Chapter 11
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'Madge…'- Gale Hawthorne
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They gave us one minute, one minute to decide our next move, whether it be run in to the dead trees, or fight to grab a pack from the cornucopia, which was in a shape of a real cornucopia, except larger. It has been shown in the past Hunger Games, it was where all the food, and supplies were left.
I looked around at the other tributes, and after a couple glances here and there, I finally found Gale, who was too busy looking at the packs at the cornucopia, eyeing one of them, and that was when I realized I should have done the same.
It was okay though, I had thirty seconds, to run grab a pack and charge in to the woods, and disappear. It would be hard though, through the crunchy hard snow, which I was actually surprised it was snow, I couldn't believe it was actually winter in the arena, for I didn't feel any chilly feeling, yet.
I had fifteen seconds, and suddenly my heart leaped up in my throat, and I couldn't stop its pace from lowering down anytime soon. I clenched and unclenched my fist. Ten seconds, I got ready, five seconds, and I glanced over at Gale, to see him glaring at the pack that he had held his sights on. Three seconds I set my sights on the pack nearest to me.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we welcome you to the 74th Hunger Games!" I heard Claudius Templesmith's voice call out and it was then every tribute ran either in to the forestry, or the packs, everyone was everywhere, but my sights held on the pack were still in pace. I didn't glance at anybody else but the pack, which probably was considered a pretty unintelligent move, but it was working with me so far with me.
Though from the corner of my eyes I could see the other tribute screaming, grunting, and falling down to their deaths, my heart clenched for all of those tributes, even though it was the inevitable, it was bound to happened, nonetheless it felt a lot worse in first-person than to see it on television. I for one could not let that happened, I cannot take the risk of even one trip over a leg, for I knew it'd be over if that happened. I was not going down just yet, I had to be strong.
As soon as I grabbed the handle of the pack I had held my sights on I was lifted off the ground, by my neck, somebody began to choke me in air, from behind. I couldn't see who, and I stupidly still held on the pack, flailing my legs in the air.
When the hold around my neck tightened, it was then I began choking truly, I looked around to see the other tributes, and they either had already left the sight of the Cornucopia, and fled of in to the woods, were sticking back and making their way over to us, or just lying dead on the ground. Me and the tribute that was choking me.
My vision was going hazy, and it was then there was a sudden jerk of movement behind me, the tightening hold around my neck fell loose rather slowly, and soon I found myself on the hoary ground choking and grasping for air. I grabbed for my pack and looked up clumsily, but just in time to see Cato's baton meeting the tributes back harshly, I recognized him almost immediately, it was the tribute from District 9.
The boy from District 9, fell face first with a thud, I hadn't even given him the time, to actually meet his eyes, but it was more of the fact I couldn't. Though I did look up to see Cato making his way over to me at a snail's pace, with a sudden glint in his eyes, and it was then I came to my senses, and tightened my hold around the pack and got up rather abruptly, and dashed into the woods, but I didn't leave, I hid behind a tree, for knowing that Cato wouldn't come for me.
I peaked behind from the dead tree, I was hiding behind, and look at Cato, I saw him looking my way, but not at me, he almost had a gloomy look to his eyes, I almost wanted to reach out to him, and say thank you. Except that would make me a monster, I was thanking Cato for killing a tribute who tried to kill me.
Then why was there the distressing look in Cato's eyes? Why didn't he kill me- no, why didn't he want to kill me? Then there was the question… how come I knew he didn't want to kill me?
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It was during the sun was setting did I realize how cold it really was, or it was just the fact that since night time was near, and the more darkness filled the sky the more the temperature dropped. I had walked almost aimlessly trying to look for water, but I thought against it, because all the other tribute would have done the same.
So I explored, but not too much, I stayed hidden for most of the time, but I had yet to cross paths with another tribute. Plus the fact that I was also looking for shelter, which was really hard to find considering the dead trees, and it was really easy to stand out with all the bright snow, so with every little movement, I could be easily found.
I journeyed on look for shelter, or maybe a place for a little rest, anything at the moment, because at that moment I couldn't feel my toes anymore, and my fingertips were beginning to go numb. I hadn't even had the time to search through my pack yet, just because I was so paranoid of any tributes near me.
I thought back to the first five minutes of the games beginning how it was that moment where every tribute had a chance to kill each other, get anything you could grab from the cornucopia, or just survive on your own. I chose the last two out of the three options I came up with.
