As night draws in we make preparations to go hunting for tributes. Cass said she saw most tributes running in the direction of the forest. That's where we will go tonight. I have other plans. "I'll guard camp," I say.
"No" says Plato "Daimen over hear will do it. He's not a proper Career."
"No way!" screams Daimen. "I'm going hunting. I haven't killed anyone yet. Anyway, I bet I am way better at fighting than Tomas."
I can't stand his whining arrogance, but I am flooded with relief by his objection. "Whatever" says Plato. "I'll pitch the tents," I say. "And maybe organise our supplies a bit better."
When they all head out, I set to work. Pitching the tents, one for each ally. I hate Daimen, but In all honesty, although I hate to admit it, I see myself reflected in this loathsome child. I hate the fact but it is true. He's smart, like I am. He's got a plan and it is similar to my own. I don't plan on helping any of my allies unless it keeps me alive. I have to keep these people distant. This allegiance can only be temporary. I also plan on finding the biggest pack I can and stuffing it with all the supplies I will need to survive. That way, I will be able to grab it and make a break for it when the time is right.
I gather up all the backpacks and start packing them. One for each career. I do this because one pack will rouse suspicion. If I pack one for each ally then no fingers can be pointed. I am willing to give them that slight advantage to ensure that I can survive out there in the arena. The other tributes are better at survival. That is their advantage. Once the packs are finished I climb on top of the Cornucopia to get a good look around. Its dark now. I wish we had those night vision glasses I have seen in previous games but this year we don't have them.
Suddenly I hear them. Canon shots. I count them.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
The faces of each dead tribute are shown in the sky. The faces of the tributes murdered at the bloodbath, and Blaze, who was killed so horribly soon afterwards.
I sit back. The capitol people must be talking about the bloodbath. Commenting on each kill. Probably watching the careers now as they stalk the arena. Watching some poor tribute as they suffer. Hungry. Scared. Injured. Cold. Suddenly I begin to feel the cold even more. I slide into the sleeping bag I brought onto the cornucopia with me. What a lousy guard I make.
I think of Aliss. I wonder if I will ever see her again. How selfish I had been, to become a piece in this bloody game. For what! To prove something to those jerks back home? Great. Now I am probably going to die because I got so worked up about trying to prove to them that I am worth something. But I didn't need to prove it! Aliss loves me. That is worth everything! I bury my head in my sleeping bag so no one can see the tears as they roll down my face. Not like any one will be watching me anyway. Suddenly I am filled with a longing for home, and then I make a promise. A promise to win. To make it back home. No matter how emotionally or physically scarred I might become. No matter how this arena changes me, I will make it back home. To Aliss.
I drift off twice. I don't know how many hours it has been. Finally I hear footsteps trudging along the dirt. I look out and see the careers coming back. I do not recall any canon shots so I assume their hunt was unsuccessful. I don't venture to ask though. If they did kill someone it would reveal that I had dozed off.
"You haven't seen anything?" Plato says to me as I slide off the Cornucopia to greet them.
"No" I reply
"Neither" says Cass. "Not a thing. They're hiding well that's for sure".
Or maybe you lot are just hopeless at searching, I think to myself.
Plato nods in acknowledgement as he see's the pitched tents. "I packed us all a packā¦as a precaution," I say.
"Good thinking" Plato says. "But I don't think we'll be needing that".
Through the dark I can make out Daimen glaring at me. You're not the only one with plans, I think to myself. I have a feeling I just crept up higher on Daimen's 'people to kill' list.
I continue my watch as the others sleep. I wake Trizzy two hours later for her watch. I gratefully sink into my sleeping bag. Surrounded by my tent walls I listen to the constant wind and think of Aliss. Hoping, just hoping that Daimen won't try to slit my throat. Not yet anyway.
