Ariel Cloud POV

I feel like Olivia is getting farther and rather from us. In the beginning, she was confident and prepared, ready to kill pike all the other careers, but she's changed; she doesn't like the killing, she lingers instead of running ahead, she's not quick and witty and murderous. She just wants all this to end. I dint know what's changed her so much, but it seems to alienate her from the rest of us. The strangest thing of all, though, is that I'm beginning to agree with her. Why did we really volunteer to come in here? We're not murderers, Olivia and I. I'm starting to move away from the killing too. I don't understand it though, this isn't ne, the girl who's trained her whole life to kill. I can't be like this, I can't follow her, I need to follow Pix and Helmut and Falcon... if they notice I'm changing they'll kill me. I'm suprised they haven't gone at Olivia yet, I think Falcon likes her and that's why. The worst thing is, the farther I stray from the main purpose of killing, the more I just want all this to be over with, even if it means death. I used to be pretty confident about winning but I've gotten to know the other careers, and I doubt myself again, like I used to back at home. I miss home. I miss Pearl and Toby, I miss dad, I miss everything and everyone. Why did I volunteer?... I am pulled from my thoughts by Facon laughing strangely. "Hey, look! Footprints! And... blood?" I look where he's pointing and see the obvious scene of a death. There's a pile of dust, I'd guess the remainder of a mutt, blood everywhere, up a tree, all over the snow, and marks from the claw of the hovercraft. Someone's life ended here, taken by a mutt... I wonder who. I look around the area and that's when I see a girl, really well camouflaged into the trees. I remember her from training, Ashleen or something. Fourteen years old, and her partner, Jace. It dawns in me that this blood must be Jaces, he must have been killed. She stares at me, terrified. I must make my decision; rat her out and look good to the others, or let her live... I glance over at Olivia, who hasn't noticed the girl. I know what I must do, I must rat her out. But she's a life... suddenly I make up my mind. I will let the girl live, then later she can owe me. The pack lingers for a few more minutes and then we set off, back into the snowy, open world.

Rosemary Fischer POV

I bend over Elodies sleeping body. She looks so peaceful, I'm sorry that I hace to wake her up. I gently tap her shoulder. "Elodie, it's morning. We need to get moving." She slowly opens her eyes and yawns.

"I had the most wonderful dream. We weren't in the games anymore, we were in some different place, I don't know where. It was beautiful..." She smiles a bit. "I wish that we were there." Ice walks in the little flap of our tent.

"We have a problem; we didn't get any food in the bloodbath, you know? Well, that rabbits gone, and I don't see any more animals..." Elodie groans as she sits up.

"I'm from district eleven, I can help you with edible plants. If I can get up, that is..."

"Well, you slept all day yesterday. It was nice yesterday, no conflict... you shoukd be doing better now." I say. I think that her progress is massive. She's gone from deaths door to having wounds, but no that bad, no infection, and they're scanning and healing well. Elodie manages to stand up and the three of us walk for a few minutes in the woods. Its beautiful, the sun filtering in through the snow covered branches, creating bright patterns in the pure, white snow. It doesn't take Elodie long to recognize the top of a winter root plant. We work and dig up about five of them. They are a lot like carrots, except a redder colour and fatter. We take them back to the tent and each eat one hungrily. When we are finished, Ice gets a serious look on his face.

"We might be in danger. I heard the hovercraft earlier, and it sounded close. Too close. Someone died really near us, within a mile. Probably the same forest"

"That's horrible. But we're probably safe from mutts for today since there's been some action over here..."

"True." Ice sits down next to me and huddle for warmth. I just wonder how long we have before tragedy strikes, because other than Ices leg, and Elodie, the unexpected ally, nothing horrible as happened to us. No dead friends, no attacks... something's going to happen, and soon. We leave our tent and Ice climbs up into the trees where he'll keep watch while Elodie and I dig up more of the winter roots. We have a long day ahead of us...

Jaina Reverie POV (again...)

I feel as if I'm flying like a bird as Courtney and I ski down a huge mountain. We've been going at it all day, it's quite a challenge. My leg is killing me, the pain is overwhelming. I don't think I have much time left. Courtney slows to a stop and we sit down underneath a tall pine tree to rest. I pull out a cracker and nibble at it hungrily. I don't know how long this pack of crackers is going to last. We sit together in silence for a while and finally she speaks.

"I wonder if we're near anyone else. I haven't seen another tribute since the bloodbath."

"I don't know. How far do you think we've travelled?" I hope it was far. God, my leg is so painful. Its probably travelled up to my hip by now... I hear little bells. Again?! I look up and catch another silver para huge. The box is very small, I wonder... it's labelled to me again. Courtney smiles.

"Well go ahead, open it up." I open it and pull out a little tube. I read the label: gangrene cream.

"Courtney, they sent me the cream!' I can't believe it, somehow I actually have enough sponsors that I've received this gangrene cream. It must've been incredibly expensive. I unbandage my leg and spread some of the previous cream on by horribly infected leg. I feel immediate relief as the cream soaks into my flesh. I have more time now, more time. "This will save my life, at least for now." I whisper. Courtney puts her arm around my shoulder.

"They must really like you. Here..." she rewraps the bandage around my leg and I stand up. The pain I've been feeling for the last few days has almost vanished, the cream must be doing its job. I the a few steps; I can walk without pain, without limping. This gift is priceless. I keep thinking about the song Courtney sang to me last night, under the stars. It was so beautiful. Alone in the forest. Although I have Courtney, I feel alone, so alone, alone in the forest. Katrina Is up tgere waiting for me... "does it feel better?" Courtney asks.

"Much. I can walk without the pain already. I never thought I'd say this, but... thank you capital." We stand up and Courtney straps back into the skis. I get on the back and grab onto her.

"Here goes..." we zoom off down the mountain again. Maybe I have a chance after all...

How are you liking it? Thanks to angelofmusic4ever for sponsoring Jaina with the slingshot and bandage in the last chapter and the cream today. Oohhhh... and because I totally forgot to say it earlier...all rights to Suzanne Collins, The hunger games is hers...