Like Father Like Daughter

Chapter 14: Tracker Jackers

I felt someone gently stroke my nose in a smooth rhythmic motion. Only one person I know who liked to play with me, like that. I stirred a little, opening my eyes to see Finnick there by the couch. Trying to remembered, what happen last night, then remembering that Finnick and I stayed at The Gamemakers headquarters, while Haymitch get some rest. After that damn stunt with a gamble with Chaff, getting the Bastards Drunk, I'm stuck here. I sat up from the so call lounged bed, giving a stretch. Finnick chuckled as he sat up . . . why are we sleeping on the same lounger again.

Finnick chuckled seemed to read my face. "You had a nightmare, almost mumblings Mikes name."

Mike

I sighed; the past will never let you go. Finnick with his observation, wrapping his arm around me, and giving a brotherly hug. He knew everything about me, from fears to nightmares. Who I despise to those I care, compare to the other Victors. When we first met, for the seventy second game, he brought me out of the madness of torment that haunts Victors. Finnick, being like a brother, to talk too and know there was somebody there to talk too.

"Thanks," I whispered sitting up and started folding the borrow blanket. Checking the time, to see it was almost seven O'clock. The game was about the start. Just on cue, the monitors that surrounded the lounged turn on.

The screens started with Katniss waking up, when she heard a whispered. She looked up to see the girl from District Eleven, Rue. The girl was pointing at something approve Katniss, something big, rounded, and deadly. That I knew it was a genetically alter mutation. A very common mutt, one whose sting is very deadly. Katniss was shocked, fear written in her eyes. Rue pointed at the nest then down at the careers. For the first time in history, nature has become the weapon.

The screen changed to Claudius and Caesar in their chat table. Caesar pointed at his screen, "Claudius, I think those are Tracker Jackers?"

"OOOOOOhh, those are very lethal." Claudius cooed with a sigh, leaning back in his chair.

"To those of you who don't know, are genetically engineer wasps. Whose venom can bring serious pain! Powerful hallucinations and, in extreme cases. . . Death!" Caesar explained in hush, hush, like it was a secret between life and death. In this case . . . possibly so.

I sat back down on the couch with worry. If this idea of an ambush, in other words. Victors blame game. It was very common; usually the Career victors would pull this act when their tribute was killed by underdogs, those from district nine and up. Damn it, if District one tribute dies, Glimmer would have me head. Oh well, I dealt with her before, guess I'll deal with her cat fight later.

Finnick and I watch the screen in what was taking place. Watching Katniss climb up the tree after checking her leg to see the burn was almost gone. She sighed, grabbing her knife and started cutting the groove. I had a bad feeling, for if her plan succeeds, then Peeta would die. A sacrifice to make that would leave a heavy burden. Finnick grabbed my hand, for he knew what would happen, since his last Tribute was in the game, he lost the boy, and soon he would lose Tara Waves.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

The moment those words came out, Katniss made the final cut and the wasp nest felled to the ground breaking like an egg. As the Tracker Jackers burst out in furious rage, stinging who ever in sight! The Career woke up instantly, trying to get away from the wasps. However, getting stung in a frenzy. Peeta and some bolted up and ran crying out to the lake. Except for Glimmer was trapped in the Tracker Jackers tornado, stinging everywhere around her in multiple areas. Glimmer screamed in horror swatting them away with her bow, but it doesn't work that way. She calls out for Tara who too was trying to escape, but Tara ignored her and ran the opposite direction. Tara was smart, as she ran in a zigzag pattern while running through the pushes, as the wasp, lost track of her.

Finnick and I watch Glimmer fall to the ground, she twitch hysterically around for a few minutes and then . . . died. Well, not yet, for the venom was coursing through her veins, shutting down her immune systems and poisoning the blood stream, that be designated to certain locations. Site of the girl from District One was different compare to Sapphire. Glimmers body was disfigured. Her entire body swollen, cover in disgusting lumps that oozed green liquid that was the venom. Some much for the pretty girl!

"I think I'm going to be sick," I mumbled.

"Same here," Finnick agreed.

Back to the screen Katniss came down her tree once the area was cleared from the wasp. She approached Glimmer, the moment the girls' cannon went off. Something was wrong with Katniss; she no longer seemed focused, as she seemed to be stoned. Probably from the two stings she received from cutting down the nest. Katniss yanked the bow out, off Glimmers hand with difficulty. Once she obtains her perceive weapon and ammunition, she collapsed backwards.

"Get up," I growled at the screen. "Damn it, get up!"

Katniss took a deep breath knocking the slimy arrow to the bow, when somebody came out of the bushes. She was shock to see Peeta, who desperately towards her. He was damped head to toe in water.

"What are you still doing her?" He hissed at an uncomprehending girl. "Are you mad?" he prodding her up with the shaft of his spear, forcing her up on her feet. "Get up! Get up!" Katniss still confused trying to get up while he pushed her away. "Run!" Peeta screams at her. "Run!"

Just on the second run, Cato comes out, slashing his sword through the brush, He to as wet and badly injured around his eyes to see clearly. Katniss nodded and ran for her life, tripping her way of escape. Once out of few the camera focused on Cato and Peeta.

"You Traitor!" Cato bellowed out approaching Peeta. "You told us she was weak, that she won't hurt us!"

"I didn't know, Cato!" Peeta lied, grabbing his spear ready to attack.

Cato stormed forward with his sword ready for the kill. I grabbed Finnick hand knowing I was going to lose Peeta. Finnick gave a squeezed, as Cato swung. But Peeta dodged in time . . . sort of, for Cato cut his left leg deep. Peeta yelled in agony clutching his leg in pain, blood spewing out everywhere in the dirt. Cato got his bearings and adjusted his sword.

"Die," he growled.

