Bows and Snares
By: Legkicker
Chapter 11: Lost Love
It's the first one I've seen since we entered into this arena, and I assume it's mine due to its landing spot. Raechill and I just stare at it for a second, wondering whether or not it's really there. I'm guessing she never received one either.
I scoop up the parachute, taking off a small note attached.
Ratings are down, show some affection. – H.
Rolling my eyes, I toss away the note and pop open the silver compartment. Digging around inside, I locate three pairs of gloves. The first two of the pairs are a sleek silver, skin tight, and felt lined inside. They're different sizes, one small enough for my hands, the other probably for Gale.
A last pair inside is a bit more luxurious, a pair of mittens with fur lining. I guess Haymitch approves of us making allies…and me showing 'affection'.
I'm a bit surprised we have sponsors, considering we've done literally nothing to entertain the crowds. Maybe it was helping the girl…or our plan of assaulting the cornucopia?
When I see Raechill tuck her ice-cold hands under her arms, I immediately toss her up the fluffy pair. She takes them happily.
"Wow, thanks Katniss!" she squeals. I'm happy to see she's coming around, and I give her a small smile. I've been a bit frustrated all morning. Is it because Gale is conspiring with Umbra instead of me? I thought we were the partners…there goes my mood again.
I slip on the pair of gloves fit for my hands, and instantly feel the warmth they provide. I mouth 'thank-you' up at the sky.
The gloves are designed to keep your hands warm, while allowing you the full use of your fingers. Probably because I'll need to pull back a bow string, and in this weather, that's almost impossible.
Stuffing away Gale's gloves in my pocket, I take out a knife and cut off the parachute. It's a light fabric, but anything is better than nothing. We stash our berries in the parachute compartment and carry it around with us from bush to bush until it's full. Before we know it, time starts passing by fast. I figure we've got about ten minutes left, but Gale would probably appreciate an early return.
"Alright, let's head back-" I'm closing up the parachute when Raechill stops in her tracks. I bump into her and look up surprised.
"Katniss, what happens at the end?" she asks. "What's the point of an alliance?
I'm a bit surprised by the question, and just as confused. If she means the end of the games, I have no answer. Alliances are common in the arena, but usually they fall apart or members get killed off. The problem here is, the one we're in is too big. We've got as many tributes as the careers did.
"According to Umbra, nothing. We do nothing. Let the Gamemakers kill us off," I say, but Raechill still seems skeptical. As well she should be, because I am too. My real thought on the situation is that Umbra just rounds us all up and executes us. He'd look like a genius, and the Capitol would love it. He'd be famous…but is Umbra that cruel?
My fear for Gale is steadily rising; I should've gone with Umbra instead.
"Do you believe him?" she says. We continue walking.
I sigh, "Do I have a choice?"
And then it starts, a snowflake flutters down in front of me. Just one, then another, and another, until there's too many to count. I look up at the sky, the light grey cloud covering is still hanging overhead, and it doesn't seem to be moving either.
"At least we have gloves," I mutter sharply.
We come back through the forest up to the edge of the meadow by the oak tree. Upon arrival we discover that Gale and Umbra have not yet returned. I take the parachute compartment and stuff it up underneath a protruding root to keep it from being covered by snow.
With no sign of the others on the horizon, Raechill and I decide to get to work on making a shelter. To start, we gather up a bunch of branches about seven-to-eight feet in length and stand them up into a tent formation. It's frustrating work, trying to keep them from falling, especially in the snow. Eventually though, we get to wrapping them together with vine at the top. It's a flimsy construction, but good enough to withstand the snowy winds.
Shaking off the white fluff from some leaves, we make the ground inside a bit more comfortable. Actually, we make it even cozier by adding in several more layers and setting out spots for everybody. That's when I remembered the sleeping bag. It's covered in snow, so I shake it off and let it dry hanging in the tree. It doesn't take too long, and we spread that out inside as well.
Finally, the tent is done. It's just long enough to accompany four people comfortably, and I must say I'm impressed with it.
Snow now covers the ground with a thin blanket, still growing thicker as the time passes. I figure we'll need a fire tonight, so I set out a ring of rocks and cover it with more leaves. Then we make a stash of small sticks and a few larger branches. Since I'm out of work, I decide to string together a few more sticks to make a cooking split for the fire.
The snow provides easy tracking of the animals, as long as the tracks don't get covered too fast. I follow a pair of tiny footprints down to a rabbit a few yards into the meadow, shoot it, skin it, set it on the split, and roast it.
By the time we're finished, it looks like a small camp site set up. A long, stick-made tent covered by snow but dry inside, a nice sized fire pit with food cooking, a stack of fire wood and kindling…
But Gale and Umbra still aren't back! Gale said 30 minutes and it's been hours! I can't help but start to panic, passing back and forth around the campsite. This wasn't supposed to happen, they were supposed to be here! Every time Gale and I split up something like this happens!
"This is ridiculous! It's been hours!" I shout, popping my head into the tent. Raechill is sitting in the back, rubbing her new gloves on her face. She smiles happily, enjoying the warm place we have set up amongst the freezing climate.
She looks up and sees me, "Oh, sorry, yeah…it has been awhile hasn't it?"
Raechill is just happy to finally be warm again, and I can't blame her. I would be enjoying our new set-up too if we had the other two tributes to share it with. I mean, we made that tent big enough for four people, not two…or one for right now.
"Should we go look for them?" I ask. I cover my eyes from the blinding snow, staring out across the meadow. I can't even see to the middle, where we found Raechill, let alone the other side. There's no way I could find them.
The sun must be going down, although hidden by the clouds, I can see the sky growing darker by the minute.
Stupid Gale and Umbra, the Gamemakers probably listened in all night, waiting until now to split us up. We're smarter than that, we know not to split up. If there was no Umbra in this alliance we'd be just fine, enjoying the stash of food and warmth.
