I sprint through the trees until I come upon a cave. It's starting to get dark, so I set up camp in this relatively safe area. I decide to get dinner, so I enter the ring of trees around the cave.
Ten minutes later, I have a squirrel and a fat rabbit. I decide it's safe to start a fire, as the smoke won't be seen in the dark and the firelight will be hidden by the cave's walls.
Just as I am roasting the rabbit, I hear branches snapping in front of the cave. I stand slowly, drawing my slingshot and slipping a stone into the soft leather.
I round the corner in my cave and see a boy, about 16. His face is freshly cut open, probably by a Hunter, and in his hands is an axe. He sniffs the air and smiles. "Come on out, little one." Then he spots me. Adrenaline courses through me when I see his expression, one of blood-lust, insanity, and a longing to cause pain. I feel the slingshot's stone fall out of my limp hands. He raises his axe as he charges, and I know I cant load my slingshot in time. I close my eyes in terror as he closes the distance between us.
His voice raises in a yell, and suddenly is cut off in a choked gasp. I slowly open my eyes, and see a spear tip poking through his ribs. The tip is yanked back, and the boy falls, dead. I look forward, and see her.
The girl who came here with me, who I always relied upon to help my family as I had helped hers. The girl who I always knew I loved. Catelyn Sepher stands, illuminated by the sunset. She speaks up "Guess we should continue our... friendship." She extends her hand. I walk forward and shake firmly "Yes, it seems that would be most profitable." We look into each others' eyes for a moment, then burst out laughing, despite the circumstances.
"No, seriously" she says, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes." I missed you." I answer "I missed you to, Catelyn." Suddenly, the national anthem plays. We both look up at the sky, and see the dead tributes' faces. They work their way out from the beginning, starting with the girl who turned around and got impaled, then 5 more people who tried to fight the Hunters, the 2 boys who were next to me, and finally the boy who Catelyn killed.
We both walk over to my camp in the back of the cave. Catelyn looks around, and whistles. "Pretty nice place you got here." I grin "Better than freezing in the forest, huh?" We finish cooking the squirrel and eat some of the rabbit. When I yawn, she says "Sleep. I'll wake you when I get tired." As I drift off, I see her wiping the blood off her spear. Beautiful.
