Hello...there. Before you yell at me. remember, I warned you updates would be coming slower. Plus this is the longest chapter me or Tyme have written so far. AND I brought in my expert on kissing scenes for you guys. This chapter of course is written by me, Chive. Edited by the wonderful Tyme. But the hunger games is not owned by either of us.
Clove's POV:
Forty-nine.
Forty-eight.
My heart beats in unison with the count down. Or maybe quicker. No matter how much training nothing can ever prepare you for this. Even for Cato, who's waited his whole life for this. Nothing can prepare you for a war fought by children. Even if you're not in the war. You're still affected. My sister. It's hard to think about Chive right now. I start to wonder what Autumn was thinking, as she stepped off… I find my foot drifting toward the edge of the platform. No, I'm not going down without a fight. I'm not giving up. I had to stay alive long enough to keep Cato alive.
Nineteen.
Eighteen.
I stole a glance at Cato. He's staring straight into the cornucopia. Probably planning. He looks over at me for a couple seconds frowning. Then looks away
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
I take off running to the mouth of the cornucopia. I get to some throwing knives at the same time as the boy from four. Panicking I grab on of the knives and swipe at him. He dodge's it. He's older and been trained. I don't stand a chance, if he come at me with a weapon. He backs up into a shelf holding spears. He grabs one. "Hey, allies right? You're the girl from two. I move my arm into a throwing position. He flinched and moved the spear toward me, which startled me enough to throw the knife. It hit him in the chest and he fell over. I picked up his spear and drove it threw his heart. Looking away so I wouldn't see the life leave his eyes.
I hear a movement near the entrance. I quickly grab two more knives. When I see Cato I relax. "Clove?" he says. When he sees the boy from four he looks at me, "Did you kill him?"
I pull the knife and the spear out. Looking away. Looking at Cato. "No, he just walked into a flying knife then fell on top of a spear."
Cato looked at me exasperated. I saw movement from behind him. "Twelve!" I yell running past him. The girl from twelve. Katniss. The boy from nine went at her with a club. I threw one of my knives. Which got lodged in his back. A thought flashed through my mind. She's mine. It almost scared me. I threw the last knife. In my attempt to get after her I didn't think to grab more knives. The knife hits her backpack. She continues to run into the woods.
After that all the tributes are either dead or have moved on. The cannon goes off marking the number of deaths in the blood bath. Eleven dead. Thirteen alive.
"Clove!" I hear Cato yell. I turn around. I see the girl from four standing near Glimmer. Why isn't she dead. Cato grabs my arm and leads me as far as he dare away from the cornucopia. "The boy from four was our allie."
"Well, that would have been nice to know," I huff.
"I said we we're allies with all the tribute's from career districts."
"No, you said we we're allies with all tributes from one."
He lets out an exasperated breath. "Well know no one will trust you."
"Good, I don't trust them either."
"Clove, please."
I shoved past him and pulled my knife out of the boy from nine's back.
I never agreed to be allies with anyone. Cato told me he partnered with Marvel and Glimmer, but never anything about the tributes from four. He didn't even ask me if I wanted to be allies with them. He knew we we're allies. I'd like to believe that Cato would never hurt me. But, these games do things to people. I don't know what to believe anymore.
I felt something on my back. Startled I kicked behind me. I turn around to see Cato fall on his face. I couldn't help but laugh. "I came to apologize and you kick me in the shin. " he shakes his head. "Not cool." he's smiling and I can hear the laughter in his voice. He grabs my leg and pulls it out from under me. I land on my back, the air getting knocked out of me. I would normally yell at him, but I'm too busy laughing. It feels wrong, messing around while we're supposed to be killing each other. But, it feels good. To laugh. To play. To forget even for only a couple seconds, that only one of us could possibly live.
Cato kneels next to me. I get on my knees and shove him. "That wasn't very nice! You startled me! I had an excuse."
He laughs falling backward, he grabs my arm and pulls me down with him. I land on top of him and quickly pin his arms above his head. Sitting with my legs on either side of his chest. "It wasn't a very good excuse." he grins. He frees his hands easily. My size working against me, he easily picks me up around the waist and throws me over his shoulder. "CATO PUT ME DOWN!" I shriek laughing. I'm facing his back so I can hardly see anything except for the ground. Which is way too close to my face. Cato marches over to where the other tribute's are sitting, near the cornucopia.
"Sorry, she was causing trouble." he says. I can tell he's grinning. He turns around and I strain my neck and look at Glimmer who's frowning with her arms crossed. I can't help the smirk that crosses my face. Marvel is shaking his head humorously. Cato drops me on the ground. My cheeks are bright red from being upside down so long. I sit up. Cato stands next to me.
"Once you to stop fooling around, we need a plan." Glimmer grumbles.
Cato laughs. "Fine. what's the plan."
"Well first we need to grab the available supplies and leave. Before the game makers get crabby since they need to collect the bodies." Marvel states.
"Then what?" Cato asks.
"Then we figure out what to do next." Marvel says grinning.
