They set of before the sun rose and after the moon had disappeared with the cats. And to avoid the heat of the sun they found a small path winding through trees so that there was enough shade to protect them from any serious burns. Either way Meera could feel her skin burn and her face and hands were a bright pink. Naoko and Rose weren't going well either, especially Rose who was forced to cover her face in the cloth of her singlet. Troy on the other hand wasn't burning at all and although he struggled with the heat his skin remained tanned and untouched. They still hadn't come across another tribute and the more time came to pass the more agitated Naoko became, muttering about the cats and how she'd kill herself before letting them tear her apart. Sometimes she'd just stop and when they'd try to coax her out of it she'd get this strange look on her face and her whole body would shake. They stopped for lunch at a small stream and Troy made a cover of leaves for them to hide under before going out to search for food to hunt, his bow ready in one hand. After a while Rose got bored and said she'd practice with her axe a little before they ate. "You two should as well, the way things are going Claudius is going to hold a feast" A feast. That was likely. Things were going slow and the Capitol would be getting bored. But a feast with what? Protective cream against the sun? Something to kill the cats? By her side Naoko moaned and curled up under the leaves. "You ok?" Naoko stopped and turned to face her. "What day is it?" The question startled her and it took a moment to respond; "third" Nodding slowly she curled up again; "I didn't think it would be so hard. Why are they making this so hard? I trained for this… but it's so hard" For a while she kept on whispering to herself before sitting up and searching through her pack. She pulled out a water flask and stood up. "I'm going to get water." She disappeared in the trees and suddenly it was dead silent. In the moments when there was no one to stop her Meera felt the monster inside her whispering for blood. She tried to push it back, waiting for Naoko to return and end her moments of insanity. Insanity. The word struck her. She was going insane? It described her bloodlust and her constant confusion. Maybe soon she would reach a state similar to Naoko's in which thoughts were muddled and in no order. Insanity, insanity, insanity, insanity… The word seemed to be everywhere, ringing from the trees and whispered with the breeze. She needed someone to come back. She needed someone to hold her, to tell her it was fake; that she was normal. A loud clank of metal sounded before her and with relief Meera looked up. Naoko stood before her, the water bottle by her feet. "Naoko?" "There is no point in waiting for the alliance to end. Because there are only two left anyway…" Understanding what she meant Meera gasped and reached for the cleaver, pulling it out and holding it tight in one hand. Suddenly the monster inside her pushed free and she felt herself hitting against Naoko, her cleaver sliding to smash against Naoko sword. They fell onto the floor and Naoko rolled over, her hand digging into Meera's wrist, trying to release her grip on the cleaver. Desperate not to die yet, not to be killed like this, Meera kicked up, into the girl's stomach and quickly slipping from her grip. Naoko spat, her hand reaching to hold her stomach before, in a quick and unexpected motion, slicing her sword across Meera's arm. She fell back into the vines, warm blood spilling down her chest, neck and arm. She gasped in pain and dropped the cleaver, reaching to stop the blood flow. Her body felt numb and she could feel her heart pounding loud. No. Not like this. Naoko suddenly sat down against her chest, her knees pinning down each arm and adding pain to her open wound. "You little bitch. You let him die. Don't you dare think I'll let you go easy; I'll let you die slow, cut each artery and wait for the life to flow from you" The pulled the smaller knife from her waist pocket and touched her neck with the point. Gathering her last energy Meera reached for her cleaver, her fingers wrapping around the handle. "Oh no! No you don't" Naoko hissed and kneed harder against her arm, forcing her to wince in pain. An image of Cato suddenly forced itself into her mind. Her little brother. Waiting for her to return home. "Good luck, you're going to win" No Cato. I'm not.