9. First Gifts
Riley was dead. I needed to try though, to keep Finnick alive. Finnick, the only one who needs to survive even if it means my own death. We'd be heading in a random direction for a long time; I had sweated lots and was losing energy fast. Thankfully we found a pool of water; we filled our 4 litre flasks with water and drunk as much as we needed. We luxuriously bathe ourselves with the soap and flannels. Leighton sets up camp here next to the lake as the sun was going down. Evie and I hunt for some meat. We hunt birds and rabbits. I also find some roots that my Mother showed me once, they tasted like Parsnips roasted. We cook our food and sip our water. If only Riley were here. "I'll take watch" I say
"Okay I'll join everybody else, sleep!" booms Leighton. I jump I've never heard him speak like that. He is normally softly spoken. Riley was close with Leighton. He must be upset. Everyone climbs into the tent and I grab a blanket for me and Leighton. I hear the anthem of Panem and look into the sky to see the dead tributes. District 1 boy, District 2 girl, and the other tributes from 4. I look over at Riley and see his face whiten in the moonlight, I squeeze his hand. District 9 boy and girl. Lastly even though I'm expecting it. It's like a kick in the gut; Riley's face filled the night sky. Then it's gone. Forever. Leighton has tears running down his cheeks. "You can't let them see you like this" I whisper
"I don't care Rue what's the point in even trying? Finnick has to win"
"How do you know the plan?"
"Isn't it obvious? I mean you're brave and the only person that you'd want alive is Finnick"
"I'm not brave"
"Yes you are, you just won't admit it." We go silent and listen to the creatures around us. "Do you know how to make snares?
"Yep come on I'll show you" we don't go far into the woods, but I still feel uneasy about leaving them unprotected, I took the wire from one of the packs. Leighton who has no survival skills whatsoever finds this very hard but he finally does it. "Well done Leighton" I say
"You're a good teacher, come on we better get back to the tent."
Morning came and I'd fallen asleep Riley had been replaced by Evie, who sat up right with her bow and arrows in hand. She'd gone back to the snares and they'd caught a fat rabbit, she was skinning it. "Where'd you learn that?"
"We own the fish stall in town and I skin the fish." Lovely.
"That's useful here"
"I know I have a lot to thank my mum for" she laughs. Our first sponsor floated down next to me. I wonder what it is. "I'll open it shall I?" I ask
"Go on then" It was bread from District 4!
"Must have been for you and Leighton, Evie" I say
"Nonsense, we're allies right?"
"Yep! And we're the best alliance!" I say humorously
"Come on, we'll have some breakfast with the meat, or it will go off. Save the bread for later" says Evie, she starts to light a fire.
"Yeah okay" I say as I cut up the rabbits and stick them on a skewer. I roast them over the fire. "Come on guys breakfast is getting cold!" I shout. We all eat our skewers and drink the water from the flasks. Boom! I spill a little water on myself as the canon jolts me. "Wonder who that was" says Finnick gritting his teeth.
"Don't know, we'll find out tonight. We need to keep moving now. The careers are on our asses." Says Rhiannon
"Right well when everyone finishes we can start moving right?" Everybody eats; we pack up, remove traces we were here, and then set off walking from this beach. I want to find the whole arena. When we've walked for at least an hour, Evie looks down and gasps "its blood" she says quietly. I lean over to see it dotted all over the leaves and branches.
"Someone's been hurt and bad" says Rhiannon
"Might have died, the canon did go off this morning" Finnick says. That's more than likely.
"Better follow it just in case though" Evie says leading us through the palm trees. Her bow is loaded, just in case of an attack, Rhiannon places a dart in the blow gun. I position my knife for an easy throw. I feel heat radiating from some distance. We follow the heat. That's when we come to it. A vast desert with a huge oasis in the middle of it. Cacti are dotted about on the yellow dry sand. The heat makes my eyes water. We're in a desert. We need to move out of here there I nowhere to hide. I hear the whistle before I see it. For one moment I think the knife has hit me. It hasn't its hit Evie. Her face registers the shock of the moment. She falls backwards and the black handled knife sticks through her stomach. I look over to see her attacker; she's been hurt bad and have a huge cut her arm. Leighton. Who's eyes have turned red with anger. Has stolen my knife and thrown it with all his force. It hits her right in the heart. "Finnick you have to win" groans Evie as she slips away from me. Boom! Boom! Evie's canon and the other girls.