This blizzard will make it too difficult for them to trek back here now. The Gamemakers actually love this, since I could've gone with Umbra and instead they got rid of both him and Gale.
Not that Raechill and I are left defenseless, I'm sure we could handle just about any tribute aside from the careers…and that Thresh guy. He was big too, if not bigger than Cato. Hopefully, since Rue liked me, he may be passive.
"They probably just got lost in the blizzard…" Raechill pops her head outside. The snow collects in a small pile on her head, dotting her brown-hair with white. She shakes it off and sneaks back inside when I'm not looking.
Gale doesn't get lost, and I'm sure Umbra knows this arena like the back of his hand. Aside from that, all they really have to do is follow the river back down here.
I pace back and forth, the snow melting on my face and stinging. Half of me, the desperate half, wants to go searching for them, but the other half, the smarter one, tells me it's a bad idea. I'd be searching for a needle in a haystack, and if they're hiding out somewhere, I'd be risking my own life. Plus, I don't think Raechill would follow me too willingly.
"Katniss, you'll freeze out there. Come in here," Raechill calls.
She's right, all I'm doing is soaking my clothes and fuming. I'm surprised the snow doesn't steam when it hits my body.
I brush and knock off as much as I can before slipping inside. It is cozy, dark from the snow and leaf layers covering the stick walls. It's a good thing though, considering the wind won't blow through the holes.
The weight of the snow doesn't seem to affect the sticks too much like I worried, and luckily it's just starting to slide down the sides.
"Do you want to wear my gloves for a minute?" she offers them to me. I stare at them in her hands, and I wish I could be more worried about warm fingers than the possible demise of the other two allies in our group.
"That's alright, you keep them," I say, looking away and rolling my eyes. I keep tapping my feet and hands, staring out the doorway and waiting for somebody to come by. The only good thing coming out of this snowstorm is that it will pin down the other tributes as well.
"I made this for you, it's a bracelet," Raechill says. I look back at her, a bit impressed when I see what's in her hands. She took a piece of dry-vine and threaded it through a small acorn, tied it around a pebble, and threaded it through another small nut. She stretches it out and I hold out my right hand to her. She ties it on snug and smiles.
"Thanks, I like it," I say. It's the honest truth, I do like the thing for some odd reason. Maybe it's because I never get things for free, aside from the pin Madge gave me.
"It's a friendship bracelet. While you wear it, we're in an alliance together!" she shows me her wrist, revealing a similar one. Then she begins making a third, "I have to make one for Gale and Umbra."
So I keep quiet and watch her work. It gives me a glimpse into her life. Perhaps this is how she made friends back in her District, and maybe they're wearing similar bracelets. I feel a pang of sorrow strike my heart and I can't put my finger on why.
"What's in it for you? Why do you kill innocent tributes!"…"Don't kill innocents..."
That's why, because although we're not on good terms, he's still right. I've always looked at the tributes as 'just' tributes. But really, they're more than that. Every one of them has a backstory, and they all have something to fight for. I'm always so focused on myself that I never take a minute to think about anyone around me.
Even the careers have things going on back home. Maybe it isn't as severe, but they want to go home just as bad. Raechill is making the best of her last days, concentrating on what really matters…friendship.
Why should we waste our time worrying about death? Raechill…the one I wanted to kill when I had the chance.
"Follow the sun to the bending grass, between the mountains and through the pass…A songbird sings his tune so sweet, listens the traveler with weary feet." she sings softly, twisting the vine and tying on the pebble. She stops and looks up for a minute, and then continues working, "Katniss, when I die, can you sing that to me? Just that verse. I'll sing it for you too if I need to. I just need help to picture it…it sounds so pretty."
Follow the sun, I suppose that's like walking towards the sunset. And it sets between the mountains and through the pass. Birds whistle as you walk, and you're tired. So you want to go to the sun, because there you will find peace.
"Of course," I whisper. Maybe death isn't so bad, maybe we'll just end up where that song says. Perhaps the valley song I sing and that song have some similarities. If that's the case, I'd be just fine with death. Take me to the meadow…where Gale and I belong.
Raechill yawns and rubs her eyes, finishing another bracelet, "Each one, made with love."
I smile at her, but before I can speak the anthem is heard. We both scurry out of the tent into the freezing weather, where the snow is now about two inches on the ground and still piling. The seal of Panem appears, but it's foggy and hard to see.
The first tribute to show is Darrow, followed by Marvel, and that's all for today. The seal returns and the anthem finishes. The sky turns dark again and it reminds me they aren't returning. But that means they aren't dead. I kept mulling over the idea that maybe I'd missed the cannons. So I breathe a bit easier…not much, but a little.
"They aren't coming back tonight," I whisper more to myself than Raechill, "Gale is out there…but not dead."
Raechill and I eat the entire rabbit and restock the fire, making a small shelf of sticks to hang over it and keep the snow off. It's just enough to light up the small area.
When it's constructed, we crawl back into the tent where Raechill and I hold each other as I silently cry myself to sleep.
A/N: To all the people who are reading, reviewing, subscribing, etc. I sincerely thank you! All of it is much appreciated, and I hope you all continue to enjoy this story as much as I enjoy writing it!
A/N: Most of this was written listening to (Hunger Games Soundtrack OST): YouTube - watch?v=RFAUzAtSz0w&list=PL7E32C4A2DFE84544&index=5&feature=plpp_video
Thanks for reading!
Chapter 12 coming soon!
Please take the time to Review/Comment/Subscribe/PM or Email me with questions or ideas!
If you like this, feel free to check out my other stories on FictionPress, or take a look at my FictionPress co-author account "Epic Legkicker", for more great reads!
- Legkicker