Day 9- The Games (Day 2)
The next morning I wake. Judging by the position of the sun it's still fairly early, but time doesn't really matter in the arena I guess. Keeping a keen ear out for the sound of anyone nearby, knowing that I don't stand a prayer if the careers find me, I clamber down from my tree to the clearing. My staff is untouched, unsurprisingly as it just looks like any other tree branch, and I pick it up before heading off in what I'm fairly sure is the direction of the river.
I haven't seen any animals, I ponder as I walk, which is a shame because they could be a food source. Not that I'm much of a hunter, but maybe I could trap something. I do at least find some safe berries growing amongst the pines, which is at least something to make it feel like I'm eating, though I know they won't do an awful lot to keep hunger at bay.
After about an hour of walking I suddenly hear the sound of running water in the distance. I start to eagerly hurry towards it, before pausing. I need to be more careful and cautious. Footsteps are virtually impossible to hear in the snow, and I'm sure the river will have drawn everyone towards it. I don't want to walk into an ambush.
On the other hand, I think as the river comes into sight, it is a pretty big arena, for only eleven of us, plus the career pack. I don't imagine the careers will have strayed this far from the Cornucopia yet, which they will surely be using as a base, while some of the others who started on the other side of the circle are probably miles away on the other side of the mountain.
Deciding that with the cover of the trees and the size of the arena I'm as safe as I could be, I crouch to drink from the river. Could it be poisoned, I wonder, pausing for a second. It's crystal clear and there don't appear to be any fish, but there are some water weeds of some sort.
It doesn't corrode my finger when I dip it in, and I decide to chance it. It is wonderfully refreshing and doesn't have any effect on me, other than to quench my thirst. If it is poisonous it must be slow acting. This cheery thought accompanies me as I follow it down the slight incline until I reach the edge of the forest. The river winds away downhill into the distance, growing much larger, but the area around seems totally desolate. If anyone was out there they'd be instantly visible for miles, but no-one has been that foolish.
Turning my attention left I see the town. It is a significant distance, but without the danger of getting lost I think I can make it in two or three hours, maybe four if the snow is deep. In the vain hope that there could be something of use there, backed up by the knowledge that it's unlikely to be safe to return to the Cornucopia, I head towards it, making sure to stay just inside the forest, while keeping the buildings in sight.
Conscious that the further I go from the river, while I might still have snow for water, the amount of berries may well decrease, as will the likelihood of finding animals, I press on at a fairly quick pace. Eventually I reach the first building. The trees just about extend around the corner of the town, so I can hopefully stay hidden. I am fully aware that as I could see the town from the podiums, the careers at the Cornucopia, or anyone on the mountain, will be able to see me easily.
Knowing that this is a prime place for an ambush, I proceed cautiously, but am cheered by the thought that only Grove has a weapon and the careers are probably still near the Cornucopia. I hope.
The buildings are varied, I quickly realise as I scurry between them. Some are houses, some more like shops, others like warehouses. They are mostly stripped clean, but I do gain a few things of use.
There is a reasonable amount of material around- like curtains and bedsheets, and while nothing is thick enough to really help against the cold I figure a little extra insulation can't hurt, and rip some up and stuff it inside my jacket and pants and around the top of my boots. I pull down a curtain, wishing I had something to cut it with, as the material is reasonably strong and could be used to tie myself secure for sleeping in a tree, but to carry the whole thing back to the river would be very awkward. I decide to store it somewhere hidden. I can come back for it if I find any food near here, and maybe I'll stay in this part of the forest and cope with snow for water.
Plenty of material is easy enough to rip by hand however, and I use this to fashion myself a little carrying sack- pulling the four corners of a square bit of cloth together and tying them up with a thin strip of material and a good knot that I learnt in training. It weighs virtually nothing, and I can store berries in it.
There is no food to be had in the town, nor any sign of any other tributes. There is plenty of wood, including chair and table legs that could maybe be useful as a club, but nothing long enough to use as a staff. I search in vain for hours for something sharp, and am also left disappointed by the lack of power, which makes some potentially useful things utterly useless.
I also realise that I haven't heard any more cannons. From the second day they fire as soon as anyone is killed, so no-one else has died today. Are the careers not hunting yet? Or has everyone gotten too far away from them? I remember what Woof said about the gamemakers intervening if it gets too boring, and am immediately worried.
I've spoken too soon. Barely two minutes after that thought, the cannon fires. I find myself worrying that it was Tamla or Fern, but soon realise I can't let it dominate my thoughts like that every time I hear a cannon, I'll find out who it is this evening, for better or worse.
I get back to searching the buildings, constantly listening and looking for signs of anyone else, before about twenty minutes after the cannon comes the voice of Claudius Templesmith, the announcer.
"Tributes of the forty-ninth Hunger Games!" he begins. "Congratulations on surviving so far! We have noted that many of you are without supplies at this early stage, so tomorrow, at noon, there shall be two simultaneous feasts. Some items that may be of use to you will be placed at the Cornucopia, with more inside the largest building in the arena. May the odds be ever in your favour!"
They're trying to draw us together; the start has obviously not been exciting enough with a fairly small bloodbath and everyone staying apart since. I consider whether I need to attend. A water container and backpack would be nice, but aren't essential. All I really need is food, some warmer clothes…maybe a sleeping bag, and a weapon. Oh, and fire starting equipment could help too.
The next big question is will the careers come here? They already have all they want at the Cornucopia, and will be having more dropped on them…but they may think we'll all congregate here and see it as an opportunity for kills. Could they get here in time. The Games started at noon and I got here in the afternoon on the second day. It's afternoon now and they only have until noon tomorrow. It would be hard, but they could probably move faster than me and I did spend at lot of time tree climbing. Maybe they'll split…try and prevent anyone from getting anything from either feast…
I realise I'm over-thinking this. I don't know where they even are for sure, and certainly can't predict their thoughts. I search for another half hour, checking out the largest warehouse, and am pleased I do as as well as getting an idea of its layout I find the remnants of a broken motor and scavenge some bits of metal from it. Nothing is terribly sharp, though with a bit of time I might be able to cut my stashed curtain, more useful are a couple of fairly solid pieces that I could use to throw at someone, or hit them with. It's not much, but it's as close as I've got to a weapon, save my weedy 'staff', which I highly doubt could knock out someone as big as Varro or Grove.
Heading back to the forest, collecting my staff and curtain along the way I start searching for food. I do find a few berries, but no fruit, no plants on the ground- too much snow- and no leaves that I know are safe to eat. Still, it's as much food as I've found anywhere, so I find a large tree and bed down for the night. Just as I'm settling in the tree I hear the anthem of Panem playing, and realise the dead tribute from earlier is about to be revealed. I crane my neck to see the sky through the branches and see that the reason for the cannon was the death of Kyla, the girl from district five. Presumably the careers caught up with her I think sadly, but I guess it could have been anything really.
I tie my bag to a branch and use my sharpest bit of metal to cut the curtain. It takes hours, but eventually I've got it down to a manageable size and use it to tie myself to the tree, before going to sleep.
