*Author note- Sorry guys that I've been MIA for the past few day but I was sick and had a slight case of insomnia but now I'm grand and back to writing my masterpiece lol. You guys are amazing! Like always I hope you enjoy, please review, and please excuse any errors I've missed. -007twihunger xoxo
ChapterTen: The Calm before the Storm
I can't help but feel on edge with the two day of complete calm and nothingness pass by, not a picture in the sky for the past two days and upon that I've let River and Rue talk me into staying at the cave for those two days. But today is the day I'm standing my ground and having us move and honestly I'd rather be the crazy overthinking worrywart instead of being stupid and thinking we'll be safe if we just stay here in this cave, only to venture so far to be able to collect food for my allies and myself. I sit snuggled up to River as we let Rue sleep in. Last night I made it perfectly clear not only to Rue but to River as well that when we were all awake in the morning that we would be packing up our stuff then leave to find a new place for the night. River is the one who doesn't want to leave that much and I know its because we've stayed here for a while now and still have not been found but that can only last for so long especially with there being no kills lately, the Gamemakers will be up to something to keep the games interesting. "Would you leave us if Hawthorne showed up?" River whispers lowly, if I hadn't have seen his lips move I would think it was all in my head but I did see them move.
For the past two days River has starting to referring to Gale as Hawthorne whenever he's brought up, and honestly its cute that he's jealous of Gale. Its nice that he cares enough about me to want to protect me from the big bad seam boy even if its for no reason. I mean Gale's not going to just up and realize he loves me no matter how much I wish it were so. In many ways, River tends to remind me of Peeta and for that I'm thankful. They both are bright and cheery, plus make me smile and laugh when I don't think I'll ever be able to feel even a glimmer of happiness again. "No. River, I would never just leave you and Rue like that. If Gale somehow found me as well as actually wanted to forge an alliance with me, then I'll just have to make sure he knows its us three or no me." I put forth grabbing River's hand to give it a slight squeeze before let it go and rest my hand back in my lap. Out of the corner of my eye I see River release a sigh of relief, but still his shoulders stay tense. He clears his throat then links his hands together and stares at the ground, "if I was from twelve and I was sixteen … would … would you honestly give me a chance?" River asks. His eyes finally reach mine, there bleeding with emotion that I hadn't known a fourteen year old could have and this and the way his eyes bore into me has me flushing slightly from embarrassment of his question. I look down fearing that the cameras hid around the arena will pick up my no doubt bright red face. I try to think about River's question, and for the most part I don't think I have it in me to love anyone like I love Gale. Sure there are nice boys like, River, Peeta, and even Rye but Gale's the only boy whose ever made me actually feel something.
Even though Gale is the furthest thing from actually loving me back I can't help that anytime I think about him my heart speeds up and slows down at the same time, I forget how I'm supposed to act and let him get a rise out of me almost ever time we argue. But I know I can't say 'no' to River since I can already tell how sad that would make him, so I stick to the closets truth he'll be able to deal with "I'm not sure, it would have to happen for me to be able to tell what I'd do, but maybe." I put forth, trying to ignore that my hands are clammy and sweaty from my nerves. River gives me a small smile before he quickly dips in and kisses my cheek and before he moves away from us he whispers in my ear "I'm glad I met you Madge" his words make my heard swell with happiness and I can't help but smile and chuckle slightly as I pull River into a tight hug mumbling back "I'm glad I met you too" before I pull back from him.
We don't have to wait too long after that before Rue wakes with a small yawn as she rolls over, her big brown eyes locking with mine innocently "did I oversleep?" her tired voice asks as she works herself up into a sitting position. River and I simultaneously shake our head which causes us to all laugh. We hurriedly pack our things up into the two backpacks that we have then we cautiously on our way, me leading in front as River takes the back and small Rue in the middle. The sun seems higher up in the sky as well as just plain hotter than the previous days. Rocks crunch around our feet as we walk towards the small spring near us, trying our hardest to stay as quiet as we can in addition to keeping an eye out for any passing tributes near us. River fills the two water bottles while Rue drops a few treatment droplets to them as I stand stiff ready to try and protect my allies in case someone comes along, which I'm thankful no one does.
