The cannon booms, the sound echoing through the Arena. It bounces off of the water in ripples, and rustles the fluttering leaves in the cool evening air. The sound wave ricochets through the gaps between the rocks concealing the cave as it synchronizes with the moonbeams leaking in through the cavern roof.

My green eyes snap open, and I sit bolt upright in my sleeping bag.

Another tribute is dead. There are only six of us left.

That large accented boy from District 11 disappeared into those fields right after the bloodbath, and I haven't seen him since. Aster was his name. His muscle will be dangerous; he has rippling biceps, even larger than the Career from District 2.

Pitch, the bloodthirsty crowned prince, especially after the other Career from District 1, Sanderson, had died, proved to be a threat. Training from the day he could walk – he knows how to use a sword, I can give him that. If anyone kills him in these games, I want to be the one to do it.

And even more sadistic is his partner, Astrid. She wields her giant club and he small hunting knives in order to gut the other tributes. I think she lives off of their screams. I thought she was pretty at first – now she haunts my nightmares.

The fourth tribute left… is the boy from District Five. Toothless: the jet-black haired boy with the cat-like green eyes that stared out from underneath the brush and the shrubbery at the rest of the Games. He'd run off into the forest as soon as the bombs deactivated, and I'd followed shortly after grabbing a pack, ignoring the advice of Gobber as per usual. We collided, and then he fled. I saw him during training, and I know he can survive. I hope he survives long enough, and dies quickly.

I count myself as the fifth tribute, and then I look down at the form next to me. He shares my sleeping bag, my tribute partner. His white hair glimmers a little in the moonlight, leftover from his efforts at camouflage. Being the baker's son gave the boy an advantage with painting, somehow. He'd volunteered for his little brother, Jamie. He'll make it back. We both will.

"Is the famed Boy on Fire scared of a little thunder?"

I jump again at the sound of his rough, weakened voice. His blue eyes glint up at me mischievously, even in the pain from his fever, and I can see the playfulness in his gaze.

"Don't call me that," I snap.

"But you looked so nice in that costume."

"You're the one on fire right now, Jack." I reach out a hand to touch his forehead, and he winces.

"Ouch," he hissed, "You're hot."

"No, you are. Roll over," I command.

He complies, revealing the gashed wound down his pale leg, tearing through his pants. I've cleaned the clotting blood from the area, but the fabric is stained deeply. Red, irritated flesh glares out at me from the sword bite. It looks infected, and smells even worse.

"Any better?" Jack asks, his voice a sore whisper.

"Yeah," I lie. "Just let me clean it out a little…"

I take the small tin of ointment from my pack. Gobber delivered this to me after the fireballs had attacked, a cruel joke from the Gamemakers. They make the rules though, and we just play along. The green paste is nice enough, and is pure heaven on a wound.

I dig my fingers gently into the gore on Jack's leg, and he grunts a bit in discomfort. He bites his tongue, however. We've all learned to do that in District 12.

With that job finished, I return the tin back to the pack, and pick up a large container. As I move closer to Jack's head, he clamps his mouth shut, eyeing the bowl apprehensively.

I state plainly, "You need to eat, or you'll never get better."

"I'm not hungry," he retorts.

"Jack," I sigh, becoming quickly exasperated. He doesn't respond.

After a few moments, an idea occurs to me. I think back to when Gobber had delivered the broth on the silver parachute.

Hesitantly, I lean forward, and then my mouth is on his. Despite his fever, his lips are cold, and soft. I pull away before it becomes deeper.

His face is flush with minor embarrassment, although his blue eyes have that annoying glint in them. As his mouth is gaped open, I shove the spoonful of broth past his lips. He chokes at first, but swallows the liquid.

We don't say anything, and instead I offer him more soup. He accepts it this time.

After his meal, I decide to cuddle down next to him, only for protection from the cold night air. It bleeds through the rocks, and the moss doesn't help at all; neither does the wet runoff from the river that leaks on the floor.

We lay like that for a while, Jack's arm around my shoulders, and my head on his chest. He's content, and his heartbeat is steady, although he is burning beneath his clothes. I refuse to fall asleep, scared of Pitch or Astrid bursting through the rocks and murdering us in our unconsciousness.

Jack speaks first, and murmurs, "Who was it?" His voice is quiet, serious compared to his usual optimistic banter.

"I don't know," I admit, "But there are only six of us left, and I can tell you who it's not."

Jack sighs. "It must have been Toothiana, then."

I shudder against him, thinking about the colorful girl from training. She loved the knot station, and the obstacle course. She fought with two sabers. Pitch must have killed her.

We remain silent again, before Jack says, "It's not as bad as Sophie, at least."

I lock up, the images of the blonde girl from District 11 flashing in my mind. I see her singing, and hopping around at training like a Bunny. The back of her shirt always stuck out, like Jack's brother's did sometimes back at home. I see us, and how she saved me from the tracker jacker stings. And I see Sanderson's spear protruding from her stomach, and my arrow piercing the blond man's neck.

Finally, I remember the flowers, and the stones shaped like little eggs surrounding her, and I sang to her softly, not wanting to let her go. Her body left into the hovercraft. At least she'll be back with her family.

"Hiccup? Hiccup?" asks Jack, worried.

I blink, tears forming at my eyes. With a shuddering breath I wipe them away.

"Are you ready to talk about it yet?" he asks me.

I shake my head. I will never be ready.

"Alright," Jack relents. Almost immediately, he finds another joyous topic to discuss: "My leg isn't getting any better, is it?"

After a moment, I reply, "No. It's infected."

He looks down at me on his chest, his eyes calculating. "Damn," he states, "That's bad."

I almost want to laugh, but I stifle it along with my sadness. "Not really. We just need… something."

He gives a great groan, and I can tell he wants me off of him. I don't move, though, and I know he's incapable of moving me himself.

"What's the point?" he exclaims. "We're going to die here anyway. They'll kill us off soon, or make some other rule for the Capitol entertainment."

"You're not serious, are you, Jack?"

"I am! Look at me! I can't walk! And you're stuck here with me." The realization dawns on his face, and I shake my head, already knowing his next words. "Leave, Hiccup. Go on without me."

"No," I deny quickly. "I won't do that."

"We're not both going to survive here, and the one that has at least a chance of doing so is you. Go."

"Jack, I can't do that. They said we could both win! We just have to get you better, and then we can both fight!"

Jack sighed, "I'm only holding you back, Hiccup. Leave me."

"Why do you want me to live so badly?"

"Because I love you!" he exploded.

The water drips down the cave walls from the river outside.

"God, are you thick? I love you, I even said it at the interviews."

He did. In front of the entire nation, he told them that he loves me and I hurt him for it. And now we're the star-crossed lovers of District 12. I almost want to puke. But I can't.

"I definitely can't leave you, now."


A/N: WOAH HOW DID I FORGET TO POST THIS

I WROTE IT AND SUBMITTED IT TO THE HIJACK BLOG

BUT I FORGOT TO UPLOAD IT HERE

I AM SO SORRY

This was a Hunger Games AU, in which Jack is Peeta and Hiccup is Katniss. I really want to do this with Jackrabbit now, though, with Jack as Katniss and Bunny as Peeta... *plotbunnies are now birthed*

I am so sorry that I didn't post this here! It's not much, but I hope you liked it!
Love you guys!
~Renoku