Recommended Listening: Jump by Van Halen

Cisca Lemieux, District 1

We're still moving through the snow. Twilight hit quite a while ago, and none of us are in good shape, but we're still far from camp. And even if we've had some medical supplies donated, a whole other set of sleeping bags and blankets so we can stop here is probably a bit much to ask.

I least I got out all right. No blows to the face, and I'm breathing all right, even if a rib got snapped. We got plenty of pain medication to go round, so even I, with the least damage, got a decent dose. And there's not much trouble finding ice to put over my injury.

The others aren't as well off. No one has any serious leg injuries, so we can keep moving, but not all of the medication has kicked in for everyone, and nobody's in a good mood. That includes Anglynn, who finally woke up a while into the trek.

It's tough going. Our path may be better packed-down than on the way here, but the light is dim, and we're a lot more tired. How much farther do we have to go, anyway...?

Taking a deep breath though it sends a twinge through my chest, I keep up with the rest.

Nada Ott, District 11

Stifling a yawn, I look round us again. Still no one, and no sign of that bear, or anything else. It's been a pretty uneventful watch. At least I get to sleep after this, instead of getting up for the day in the middle of the night. I guess it's really the same amount of sleep, but... I don't know. I suppose I'm just more of a night owl.

I shift my legs, though only enough to keep from moving off the part of the sleeping bag my body heat has warmed. I'm really glad we got these. Much better than sitting on the unprotected snow.

And it's been a whole day without anything going wrong with them. Or the rest of our haul, for that matter. I finally broke down and had some of the food, and I haven't felt queasy or particularly weird any other way. Maybe it really was safe. I don't want to jinx myself, but... I mean, the Gamemakers could have just thrown out a few piles of supplies to keep us from freezing to death too soon.

But if that's the case, there's probably no real wood, or... Well, I can't say animals. But there can't be many bears out if there's nothing for them to eat, right? I... guess there's us, but the cub sure didn't seem interested.

So I don't really know. It seems like this place is awfully empty, though. I wonder just how big it is. I don't see a clear border or chasm or anything, but that doesn't mean much. It's not like they'd let us escape.

What's the farthest away the Careers could be, then? Two days' walk? Three? Probably less, for them. But there haven't been any cannons recently. I can't imagine they haven't found anyone, with how open the arena is. But why wouldn't anyone have been killed? Maybe they're just taking a long time to do it? Bored from walking so long and decided to torture the other tribute for a while instead?

Only when that just gives me a little bit of a chill do I realise just how tired I am. Have I been on watch half the night yet? Or, am I still keeping a good watch? I think I'm awake enough to notice anyone approaching. With the featurelessness of the snow, I could manage that as long as my eyes are open. If I can keep my eyes open...

I dare to watch a little longer, wishing we could light a fire without worrying about being seen, before finally plodding over to wake Cuba. Shaking his shoulder, I wait until he yawns and stretches before I start for my sleeping bag.

I've just thrown the top layer over to climb in when I hear Cuba freeze in the middle of another yawn. Feeling a little nervous, I look out over the snow in case he saw something, but no one's out there.

"Cuba?" I start faintly, turning to look over at him and instantly regretting it. He's looking at me and getting to his feet, his face contorted in a way that could only mean one thing.

"Rica!" Even drowsy, his voice is so raging I shrink.

"N-no, it's—"

"You've got some nerve, showing up in front of me after what you did!" he says, stomping towards me.

I make an effort to curl up and cover my head, but he still starts hammering his hand onto a part my arms couldn't cover. Ow, ow, ow.

He continues to yell at me for being Rica before apparently noticing something and cutting off abruptly. Even his hand stops hitting me for a second, and I dare to look and see if he's finally recognised me again.

He hasn't. "And what did you do to Nada?" His hands curl into fists, and I nervously scoot back.

"I-I am—"

"I said, what did you do to her?" he roars, seizing the top of my collar.

"I am her!" I respond, trying to ignore my head throbbing. "J-just calm down for a second! Nada's right here—me—I promise..."

For once silent, Cuba looks me over and squints at my face. I stay still, afraid any move would be considered an attack and brand me as Rica.

Clearing his throat and averting his gaze, Cuba lets go of me. "Uh..." He scratches his forehead. "Sorry about that..."

My reflex is to say it's okay, but I stop myself. It's really not.

"Be careful, okay?" I mutter instead, rubbing the back of my head. "Gosh... I don't even look that much like her..."

At this, he squints at my face again. I understand that there's not much light out, but he had trouble distinguishing the difference back in the Training Centre, too...

"Listen," I start, fingering at my glasses, "if you really have that much trouble telling us apart, maybe you should try wearing these instead of me." I slip off the frames and offer them, but Cuba frowns and pushes my hand back towards me.

"No, no. I can't just take your glasses from you. You need them, don't you?"

"Not more than I need to not worry about getting my head pummeled in."

He looks down, wincing, and I fidget.

"I-I mean, I know it wasn't on purpose, but... I still want to make sure it wouldn't happen again..."

"...Yeah."

After a second, he goes ahead and takes my glasses, peeking through the lenses without trying to put on the frames. He immediately draws back blinking.

"I don't think these are going to help anything," he says, rubbing an eye and handing the glasses back.

"Oh, okay..." I put them back on, the cold of the metal searing into the sides of my face. "But that's all right. Just don't get quite so riled-up the next time you think I'm her, okay?"

"Definitely. Sorry, again."

I nod.

"Go ahead and get to sleep, then," he says, stretching. "I'll let you sleep in if nobody's coming."

"Sounds good. Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

I crawl into my bag shivering, throw the top over me, and close my eyes.

Amantius Redulite, District 2

I finally ended up going to sleep from boredom, but on waking it doesn't look like anything's gone missing. Nor have any cannons fired. It's about 6:00, so I'm guessing the others got lost. With Anglynn to help find their way, I'm not surprised. She probably got distracted by an invisible rainbow or something.

Singing to myself, I start up a fire, warming my face and some water for my morning drink. Something warm to eat wouldn't be bad, either.

Adjusting my canteen over the fire, I go through our food. Hmm. Maybe I'll just melt some cheese over bread or something...

No sooner have I set up everything for my breakfast than I hear footsteps. Quieting down, I keep my sword ready and haul myself over the edge of our bowl.

Now I finally see my teammates. They're struggling forwards, Rica limping a bit, and looking quite happy to be within a stone's throw of camp. None of them are in particularly good condition, and Cisca and Ivan seem to be the only ones without any black eyes.

"I take it you found something," I start, crossing my arms.

"Someone," Anglynn corrects wearily.

"And apparently you lost."

"Shut it," Rica says. "And stay that way, because we're finally within reach of sleeping bags, and we're going to sleep."

I shrug and head back down. I have breakfast to make, and they can do whatever they want. They wouldn't be of much use fighting today, anyway, by the looks of it. So I'll just take it easy a little longer, I guess. Either that, or go out on my own, which would inevitably end badly with the amount of kills the Capitol's had lately.

I guess I'm stuck here a while longer, then.