The White Rose

Chapter 15: Ashes, Ashes

I have but one request/thing to say, don't kill me for killing your tribute(s)!

P.S: So far, I only have the Final 8 tributes in my head. I have no idea who the winner is; my mind keeps bouncing between the tributes saying things like "It would be so dramatic to write her POV after she won!" "She might be fun to write if I go with my idea for the sequel, I might or might not write." "He would seem most likely to win in the Hunger Games." "It would be really cool to see the two Careers clash after making friends!" So yeah, in conclusion the winner is not final yet.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games or most of the characters.

Kyra's POV

Running.

If you asked me hours later what was going through my head, I'd tell you running. Fast.

I've never had to run so fast before, but I could do it. Cory was a few feet ahead of me. He had an advantage with his height.

The mutts seemed different after we started running. I know they could have killed us if they wanted to, they could have outrun us if they wanted to. But their not, and that confuses me.

If you'd ask me about my decision hours later, I would tell you I regret it with every ounce of my heart. But, you can't go back in the time. Let me rephrase that, the Capitol haven't found out how to do that yet.

My breathing was not normal and my heart felt like it could come out of my chest. Sweat fell down my head in small drops.

I felt warm, really, really warm.

The mutts still jogged behind us. Then it hit me. They didn't seem to want to kill. Just to push. Into a trap. Where another tribute is.

I feel stupid for not seeing the signs earlier in my journey to escape, but me, being me, decided to ignore them.

My step began to become lazy and disoriented. My arms swung heavily at my sides.

The mutts have to stop somewhere. But where?

The answer is to a little clearing. They didn't join us, but we heard the howling and them running away. Their mission was accomplished.

Leaves littered the ground and trees cast shadows everywhere. I clutched my trident while Cory readied his knife.

I felt an odd tingly sensation. Somebody was watching us.

Nothing seemed wrong though. The birds still sang. The trees still whistled in the wind. Even the animals scurried across the ground.

Cory observed the area, his eyes wide when he saw something behind me.

"KYRA!"

I swing around, readying my trident. A clash of sparks came from the knife and trident clashing.

The newcomer was about a foot tinier then me, but that didn't mean she wasn't deadly. She had red hair in a high pony tail and she had dark skin. Her eyes, green, glistened deadly. From the dark brown jacket, I knew this must be the girl tribute from 7.

Bloodlust filled her eyes as she swung again. I stumbled while bring my trident up defensively. Sparks once again glitter off the shiny objects.

I swing my trident and she stumbles backwards.

Cory, being a bit protective, pulls me backwards and readies his knife. The girl stands up, growling at him, getting in a fighting position.

I stare, scared for Cory and angry at the girl for getting ready to kill him.

Everything seems to be waiting as they both study each other. The birds have stopped singing and the wind seems to have stopped whistling.

They both swing at the same time. The girl ducks as Cory's knife moves like lightning, over her head. He also ducks as she comes back up, knife swinging over his head.

I can see the adrenaline in their faces as they continue the fight.

When he comes back up, he swings for her chest, but she tries to grab his arm and he has to pull away fast.

The girl does a half-twirl, swinging the knife over his head again. Cory jumps to the floor.

The girl seems agitated as her name comes to my mind, Tammi. The girl who got an 8 for her training score.

Cory backs up as her face seems in shock at him still alive. Tammi once again swings for his head, but he ducks, once again. He tries the same move of swinging at her chest, but she kicks him in the stomach.

A gasp escapes both of our lips as he flies backwards. I felt useless not helping, but I knew Cory would forgive me. This is his fight and his fight alone.

He jumps back up and grabs both of her arms, surprising Tammi. They try to push each other but it doesn't seem to work.

Cory, surprising even me, head-butts her shoulder, making her head fly back and her stumble backwards.

Blood pours like a river from her nose as she steadies herself. Cory surveys the damage he has done.

She wipes her nose and stares in shock at the crimson red stuff covering her dirty hand and glares at him.

Tammi swings her knife over his head, but he ducks and comes back up, getting her back with a clean swipe.

She gasps in pain and doesn't have time to move as Cory punches her in the face, forgetting about his knife that has clattered to the floor.

Her head flies back again, but this time she comes up back up. Her knife has clattered to the floor, but she punches him in the nose.

Cory stumbles backwards while Tammi kicks him in the shoulder, with a high swing.

She then punches him in the stomach, making him fall to the floor. Tammi climbs onto his injured body and straddles him.

I should help him, but my body feels paralyzed in shock. I can't move. I can't do anything.

Tammi grabs her knife again. I realized she planned this. The knife being near when Cory fell was well planned.

Cory watches as she brings up the knife and swings it downwards. I have no time raise my trident when the knife impales in his chest.