As first nights in the arena go, mine wasn't so bad. Surprisingly I sleep through the night and even into the morning so that when I wake, Alix's reassuring warmth is no longer present.

At first I worry for him but then I rationalize my thoughts. Why would someone kill him and not me? How could I sleep through his cannon? Chill Kaylar, Its time to get up now, I tell myself.

Once I have wriggled out from under the boat it doesn't take me too long to spot Alix. He stands on the beach, watching the luminous ocean flow this way and that. From his strong hands a small furry body hangs, arrow still protruding from its neck.

"Morning Alix." I yawn

He cracks a rare smile so the dappled light falls in a rather attractive manor across his handsome face.

"Hey sleepy head. How do you like your squirrel in the morning?" he asks cheekily, brandishing the squirrel carcass at me.

"Dead." I chuckle back.

He passes the creature to me and I set about skinning it carefully. That's when the cannon sounds. I stiffen staring about me for some explanation.

"Either someone just killed their partner or the careers are island hopping." says Alix darkly. "Come on, better get moving."

We make a brief meal of the squirrel before packing up our supplies and heading out in to the woods. Alix goes weaponless, opting to leave the bow in a tree by the boat. I am not so optimistic. As I fight through the foliage my left hand never strays from the knife at my belt.

It must be at least midday when we stop. My legs are screaming in agony and my clothes are soaked in sweat. We still haven't found any water and Alix leg is dragging uselessly behind him. Already my mouth feels dry and I find myself day dreaming about little streams and waterfalls. We sit together on a little ridge we found somewhere in the middle of the island, watching the sun's progress through the sky.

That's when I see it, the sliver of silver falling towards us through the leaves. I jump to my feet, immediately on guard and anticipating attack. I squint into the sky until Alix lays a hand on my arm and whispers:

"A parachute. Looks like you were right."

I stumble forward and pick up the silver fabric which now lies in a heap of broken plant material a little distance away from our perch. From the parachute hangs a little box with a gleaming silver latch. My hands shake as I fumble to open it. I am hoping to find so many different things inside. Finally the catch drops open and a number of small articles are released from the box, dropping to the ground at my feet. The last thing to fall is a tiny note, it flutters leisurely to the ground and I just stare at it like it's some kind of poisonous spider.

The scrap of paper jogs a memory inside my head. Testa's arm. The note sent to her ally by his mentor. Surely Testa isn't trying to give me the same incentive? Could she be so cruel after her own experiences? I don't think so but even still, my hands shake as I reach down for the note.

"Make do and mend." I whisper.

Not exactly what I was expecting but I am nevertheless confused. That is, until I notice Alix, suddenly at my side and holding up something for my inspection.

"A sewing kit? But I…"

His expression is grim. He hobbles back to the little hill and sits down heavily, hiking up his trouser leg so that my pathetic bandage can be clearly seen. I feel sick to my stomach as I pick the remaining items. Each has a little note of its own attached to it. The bottle of salt water: 'wash it out.' A tube of some sort of disinfectant: 'don't spend it all in one place.' And finally a scrap of cream coloured cloth, folded into a thick wedge: 'for him to bite on.'

I shrink back a few steps as her intent becomes clear. Testa wants me to stitch up Alix's leg. His face is full of dread as I examine it but his jaw is set.

"Go on." He breathes, closing his eyes against the world as I step up towards him.

My hands shake madly as I attempt to thread the little needle. It takes me around ten tries but eventually I get it through and tie a small knot at the end. I quickly wash out the wound with the water after tossing the grubby bandage over my shoulder. Then I rub the disinfectant into the wound with my bare hands, trying to ignore the look of agony that registers on his face.

When I can procrastinate no longer I take up the needle and thread and offer Alix the wedge of cloth. He turns it down. I respect him immensely, this will not tickle. Trying to keep my hands steady I thread the first delicate stitch into the worst area of bleeding. Alix jumps almost causing me to stab him and pushes himself away from me on his elbows, his face alight with fear.

I feel terrible for causing him this pain but it will be worth it when his leg is fully functional again. Even one more hour of his injury could cause serious problems in this arena. I apologies gently before straddling his stiff body and forcing him to stop moving. I secure my feet on his wrists and continue to stitch in swift accurate motions, ignoring his desperate attempts to unseat me.