I roll my eyes and head toward the cornucopia. We managed to keep almost all of the weapons inside the horn. We also got several of the backpacks and random supplies and foods that had been stored in boxes. We make several trips to our new camp. We camp out in a small clearing in the wood. We set all the supplies in a pile.
Marvel, Cato and I all carry backpacks, (Cato and Marvel insisted as men they were obligated to each carry one and there was no way I was going to let Glimmer show me up.) I have a dozen throwing knives. Cato has his precious sword. Marvel has a spear and Glimmer had a bow and a quiver of arrows, (even though she sucks at archery.)
We have two three tents but one is very hard to set up. And three sleeping bags. Lots of food and empty water bottles. Also we have lots of extra weapons.
" I'll take first watch," Marvel said, " I'll switch with Glimmer later, Until the get rested for tonight."
I walk into a tent and watch as the girl from four walks after Glimmer into one. Cato follows me into my tent after seeing this.
"What are you doing?" I ask. My head buzzing. Small space, two people, one sleeping bag.
Cato grins. "No other tents, besides Marvel's but that would be a little weird."
"Would it now?" I say sitting down on the sleeping bag, trying to act casual. I pat the ground next to me. Inviting him to sit down.
Cato gets this weird mischievous look on his face. " You know, there isn't any camera's in here." Cato says crawling over to me.
"I have no idea how to respond to that." I say shaking my head.
"Then don't," he wiggles his eyebrows making me laugh. My cheeks feel hot like I'm blushing, though I have no reason to be embarrassed.
I can't think, as he lies down dragging me on top of him. Then flipping me so I'm underneath him. He lies down on me but gently enough so I can breathe, yet I'm still stuck here. MY heart pounds in anticipation. He props himself up on one forearm and his knees. He glides his other hand down my chin. And with half closed eyes he bends down, his lips move towards me, and soon enough his lips are on mine. My hands some how end up around his neck. Pulling him closer.
He breaks away from the kiss, and flopped down on his back pulling me on top of him. I can feel my heart beating in my throat. It beats so loud I wonder if he can hear it. Or feel it. Maybe both. He kisses my chin, then my jaw, then my throat. I feel like I should push him away. But it feels good. I love him and trust him but...
He presses his mouth to the skin under my ear. He gently starts biting the skin. I freeze, nervous. I pull my head away, nervous. It feels wrong. I'm supposed to fighting for my life. I'm on a freaking national T.V. show. What if Cato's wrong. There could be microphones. He tries to kiss me again. I place my hands on his chest and push him away.
"Cato!" I groan. "You do realize there are still microphones." Trying to come up with a reasonable excuse.
"Yeah but they don't play them unless you can be seen." he says matter of factually, "besides I want to spend my time with you before I have to go flirt with..."
I shove him off of me and get up, moving away from him. Kneeling due to the height of the tent. "How is that remotely relevant?"
"Relevant?"
"Why does no one know what relevant means?"
"Not everyone reads twenty books a day!"
"Not relevant."
"Not the point."
"Exactly."
"Whatever, Knives."
"Stop calling me that!"
" Whatever you want…Knives."
"Can you be serious for five seconds?"
"Maybe three if you're lucky."
He obviously doesn't realize how frustrated I am.
I walk out of the tent. The other careers have all disappeared into their tents.
" Clove, what do you think the capitol would think if some Glimmer accident died of a…." I hear a sound in the woods.
"Shut up for a second," I say.
"Why are you so mad?"
"Just shut up!"
He shuts up. I cautiously move toward the woods. "Cato get your spear…" I whisper. He quickly grabs the spear and points it toward the edge of the trees. It comes closer and closer until…
My heart beats quickly. As a figure emerges. I quickly jump kicking at he/she/it. Probably not the best idea considering I had no idea if they were armed or not. I'm able to pin them to the ground easily, though they're twice my size. They gasp in surprise from the impact with the ground. I sit on top of them, pulling their arms behind their back.
"Stop!" they gasp. The voice is definitely male, which I guessed from their size. I pull their arms closer together. Any further and I could easily dislocated their shoulder blades. They squirm beneath me in pain. "Stop! I...I'm hear to help you."
"How could you help us?" Cato asks, we make eye contact. Don't trust him. His eyes tell me. I've known him long enough that I can tell what he's thinking, merely from the look in his eyes or the expression on his face. Even here in the dark. Glimmer may be prettier or more brutal than me, but in the end I have a connection with Cato that she will never have. In the end he'd spare me, to his and Glimmer's expense. She's just to blind to see that.
"I..can help you find her. Katniss." Cato shoots me a questioning look. Should we trust him?
"Why shouldn't we just kill you know and find her on our own?" I ask.
"Please..I..I'm from her district...I'm your best chance."
Cato laughs. "Sorry lover boy, I didn't recognize you in the dark."
I glare at him. But I don't think he can see it in the dark "Come on Clove, get off him."
I stay put but relax my grip on his shoulders slightly. He sighs in relief and I pull them again. He sucks a harsh breath in.
