"So when we were back in the training center." Katniss said aloud as we walked, the sun was on completely down and the night was creeping on us. We were already walking for about 10 minutes nice and slow, looking everywhere in case of precaution. I trusted Katniss when it came to finding our way to the group once more. I was more concerned that we might run into the Careers, and since there were two of us out here alone, that was a situation I did not want to be in.
"You did know how to shoot a arrow, didn't you?" Katniss asked me in curiosity as we walked through the heavy rainforest. I was trying to follow the conversation, but my head was already swimming from not having fresh water in my system. I could myself sweating and my breathing was getting heavier by the minute as I tried to concentrate. I could try very hard to get my focus back on the task at hand, knowing that it was going to be good for me as soon as I got to the group, back to Mags and Finnick.
"I learned a couple of years ago when I was home. Another Victor who lived in Victor's Village with me taught me, since he won his games using the bow and arrow." I explained to her in a slow tone, and then finding myself weak in the knees. I gasped as I fell to my knees, my energy was eating me live from the inside out. JUst killing Emerald and mourning over SAmpson's death, I was now so weak.
"Willow? You okay?" Kantiss asked aloud in a worried tone as she rushed over to me, getting on her knees with me and throwing down her bow and arrow. She placed a free hand on my back as I tried to breathe in and out. I needed fresh water, and I need it quick.
"I….I need water." I replied to her in a heavy tone, feeling my hands were shaking as I tried to hold the slingshot in hand. I blinked a few times, feeling the sweat coming down my forehead.
"We're not far from the others. Just keep walking and once we're there we'll find you water." Katniss reassured me, looking right at me and showing me that she was going to help me. I knew she would of killed me then, getting rid of me to get back to the group. At least, that's what one normal tribute would do. But Katniss was not a normal tribute, not by a long shot. I nodded my head and she helped me back up to my feet. Katniss then grabbed her bow and arrow and had it ready for a attack once more, still walking next to me as we walked once more. But this time we were going at a slower pace, which was nice for me since I was barely staying alert when we were practically running. We were silent for a moment once more, still navigating through the forest.
"So you were trying to pull a fast one on me, am I right?" She asked me, having me look back at her with a raised eyebrow. She looked back at me.
"When I showed you how to shoot.." She trailed off, making me smile and look down at the floor for a second.
"I was hoping to see what kind of tribute you were." I replied back to her.
"What are you talking about?" She asked me aloud in curiosity. I clenched my slingshot in hand as we walked, feeling the coolness of the night coming through the forest around us, cooling my dehydrated body as we walked.
"I was testing you, Everdeen. Some tributes don't like helping others when it comes to training, and those are the ones who are either the first to die, or the ruthless killers. But there are a certain few who are willing to help those that might be their killers, and they can last a pretty long time. I would rather be in an alliance with someone who is willing to be helpful, than someone who is stuck up." I explained to her in a calm tone, seeing her think to herself as I was explaining what I was doing. It was true, I wanted to see what kind of human she was and how she was going to present herself in the Game. And I knew I wasn't the only one she helped in the training center, she went to Finnick and Mags as well. There was no doubt why they were in a group together, and I appreciated it.
"And to be honest, you did live up to your nickname after all." Katniss said to me, having me smirk in my spot next to her and seeing her grin as well. It was nice to have a nice moment with her in the middle of the Games. I felt myself laugh a bit from her remark.
The first time I laughed in the Games. And it felt good.
"We're over here." Katniss said aloud as we were now crouching low and going into another part of the rainforest. I followed right behind her, having my slingshot out and ready for anything. I only nodded my head and followed her over a fallen tree trunk and trying to stay low. I could only hear out breathing and the crunching of the leaves under my suited feet.
I could hear the murmuring right in front of us, about 10 feet away and hidden in the over lapping branches and green of the rainforest. I tried to find out at first who the voices were and whom they belonged it, but when after a moment or two, I recognized who it was:
Finnick.
"Peeta?" Katniss asked aloud in a shushed tone. Immediately the voices were gone and I heard nothing for a moment or two. I was frozen in my spot, thinking that we were going to run into some kind of trouble. But then after a moment or two, I heard Peeta replying back to to her in a rushed tone.
"Katniss!" He replied, hearing a sigh of relief of Katniss as she pushed through the branches with me in two a bit behind her. I saw her rushed over to Peeta, whom looked like he was going through enough himself. They both embraced each other and gave each other a kiss. I stayed behind the branches for a moment or two, wanting to give them a moment of reunion. I watched as I saw the love both of their eyes, making me ache for Oliver in my heart.
"Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" He asked her aloud, looking at her face then up and down her body to make sure she was fine. Katniss only smiled and nodded her head.
"Only sore from the snare I got caught in." She replied, looking back at me and where I was. I walked out of the hidden cover up and I saw Peeta look over at me, his eyes were big and looked so confused.
"She saved me life." I heard her say to Peeta, seeing him stare at me more with sincere eyes than treating eyes. I nodded my head at him, showing that it was true as they both stared at me. I never had a chance to get to know Peeta, which bothered me since I knew Katniss a bit more.
