Chapter 11

Scouting

Rue

I jump from tree to tree, safe and secure above the ground. I wish Stephen could jump with me – we could have gotten to a lot of places a lot faster that way.

It doesn't take me long to find the Careers. They're surrounding a tree and … oh no.

Katniss is up the tree, and she's obviously hurt. Cato tries to climb up after and falls on his butt – I have to stop myself from laughing. I look around for Clint, and find him shaking, apparently hurt worse than Katniss, in the underbrush several feet away. He's in a lot of danger where he is, but he's not trying to leave. Maybe he can't. Maybe he doesn't want to. I decide to go around on my way back to Spruce and Stephen – I know Drusa's around here somewhere. Hopefully not in the trees.

As I go by Katniss, she seems resolved to waiting it out in the tree. The anthem of Panem starts to play, and I hop into the tree next to hers – I wonder if I can help her in any way. As I do, I see the tracker jacker nest.

It takes a while for her to notice me – I guess she's got other things on her mind, and besides I take it as a compliment to my sneaking skills. When she sees me, I point to the tracker jacker nest and take off, still planning to look for Drusa.

Sure enough, I can barely make her out, crouching in the underbrush and watching the other Careers. I make note of where she is, so that I can warn Spruce and Stephen not to go that way. I hold my breath and take special care as I jump into the tree she's under. She hears me anyway – she's more observant that the others. She looks up at me and …

Gives me a smile. I shudder and go on.

I get back to Spruce and Stephen a couple of hours later. "What took so long?" Stephen asks impatiently and Spruce shushes him. Stephen's already looking better – there's color in his face again and his lips aren't as cracked. "I know where Katniss and Clint are," I say quickly. "They're surrounded by the Careers. Or Katniss is – Clint's near her. They're both hurt, but I saw a parachute drop during the anthem."

"Where's Peeta? Do you know?" he asks.

"He's with the Careers – we think he's trying to sabotage them," Stephen explains.

"Okay … we need a plan," Spruce says.

"Maybe we can lead them away from Katniss and Clint," Stephen suggests.

"Katniss is in a tree with a tracker jacker nest – I think she's gonna drop it on them," I explain. "But they have a guard, so she might see her."
"We lure the guard away then," Spruce says. He tries to sound confident but I can see how scared he is. But courage means being brave while being scared. "We need something I can throw."

"We've got to look out for Drusa – she's hunting the other Careers," I add quickly.

"Noted," Spruce says absently.

"Show us the way, Rue," Stephen says.

It's a lot slower going at night on foot. We listen all the way – we still don't know where Anthony Stark is, and Drusa could always change her mind. Spruce picks up good-sized rocks as we go and puts them in his backpack. It takes us most of the night, but just before dawn, we find the campsite. Most of the Careers are fast asleep, but the girl from 4, Keel, is standing guard. We go a fair distance away, and quiet as we can possibly be, we climb into a tree. Spruce is quick and quiet about getting in the tree – of course he is. He's from District 7. He reaches down and pulls Stephen up at several points – that's easier for everyone.

When we're all in the crotch of the tree, far above the sight of the Careers who probably won't think to look up, Spruce throws one of the rocks he picked up into the underbrush. It makes a loud sound and rustles a lot of leaves – sure enough Keel comes running. She looks around for the source of the noise, and Spruce is about to throw another rock when Drusa makes a move. Spruce covers my eyes with one hand and Stephen's with the other – I don't see what happens, but I hear a cannon fire almost immediately, and I know Drusa cut her throat. I also know she'll look up, and I push Spruce's hand away, ready to try to run or fight if I have to.

But then we hear screaming, and Peeta and Cato come running and Drusa disappears into the brush.