There was no doubt that the cameras were on me, that was the first thing the Gamemakers would ever show, nothing peaceful, just entertainment, well to The Capitol at least.
Then my thoughts halted. I had gotten that damn twelve during my sessions with the Gamemakers… Haymitch was right, now almost every tribute was out to get me. My first example given the boy from District 9, even though I was saved by Cato. Who looked like he had a remorseful look on his face when he was approaching me. Though his murderous look was not to be missed as well.
Suddenly my thoughts were on Cato, he didn't want to kill me, he was just making me run off, but to Panem it looked like he was going to kill me next, but I saw that look in his eyes, even if it were for a brief moment, I saw sadness. He never intended to kill me, just scare me, so he didn't have to do the job. Then the though hit me, or he was just trying to hide his intentions from the cameras, who were no doubt were probably on us.
I wanted to slap myself on the forehead for my stupidity but decided against due to the noise it would make. Why hadn't I realized this earlier? He was just trying to protect me, and himself, and he did it.
I let out a huff, too angry with myself and finding no other way to express it. I pulled myself out of my thoughts and began to look around.
My fingers had gone numb, and now they were beginning to ache, but my toes, at that moment asked for more attention, considering they were in more immense pain than my fingers.
My eyes gazed forward, and my head came to an arrest. There was a dead tree, that seemed like it was being pulled off and away from the ground, and its roots still in place with the ground held it in place, but the bottom of the stem of the tree, was not touching the soil, leaving there a small amount of space for me to be able to fit in there, and least likely hit upon another tribute.
So between the roots, and the gaps of the step and the roots, I squeezed myself in the small protection. Thought as soon as I did, there was darkness, as I looked up in to the sky, the sun was almost gone, and nightfall was about to reach. There couldn't be risks of any fire, for other tribute would take note of it, and come for me.
It was then I began looking through my pack, and found a sleeping bag, a pair of gloves, and almost immediately I put them on and started releasing small breathes of air on to my hands. When I began to take note of my fingers movements, it was then I took of my boots, and socks, and began clutching on to them with my warm hands.
After ten or so minutes of doing so, it was then I began to feel satisfied and put my socks and boots back on, which were surprisingly dry, and not moist through all the snow.
I then resumed to look through my pack, and discovered a pair of glasses, and soon remembering how we were taught in school how these were night goggles that helped you see easier at night, it was one of the few classes Katniss hadn't attended to.
I put the goggles away, and recommenced back to my findings. I had crackers, not a whole pack, but two. Last but probably the most useful resource, I had found a sword. Even though it would be helpful in the future I couldn't help but feel disappointed I hadn't gotten a bow, I didn't know how to work with a sword, I wasn't planning on to considering brute strength was involved, something I didn't have.
Putting all my items away except for my gloves, a bite from two crackers, my sleeping bag, and my night goggles, which were placed on my face. I opened the sleeping bag, drew myself in it, and gazed up at the hole I came through and up in to the starry sky.
They would be soon announcing the dead tributes, and swiftly my thoughts ran to Gale. Was he alright? Did he make it through the first night? I didn't even think about him ever since the games had begun…
I let out a sigh, it was Gale I was talking about, if there was anybody who could survive the woods through thick and thin, it'd be Gale. Judging from his frame, the other tributes would be frightened of him too, not that that's surprising. I thought that Gale was well off, even though no tribute had an advantage for the temperature, but Gale did. The forest itself was a great advantage.
The canon shot in the sky signaling the first night of Hunger Games, and began showing the other tributes that had died on this first night. The girl from district 3, the boy from district 4, the boy from district five, both the boy and girl from district 6, as well as district seven, the boy from district 8, and both from district 9, knowing that Cato killed the boy, and the girl from district 10.
Eleven tributes down, even though it may have been bad thinking about the thought alone, I felt slightly glad, glad that Rue, Thresh, Cato, and Gale were still fine and alive.
I began to feel hazy, and let my thoughts drift for the night, I soon succumbed to sleep when I knew that at that very moment, the danger lurking out there were no threat to me at that moment.
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'She never ceases to surprise me'- Katniss Everdeen.
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A/N: Hi, as promised, I updated. Enjoy. =), Please leave a review, it honestly motivates me ten times more than usual.