The moment he said that, Tara burst out of the bushes with her axe! She charged at Cato ready for the kill, but the Career turned around and stabbed her in the side. Finnick screamed 'no', for he lost his last tribute. Cato seemed not so surprised at all in killing another allies, as he yanked the blade up. Tara lowered he axe and touched her torso to feel the blood oozed out of her. Her tan hand covered in red. She looked up at Cato then at Peeta, afterwards back at her hand. Cato seems surprised that she didn't fall down and died already as did I. But evaluating the location of the wound; she would most likely die from blood lost. Cato sighed, turning around to face Peeta who was getting up. However, he shouldn't turn his back from the enemy. As Tara lifted her axe, and smack Cato with the blunt end in the head. Immediately, the boy from District 2 went out cold. Peeta stood up quickly and ran up to Tara, wrapping an arm around her as they ran away from the scene.

The scene changes to show Katniss who was running as she stumbles. She staggers, smacking to certain area, stopping time to time to see thin air. Like something amazing or strange was happening before her. She was a good mile away from the location where the event accrued before stopping, and stared in a daze. She tilted her head confused. Oh god, she hallucinating.

"Katniss!" Rue called out from the trees.

But Katniss didn't respond, as she looked at her hand and screamed. Like there was something on her hand. The girl on fire ran screaming before she fell into a pit. I winced on impacted. For the lost thing that happens before commercial was Katniss tucking her knees to her chin and fainted.

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Finnick and I hardly talked for a moment. We tried to absorb what just happen in the private roomed waiting for the game to turn on. It was noon and everyone was buzzing about the recaps for those who missed the early spectacular. I felt sorry for Finnick as he walked around the room, muttering how he has to confront Tara's family as well as the boy's family. I felt the same guilt, how I have to confront the Mellark family. For the death of Peeta, to give my condolences to Mr. Mellark and his two son; Mrs. Mellark on the other hand, I'll have a personal discussion.

It wasn't long before the game focused on Tara and Peeta as they reached the river. Peeta settled her by the rocks, bending down and open her blue jacket. He lifted her shirt and showed the two inch laceration.

"Why did you save me?" Peeta asked.

"Cause . . . we're . . . ally." she panted. "Want to . . . ah, avenged Ethan."

Finnick stopped to watch this. So the thirteen year boy name was Ethan. Tara grabbed her neck pulling out a rope necklace, there center was a carved bone fish hook. She stared at her token with dark glazed eyes, as tears fell on her now paled face. Then she looked up to Peeta, "Take me to the water . . . I want to feel the water . . . one last time."

Peeta nodded, as he carried Tara to the river and settled her in the water. A smiled graced Tara's face to feel the water against the skin, while Peeta supported her, ignoring the pain he was going through. He cried silently, knowing his ally was going too died. Tara smiled touching his face, "You had been a good ally."

Tara stared at her fish hook and did the unexpected, she sang.

"The king and his men

Stole the queen from her bed

And bound her in her Bones.

The seas be ours

And by the powers

Where we will we'll roam.

''''

Yo, ho, haul together,

Hoist the colors high.

Heave ho, thieves and beggars,

Never shall we die."

Tara smiled, shedding her last tear and stared at Peeta. "Never shall we . . . die."

Tara gazed in an emotional stared and her cannon went off. Tara Wave, the girl from District four died in attempt to save Peeta and avenge her district tribute, Ethan. I felt as sorry for her as she sang to her death. At least she accepted it and died in her environment of water. As tears felled down my face, in such an honorable girl she was. Peeta seemed to felt the same as he closed her brown eyes and let her float in the water for some time, before a hovercraft appear in the sky ready to collect her body. Peeta knew he had to leave Tara's body. So he let go of her form, letting her drift off in the river. He placed three fingers to his lips and raised them into the air as a crane picked up her formed.

Finnick stood there, not moving a single muscle. I feared that he was arguing himself. So I got up and gave him a hug from behind. He stiffens at first, before relaxed and turned around to hug me. We stayed like this, comforting each other until it was time for recaps. We sat down, listening to Caesar and Claudius discussed about the amazing tracker jacker fiasco, and how clever Katniss and Rue was. Then they discussed about the sad song that Tara sang. How strong willed she was to defy death long enough. We were surprised that they showed a clip what was happening in District four, in their town square. As the locals were singing the same song that Tara sang.

"Finnick, what does that song, mean?" I asked.

"It's nothing," Finnick said standing up. "I have to go back to district four. I'll see you whenever, so try not to get in trouble. Especially the guys, I don't mind breaking a few jaws."

I chuckled, "Oh Finn! Won't happen; Say hi to Annie for me."

"Yeah, see yea, Yellow." Finnick laughed waving his hand as he leaved.

I shook my head sitting down and rested my head in my hands. Then I look at the screen to see Peeta on the ground dazed at the water where Tara was. I felt sorry for him, since I knew what pain he felt. To lose an ally so soon and stayed with them till their dying breath. I grabbed my I-pad, and send in an order to cheer him up some. I knew there was nothing I could do about the laceration on his leg, since the medicine for that was over a million dollars and he would want Katniss to win. So, I sent him some bread with a note. A small silver parachute fell which he caught it. He opens it to see a few rolls to eat. He grabbed the note and read aloud.

"I'm sorry, stay strong and don't give up.-B."

Peeta sighed in relief. "Thanks Blaine, at least you got my back."

He ate one roll before hiding the rest in jacket. Then he started doing his specialty, camouflaging himself into the earth. I sighed leaning back into the couch. There was no use, I can feed Peeta longed enough to sustain, before he would die from blood lost or poisoning.

Great, just great.

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Hope you like the chapter.

Song used, "hoist the Colours," from POTC at worlds end.

Thanks for reading and please leave a review.

Silent wolf singer