Chapter Twenty-One

I decided to sleep in the next day. I'd already killed one of them, there was no use in scaring the others any further right afterward. Snoozing in the sun, I let a smile filter across my face as I awoke. It was about noon by this time so I knew the Careers were all awake. Looking down into the camp, I saw all of them together, backs against each other as they tried to stay awake. They were all dozing against each other, though.

"They must have stayed up all night keeping a lookout for me just in case I came back." I snickered.

Right now, I could have walked into the camp and looted the place and the Careers wouldn't notice… well, Peece might, but she wouldn't give it away. I simply shrugged and was about to snuggled back down into my tree when I saw a sudden movement. Boulder had shot up. His movement hadn't jostled the others, too fast was it for them to feel. I watched him carefully as he pulled a blade from his shirt and stood in front of Gato. I knew he was about to kill Gato, but I didn't think he would do it while the others were only inches away.

But here he was, about to figuratively stab his leader in the back. I looked on in shock as Boulder got ready to plunge the knife through Gato's chest. Suddenly, there's a flash of movement and a dull thunk. Staring, wide-eyed, I watched as Boulder fell forward, the knife falling from his limp hand. There was an arrow buried deep in his back. I glanced at Peece to see her settling back down against Shimmer and shook my head with a chuckle.

"I'll admit, the girl's pretty fast."

I watched the Careers for awhile longer before deciding that I might as well test the theory I had earlier. They all looked to be asleep… with the exception of Boulder, who was dead. Climbing stealthily out of the tree, I tiptoed to the edge of the camp and eyed the Careers slowly. Stepping into the afternoon sunlight, I moved over to Boulder's body and easily took the knife from his hands. Then I leaned against a tree and just watched them from close up. At last, I heard the cannon go off and all of them jumped up.

"Wonder who died." Shimmer yawned.

"Boulder did." Gato said dully, looking at the boy in front of him.

"Yeah, I killed him." Peece said nonchalantly.

"What?" Shake shouted. "Why?"

"Because he was going to kill Gato and so far, Gato leading us is about the only thing we know."

I chuckled lowly and they all turned to me. Immediately, they all went on guard and aimed their weapons at me, even Peece. I simply began twirling the knife in my hands and shrugged. "Hey, least I didn't do it. Would have been uglier than an arrow in the back."

Shimmer was trying to conceal the fact that she was trembling and she was slowly inching behind Gato every passing second.

"How did you get into camp?" Gato growled, brandishing his sword alertly.

"You all were asleep and you looked kind of interesting. Much more relaxed."

Gato simply continued glaring at me before shouting, "Peece!"

Peece seemed to know exactly what he wanted because she shot an arrow at my right side, away from my still injured side. I grinned and decided to show off just a bit more. Reaching out, I closed my hand easily around the oncoming arrow. Eight eyes widened in fear as I tossed the arrow to Peece's feet.

"You can catch arrows?" Peece said hoarsely, staring at me with wide eyes.

I shrugged. "I've learned quite a lot in my fifteen years."

Gato snarled under his breath and I'm sure he was about to charge me like an idiot. Before he could, I waved and jumped back into the brush. I chuckled at him and gave Peece a wink before turning and going into the woods, heading for my territory. It was nice to be among the marked trees again. As I went around checking my traps for any meat, I heard someone grunting somewhere above my head. Looking up, I saw Grudge caught in one of my nets and struggling to get out.

"Hiya Grudge." I called. "How long you been up there?"

"Hour." He grunted at me.

"Kay. Let me get you down." He nodded and I threw one of my Japanese throwing stars up at the line. As Grudge fell, I moved forward and caught him easily, letting him down on his feet.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Fine." He replied, brushing himself off. "Thank you for saving me."

I nodded and gave him one of the rabbits in my hand. "Here, take this. Maybe you should go off into those wheat patches behind the Cornucopia."

Grudge nodded and opened his mouth to say something else. Suddenly, I heard another whoosh and dread filled my stomach as Grudge's eyes widened. We both looked down simultaneously and saw a spearhead sticking through his stomach. Grudge fell forward onto me and I knelt down as he began coughing up blood.

"No, no, no, no!" I slowly stroked his hair out of his face and looked at him pleadingly. "Please Grudge, stay strong until I can get it out, ok?"

"Kaos," he murmured. "Kaos, you win. You have to."

I stared in shock as Grudge closed his eyes and his last breath left him. I held his head for a moment before laying a kiss to it and letting it fall. I heard a snicker nearby and looked up to see Shake not too far away. I couldn't help it; I got angry. It wasn't my normal anger. No, this was much more palpable, much stronger. I felt it course through my entire body, burning my veins as it pumped in my blood. Then… I let it go.