This is a fanfic. The original work belongs to the marvellous Suzanne Collins and any other co-owner. You want to read a good story? Start with the original. This is merely my bad take of the story I've fallen in love with.
I make no profit…
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Chapter 25
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The forest is a lonely place to be walking in at night. Darkness is lurking everywhere and despite the natural nightlife it feels eerily quiet. Every step I take echoes, testing my already shaky nerves. I doesn't help that I'm half-naked do to ruined clothes. Or that I'm starving or that I'm in a terrible state emotionally and physically. To distract myself I try to remember how many there's left of us now that Rue is dead. I get it to a total of nine from the original twenty four. Glimmer, Marvel, Clove, Cato, Noah, Thresh, Foxgirl, Peeta and I. No wonder the Gamemakers' are speeding things up. The people in the City must be wanting a closer in the coming days. It feels surreal just thinking about it.
It leaves me with a very small opening to scare the careers'... and getting Peeta to safety. Up until Rue's death I was willing to let him die in order to secure her win, but with her gone I'm might have a small chance of saving the both of us. I can at least try.
When I arrive at the river Rue's body is gone. I make sure that I'm alone before leaving the trees. I collect the smelly wet clothes and use them to erase any trace of my presence. I can't do anything about Rue's blood, but I want the careers guessing so I do my best. Once done I jump of the rocks and land in soft sand. I use what remains of the clothes to wipe away the footprints before throwing them into the river; they're useless now anyway. Needing a good lookout-point I start searching for a tall three, preferably an oak with big branches. I find an old birch that will do. Climbing is almost unbearable, but it has many smaller branches which helps.
I don't stop until I'm high enough to have clear view in all directions. Settling down on a thick branch I rest my back against the trunk and wait for light or signs of approaching tributes. I try to relax since it might be hours, but they will come. If not I guess a trip to their camp is in order. While waiting I think of Prim, grateful that she's home and safe. I hope mom didn't let her see my struggle in the river… or Rue's death. Both would fill her with guilt and that is the last thing I want for her. Not that it would help telling her that, she's as stubborn as Peeta. A tired chuckle breaks out over the last thought. Peeta never quits on the people he loves, even if they are willing to let him die to save a child. *I should never have let him stay with them.*
The moment the thought cross my mind the cannon goes off. I lose my grip from the surprise, but manage to save myself from a nasty fall by grabbing at the tree-trunk, feeling the hard bark cutting into my flesh as I hang. For a few heart stopping moments I believe I will fall before finding new perches. Relieved I sit down on the branch, this time with more care.
I wait for an image to appear, trying to push aside the feeling of dread. Praying it isn't Peeta. I wait and wait but there is no image. It seems like the Gamemakers wants us guessing from now on. Just thinking it might have been Peeta is unbearable. Together with Rue I could push him aside, but now I find myself sick with worry. I force myself to chew on leaves just to keep my mind elsewhere. Letting the sour taste and smell distract me.
The heaven is dark with a few stubborn stars shining brightly, but now more light has appeared. Most likely the Gamemakers manipulating the arena. I can actually see the mountaintops and tree-lines now, which will help me spot the careers'. Which is good since I'm the one that's going to scare them, not the other way around.
While waiting I go over my injuries, the bites has all but disappeared and the few scratches I have shown no sign of infection; much to my relief. What I have to worry about is food and water, my supply is gone and so are my weapons. I'd completely forgotten to drink before climbing and can already feel first signs of dehydration. If the sun raises before the careers' arrival I need to climb down and drink myself full, but not just yet. No need to lose a current advantage by tiring myself out just yet.
It's about an hour later when the first sign of them comes, making me thankful that I stayed put. They're laughing and making fun off each other, not caring about the noise in the wind. I bite my lip in irritation, they truly believe me weak if they're this reckless. As they move amongst the forest I try to spot Peeta, but I can only make out Glimmer. The rest is too well covered in the foliage. When the landscape change from forest to a more open area Clove and Glimmer follows the river's edge while the boys stay covered. This makes them the first to spot the blood. They call for the others and hurry over to study it.
Relief fills me when Peeta steps out of the forest; alive and well, his golden halo shining in the dark like the stars above. I drink him as if I'm dying of thirst, not letting him escape my sight. He stays back while the others circle the rocks, looking for clues. Clove and Cato are crouching over the blood while Glimmer and Marvel check the water edges. For some time they just mumble and walk around, trying to see if I'm close. I stay perfectly still, hardly breathing. I can't hear their exact words, but I make sure not to lose track on their progress.
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~DOWN BY THE RIVER EDGE~
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"I don't get it." Glimmer complains. "They should've been killed by the current or the rocks, how can she still be alive?" She looks over at the water and shivers in fright. Unwilling to get to close even if the water is calmer right where they are.
"She's always been a fighter." Peeta answers and takes a few step closer. Relieved to see that Katniss isn't visible even if she might be close. "She won't make it easy for us to find her." The others glance at him, clearly getting agitated at the thought.
"Then I guess it is about time we took care of the problem." Marvel drawls. Trying to pretend that they haven't been searching for Katniss before, only having failed miserably at finding her.
"How did you not see her?" Clove mumbles, flipping a knife in her hand - looking at Cato. "She was right behind you and you still had no clue."
"I was keeping an eye on 11, just like you; She's just really good at hiding I suppose, unlike others." Cato snarls back, towering over her in irritation. Ever since Katniss had managed to steal food and gotten away he had been trying to exert his power and leadership at every opportunity. Unwilling to show weakness amongst his pack of wolfs.
