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A/N: Sorry for the longer waits. Pregnancy brain has reared its ugly head again and I think I lost like three day of my life as I can't seem to recall doing anything. Oh well. I'll try to be better, but just remember I won't write if I can't think clearly.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games Trilogy or its characters.
Sacrifice
Chapter Eleven
Written by: kmac13
10/17/2012
Very early in the morning, Cinna wakes the young couple. As he looks at the small girl protectively wrapped in the giant boy he almost can't believe this is the same boy he saw in last year's games. The boy looks pensive, protective and happy, nothing like the brutal killing machine he was last year. The girl looks content and happy without her usual scowl marring her beautiful face. He feels guilty having to wake them up, but knows it is necessary.
After saying their goodbyes, Cato and Katniss head off in different hovercrafts, one for the mentors and one for the tributes. The trip to the arena goes by in a quick daze and Katniss is on her plate in the arena before she really registers it. The first thing she does once she hears the countdown start is look around at her surroundings before looking over the cornucopia. She knows Haymitch had told her to just run to the woods, but she can't let go of the beautiful, shiny, silver bow and arrows. She doesn't even acknowledge the other tributes as the countdown ends and she is off her plate fast as lightening heading towards her weapon.
"Goddamnit! Is she completely mad? Going into that bloodbath head first." Haymitch curses under his breath. All of the mentors are sitting on the edge of their seats watching and hoping it isn't their tribute that gets axed. Cato is holding his breath until she is out of harm's way. He knows how agile and fast she is and knows as long as she doesn't lose concentration she will make it.
Malice is already at the cornucopia and has several weapons by the time the other tributes start getting close. He easily kills the boy from Four and the girl from Seven. He keeps one eye out for Katniss as he sees her get the bow and arrows and a medium sized green backpack. She is heading for the woods and he breathes only slightly easier as she is getting further away from the bloodbath. He turns to kill the boy from Nine and once he has fallen in a bloody pile he looks back up to see if Katniss has made it to the woods or not yet.
"The little rat is scared running away. I don't think so! Hey rat I'm coming for you!" Clove yells as she chases after Katniss. She throws one of her precious knives at Katniss, knowing that they would hit her. What she wasn't expecting was the knife that lands in her chest from Malice. Luckily for Katniss, her hunter senses are on full blast as she can hear the knife coming towards her head and pulls her backpack up enough to cover her from any damage. The knife gets lodged in it and Katniss turns to see Malice pulling a knife from Clove chest before spitting on her.
"Well we just lost all of our sponsors thanks to Malice killing his own District mate." Enobria announces as she throws her hands up in sheer exasperation.
"It'll be okay. At least we don't have to worry about Clove anymore and trust me no one from Two will give a damn that she died. Hell that's why the elders had her volunteer." Brutus says as he pats Enobria on the back. She glares at him, but doesn't argue back. She knows the district specifically sent Clove to get rid of her.
Cato breathes easier as he sees Katniss is far away from all of the other tributes. Malice, Marvel, Glimmer and the girl from Four, Cora, continue taking down any of the remaining tributes who are stupid enough to think they can get anything from the cornucopia. By the time the final tribute has fallen and the cannons start going off to announce a death, thirteen of the tributes are dead. Over half of the tributes gone. Once the final cannon sounds Peeta comes over to the group and Malice allows him along with the boy from Three to join in. The boy from Three and Peeta begin rearranging the landmines from around the plates to make a booby trap of sorts around the supplies. The other four Careers go to the lake and wash off the blood from the tributes they killed.
Katniss sets up camp for herself in a tree while she looks through her bag. She has rope, twine, iodine, matches, a sleeping bag, some dark glasses, a bottle for water, but no water, a bag of dried meat and fruit and a small first aid kit. Climbing down from the tree, she sets a snare nearby and goes in search of some game and water. She still has a little daylight left and doesn't want to waste it. She walks around for about two hours before she gives up her hunt for water and goes to check her snare, finding it empty she decides to head up a tree and call it a night.
The Careers and Peeta start hunting once night hits and the fallen tributes are shown, leaving behind Three to guard the supplies. Katniss is roused from her sleep by two things, the smell of smoke and the sound of a parade stomping through the woods. She looks towards the smoke and rolls her eyes at how stupid that tribute is and annoyed that the tribute is drawing attention and is this close to her. She hears the parade underneath her and realizes it's the Careers and Peeta, none of them looking up, thankfully. They head straight for the fire and she hears screaming and a high pitched annoying laugh as they head back towards her tree. No cannon has gone off as they stop under her tree and then they argue about who will go back to kill the girl. Peeta volunteers just so the fighting stops.
"Why is he even in with us?" Glimmer whines as she pulls on Malice's arm. He throws her off and looks at her with disgust.
"Don't touch me again. And he is with us because I said so." Malice growls at Glimmer causing her to back up and look for Marvel to stick up for her, but he shakes his head at her and smirks.
"Why did you kill Clove? Is it true you're in love with Firegirl?" Cora asks as she bats her eyelashes at Malice.
"I killed her because she is a loose cannon, she is a liability." Malice answers.
"You didn't answer my other question." Cora persists.
"She's Cato's wife." Malice says coldly.
"Still not an actual answer Malice. So I'll take it as a yes." Cora says looking up at Malice a smirk across her tanned face. She leans up to his ear, "I could make you forget all about Firegirl." She purrs.
For the second time in fifteen minutes Malice throws another girl off of him and glares venomously at her. She wisely backs down and goes to stand with Glimmer. "They're just jealous. Stupid hens." Marvel says as he slaps Malice on the back. "Hell I'm not blaming you, but you better not let your feelings cloud your judgment."
At this time the cannon goes off and Peeta comes up to the group. They all head off in search of another victim and Katniss breathes slightly easier now that they are away from her. She spends the next several hours awake from adrenaline and thoughts of her husband's best friend.
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