DISCLAIMER: I don't own The Hunger Games, I wish I did though, then I wouldn't have to work a day in my life!
Chapter the Thirteenth
Birthday Wishes and the Pampered Few
Day three and I now hate the games with new vigor. I hated them before, I saw no point in them but now I really hate them.
Because the boy from six wasn't my only mercy kill.
I found the boy from four early on day three, laying facing up at a cliff side. I had just had the last of my snake and some water and had just collected another snake for my supper that night and some pears for snacking when I hear a cry of fear and a loud *thump* from the cliffs I was going to.
He is sprawled there spread eagled coughing blood.
"Oh god" he is muttering, "oh god oh god oh god" when I get to him he starts, but he isn't flinching away and he winces when he tries.
"What happened?" I ask dumbly, I know what happened he tried to climb and fell but why he isn't moving I don't know.
"I was trying to get to that perch up there" he says but isn't pointing with his arms, "I…I lost my footing, and I fell…I…I can't move" he coughs again and I am sure he punctured a lung as well, "I think I broke my back, oh god, I know there are vultures, I'm gonna be eaten alive I know it!" he has tears running down his face in fear of actually seeing himself being devoured to death.
"You won't" I say, trying to keep him calm, he starts to cry a bit more when I touch his face.
"please get a career, tell them to end me, please I don't want to be send home in a jar" he looks at me, he's rambling, I know if I left him there he would probably die before vultures came to eat him, but the panic and the fear in his voice gets me to take my crossbow again.
"Thank you" he says as he sees me load a bolt.
"Close your eyes" I ask and he obeys as the bolt hits his chest and he stops breathing, I yank the bolt out as the cannon fires…we are down to nine.
The next day I wait at my old perch for Farrow, I will him to me, I need him, I just killed two boys in the past two days because they were gonna die anyway.
I hear the 'hoot hoooot' and see him from the opposite side today. My heart sinks, he is limping and he looks a bit worse for wear. I want to run to him and I make to get down when a shrill whistle gets my attention and he points angrily for me to stay put. He gets to me and leans against the cliff face. No signs today I need to talk to him.
"I killed two" I say
He doesn't reply for a moment, "I killed two myself, not the careers but I'll get one I promised you didn't I?"
"What happened?" I asked, "why are you limping? Why do you look like you haven't eaten?" I sound more angry and upset than worried, like a mother fussing over their child.
His laugh surprises me, "glow worm I never went camping, think I have an easy time scaling cliffs like you do?" I growl at him, "its just a sprain, I'll rest it back at my cave"
"You have to be more careful" I say tossing him two pears and the other half a snake, the meat keeps well
"So how did you kill the two?" he asked as he pockets the food in his backpack, "were they out to get you?"
"No they were dying I just gave them a quick end" I reply
"Mine didn't know what was coming, the two from eleven, almost as big as me, but not all that bright" Farrow says, I can tell he is faking it, I know he didn't want to kill them but in the arena is either you are prey or predator, "any sign of the careers?"
"I haven't been this side in a couple days, I just got back" I reply, "but be careful of the snakes I think they are-"
"Mutts, yeah I figured as much when the girl from four had the worst allergic reaction I had seen" Farrow explains, "she screamed, grabbed her leg, then she turned blue and coughed blood all over the girl from nine, I think she's gone a bit mad from that, last I saw her she was muttering to herself as she was running away from me" he pauses, "so what do you want for your birthday little bit?"
"A hunting knife, a metal straw and maybe supplies to make an atlatl" I say to him without thinking
"What no birthday cake? No soda?" he jokes
"If I really wanted food I would say a big bowl of strawberries doused in agave syrup" I reply
He groans in appreciation, "how about that rosemary chicken we get at harvest time, or the hot dogs when they get to the final eight" he adds
"Cold lemonade, with one Mrs. Goldfar's sugar cookies" I return
"Stop! God you're an evil little twerp" laughing he reaches to try and grab me down, I scoot back and laugh maniacally, after trying to grab me he tosses me two full canteens, "Think of it as an early birthday gift, I salvaged them from the elevens and have kept them full" he adds…then a lull in our conversation
"We are almost there y'know" he says, "one more goes and its down to eight of us"
"Y'think Seneca is watching right now?" I ask
"I think he's glued to the tv right now" Farrow laughs, "I think he is shouting at you to use your pen knife to make your atlatl"
"It's not sharp enough and I need the sawing edge of a hunting knife" I reply, he takes his out, oh how I long for one of my own
"I can give you mine" he offers me the handle, I push it back to him handle towards him now
"You need it more" I reply, "I can manage, I have so far"
"The other tributes aren't doing so well" he says, "they don't know our tricks"
"Maybe the arena will take the careers" I reply
"Nooo I will take care of those four" Farrow says
"Farr" I whine
"No glow worm, I told you I would take care of them" he looks up to me on my perch, "And I gotta get going before the light goes, it's getting colder at night you notice?"
Actually I haven't because my sleeping bag keeps me warm at night so I shrug non committably.
"Well it has, sooner or later they will have to make a fire and that's when I will be waiting" he says darkly he smirks and I smirk back, "see you in a couple days twerp, stay safe" he heads off back where he came
I watch him leave and then head off back to the horn; I want to see where this camp the careers have made is located.
I keep low and scamper past the cornucopia and right on the other side I see their so called camp. Its literally the whole of the supplies spread out everywhere, they have pitched a tent and they have plenty of water, in large reservoirs with taps. Its too perfect, too easy for them. While me and Farrow are living by our wits they have the easy life, I walk away in disgust not even wanting to figure out how to sabotage their reign. If the game makers get bored they could very easily whip up a sandstorm and wipe out their supplies.
I head back to my first high perch. And decide to call it a night.