I prop myself up against a tree and rub into my hand more ointment. Apparently, according to Agina, I got a sponsor when I fell asleep. I don't really care but it stops the burn from stinging so much. I follow the burn to see the extent of the damage. It covers my whole palm and creeps on the back of my hand from where my fingers are. The burn traveled up onto my wrist and the veins can only just be made out. I'm not sure but I think the ointment has started on making the burn dissolve. I'm not sure. Don't have much to compare it to. Agina crouches down next to me with a steaming pot.
"Soup?" She asks. I nod and hold out my hands. She gives the pot to me and reaches into her pocket. She draws out some dried meat we salvaged from the cornucopia.
"I tell you, if I ever get out of this damn game I'm gonna eat so much meat," she starts. Her voice stoops low when she sighs. "I miss juicy meat." I nod, gulp down a big mouthful of soup then throw my head back and exhale. A puff of frail cloud flies up above my head then fades away. I do this again.
"So what's the plan?" I ask. She stares at me in pity and I choose to ignore it.
"We taking a hike? We waiting for fresh meat to come? We gaining magical super powers and flying out of this place? Come on, I need a plan." She doesn't talk. I bob my head around and look at the surroundings and point at the trees.
"Hey look! The trees have grown icicles!" I laugh. I turn my head back to Agina and she's still giving me the pitiful look. I point out the icicles again and laugh. She looks at them and chuckles softly to herself. I drum my legs then stand up- soup in hands. I walk up to a nearby tree and pull down an icicle with my right hand. I marvel at the icicle and put down then soup. I turn to Agina and put the ice along my arm to compare its length. It reaches just past the crook of my arm.
"I think we should go back to the cornucopia," she says. The idea gives me a quick goosebump attack. "It's where the Gamemakers will force us to soon. Final six was last night."
"Six." I echo.
"Yes. We make up one third of the people in the arena." It strikes me.
"Eighteen people have died since we got in here."
"23 by the time one of us gets out."
"One of us?"
"That's right. Me or you are going to see our families again. The others will not get out. We won't let them out." She stares at me. I return the favour. We both stare at each other through the cold air. I notice a white thing flicker in my vision. Another one flickers. Something cold lands on my cheek then it isn't cold anymore. I look up.
"It's snowing." I say. My cheeks warm with a smile.
"Damn, it's snowing."
"Why damn?" I ask Agina, shocked.
"Oh come on," she replies "Ever heard the expression 'Calm before the roar'?"
"No."
"This is the calm," she looks towards where the cornucopia would be "The roar is on its way."