Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games.
Author's note: I'd like to thank everybody who has read and reviewed this story so far. I'd also like to thank my family for encouraging my writing. Also a big thank you to Jim Butcher who wrote an awesome Live Journal entry thing about how you can become a better author (He also wrote the Dresden Files, my dad says they're good books). Sorry it took me a while to update but I had some saxophone things going on. Anyway, I'm not going to go on forever so, please read and review and enjoy!
From the author of this story, Writing4YourLove
Chapter 4; in which you finally figure out what the arena looks like, there are unlikely alliances, and people die somewhere in the arena.
The arena, or at least what I can see of it from the metal plate I'm standing on, is covered with freshly fallen snow. The white powder glistens in the bright sunlight making a beautiful sight on the ground and in the trees. Soon the pure white snow will be covered in blood though, possibly Chase's, probably mine, and definitely some other tributes'.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the seventy sixth Hunger Games!" The announcer says giving us tributes sixty seconds to take in our surroundings.
I hear Haymitch's voice in my ear. "Alright, sweetheart, run for the cornucopia. You grab what you need as fast as you can and fly out of there, I'll tell you what to do from there."
Yeah, great idea only I don't know how to fly. That's what I wanted to say, but that wouldn't get on Haymitch's good side. Instead I press the button and reply softly, "No problem."
"Good girl, now get ready to run."
I set my sights on the giant golden Cornucopia that's been place in the center of the ring of tributes. It appears to be about forty yards from me, pretty easy to run that far but I'm not sure if I'll be able to outrun every tribute here. And with the flying, well, all I can do is hope it comes naturally.
The gong that announces the tributes won't be blown to pieces if the step off their plates sounds and I start running. The snow on the ground makes it hard to keep my feet from slipping and the flat-soled boots I'm wearing aren't doing anything but help keep my feet warm.
Soon, I hear somebody fall behind me, but I ignore it, if I turn around now I might lose my balance and fall too. Tripping right now could mean my death. I haphazardly try to stop in front of the Cornucopia and, through a brilliant display of luck, I manage to stay on my feet and grab a black backpack, a bow, and a quiver of arrows. I don't dare take time to sift through everything now; that would be like announcing that I have a death wish.
"Fly," Haymitch demands into my ear.
I throw my wings out and push down as hard as I can, wingtips brushing the snowy ground. After that the movements become natural, like I've been flying my whole entire life. The wind, which I'd assume was cold, is warm against my face, running through my hair. I look down at the scene below me. Tributes were fighting, and blood was spilling, staining the white forest floor. I should feel sick, should recoil at the sight of the blood, but all that I think when I see the scene is that I'm glad it's not me.
That's when something occurs to me. Where's Chase? I haven't seen him yet.
"Keep moving, find a reliable water source, don't worry about your brother, he's fine." Haymitch says as if reading my thoughts, but I'm pretty sure he could guess that I was thinking of Chase easily. It's not like I've kept it a secret that I care about my little brother. "I'll get him to you as soon as possible."
From my view in the sky I can't see any source of water besides the snow and, for all I know, that could be poisoned. I land in a clearing that has a kind of depression that looks as if it was formed by water but otherwise there was nothing. The line that runs to the depression is dry of anything but snow too. I press the button on my earpiece. "I can't find anything. No water source besides the snow." I sound exactly how I feel, annoyed and angry.
"Alright, look again later then. Look through the backpack now, might be something helpful." Haymitch replies in a measured voice.
I start through the backpack and find five hinting knives, an empty half-gallon water container, a small first aid kit, and matches. I slip two of the knives into my belt and put the rest back into the backpack.
It wasn't long before I was hungry again. I need to hunt. I'm not nearly as good as my mother, but I can hit most anything from a good distance and kill it. Of course, mom taught me everything I know, but I've caught plenty before to help the people who live in the Seam keep food on the table.
I walk silently through the woods, listening for the smallest sound of a squirrel or other game. Once I've caught a squirrel I hear something larger in the wood, footsteps too heavy to be a deer. I load my bow and aim it toward the noise, still listening intently.
"Sorry I sacred you," Said a voice that I cannot identify.
"Who are you?" I ask, "Show yourself."
"I'm Jayden Hart, the district one tribute." He says, stepping into my view. He has light brown hair and green eyes. "Would you mind not pointing that at me?"
"As soon as you tell me why you're here, I'll either shoot you or let you go." I say aiming precisely at his chest.
"Be careful, I have reason to believe he's armed." Haymitch says quietly. "Don't let your guard down."
"Okay, no problem, I'll explain." Jayden says, holding his hands up in surrender. "I need allies, I saw you shoot that squirrel and you were amazing. I want to form an alliance with you."
"I'll leave that one up to you, you need allies too. The boy seems sensible enough. Just remember he does come from a Career district, don't let your guard down." Haymitch advises me.
"Fine," I say evenly, "But I make all the calls and my brother is coming too whenever he shows up. You also must answer to me right now a few questions. One; are you armed?"
"No," He answers, "I was going to get a sword from the Cornucopia, but there were none so I grabbed a pack and left."
I nod tensely, not totally believing him. He could have a knife in that pack. "Alright, next, how old are you?"
He seems glad to hear the simpler question, "Turned seventeen last month; what about you?"
"I turned fourteen a few weeks ago," I reply coolly.
I see something flash through his eyes, sympathy I think, "Oh."
"Come on, you can make a fire and I'll finish hunting. If you even think about hurting me, I'm shooting you, and I never miss my target." I threaten, half terrified of the older boy in front of me and half thankful because I'm not sure how much longer I'd be able to stay alone without giving into fatigue. At least this way somebody can always be on watch not that I trust him that much yet.
"No problem," He says, "So, where have you set up camp?"
"This way," I reply, letting him fall in step with me as I lead him back to the clearing, unwilling to turn my back on him. It wasn't long before we reached the small clearing. Before I go back to hunting I ask Jayden one more question. "What kind of powers did you get?"
"I can turn into a wolf and have some kind of claw thing I can do. Like that wolverine guy on the X-Men." He winces slightly when the long claws slide out from between his knuckles. I step back some at the new weapons until he retracts them.
"What are the X-Men?" I shake my head, "Never mind, don't answer that. I'm going to hunt; we're going to need more than one squirrel. You get on that fire."
And with that I go off to hunt.