"Who did?" I heard behind the two of them. I looked past them, knowing that voice and my heart jumped slightly in my chest. I heard rustling of leaves behind the pair of them and then seeing the two faces that I've been dying to see since the start of the Games.
Mags and Finnick.
"Finnick." I said in a light and sorrowful tone at the same time, feeling the overwhelming sense of joy and relief coming over me as he saw me. He was helping Mag come over to us, slowly and surely, and as soon as he saw me and heard me, there was a moment of relief for me as I rushed over to him and hugged him highly. He hugged me back, having me feel warmth and comfort in this bad situation. I almost wanted to sob from seeing him, although I felt tears coming down my heated and weak face. He pulled away and framed my face, like before when we were back in the capitol. BUt this time it was harsh, as if I was a allusion in front of him and he wanted to see if I was real or not.
"You're alive." He said aloud with a huge smile on his face and out of breath. I nodded my head as I saw Mags next to him with a bigger smile on her face and feeling her tap my arms in delight.
"I am, I am." I said to him in a light tone. I moved away from Finnick and hugged Mags. I could feel her frail body hugging me back and making me feel like I was hugging my one grandmother. When I pulled away from her, I looked back at Finnick and saw how worn out he was as well as me.
"Where were you?" Finnick asked me aloud with curiosity and thrill in his voice. How was I going to tell him about all that happened?
"She saved me, from Emerald." Katniss explained to him from behind me, still with Peeta. I saw Finnick first look at Katniss when she spoke, and then at me. He was now surprised at the news as I was still trying to figure out what to tell my good friend.
"You killed Emerald?" He asked me aloud with surprise in his tone. I nodded my head, saying nothing and then looking down, shifting from one foot to another. I said nothing for a moment or two, feeling myself moving constantly with my fingers and toes. I couldn't stay still, standing in front of my friends and trying to figure out what to tell them. But Mags caught my anxiety, since I felt her grasp my hand and squeeze it tightly in her frail hand. That's when it clicked with Finnick.
He knew.
"Where's Sampson?" He asked me, finally seeing what was going on. I looked up at him, seeing the confusion in his eyes. He was getting the pieces placed in his head as I was trying hard not to cry in front of him. I was done with my tears and my pain, but it was all coming back to me once more.
"Willow, where is your brother?" Finnick asked me with more of a authoritative tone in his voice, wanting to find out where my brother and his dear friend was. How was I going to tell him that his friend was killed within the first couple of hours of the Games.
"I wasn't there when it happened." I explained to him in a low tone, seeing him change his stance from normal to defensive.
"Where is he?" He asked me, his voice was rising slightly and getting a bit more agitated.
"Finnick, back off." Peeta said behind me, sensing that I was getting emotional from what he was asking of me. But I could tell Finnick was not buying it, not with me.
"Willow…" He said, his voice was already a bit louder now. So I was finally done with how he was saying it to me. I finally told him in a loud voice that was making m own heart brake. I never wanted to yell at him in that manner, not ever. But that was something that was needed to be said out loud.
"He's dead, Finnick!" I yelled at him, my voice booming in the forest as I was shaking in my spot. I felt a overwhelming sense of pain all over again. No one moved at all, and I only heard the rustling of the trees and my heavy berthing from my outburst. I hate yelling at my friend, but it got to the point or either I was going to scream it out loud, or just burst into tears. I must of gave the other tributes in the arena hint where we were, which made this even worse. But what else was I supposed to do.
"Sampson is dead, Finnick." I said to him in a calm and slow tone, but a hint of me crying was coming through the voice that I was using, "Emerald killed him with her sword and left him to die….right in front of me. I had to watch my brother die in my arms.
Finnick's face no longer showed anger or agitating, but sadness and defeat from what I told him. I felt Mags place her free frail hand on my face, having me look over at her and see the sadness in her eyes and on her face. She was heartbroken for me, having me see her tap my face gently and soothingly.
"Oh god." I head behind me from Katniss, though I kept my eyes on Mags and seeing her move a piece of my auburn hair from my eyes and to my ear. It was a loving move, something a grandmother would do for a grandchild that was in pain. I smiled weakly at her as I looked back at Finnick.
But that was a bad move, since he looked like I just punched him in the stomach: hard. I saw how big his eyes got and his much he hated what he did to me when it came to drilling me on the whereabouts of my brother. I sighed, my heart already breaking just seeing Finnick look at me like that. He walked over to me, the heartbreak was still in his eyes and then was close to me.
"Oh Willow, I'm so sorry." He finally said aloud, his voice was broken as he hugged me. I started sobbing into his shoulder, knowing that it was worse with Finnick, He was a close friend of Sampson's, so this must of been just as hurtful with him as it was with me. We were mourning together, and we were having to do it in front of all of the Capitol and in the Games. Even though I was holding Finnick and crying into his shoulder, there was nothing I wanted more than have my heart no longer breaking and tearing me apart.
I wanted to live.