Finally I reach the last stitch and knot off the thread before carefully wrapping the wedge of cloth around the wound. I lie back on the ground, tears filling my eyes as I listen to Alix's ragged breathing. I watch his face carefully through my lashes. His skin is ashen, his eyes streaming and his teeth clenched in horror. He opens his mouth and lets out a long shaky breath before he tries to speak. At first he manages only a whimper but then…

"Thank You."

I am taken aback by this. I could have killed him. For all he knew I was trying my best and here he is, thanking me? This conversation dissolves into silence and I listen to his breathing as it gradually slows to its normal relaxed pace.

Its only early afternoon but the hot sun makes me feel sluggish and useless. I am slowly beginning to realise that we won't find any water today. The sun beats ruthlessly down on us as we sit there. Alix gives in first. Whether it is the heat or the ordeal he has jut endured that makes him so weak I do not know. Out of the corner of my eye I see his head droop on to his chest. Slowly, we both lie back on the mossy grass and within seconds, we are asleep.

It's the rustle that wakens me. My eyes snap open as thoughts of hungry mutts and island hopping careers fill my head. Its pitch dark. We must have missed the showing of the dead tributes today.

I scan my surroundings, eyes screwed up against the dark. The rustling comes from a large bush, bearing large red berries, to the right of the hill. I draw a breath too scared even to wake Alix.

A few steps closer are enough to tell me the bush has been disturbed by a very large something. Feeling sick with fear, I reach out a shaking hand and slowly push apart the foliage.

I just have time to register the terrified face among the greenery before I feel a sharp stab in my jugular and the sensations begin. I fall to the warm dirt, retching hopelessly as a wave of nausea closes over my body. As soon as it came it is gone and I feel suddenly very light, like i'm walking on air. Warmth spreads through my body as I close my eyes. I'm awake just long enough to hear my assailant crash into the brush and out of reach.

"Ouch!"

I feel a sharp prick to my neck as my eyes flutter open again. Alix stands over me, a green blood coated needle clutched in his hand.

I've seen these before; they grow on the trees around district 4. When the children start school they are immunized for all kinds of water borne diseases. Since the Capitol needs all of district 2's medical supplies for itself, we make do with these green needles. They are strong, sharp and impossibly thin.

We are being watched then. I know exactly who by. Oh the people of the Capitol must be shivering with excitement. He might even be nearby right now, watching the events unfold.

"Kaylar, are you ok? What the hell happened?"

"I..." I don't know what to say to reassure him. Right now Alix is all I have, the last thing I need is to get him wound up. "I was climbing trees...sleep climbing I think...I fell..."

He raises a skeptical eyebrow. So my lying skills haven't improved any. Sue me. Alix doesn't press me for answers though, he realises that I don't want to talk. I feel guilty about keeping him in the dark but I shake of the feeling.

Slowly I sit. I'm surprised to discover I feel totally fine. The affects of whatever that needle was dipped in have dissolved. I get to my feet and stare into the trees, feeling a tear of warm blood run over my collar bone.

The arena is swamped with a thick kind of fog today so that it doesn't look like its day at all. We will have no chance of finding him today with this weather.

Alix offers me a cold leg of squirrel and we both choke it down in silence, standing only a few centimeters apart.

He suggests we'd better move on. I heartily agree feeling my spirits raise a litter. He knows something is wrong here, that's enough for me.

We trek a little further in to the forest, stopping only to rest our feet or listen for signs of the enemy. Alix is just suggesting we head back to the boat when we hear the sounds of trumpets booming from the sky.

We lock eyes, perplexed looks on our faces. It's a little early in the game for a feast isn't it? The trumpets fade out and I crane my neck to listen, feeling sure every other surviving tribute is doing the same.

"Tributes!" calls acclaimed hunger games announcer Albert Rutiger jovially. "Congratulations on making it this far. As different as you may think you all are, there is one thing you currently have in common, one thing you desperately all need. As you slept last night, all fresh water sources on the islands were drained by the gamemakers. There is now only one water source remaining in the arena. The more vigilant among may already know where it is. Happy hunger games and may the odds be ever in your favour."

The trumpets sound again but I can hardly hear them I drop to my knees on the soft earth and block out Alix's words of concern. For I know exactly where that water source is. The little stream at the Cornucopia.

**To all the single ladies...and everyone else. I have started sketching out my main tributes and I might put them on my twitter if anyone interested when they are finished?

I'm going in a sort of Dakota Fanning direction for Kaylar.

Possibly Chace Crawford type rugged-sexiness for Kes.

Alexander Ludwig-ISH. Capital 'ish' as in...He ain't gonna look like Cato when I'm through with him.

Feedback on this idea? **