Chapter Three

Brianna

I wriggle deeper into the bush and try to get comfy. It's impossible. I sigh. It was going to be a long night. I hear the National Anthem and settle down to watch the faces of the dead Tributes being projected into the sky and pray I'm not sitting in a patch of poison ivy.

The girl from Three, the boy from Five-all the Careers made it through the first day then, no surprise there-the boy from Six and both from Eight. The boys from Nine, Ten and Eleven. Both from Twelve. The Seal of the Capitol follow the dead and it's over. I sit back in the bushes, a knife clutched tight to my chest. I'm sure I'm completely obscured from view, but it never hurt to take precautions my sister always told me.

So ten dead in the first day and thirteen more hiding somewhere throughout the arena. Well, the Careers won't be hiding. They're always the strongest, fastest, most skilled and usually the largest group of allies. They were probably scouring the forest right now for unprepared victims as Careers usually do at night.

I slowly think of the other non-Career Tributes in the arena. No one seems a good choice of ally. I'd been a bit surprised the Careers hadn't asked me to be with them after the 9 I got in training, but they always are a bit proud about letting other district Tributes in with them. Well, it was there loss. The first thing I was going to do the next morning was find myself some allies that were worthy of the Breeze-I smile inwardly at the thought of my sister's nickname for me. She says it's because of my inability to sit still.

Maybe the two from 7? I muse. They'd both gotten sevens. It will have to do. For now.

Dahra

The watery sunlight wakes us at dawn, but we need a moment to focus on where we are. Neither of us has eaten anything since yesterday morning and my vision is fuzzy and I find it hard to concentrate from the lack of water. We need to drink and soon, while we can still keep up a steady pace. It takes us longer then it should to pack and start to travel.

The sun rises unnaturally high at an unnatural speed and soon the red hot sun is beating down on us, drying us out even more. I try to think which is smarter, to take off my jacket and cool down slightly, or keep wearing it so not to expose my body to the extreme sunshine. Soon I can't even think properly and just concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. We're gasping like fish on land and suddenly Jack collapses beside me.

'Jack', I lean down to try and help him up but the world seems to swing and I topple over on top of him.

We're going to die.

I think of my family and smile slightly, my eyes sliding shut. They are a good last thought to have I think. Then I hear the tinkling of a Sponsor's gift and my eyes snap open. I use the last of my strength to open the gift and see the water cannister inside. I shakily raise it to my lips and savour the sweet water that splashes over my lips and mouth. I smile weakly. We're not dead yet.

Dekka

Sam wakes me up early the next day. He places the packed rucksack securely on his back before sliding down from the tree. I climb slowly down after him and realise something is wrong as soon as my feet touch the ground. The forest's floor is spinning under my feet and I half fall into the tree trunk beside me.

'Dekka, are you okay' Sam asks in an alarmed voice as I sway on the spot. One hand clutches him for support and the other shakily unties the bandage on my arm. I'm prepared for what I see, but Sam recoils in horror. The cut is crusted at the sides and it's oozing a watery substance I can't identify.

'Shit! Shit!' Sam whispers and touches my arm gingerly. 'We didn't clean it, it's infected'.

'It's okay Sam, calm down', I grow even more alarmed as he steps away from me, almost hyperventilating.

'Can't happen, can't! He mutters forcibly to himself. 'Can't leave me, can't be alone here. Have to get medicine'.

I step in front of him, hold his shoulders and move closer to speak quietly into his ear, digging my nails into his skin to stop him muttering dementedly.

'Keep it together,Sam', I whisper almost silently to make sure no cameras nearby can hear me, 'For the Sponsors'.

And, as if answering Sam's plea, I hear the tinkling of a Sponsor's gift and a small, silver parcel lands at my feet.

Astrid

By the time I hear them it's to late to do anything but run. I hear whoops and laughter as I put my head down, pump my arms and will my feet to move faster. I don't see the root until my foot catches on it and I trip and sprawl onto the ground. They're on me so quick I can't even stand up before the girl from One steps forward and stabs me in the chest.

Lana

The sound of a cannon's boom startles me and I start to run. I don't even know where the Careers are but I feel a desperate need to get away. After minutes of running the trees begin thinning and I slow as I realise I'm nearing the edge of the forest. I leave the protection of the trees hesitantly and take in the sight of a huge mountain range. I see caves at the bottom of the mountain and look up to see their snow capped peaks disappearing in the clouds. I take one look back at the trees and head for the shelter of the caves.

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