I look down and see Cato staring up at me as I try to figure a way out of this. "You shouldn't have come after me, you idiot." I groan, shaking my head as my heart beats about a thousand times a minute.
"No person left behind." He coughs and I roll my eyes at him closing my eyes.
"Yeah well now we're both dead. But you didn't leave me behind.. how noble." I snort, realizing he's sitting up and straddling King behind me. Poor King... he didn't want to be brought into this mess. He's struggling through the snow and trying to stay up right with us two on his back. I'm so sorry, King...
"Thank you for not turning me in, Cato.."
He looks at me with a determined face and I can't help but feel a little shiver go through my body. I've never had a crush but I feel like this is the closest I will ever get. And now it's all over because we're about to go over a cliff. We get closer and closer and I can't do anything now but hope for a miracle but prepare for a quick death.
Then, as if God himself reaches down from the sky, King is being pulled sideways away from the cliff. My mouth is open in shock as I realize the men are pulling on King's reigns and bringing us to them. If that's not good timing, I don't know what is. I don't relax my grip around his neck until we're behind the huge rock that snow is flowing past. I didn't even realize Cato had been gripping my sides until he's letting go and he's jumping down. A pain in my side stops me from taking the hand he puts out. I wave it off as nothing but realize I'm shaking as I touch my side.
Blood is on my fingers and I'm falling off the horse a second later, gasping as my sight starts to go blurry. I'm being laid down and I can hear Cato yelling that I'm hurt and barely see him pushing people aside to get the medic. Gale is shaking me and telling me to hold on but I can't. I shake my head but realize I can't hold on any longer and before I can protest to help, I'm drifting off unable to keep my eyes open.
When I wake up I can feel bandages wrapped around my stomach tightly, I can already tell my shirt is off. Which means the medic knows I'm a woman and I am about a minute away from death. I hear whispering outside the tent I'm in and slowly sit up, wincing slightly. Cato storms in and I can see the guilt in his face. He's in limbo right now, knowing he will have to tell everyone the truth.
"I'm so sorry.." I whisper, not feeling anger towards him at all. He looks at me a bit surprised and I just shrug. "I know what you're going to have to do. You'll have to kill me.."
There's a strangled look on his face as he shakes his head. I sigh and grip the blanket tight around myself, blinking my eyes shut hard. "It lasted for longer than I ever thought it would and I'm sorry that I did this in the first place. You have to be convincing, though. You can't be found out." I can tell he's about to protest but he doesn't have the time. Haymitch is bursting through the tent two seconds later and staring at me in awe.
"I didn't believe it. I said there was no way a girl can do all the stuff this kid can do. I can't believe she had me fooled." He goes over and grabs my arm, though he doesn't do so in spite. I can tell he doesn't want to do this as much as Cato doesn't. "Looks like we have a woman in our midst, men." He drops my arm and I stumble forward, falling into the snow since I'm still weak.
Cato walks out of the tent next and stares at me with a face made of stone. It was impossible for someone to know what he was thinking. He walks over to King and takes my sword out of it's halter, turning to look at me. King must sense something because he is snorting and whinnying instantly and trying to get to me. "Hold the horse." Haymitch mumbles to a few of the men who grab his reigns, their faces blank.
What happens next really surprises me, though. Gale, Finnick, and Peeta all rush forward and a little spark of happiness ignites in me. They must have liked me as much as I liked them. But Haymitch raises his hand and they stop in their tracks. "You know the law..."
Everyone is looking at me as Cato walks forward, his face still cold as ice. He raises the sword and I close my eyes, making the tears stay hidden as I sit on my heels, my arms crossed at my stomach. I should've never left home... Bryony is going to die now and he will just be in more trouble since they will know that I have been gone. He might even be killed instantly.
I hear something fall into the snow and open my eyes slowly, confused when I see the sword in the snow in front of me. "A life for a life." Cato dead pans, staring me in the eyes. I bite my lip and ask him with my eyes what he is doing. If Snow finds out... "Move out."
