I awoke with a start. The cannon's boom echoed off the walls of the arena. I blinked groggily until my vision cleared. Linnet was crouched beside the edge of the canopy, gazing at the Careers camp. Their fire had died. The Capitol certainly weren't going to be happy about the fact that their anthem had been masked by the smoke last night.

"It wasn't one of them," he said shortly. I shuffled to his side.

It was almost dawn; the morning sun was teetering on the horizon, a glorious, amber ball of light.

The Careers hadn't stirred; their camp was still and peaceful.

"We should go," Linnet said abruptly.

I nodded slowly. My heart-rate increased, anticipating the task to come.

"Yeah, we have to be quick," I replied.

Slowly, Linnet and I made our way down the canopy, using branches and vines to support us. My footing slipped several times, but Linnet was always there to help me regain it. The irony of that thought almost made me smile.

We crept to the outskirts of the clearing and hid beside a giant log-pile.

"OK, you stay here," I whispered, shivering against the cold. You would hardly believe this arena could get so hot. "I'm going in. I won't take much; I'll take only what we need."

If Linnet was reassured by my explanation, he didn't show it. Instead, Linnet frowned and grasped my hand tightly.

"Be careful, don't make a sound," he murmured.

I nodded in understanding, and then slowly, cautiously, began to move.

I walked past the tents successfully, and let out a sigh of relief. Step one, accomplished. I could almost feel those back-packs in my hands. Daringly, I broke into a steady jog over to the supplies.

I grabbed a couple of small packs hurriedly, strapping them onto by back.

Finished, I turned with a sense of triumph.

It suddenly turned to utter fear.

Ace stared at me tauntingly. His striking, green eyes sparkled with malice. The weak sunlight glinted of his deadly, silver blade.

"Didn't your mother teach you not to steal?" Ace teased.

"Didn't your mother teach you not to play with knives?" I retorted, overcome by hate.

"No, actually, I never knew my mother," Ace snarled, raising his sword threateningly.

Oh, no. I've blown it.

I glanced frantically over Ace's bare shoulder. Linnet had vanished.

I sent him a silent prayer and squeezed my eyes shut, preparing to die.

"Ow!" Ace yelped.

My eyes snapped open, and I watched, completely stunned, as Linnet hurled rocks at Ace.

"You little maggot!" Ace growled, whirling around furiously.

I took this as an opportunity to escape. I sprinted towards Linnet, hauled on his sleeve and ran desperately towards the trees.

Ace staggered and groaned, completely hung-over and unable to pursue us.

"This isn't the end!" he roared.

Oh, I'm counting on it, I thought snidely.

Once we'd reached the safety of the canopy, Linnet shook me violently.

"Are you alright?" he panted, caressing my face.

"I think so," I replied breathlessly. "I got the back-packs."

Delighted, Linnet rummaged through them.

We'd managed to acquire flasks of water, crackers, a thick blanket, matches, wire and some rope.

"I could do something with this," Linnet mused, fumbling with the wire and rope.

"And I could do something with this," I laughed, taking a heavenly swig of water.

"Harper, you do understand we're in danger," Linnet warned, gazing at me with his deep, blue eyes.

"Were we ever safe?" I countered.

"No, seriously, they'll come looking for us."

"Then we'd better get moving," I decided, gazing into the unknown depths of the place I presumed to be a forest.

.

Crystal stumbled outside, aroused from sleep by Ace's vicious cursing.

"What's up?" Crystal asked softly.

Ace glanced at her, trembling with rage.

"Those District Four fuckers stole our supplies," he seethed, driving his sword through a back-pack, completely draining its contents.

"Fish Girl?" Crystal demanded, almost dropping her blanket with shock.

"Yeah," Ace replied shortly, trying to regain his composure.

Crystal raced back into the tent and threw on her clothes, slinging the quiver of arrows over her shoulder.

Taking her bow, Crystal rushed back outside and began scanning their surroundings.

She was completely furious with herself for missing a chance at killing Harper.

"Shit!" she hissed, stamping her foot childishly.

Crystal glanced over at Ace, who looked about ready to tear someone's head off.

"Honey, don't worry, we'll find them," Crystal soothed, walking over to him and gazing into his feral eyes.

"When we do, they're toast," Ace replied threateningly.

Crystal smirked. "Indeed."

Hours later, Bronze and Garnet had awoken and been informed of the news, and the Careers were ready to set out hunting.

"Garnet, you're taking first guard. Don't let anyone live if they dare try and approach camp," Ace ordered.

Garnet nodded firmly and took a seat.

"Crystal, Bronze, let's go," Ace continued, and the trio headed for the jungle.

They searched in silence for a while, for their heads were pounding.

"Any regrets?" Bronze joked, winking at his District partner.

Crystal smiled. "Nope."

"Good girl," Bronze replied with a grin.

"Damn, I ache," Crystal whimpered, almost tripping over a large tree root.

"Whereabouts?" Ace turned with a knowing smirk.

Crystal giggled. "Oh, please! You have a one-track mind, Acey boy."

"Garnet was complaining about the jungle animals keeping her awake," Bronze laughed.

"Tell her I'm insulted," Crystal joked.

In truth, Ace hadn't been her first, but he'd been her best. It appeared their bodies were just designed to fit together. Crystal felt a heavy sense of sadness. One or both of them would die. Crystal would never marry Ace, or start a family with him, or even die an old woman with him. They were destined to kill or be killed.

"OK, time out!" Bronze called after an hour of searching. The sun had reached its peak in the sky, and the Careers were completely sweltering.

Crystal glanced worriedly at Ace, expecting him to blow a gasket, but instead, he nodded.

"Sure, I could do with a break," he allowed.

Bronze dropped and gulped back his remaining water.

"How are you feeling?" Ace asked Crystal as she came over to his side.

"Fatigued, hung-over, beautiful," Crystal replied, keeping up the snooty façade for the Capitol viewers.

"That you are, Sparkles," Ace chuckled.

"You're not affected in the slightest?" Crystal teased, forming a seductive smile.

"By the heat or by your desirable presence?" Ace retorted, smirking with amusement.

"Both," Crystal whispered. Ace shifted closer, resting his hands on her slender waist.

"The heat I can handle, but you sweetheart, require my immediate attention," he growled, eyes blazing with lust.

Crystal laughed as Ace pushed her against a tree and slammed his lips against hers.

Ace kissed her like a starved man who'd just been offered a silver platter of goods, completely devouring her mouth.

"Guys, I'm already feeling queasy over here!" Bronze groaned, rolling onto his stomach.

As Ace and Crystal made out passionately, a silver parachute landed beside Bronze's head.

Ace ended the kiss, delighted to see Crystal flushed and panting.

"Hold on a second, I think we have a gift," he said, collecting the package.

"If it's more booze, send it back," Bronze mumbled.

Ace read the note aloud:

Keep it up, the viewers are loving it.

-B

"It's from Beowulf," Crystal caught on instantly.

"What does he mean?" Bronze wondered, sitting up curiously.

"I think I know," Ace laughed, winking at Crystal.

Crystal frowned in confusion, and then understood.

"Oh!" she gasped with surprise. "Well, I'll have to consider that."

Ace returned her teasing smirk, and then glanced down at Bronze.

"Come on, break over. I won't rest until I see Four's heads on a plate."