We've allowed ourselves a full day of rest to get our strength back. Thanks to Rue, we're not in an all too bad condition, and she luckily also thought to apply the Capitol medicine to the wound Glimmer inflicted on her, which is as good as gone now.

I'd like for us all to just remain in our cave a while longer but we are running low on supplies. What we had we have either eaten or it has begun to get bad. It shouldn't yet, really, but I'm guessing the Gamemakers designed it that way to mess with us tributes.

Whether they did or I'm just off on my assumptions on how long the food should have lasted, we have to stock up on supplies either way.

We're down to only nine tributes left in the arena, even though we can't, not for all the world, figure out who's still around other than us, the Careers, Peeta, and Thresh. Amber says it's definitely a guy, but even she is hazy on his District number.

Anyway, the dwindling numbers mean something is going to happen soon, and we are absolutely on edge as we move through the forest.

Amber is certain that we'll have to deal with whatever the Gamemakers throw at the remaining tributes, as we are the only alliance other than the Careers, and Cato and Clove are entertaining enough as it is and have the added bonus of likely turning on Felicia at any moment, assuming she's still with them.

She stops us every time she hear the rustling of leaves, only to give the various mockingjays who cause the sound angry looks. The birds are still singing, though, so I'm not all that worried.

When I point this out to my allies, Amber scowls."Yes, because we can be absolutely positive that the arena has a built-in warning system. Gee, thanks, Prim. How did I not realise that?"

She almost instantly apologises for her rather gruffy reply, and I'm quick to assure her it's fine, even though her words hurt me. It's not like I was trying to be stupid about this, I was only hoping to set us at ease a little.

Rue quickly starts chattering about something random, and we're both thankful for the change of subject, even though I – and I'm pretty sure Rue, too – can tell that Amber would rather have us shut up, in case we miss any sound that might alert us to danger.

But really, unless it's the Careers, danger will most likely just pop out of a hatch hidden somewhere in the arena when the Gamemakers think it's funny. And I somehow seriously doubt they'd be nice enough to put bells on their mutts so we can hear them from a distance.

Rue suddenly falls silent mid-sentence and I turn to ask her what is wrong when I notice it, too. The mockingjays have stopped their songs.

Our respective weapons are in our hands instanly, Amber letting out a string of curses. We move together in a sort of triangle, each peering in a different direction and not leaving ourselves open to attacks from behind at the same time.

I blink in confusion as a small, actually incredibly adorable animal pushes out of the undergrowth. It's a weasle. A fair bit bigger than a normal weasle, but definitely a weasle nonetheless. Are the Gamemakers freaking serious right now?

I'm clearly not alone with that thought, as Rue barely surpresses a snort next to me."That's it?"

The weasle chatters at us as if it were offended at our lack of terror. But this is the cutest, smallest, least threatening mutt I have ever seen. I'm not even certain it's actually a mutt. It might just be a regular, somewhat large weasle and we are overreacting.

I'm about to suggest that thought when half a dozen more appear and they suddenly attack.

It's a good thing I had my knife ready, because otherwise I would have had my throat ripped open. I barely manage to block the first mutt that comes at me, still too surprised to fully comprehend what is happening. These things just don't look like something that wants to kill you, more like something Buttercup would kill and drag home, upsetting me with his odd idea of a present.

But these little critters are fast and there's too many of them and they have razor sharp fangs. Within minutes, I have bite wounds all over my arms and hands from trying to fend them off and even some on my legs. We have managed to remain in our formation, so at least I don't have to worry about any of them attacking from behind. But I can hear Rue and Amber continuously yelpin in pain when the weasles make it through their defenses.

I don't know how long it is going on and how many of those things keep coming, but my arms are getting tired and my whole body is aching and all that keeps me going is that I can't die like this, not when I've made it this far, not when Katniss is waiting at home, not when I never even thanked Peeta for saving my life. Not like this, I'm not dying like this.

The onslaught suddenly breaks off and they all recede as if by some unheard signal. I spin around, panting, to find Amber falling onto her knees next to Rue, her face full of panic as she desperately tries to hold our friend's organs in.

)o(

Wow, cliffhanger, I suck big time. Also, it's like two minutes to midnight, thus barely even Sunday. Wow, I suck. Sorry for that. Hope you don't hate me; I still love you guys.

Also, I just somehow alway looked at weasles and went 'aaaaaw. you evil little fucker. but so cute. satan worshipper.'

idk I'm conflicted about weasles