"Boom!" Bronze roared triumphantly. The tropical birds squawked and flapped away in panic. Crystal admired the dead gazelle.
"A clean shot," she said brightly. "Not bad, Zo."
"Did you expect anything less?" Bronze joked, removing his spear from the carcass.
"Would you two keep it down?" Garnet hissed, slapping a buzzing insect viciously. "You're alerting the enemy."
"Apologies, madam," Bronze teased, squeezing her waist playfully. Garnet flushed a brilliant shade of crimson.
Ace paused impatiently. "That's enough. We haven't got many hours of daylight left. We need to keep searching."
Crystal rolled her eyes excessively. "Lighten up, handsome. It's not like they're going to survive out here anyway. They probably assume it's a harmless forest."
Ace ignored Crystal's reasoning and continued to stride ahead, scanning the area for any signs of movement.
Crystal sighed and followed closely behind. Her limbs were beginning to ache, and the task of hunting down other tributes was exhausting under the searing, jungle sun.
Garnet swiped the perspiration from her forehead. "This is ridiculous. Ace! Can't we at least stop for a drink?"
Ace turned and reluctantly headed over to them. "Fine, but make it quick."
Garnet and Bronze sagged gratefully, fishing about their back-packs for water.
Crystal eyed Ace quizzically. "Have I done something to piss you off?"
Ace frowned. "Surprisingly, no. Why do you ask?"
"You seem slightly… off," Crystal replied simply.
"Well, I could blame it on the heat. My body isn't used to the climate yet," Ace mused.
Crystal shrugged. "Perhaps."
"Come on, let's walk," Ace said firmly, beginning to march away.
Crystal blinked in confusion before jogging to catch up.
"Tell me about your life before the Games," said Ace, taking her hand.
Crystal thought for a moment, wondering why Ace even cared, before answering. "Well, I was born and raised in the Victor's Village. My mother is an actress, so I never saw her much. She was always distant even when she came home, so I never had much time for her. I love my father, though. He let me live as a child for years until I began training at the age of ten. He advised and helped me as much as he could, despite his busy schedule. I have a younger sister called Peridot, and she aspires to me like me when she matures. I want to bring pride to her and my father."
Ace's expression was bright with interest. "I have a younger sibling, too. He's called Rowan, and he's my father's favourite, despite all I've done to please him. I won masses of awards for my courage and strength, but it was never enough for my father. All he wanted was for me to win the Games, and I intend to do so. No matter what."
Crystal frowned. "So, that's it? When the time comes, you won't hesitate to kill me, Ace?"
Ace stepped in front of her, causing Crystal to halt. "Don't. Just don't."
Crystal gazed into his stony emerald eyes, trying to find a hint of compassion. "Are you telling me you haven't devised a plan yet?"
"Are you telling me you haven't?" Ace retorted.
Crystal opened her mouth to argue, but found no words.
"I thought so," Ace sighed. "Come on, let's get back to those two before they do something stupid."
Crystal swallowed and made her way back to Bronze and Garnet. In truth, she didn't have a plan. The only thing she was certain of was that she wasn't afraid, and she'd cut down anyone in her way along the path of victory.
But gazing around at her fellow Careers, could she kill them?
Bronze? Not Bronze. Definitely not. She valued him too much. In her short time of knowing Bronze, he'd become so dear to her. She didn't regard him romantically, despite them having a flirtatious banter now and again. Crystal classed him as her friend, a precious friend she wanted to keep. She didn't have the mental ability to kill Bronze.
Garnet? In truth, the wild girl was growing on Crystal. Garnet's determination and cruelty reminded Crystal of herself. However, Crystal was sure if it came to it, she would kill Garnet without hesitation.
Ace? The thought was so repulsive it made Crystal shiver. No. She couldn't and wouldn't harm Ace, end of story, although she knew undoubtedly he wouldn't take mercy on her. Crystal gazed at him in wonder. How could he have such an effect on her, when she'd known him in a matter of days?
The Careers continued searching but it seemed the remaining tributes were in hiding. Wise, Crystal thought.
Bronze noticed a large, open clearing, which held no canopy and showed the Careers the rosy, evening sky.
"This is where we'll camp tonight," Ace decided.
Crystal slung down her back-pack in relief. "Good choice."
Ace winked at her, leaving leader-mode and returning to his usual, charming self. Crystal grinned and shook her head fondly, would she ever tire of Ace's mood swings?
Garnet got to work setting up the tents whilst Bronze hunted around for fire-wood. He returned shortly with a massive armful.
"You wouldn't believe it!" Bronze cried. "There's a huge stack right over there. You'd think it'd been placed here, just for us."
"Maybe we'll stay here," Ace mused. "We could have one person guard whilst the others hunt for tributes."
"I'll take first guard tomorrow!" Garnet exclaimed, her dark eyes narrowing, daring anyone to argue.
Crystal flipped her hair dismissively and began unpacking the Careers supplies, stacking them into a neat pile.
Garnet finished her job and glanced at Ace smugly. There were two tents.
"So, how's this going to work? Girls in one tent and boys in the other?" Garnet asked.
Ace pondered over this. "No, I'm sharing with Sparkles. You'll be overjoyed to know this means you're sleeping with Zo."
Garnet gasped, and Ace smirked at her horrified expression.
"Happy camping!" he teased before turning away.
"Who says I want to share with you?" asked Crystal with a smile.