Just as we round a small bend I freeze seeing a the girl from five fighting against the much bigger guy from ten and because I know he will turn and see us after he kills the girl from five I quickly pull out an arrow and notch it on the bow making sure I'm well in front of my allies I let the arrow loose causing it to become stuck in the district ten boys back, between his shoulder blades. He turns around almost instantly then quickly socks the girl from five in the face, knocking her out instantly. He slowly stalks towards me with glossy unfocused eyes, "run!" I shout shoving which ever ally of mine is closer to me. After that its like everything happens way too fast for me to comprehend. I turn and start running behind my allies however before my head straightens out I see the boy from ten start charging towards me, full force as his nose flairs. I move much slower than River and Rue since I'm carrying all the heavy stuff while I let them carry the light things. My emotions are bleeding together, fear and sorrow the main ones that seem to swirl inside my chest as I try to push myself to run faster. I can't hear anything besides the steady and loud thumping of my heartbeat and erratic breathing in my ears so I'm not sure how close our pursuer is until I slip over a tree root and tumble into the large spring. On my way down I see that the boy from district ten is so close to me and I'm scared beyond imaginable. I'm so paralyzed with fear I can't even come up with anything to do besides trying to scramble to my feet which I do before something slams into me from behind, sending me face forward into the water. I choke on some water then resurface from the water gasping loudly as I once again try to scramble to my feet however, before I can get to my feet someone grasps a handful of my hair and shoves me down into the knee deep water. I try and hold my breath as I try to use my hands and feet to push me back up to the surface but the boy from ten is way too strong for me.
"Oh my god, I'm going to die!" I think as I feel my lungs start to burn from lack of oxygen. My hands quickly leave the rocky, yet muddy floor of the spring and make a last effort chance at trying to find one of the knives I have but I'm not too sure now where I put them. My arms are too short to reach for the backpack on my back so I start searching on my person until I find not one but two knives in the pocket of my jacket, which I quickly yank free from the wet fabric just as my mouth subconsciously opens just as u stab the first knife into tens inner thigh which makes him flinch back from me and release me. Immediately I fling myself free from the water and stab the next knife blindly into him as I sputter and cough loudly. My lungs and throat hurt and my eyes burn from unwanted water making its way into them. My eyes try to blink away the water that seems to find itself trickling down my face as I blindly scramble up the bank, falling almost on my face as I do. I roll over then swipe my wet arm against my face, moving the water away from my face so I can see and the first thing I see is the boy from ten lumbering over to me and all I can do is start scrambling back backwards, but the long strives he takes are much bigger than what I'm capable of doing. The moment I see tens eyes flicker a little off to my left I know that River and Rue have not left so I already know that I need to take him down, its him or us. My eyes catch a glint of light from the blade of the knife sticking slightly out of his shoulder and before I can think of anything really to do ten starts running like a mad man at me. Out of instincts I want to run and try to hide from ten but then there's my allies who could get hurt or even killed. Without a thought of trying to save myself I quickly throw myself up onto my feet then throw myself at ten and grab ahold of the handle of the knife from his shoulder and pull. Ten has a tight grip around my waist keeping me in place with one arm as the other one travels up and then his hand locks around my throat just as I pull the knife from his shoulder making him grit his teeth and release a feral sounding growl. Tens hand tightens around my neck more and I can feel every reflex in my body as well as all my common sense telling me to grab his hand and stop him but I don't knowing I'll no way in hell be able to over power him in the least, but instead I force my self to stab the knife I've unstuck from his shoulder into his open neck making damn well sure I shove it into his throat as hard and as deep as I can as I start to see black spots that plague my vision.
I think I black out for a moment or two because one moment I'm being strangled and I can't breath then the next, I'm lying on the wet grass that seems to have various size and shapes of rocks scattered all around it panting as I try to catch my breath. The sun and sky look harshly too bright to me and causes me to blink my eyes excessively before I squint, looking around for my two stubborn allies who I spot not too long later half hiding behind a large a few feet behind me. I slowly sit up ignoring how my body aches with refusal. There's a throbbing in the back of my head that leaves my skin crawling. Half on my leg half on the wet ground lies the unmoving boy from district ten, blood seeping out of his neck and staining the calf's of my pants. My hands shake as I numbly push his body off me, my breathing feels slightly more labored and I'm not sure why. A few droplets of water splat onto my blood covered right hand, leaving a slightly clean trail in its wake making me instantly look towards the sky which is still bright and sunny, not a rain cloud in sight. I stare for a few more seconds before I reach my hand up and touch under my eyes, feeling wetness that tells me that I'm crying before my eyes move back to the dead body next to me as my hand drops to my side limply. I'm not certain with how long I just sit there staring at the boy from tens dead body, but it must be too long since both Rue and River come over to me. I can't see there faces from how I'm sitting but I see both of their boots then the next thing I know River crouches down in front of me and ever so slowly gently grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. His green eyes are filled to the brim with both fear and pain that he tries to cover up unsuccessful with worry. His Adams apple bobs in his throat as he swallows a few times then his eyes drop to the dead body before he's once again looking at me "you did what you needed to do okay? You save all of us … not to mention that girl" River puts forth in a calm low voice, like he's talking to a wounded animal and that alone causes me to start shaking more as my eyes dart down to the dead body then to my blood covered hands. I can't stop myself from letting out a strangled sob as my hands fly up to cover my mouth "oh my god" I think as my tears glide down my face quickly as I finally take in what these games have turned me into "I'm a monster" I croak out in a sob then the next thing I know River is pulling me into his chest as he hugs me tightly then I feel Rue rush over to us and hold my hand as she hums lowly running her free hand through my slightly tangled hair, "your not a monster Madge. You're the furthest thing from that" River breaths against the top of my head making me cry that much more, for the loss of who I am … or was. Of what I've done in the short time I've been here and of course of how I don't even try to talk the other tributes out of fighting, "not like that would matter. The Gamemakers would just send in some mutts to finish us all in if we decided to not fight" my subconscious says making my heart sink as my chest feels heavy with emotion.