Haymitch frowns and looks down at me. "But sir, you know the law..."
Cato moves forward quickly and grabs him by the collar, staring him down. "I said move out. We need to go tell Snow that we've defeated a whole army of them." he snaps, pushing him forward and taking one last look at me before going to Marvel who seems to have survived the arrow attack. "Let her horse go." He snarls at the two men who gladly let go.
King comes trotting over to me and I watch from the ground as Gale and the others stare at me pitifully before turning and heading out after Cato. I blink as King nudges my shoulder, nibbling on my hair. I swallow the lump in my throat and wipe away the tears in my eyes. Again, I've cheated death. And again, I have no idea how.
I sit with a fire in front of me, still too shocked to actually get up and start the long journey home. Actually, I have no idea how to even get there. I guess just go to the first District I come to and take a train home. It's not like they knew I was in the war, they would probably just let me on no questions asked.
"Come on, King. Let's go home..." My voice is hardly a whisper but it's not like it matters anyways. King won't be responding anytime soon.
I'm about to get up when I hear a noise around the corner. I frown and motion for King to stay where he is, though I'm sure he doesn't want to move either way. I am suddenly glad I found a small little cove at the base of the valley. If I had stayed out in the open, not only would the wind have gotten to me, I'm sure whatever I hear would have as well. I stand up and move to the very edge of our little hideout, flattening myself against the wall.
I hear an angry yell and I can't help but look just barely around the corner. I literally have to cover my mouth so that I don't gasp out in fright. There are men standing up and hobbling out from the snow, gathering together. How are they still alive after that avalanche? I keep my hand on my mouth and keep listening, almost too shocked to stay up on my feet.
"Snow said that it would be a small group and they would be easy to take down! He never said that most of us would be killed! I could've stayed in District Two for this!" I furrow my brow and think over his words. What could he mean...? This is District Thirteen... isn't it?
"Calm down, Brutus. We've done our part. They think they killed District Thirteen troops. Even if they were supposed to die, it wasn't our fault. Snow will just throw them a celebration in the Capitol and that will be the end of it. As long as people think District Thirteen is destroyed that is all Snow wanted. This uprising is going to be stomped out before any of the Districts get any ideas. And if they do... well you heard what Snow said."
I watch as they all start back to what must be a District but I on the other hand, I am so shocked I can't even move. District Thirteen is plotting an uprising! They haven't been fighting at all! Snow has just made it seem like they are the good guys and District Thirteen is killing our family and friends... when really, we are just killing each other. What. The. Hell. District Thirteen is still alive but they are not fighting, they're sitting safe and sound wherever they are. And suddenly, I'm angry at them. They have to know what is happening. Instead of helping or letting us know, they are just letting us kill each other off. Maybe they're letting it happen so it will be easier when it is time for the uprising. I don't know. All I know is that I have to find Cato and tell him what is going on.
Jumping into action, I walk as fast as I can over to King and pat his neck before jumping onto him with a hiss. I'm still sore and even though the medic put something on it to heal fast, it still burns during activity. "Let's get to the Capitol, King. Before they do..." I state, knowing I could get there before them if I tried. I'm on a horse, they're on foot. Last time I checked we had been a District away from the Capitol. It's time to do or die. Before more people die.
Author's Note: Did I surprise you?! I hope you liked it! It was a little twist I put in myself from the Hunger Games even though it still was kind of Mulan like! Now, I warn you; the next chapter may take a few days to get up because I'm going to be plotting from now till the end of the story ahead of time. I have a few complex ideas that I need to map out and I'm going to have to ask for your patience, you lovely people! I can't believe how many reviews this has! To all of you reviewers, you make it so much better to write! And to everyone who reads and stays silent, I thank you as well! After all, I write this for you guys not myself! ;] Please read and review and like I said, it might be a few days until something is up again! Smooches!
Roo!