Ace winked. "Honey, you were complaining about being too cold on a night. I'm your personal heater."
"I may take you up on that," Crystal giggled. Rummaging through a back-pack, she was delighted to find a comb. She raked it through her thick locks before placing it into her own back-pack.
Hours later, night had fallen, and the vast sky was illuminated by twinkling stars.
Bronze had prepared an enormous fire, so big it would send smoke across the whole arena.
However, when Crystal warned Ace of this, he simply shrugged.
"So? If the tributes want us, they can come and get us," he said darkly, a hint of malice in his sparkling orbs.
Crystal grinned. "And we'll be ready."
Bronze lit the fire with a match, and it raged into a roaring inferno.
"Now, that's what I call a fire!" Garnet cried appreciatively.
Crystal found a pack of sausages, and the Careers roasted them over the flames on sticks.
"You know what would really top this off? Booze," Ace sighed.
Suddenly, Bronze leapt to his feet. "Do you see that?"
A bleeping sound was emitting from a small, silver parachute. It sailed down towards the Careers camp.
Ace caught it and opened the package excitedly. Crystal understood, it was gift from a sponsor.
"Yes!" Ace laughed delightedly. Crystal squealed as he tossed her a bottle of liqueur.
"They do realize we're under-aged?" Garnet demanded, accepting a bottle.
"Well, if they can throw us into a blood-thirsty fight to the death, I'm sure they can grace us with alcohol," Crystal sniggered.
Bronze took a long swig from his bottle. "You wonderful people!" he bellowed at the sky.
.
Linnet and I continued to watch the Careers in disgusted fascination. We were concealed into the highest level of the canopy, over-looking the Careers camp. It had taken ages to get up there, but it'd been worth the effort. We were completely hidden and protected.
Linnet had received a water-proof sheet in his back-pack. It would have to do in terms of warmth.
Plus, the Careers fire was so vast that the heat even reached us.
"Did you see that?" Linnet asked, awe-struck.
I frowned. "No, what was it?"
"A parachute. They're getting gifts from sponsors already and they have all those supplies," he replied, barely suppressing his disbelief.
I shook my head. "Them starting a fire like that is a sign of pure arrogance, because they know no one will dare try and attack them."
"We could prove them wrong," Linnet said, finding my eyes. "Do a surprise attack."
"No, don't be ridiculous," I snapped, quick to dismiss the idea.
"Seriously!" Linnet urged, taking my chin and turning my head so I looked at him. "When they're sleeping or something, we could try and get some supplies! Just not enough to make them suspicious."
I frowned and considered this. "OK, that could work. I'll go for the supplies, and you'll watch my back?"
I was surprised by my sudden act of courage, and by the looks of it, so was Linnet.
"Sure, sounds great," he replied enthusiastically.
I smiled genuinely and glanced back down at the Careers. It seemed the sponsors had given them alcohol.
Even better. Not only would they be asleep, but hung-over, too.
Linnet and I watched as Bronze danced around the fire, hand-in-hand with Garnet, who was stumbling over her own feet. Bronze was chanting, taunting other tributes to come and get them, which didn't seem like a very wise thing to do, considering they were drunk.
I doubted anyone would pluck up the courage to attack them anyway.
Crystal strutted around in her under-wear, and by the looks of it, she'd been dancing for years. Even in her drunken state, she looked like a professional. Ace knocked back the liqueur, shirtless, and the way the flames shone of his muscles made him seem even more intimidating.
I sniggered as Bronze slung his arm around Crystal's shoulders and accidentally poured liqueur into her hair. Linnet laughed as she struck Bronze across the cheek.
"They're quite amusing," he said with a grin. I nodded in agreement.
"But we shouldn't underestimate them, even in this state."
.
As the fire began to die, the Careers got wasted. Even in her drunken haze, Crystal found herself having the most fun she'd had in ages. The night grew on, and Garnet had to haul Bronze into their tent, because he'd passed out. Ace and Crystal stayed outside, sat on a log.
Ace had wrapped his warm arms around Crystal's practically naked frame.
"You know what I'm going to do the second I get out of here?" Ace slurred, resting his cheek on Crystal's head.
Crystal blinked dozily. "Nope, what's that?"
"Find a hot girl and fuck her. Hard," Ace replied.
Crystal slapped Ace in mock annoyance.
"That is most inappropriate!" she scolded.
Ace grinned. "It's true. I haven't had a good fuck in weeks."
"Is that a hint?" Crystal laughed, nuzzling into his chest.
"It might be. I wanted to fuck you the second I saw you," Ace purred in her ear.
Crystal giggled. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Smirking, Ace carried Crystal into their tent, and the rest was history.
.
Finally, the Careers all disappeared into their tents. I tried to ignore the animalistic moaning emitting from Crystal and Ace's tent. It was rather disturbing.
"Ugh, listen to them, going at it like dogs. Do they have no shame?" Linnet wondered. I shrugged, because frankly, I had no clue.
"We'd better sleep," said Linnet softly, offering me the water-proof sheet.
I yawned and snuggled against some moss. "It's OK, you take it."
Linnet shook his head vigorously. "No, you'll freeze."
I continued to be defiant, until eventually Linnet rolled his eyes. Gently, he laid down beside me and held me close.
I breathed in his intoxicating, ocean scent. It was enough to lull me into peaceful dreams.