Only when I've finally stopped crying does River let go of my hand but Rue doesn't let go of my hand for a few more seconds as we watch River wash what blood I got on him off. Numbly I get to my feet then stumble over to the spring to wash the blood off my face, as I wash my hands I see my reflection and take in the small bits of splattered blood on my face which I wash off hastily making my skin no doubt raw and bright pink as I scrub hard at myself, then its like I realize what I'm doing so I stop then get to my feet ignoring my wet clothes that rub against me uncomfortably as my shoes squeak with each and every step I take as I lead my allies back towards where we left the girl from five. "We'll check on the girl from five to make sure she's okay, then we'll settle down somewhere and eat brunch" I state to no one in particular as I nod a few times. Both Rue and River stay quiet and follow me the short distance back to the fox face looking girl from five, who is still passed out beside a boulder blood trailing out of the cut at the corner of her lip. "She looks alive" I think a I stare at her, slowly making my way over towards her. When I see her chest rise then fall I release the breath I hadn't known I was holding before hastily snatching the backpack off my back then searching through it until I find one of the two water bottles we have. Once I locate one I get back to my feet then crouch down next to five and gently raise her head so it rests in my lap then ever so lightly I trickle a few drops of water onto her dry cracked lips before recapping it and using my already wet hem of my shirt to dab at her head and almost instantly I'm back in district twelve and I'm taking care of my frail mother. I have to blink my eyes repetitively before I can see the red hair of the girl from district five instead of my mothers pale blond wispy hair, "we should leave. She's fine and that what you wanted to make sure. We can't wait around until she tries to kill us Madge!" River tries to put forth, to gain some type of realization to me but all I can see in this frail gangly girl is that she's just like us. She's scared, alone, hungry, cold, and wanting to go home instead of fighting to the death against odds piled against us.
After a few more minutes the girl from five blinks open her eyes before closing them then she opens them again and squints her green eyes up at me with a scared expression plastered on her pale face before she hurriedly scurries back away from me like a frightened animal, her eyes sweeping from me to River to Rue before back again to me. "We're not going to hurt you" I put forth in a hoarse monotone that makes me flinch when I hear it, I clear my throat as my eyebrows furrow but I don't look away from five's eyes "we're not going to hurt you" I repeat, trying my best to giver her a friendly smile but I'm absolutely certain it comes across as everything but friendly. I scratch at my forehead as I rest back on the heels of my boots, "I'm Madge, this is River, and that's Rue" I make known awkwardly pointing everyone out to her and still she sits mutely with wide green eyes that are fixed on me. We are thrust into an uncomfortable silence then finally five mumbles out "I'm Avery" I can't help but smile from our progress, I look over at River who is scowling and reminding me of Gale, which causes my heart to clench thinking about if he's still alive. I know River's not trying to be rude, but instead trying to keep Rue, himself, and me safe from what unknown dangers Avery might bring to the mix if we let her join us. "Your from twelve right" Avery's quite voice asks from her position in front of me, where she has pulled her knees to her chest tightly resting her chin in the middle of them. I jerk my head into a nod "yeah, that's me." I reply, plopping down on my butt and pulling my knees to my chest. The wind blows making me shiver slightly since I'm still wet but I ignore it "if you want you can join us but if you want to us to leave you alone then I understand" I put forth before biting at my bottom lip, trying to stop my thoughts from turning towards anything relating towards Gale.
