Yes, I've been gone. Yes, its not fair to you. And yes, I am very sorry and aware that I haven't supplied anything in months.

...but I'm trying :)

-Bell

I had to run.

There was no other way.

I stood at the mouth of the Cornucopia with a firm stance, eyes narrowed forward and watching intently, two knives in each hand. One twirled absently in my right hand.

I had pretty much decided that if I was going to get Alex out of this alive, or even myself if I was - heaven forbid - too late, I had to separate myself from the Career group.

But how? How do I escape from these masters at the game? How do I leave them behind and live to find Alex?

I sighed, turning to my side and pacing. It wasn't as dark as it was when I took watch, and it was worrying me. I was running out of time. I needed to figure out a plan to leave the group behind in a secret fashion.

I stopped. I could run now. I turned my head quickly to the inside of the Cornucopia, watching the sleeping and unconscious Careers. I could run now, right now, at this very moment with my supplies. I could do it, I could-

Dezzy's quiet snore made my thoughts come to a halt. I couldn't leave her here. She was the smallest, the youngest - it would be cruel to leave her now, on the first day.

Well, technically, its the second.

That's besides the point. I shook my head and looked away from the Cornucopia and forward ahead to the empty field. It was quiet.

Think, Lillianne, think, I thought to myself. I had to get out of here. And if I was going to save anyone from the group behind me, it was Dezzy. We needed a distraction, something to get away from the pack. But we had to be safe. We needed supplies.

A beeping noise interrupted my thoughts. At first, I was startled, getting in a ready stance. But nothing came. The beeping was coming from above.

My face turned upwards, and I saw silver container floating downwards towards me, a white parachute holding it against complete gravity. It was a gift. A sponsor gift!

I put a knife in my pocket holster and looked back inside the Cornucopia to find the group still asleep, and I let out a sigh of relief. I reached for the gift and took it in my hands, making sure it was mine. It was - it stated so with the silver "District One" engraving in the container. In fact, it wasn't a container at all. It was a small bag. I detached the parachute cloth and stuffed it in my jacket, then zipped open the bag. inside was a smaller bag, one almost alike, and two straps - they most likely went with the bags. At the very bottom was a card, business card sized made of thick material. It was a message, short and lettered in silver ink.

"If you're gonna run, take this. And for that little girl, too. Be careful. C."

Cashmere. She sent me two pouches. Easily concealable pouches. I smiled. I understood.

I looked up at the sky, mouthing "Thank you!" , when I noticed the sky was not dark. I hid my gift in the jacket I wore and hurried into the Cornucopia.

"Wake up, lazy asses! Its time for us to go!"

We left the Cornucopia with no protests from the other tributes. There was no noise, no scene. It was as if we had never used the Cornucopia. The sun rose about an hour after we departed.

"Nice time-keeping, One," Garrett praises. I give him a weak smile as I walk beside Dezzy, in the middle of the group. Cybele passes us with a humph.

"Almost let us oversleep because of it, Princess." She grumbles grumpily. Dezzy and I meet looks and roll our eyes, holding on to our packs. I put my hands in my windbreaker pockets, feeling the crumbled up bags in each one.

"Where exactly are you taking us, Demetrius?" Korto asks, her accent thick and fresh in the morning. We all looked at Demetrius who trekked on in the front, who in fact hadn't said a word all morning. I frowned. After our little talk last night, I didn't know what to say to him. Should I answer his question? Should I talk to him? Should I…bring him with me?

No. I couldn't. This wasn't for him. It was for Alex. Not for him.

"I'm going North. The moss, its pointing South." He says. We all look at the moss around us, and he's right. Its all in pointing in a singular direction. He continues, "So if we head North, we'll probably get to higher ground."

"Why are we heading to higher ground? Shouldn't we go for water-?" Korto interjected.

"Are you sure you don't have it mixed up, pretty boy?" Cybele questions. He shakes his head.

"I'm pretty sure I have it right, Cybele-"

We all freeze. A rustle is heard through the trees, and we stop in our tracks in silence. Quickly with almost no sound, we all pulled our weapons and huddled close, forming a circle and looking around.

"Did y'all here it too?" Dezzy whispered with a smile.

"Sure did…" Cybele responded absentmindedly, watching her front and letting her words hang in the air with her sword aimed and ready.

We waited for about a second more. Then I heard it. A breath, almost a grunt. And release.

"Duck!" I yelled.

They did as such, and two spears whizzed through the air from the brush on our right. We all turned to that direction, ready.

"I smell tribute," Cybele says with a smile.

And we ran.

Please review. I'm sorry, again!