We wait until morning to advance on Thresh; though we are both loathe to admit it, he scares us, and in the dark he is even more threatening. He is the biggest tribute by far, taller and more muscular than even Cato, despite his life of poverty prior to the games. The thought of his rippling muscles which could snap my neck in a heartbeat makes me shiver, and the cold, hard expression of his face leaves my body heavy with dread.
Cato and I slept curled up next to each other deep in the mouth of the cornucopia, as if we were hiding from the world. Part of me screamed that it was a bad idea to corner ourselves in a tight space; that we were setting ourselves up in a vulnerable position, practically asking for an attack. But our backs were covered at least, and it felt nice to be pressed against Cato's warmth.
We took turns keeping watch in the dark, but always his strong arms encircled my waist, holding me close to him, protecting me from nightmares. Today though, we have more than nightmares to contend with.
Come first light, I roused Cato from his sleep and we prepared for what could be our last day in the arena. It's not a comforting thought, but in the arena any day can be your last, this day we are just facing a more considerable foe. And with less allies than we've been used to.
I secure a tiny pack to my waist, containing what little food remains and purification tablets. My knives sit at their usual place on my hips and beneath my jacket, though today I also wield a heavier bladed weapon. It was one of the few things that survived the combustion. We will not return to our smouldering camp after today; if we survive we will make camp somewhere more concealed, in the tree line. If today goes ill, then we will not be leaving Thresh's territory, except by hovercraft. There's no point leaving anything useful behind, so I adopt the heavy weapon, even though I don't feel comfortable using it.
Cato also carries a pack and several weapons; his sword in his hand, one slung across his back and some smaller knives strapped to his chest. He looks good; I note foolishly. His muscles stand out against his tight clothing; his lips are set in a hard line which makes his jaw look strong. His face is dirty and his hair glistens with sweat, but he looks strong, brave. I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips to his before we leave.
I intend it to be a fleeting kiss, something to coax his lips out of their scowl before we head to what could be our death. But he catches my hands and drapes them around his neck, roughly pulling my body to his. His mouth is hungry against mine and his fingers curl into my jacket at the small of my back possessively. The kiss doesn't last long, but it makes me breathless.
"Whatever happens, we're together, okay?" He grasps my wrists tightly as he asks me so that I can't pull away and I nod. Together. It's always been Cato and I, before the games, right through to the end. It will be okay, I tell myself over and over again. But I can't slow the beating of my heart.
"We're not going to die today," He says stonily as he releases me and begins to storm out of the Cornucopia. I'm not sure I agree with him, but I don't speak up. I'm not sure when my cocky confidence diminished, leaving me a weak, childish girl. I think it was when I stuck the boy from District Nine on the first day of the games. My bravery seeped from me like his life seeped from him.
I shake my head and dig my fingernails into my forearm sharply. I am not weak and I am not a coward. I can still be brave. I can still be a Victor. And now there is an opportunity for both Cato and I to be Victors, I have to seize it with both hands. I follow Cato at a run, my legs not carrying me as fast as his.
The drop off where Thresh disappeared to is actually a steep decline which ends in a vast field full of different coloured grasses that would be taller than me if I were to stand in them. I want to run away from the field and its hidden dangers, to never look back. I want to go home. Instead I run down the slope, almost skidding on my way down.
"Clove!" Cato hisses as I descend, before following me down even less gracefully than me. At the bottom of the slope the grass starts almost immediately. I was right, as I stand in front of it; it towers over my head, reaching above even Cato in his great height. Thresh could be lurking anywhere unseen. Instead of the fear which that thought instilled in me at the top of the slope, it fills me with a reckless sort of a courage which surges me forward, pushing me into the sea of grass.
There's a sort of eerie quiet here in the field. Our footsteps are muffled by the earth and the sound of our bodies pushing past the stems of grass is disguised as the grass sways of its own accord in a lazy breeze. Occasionally we hear a menacing hiss or rattle from a snake or some other predator lurking by our feet. I pull a knife from its bonds and hold it firmly in my grasp as we continue. Cato's breathing is shallow behind me.
I can't tell how long we've been going for when we hear it. A rustle louder than before, caused by a heavy body moving at a fast pace. My heart pounds too loud in my ear and my head shakes frantically searching for the source of the sound. Then my body is slammed into the ground by a great force.
As the breath is squeezed out of me I stare up into the dark face of Thresh. Worse than it would be if it were manic, terrified and killing to save himself, his face is perfectly smooth and composed, as if his thoughts are calm and collected. Until it twists in pain when Cato's sword slashes at his leg.
The huge boy grunts in pain and lifts his weight off me for long enough for me to scramble away. Then Cato lunges at him and the two are wrestling on the ground; fists pummelling, Cato's sword slashing wildly. A gleam catches my eye and I see Thresh's weapon abandoned by his side. I snatch it up before he can get to it, other than that I feel powerless to help as I watch the two slam into each other with their fists. Thresh is too strong and prises Cato's sword from his hands, trying to turn it back on him.
My breath feels as if it might fail as I watch him drive the point toward Cato's throat. Time seems agonisingly slow and I feel frozen, unable to do anything but watch. But that's not true. I come to my senses just in time to send a dagger whizzing at the pair. It lodges itself in Thresh's wrist causing him to release the sword and giving Cato a chance to gain the upper hand.
I watch the blood pour from his wrist; I hope it hit a vein. Cato snatches his sword back and brings it down into Thresh's leg, eliciting a grunt from the boy who is still fighting.
"Cato!" I scream, "Cato! Just run! Leave it!" It's a coward's choice, I know. But it's the one which might just save our lives. I use another dagger on Thresh, this time aiming at his neck, but I don't stop to see if it meets its target before I turn and run as fast as my legs will carry me.
Cato and I crash back through the long grass, stumbling and panting until we reach the slope and scramble up it, offering each other sweaty palms in aid. We don't stop running when we get to the plain though, we keep going past the cornucopia and the lake and the wide expanse of flat land until we are covered by the trees. There was no need, Thresh doesn't emerge. I don't know why he didn't follow us; we didn't injure him so badly to threaten his life, but I'm grateful that he didn't.
In the safety of the tree line I collapse on the ground and bring up the contents of my stomach, exhausted from our sprint. And for what? We nearly died, both of us! And Thresh is still out there, none the weaker! I don't know how we're going to kill him, I don't know, I don't know.
I put my head in my hands and sob loudly, hoping my palms would muffle it only to find they didn't. It is the first time I have cried in the arena.
Cato's hands rub my back soothingly before he pulls me to him in a tight embrace.
"Hey, it's not over yet," He croons, "We're still here,"
"So is Thresh! We didn't accomplish anything!" I sob again and bury my face in his shirt, letting him stroke my hair.
"It's okay; let's just find a place to catch our breath, rest. Tomorrow is a new day," Cato tries to comfort me, but the only thought that comes to my mind is bitter and uncomfortable. Tomorrow is a new day, but only if we live to see it.