Author's Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda or The Hunger Games. I am earning no profit from this story other than the enjoyment of writing it and sharing it with others. I hope you all enjoy reading it! Feel free to let me know what you think by giving this chapter a review.
I creep through the woods with my hunting partner, Gale, right beside me. We both listen for any sounds at all. So far, the forest has been silent today. Even the snares Gale set up were empty. A cold wind blows through the trees, and it has a foreboding feel to it. But Gale and I are not scared. We've faced wild dogs and a lot of other dangerous, wild animals. I feel ready for whatever the forest decides to throw our way. Yet, neither of us have spoken much today, to make it harder to track us in these silent woods. We continue walking through the trees, and I have an arrow at the ready. At this point, we'll settle for anything just to not return empty-handed. Still, I hear nothing. Not a single bird's song, or a wild dog's bark. We keep walking.
Suddenly, I hear trees rustle. I look up, my arrow ready, and notice that several of the trees in front of us are waving back and forth. Gale and I lock eyes, and silently rush forward.
I wasn't ready for what waited behind the wall of leaves. Lying on the floor in front of us is a young man, about Gale's age. He's wearing a tattered green shirt and two brown belts; one slung over his shoulder, one around his waist. His arms are strong, and he would make an excellent miner. He's lying on his back and is clearly unconscious. He has sandy, blonde hair and a snarl on his face. Atop his head is a strange hat, that looks somewhat like a sock. Part of his green shirt is stained red from blood. I instinctively reach down to touch the wound, and realize the blood is fresh. The wound underneath the man's shirt is still bleeding. I cringe and retract my hand, not wanting to touch the injury.
Gale breaks the silence. "What should we do?"
"I-I don't know," I reply, unsure. My gut tells me to take him back to District 12, but my brain disagrees. Saving the man would be the right, moral thing to do, but if the Capitol found out, Gale and I could be in huge trouble because this man is definitely not from District 12. And helping him could qualify as assisting someone run away from their district. Plus, we would eventually have to tell him where we found him; in the woods, hunting illegally.
"We should help him," Gale suggests. I nod slowly. I'd never forgive myself if I left this man here to die, especially when my mother and Prim could have saved him. Gale picks up the man's shoulders, and I pick up his feet. Together, we walk back through the woods, not bothering to be quiet. The forest has resumed its silent state, and we don't hear a single bird chirp the entire walk back.
I quickly test the electric fence, making sure it's not on. It's not, and I crawl through the small hole in the fence. Gale pushes the young man through the hole, and I help by pulling him. We get him through the hole, Gale climbs through, and we continue walking. We begin hurrying, because the man's breathing is getting more and more shallow. We take all the back alleys to reach my house, not wanting anyone to see us with the strange, young man.
Finally, we reach my house, and I walk inside, leaving Gale to set the man gently on our dining room table that serves as our operating table. "Prim!" I call urgently. My sister emerges from her room quickly, worry filling her eyes.
"What Katniss?" she asks. Her eyes flick towards the young man, then down to his bloodstained shirt. Her eyes widen. "I'll get mother." Prim hurries down the hallway toward our mother's room, and gently knocks on the door. My mother opens the door, and Prim grasps her hand, pulling her out towards the kitchen. As soon as my mother notices the man, she quickly walks toward him, and begins to take his shirt off.
"I'm going back to the forest with Gale," I say, not wanting to see the wound. My mother nods, but doesn't say anything, or bother to look at me. Gale opens the door for me, and we walk back towards the electric fence. It's still off, and we climb back through the hole into the woods. Somehow, the forest has returned to its usual lively self, and I easily shoot three or four birds. All of Gale's snares are full of rabbits and squirrels. We collect our game, and head over to the Hob to sell our meat.