"Come on, Clove," Cato sighs and grabs my waist pulling me away from him. I get up but swat away his arms. He's making me look like a child. He still holds me tight "Let go of me!" I scowled. This time I'm able to shove his arms away. He steps away from me, alarmed. I cross my arms across my chest. Turning toward him I say, "So you have another ally you didn't bother to tell me about?"
Twelve skampers to his feet, rubbing between his shoulder blades. I glance at him, that leave them, going into my tent. MY tent. Cato can share his with twelve, or Glimmer for all I care. Actually, not Glimmer. I'm not that mad. He can sleep on the ground. Actually, not the ground he could easily be killed in his sleep.
I make an inhuman groaning noise. Frustrated. I probably couldn't make that noise if I tried. I lay back on the sleeping bag, which has been moved from it's place earlier. I hear talking, Cato and Twelve obviously didn't realize that I can hear their them. What if Glimmer and Marvel could hear me and Cato…
"Sorry, about her…" says the first voice, obviously Cato. "She's a little feisty."
She? Can't I at least get a name?
The other voice laughs, Twelve I think. It sounds forced...it probably is.
"What's going on here?" Another voice, probably Marvel asks.
"Marvel you are one of the worst guards I ever met," Cato says laughing.
"Would you like the midnight shift?"
"We have shifts?"
"Duh, I have to sleep at some point."
"Then fine wake me up in a couple of hours."
"Wait do you see that?"
"What?"
"Over their stupid."
Cato opens up the tent door. I jump.
"Jeez, scaredy pants. I just wanted to tell you, someone lit a fire." he gets this grin on his face, I don't know think I like it. "You could stay here, but you'll miss all the fun."
Fun? I must look pretty shocked. "I didn't mean it like that, Knives."
"I'll come if you promise not to call me that."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, but you should come anyway."
I roll my eyes. "Fine." Do I really want to participate in killing someone? Do I really want to watch Cato kill someone?
I follow Cato and Glimmer toward the smoke, Marvel stands near/next to me and Twelve and Four follow us. When we reach the girl, I look at the ground. I don't want to remember her face. I don't want to see the light leave her eyes.
"Please…" she stampers. Marvel snickers. "Please don't ki…" she stops speaking, she can't speak anymore. The dead can't speak. I feel sick. Someone nudges my shoulder. Glimmer looks at me expectantly. "What?" I stamper. She sighs. "We we're just saying how funny she was." Funny? They think her begging for mercy was funny.
"Hilarious," I mumble. I feel like I'm going to be sick. I look at Cato. He looks...worried. "We should move..so they can collect the body," he says. As the others file out, Cato grabs my arm, pulling me along a different path. Into a clearing he pulls me at least ten yards from the nearest tree, probably being cautious of the microphones. "Are you okay?" he looks crazy worried. He looks like a parents who thinks their kid is going to puke.
I nod.
"Are you going to have an attack?" he half whispers. It's a very serious sounding whisper.
"I don't think so," I say quietly.
"Hey where are you going?" Marvel calls. Cato let's go of my arm and looks at him. I hold my arm there for a second and then bring it down to my side.
I look over at him. "I was just saying," I take a glance at Cato, "that we should make sure she's dead, I didn't hear a canon." I say slowly.
"Of course she's dead, I killed her." Cato says. Okay, now I'm definitely going to puke. He looks at me like he thinks I'm about to faint. Maybe, I am.
Glimmer walks over, "Shouldn't we have heard a cannon?"
Marvel replies, "I'd say yes. Nothing to prevent them from going in immediately. "
"Unless she isn't dead." says Four.
"She's dead, I stuck her myself." Anyone who didn't know Cato would hear confidence in his voice. But, I can tell it's fake. For the cameras. Everyone loves the brawny, handsome, killer.
"Then where's the canon?" Glimmer says flipping her hair.
"Someone should go back, make sure the job is done," Marvel adds.
"I said she's dead!" his confidence is cracking. He keeps glancing at me. Everytime he says dead, he looks more and more nervous. The rest of the careers start fighting, I try to tune them out. Shut my eyes and pretend I'm not here. Pretend I'm back home and with a bunch of fighting students at the training center.
"We're wasting time! I'll go finish her and let's move on!" Twelve says. Silencing all of us. He leaves, heading back towards the girl. I shove past all the others and run ahead. I eventually slow to a walk. I hear footsteps behind me. Nice job, Clove. I spin around. And let out a sigh of relief when I see it's Cato. He grabs my arm. "What are you doing? Running off? Did you even bring a weapon?" I glare at pull off the side of my coat. I had made holes in the inside layer and threaded a set of throwing knives through it. Did he really believe I wasn't smart enough to bring a weapon? "Oh," he sighs. "I was just worried…"
"Worried I wasn't smart enough to bring a weapon? We are in an arena Cato." I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth.
"I'm just trying to protect you."
"I'm not your little sister, Cato." I say quietly but seriously.
"No, your my little knives." he says I can hear the smile in his voice. He wraps his arms around me. I press my face into his shirt. And decide, just this once, I'm not going to yell at him for calling me that.
