fell asleep.

The next morning, he awoke to the sounds of shouting and arrows thunking into the wood. When Rye looked down, he was shocked to see that the Tirades were looking up at him. He quickly hid, but he slowly looked back when one of the Tirades shouted out, "We're going to wait you out!"

Rye really didn't care, so he just drank some water and chilled. An entire day passed with no deaths. The next morning, Rye woke up to the sound of hissing. He looked up and saw a Tuppa snake, which was very poisonous. He got an idea, and he quickly grabbed the snake by its tail, then flung it down to the Tirades. Rye heard screaming, then he saw some of the Tirades running away. Rye climbed down and saw that the snake had killed TJ and Julia. He started to walk numbly. I just killed some innocent teens! Well, not that innocent, but still teens! he thought.

He was so enveloped in walking that he accidentally bumped into a rock. The rock screamed, and Rye immediately jumped back. It was Marigold. He quickly shushed her and gave her some of his food and water. Then Marigold told Rye about what she had seen. She also said that she made alliances with Liam, Sapphire, Tito, and Dmitri. They talked for hours. Then the familiar music came on. Topeka, Villa, the District 11 female, and Will had died.

The next morning, they tracked through the forest. Suddenly, Marigold pulled Rye into a bush. She pointed at something, and Rye looked in horror. Dmitri, that betrayer, was slashing up Liam. Thankfully, Marigold and Rye were smart and didn't go near, but Sapphire came out of a tree and confronted Dmitri. He instantly killed her. After Dmitri was gone, they ran away. As they were running, Rye tripped over something. That something was Charlotte's dead body. He quickly turned away, thinking of poor Tito, who would be afraid by himself.

They kept running.

Suddenly, Rye heard a scream. It was Tito. Marigold and Rye went to investigate. Dmitri and Pepper were fighting vigoriously, and Connor was slowly strangling Tito. When Rye walked into the scene, Connor stopped strangling Tito and stood up. He rushed towards Marigold and slashed her with his knife, making her fall over. Then there was a cry. Pepper had won the battle. Rye slowly backed away, but before he could escape, Connor slashed Rye too. As Rye lay on the ground in pain, slowly dying, he heard Tito start screaming again. A few seconds before he died, Marigold said two things to him: Blue Bird. Her words and Tito's screaming echoed around his brain, and Rye felt like suddenly he could not understand the world. Blue Bird. Blue Bird. Blue Bird...

-End-