Avery looks down at her nail which I can see have dirt underneath them. Her fingers hold tight to her pants making me unsure of what she'll say to what I offered up. Some of my hair falls into my eyes which makes me release an annoyed sigh before blowing the hair out of my eye. Wishing more than anything that I could just put my hair up into a ponytail or a bun but the lack of hair tie leaves me with just leaving my hair down. Avery's green eyes meet mine for a second before she looks down at the rip in her cargo pants near the knee as her fingernails pick at it then she looks back up at me "we'd be like the careers but weaker" Avery states in an cautious tone as her eyes look from me and River, I release an involuntary sigh before I jerk my head so I'm looking at River "cut it out. If she wants to join us then let her. She's not going to get us anymore heat then we already have" I point out as I turn to look back at Avery, who looks less pale then we found her. Her teeth bite at her bottom lip ass I'm so use to doing as she looks unsure at me "I guess you could look at us like that, but I'm not trying to make an underdog type of win here. I'm just trying to save my friends and myself as long as I can" Avery looks at me intently before she hesitantly nods, giving me a small smile "okay. I'll join you guys" Avery says giving me an almost giddy smile while I giver her the most reassuring smile as I can, without seeming like a crazy blood hungry tribute that I kind of see myself slowly beginning to be.
"We need to gather a brunch for us" I put forth, swiping at the dirt and grass that clings to my cargo pants as I rise to my feet then Iook over at River who is looking at Avery with some calculation playing out in his vibrant green eyes making me roll my eyes as I stifle a laugh. I glance over at Rue then silently motion to her to come over to me before I start slowly walking away fro both River and Avery. "River why don't you set up some traps around here and we'll stay for a little while until we catch our lunch then we'll move on to our next living arrangement, oh and why don't you teach Avery some of the snares and traps while Rue and I gather some fruit and plants" River looks at me sullenly but nods hesitantly before turning away from me and glancing at Avery more intimidating than I'd like, I roll my eyes giving Avery a small reassuring smile before I walk off with Rue to find some food.
Rue and I walk in a comfortable silence before we both stop as we hear a few mockingjays sing around us while hidden in the trees above us, Rue looks over at me but not really at me before she states "your pins the reason I knew I could trust you … well that and the about how you were protecting your district partners brother when he was the tribute" I look over at her and offer up a small smile before looking up at the canopy of the trees as the mockingjays continue to sing, the mockingjay flutter about, flying from tree to tree as the sing. I smile to myself feeling the first time since I don't know when content. I look back over at Rue, taking in her wide peaceful smile as she watches the mockingjays fly about and sing, "You know this pin was my aunt Maysilee's, she was in the quarter quell with my godfather … I mean my mentor … Haymitch. They were allies for a while but almost after they broke off there alliance she was killed by … by I think a mutt pink bird" I say, causing Rue to look over at me with sadness lingering in her large kind brown eyes, "that's sad" Rue puts forth in a whisper, almost unheard as the wind blows hard around us making everything that much harder to hear. I look at Rue for a moment more before looking back at the mockingjays fro a few seconds before lightly pulling on Rue's jacket as I begin to walk once again with Rue close on my heels.
While I gather some fruit and plants from the lower level, Rue elegantly climbs up into the trees and starts jumping around picking her own fruit from the trees making me look at her in awe, "you know you remind me of a little bird" I say which causes her to laugh and almost immediately I laugh with her before we're once again in a comfortable silence foraging.
Rue manages to collect about a dozen peaches and apples from the trees above while I manage to collect a few things of Katniss roots, some strawberries, and a few daisies. Just as Rue is climbing down the tree to rejoin me I spot a rather large tree lizard which I quickly throw one of my knifes at, effectively killing it instantly. I toss the lizard into my backpack as Rue crouches down pick up a bright blue wildflower that she hands to me. I smile at Rue taking the flower and twirling it between my thumb and pointer finger, "thanks little bird" I states while messing Rue's hair up slightly as I rub her head affectionately. Rue looks up at me with a beaming smile "I'm glad I got to meet you Madge. Your like a the older sister I never had" Rue states making me smile even wider as I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to me. "I'm glad I met you too little bird" I reply before pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before letting go of her and placing the flower she gave me behind her right ear before I make a face at her then start to take off "I'll beat you back to the others" I call over my shoulder, trying to keep my voice down enough so no one will hear me even though I'm lost in a slight bought of euphoria as I laugh, with Rue chasing me closely as she giggles.