"Perhaps." Glimmer states doubtfully. "Or we were too focused on what was visible. Giving her chance to sneak up on us. AGAIN. She have a real skill for slipping by". Glimmer just shrugs at Cato's sour glare. She has no problem questioning their leader or their own pre-made opinions. While her ally might be willing to lie to himself, she strives for honesty. They had forgotten to watch there back and she rather acknowledge that then get a slit throat while sleeping.
"Hm. Marvel's right, we need to take care of her." Clove states while looking her fellow tribute. Challenge showing clear in her eyes.
"Shut it." Cato snaps. Getting fed up with his team. All he want to do is find the girl and end her.
"No. I won't. She might win this if we let her be." Clove snarks over Cato's head, unfearful of his temper. "Think about the chick who won the 71th Game. Who the hell expected that?" Her words has the others pausing, most likely in remembrance of the brutal killings done by Johanna Mason.
"There is no way that girl has such skills hidden away, we would have seen it." Cato snaps between clenched teeth while getting up. Anger exploding inside him at the very idea that he might lose.
"Maybe we were too focused on gaining sponsor to really see her potential. I can't really remember her standing out during practice, but she still got a Seven; didn't she?" Glimmer says out loud as she tries to remember.
"Yeah, she did. I think we have made a real blunder with that one." Marvel exclaims, surprised by the notion. "She has the love of the commoners in combination with several sponsors. Not a good thing."
"Riiight." Cato agrees reluctantly while looking thoughtful. "We should have killed her on the first day. She was easy picking back then."
"Does it matter now? She must be injured, half-starved and exhausted by now." Peeta jumps in. Willing to get them moving. He had been trying for days to make them underestimate Katniss and it was all falling apart. "She couldn't have gone too far."
"How far do you think she might have walked to feel safe?" Glimmer asks. Making him grateful since it gives him the perfect opening.
"Far enough that the trees would hide her. She isn't dumb. We have some of her tracks, why not just follow them?" He tells them and points to the forest. He knows that Katniss would never allow these clues to actually lead anywhere so they were safe to follow.
"We can't trust any seeable clues. This one knows how to hide her tracks." Cato reply. Looking at Peeta suspiciously, wondering if it was wise to let him live beyond this night.
"Then we split up and cover more ground that way. The first one to spot her gets the game." Clove suggests with a smirk, gaining support from Marvel and Glimmer. Making Cato forget about Peeta and study his real opponent.
"Isn't that risky? It would leave us vulnerable." Peeta voices, concerned at the risk of a divided group. It would make it harder, if not impossible, to protect Katniss. The mere thought made him sick.
"Not us." Clove gives him a bloodthirsty grin. Knowing that Peeta just forced Cato's hand. "We're trained for this, but if you're scared you can tag along with me." She taunts.
Peeta shakes his head in a negative and takes a firmer hold on the swords handle. The others just look away in silent disdain. Towards Cato for a decision. Knowing that there is no other choice Cato lets an evil smirk break across his face.
"There's not a lot to say… so let's play." Cato shouts. Howling at the sky and the others join in. Even Peeta in the hopes that Katniss will hear them and run.
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~back to Katniss~
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The howl reach me as I see Marvel and Cato splitting from the others. Walking downstream. Next to head out is Glimmer and Peeta; they start walking upstream before Glimmer signals to him to take the river-side while she the forest line. Clove takes the middle, walking straight in. Only pausing to make sure that all of them has a wide spread to move in before allowing the trees to hide her. They must be hoping to corner me faster using this method. A good plan if they were actually smart enough to look at every direction while searching. I could see them searching the ground and the bushes. Not a single glance upwards. This fills me with confidence.
This leaves me with five different directions. Clove's, Glimmer's, Cato's Marvel's or Peeta's. From the golden hair I can see from peeking out now and then option five is out. Glimmer is keeping a close watch on Peeta, not straying too far from his side. She's smarter than I had thought.
I look to the boy's direction. Hesitant to try it. Marvel and Cato are too powerful. The one closest in strength is Clove and since the others are staying together the decisions easy.
Climbing down is just as hard as climbing up, especially with scraped hands and broken nails. Unwilling to waste time I freefall the last meter and land on my hands and knees. I look around, afraid that someone might have heard. Nothing is moving and after a minute I dare to rise. Before going after Clove I run to the river and drink myself full. Only after do I break the treeline and start running after Clove. Trying to remain unheard I rush through the forest. The sound of the river helps to hide my approach. I find her walking in a brisk but focused pace amongst the trees, looking for clues with her eagle eyes. I make sure to remain behind her and at a distance. Clove has two gleaming knives in her hands and I don't want to get acquainted with them.
I might have a ten minute gap before they start to regroup. Staying hunched and hidden I follow, looking for an opportunity to strike. When we pass over a mud pit Clove goes around while I straight through. Since I have next to no clothes I need to cover up and the mud will hide my pale skin. Time passes and to keep focused Clove fires of knives at every sound she hears. One of them almost clips my ear. To my disappointment she makes sure to reclaim every knife. I'm close to giving up. Feeling exposed the more time I waste tailing her. It would be better to see if Glimmer has let up on her vigilance concerning Peeta.
Just then Clove calls out and in the distant I hear two-three answers masked as animal sound. It seems the call is a message to carry on because she keep going forward. Meaning the others aren't heading back either. It seems like I'm stuck with Clove a while longer. Since the calls didn't appear to be too close I have some room to move and sneak closer.
Secure behind a cluster of bushes I lie flat on my belly; long thick grass hiding me from all sides making me feel more secure. I take one blade of grass and break it off, folding it and place in between my lips and thumbs. I blow out and a hollowed sound carries in the air, eerily reminding me of the lizard mutts. If it scares me it should spook her. Glancing towards her I can see her pausing so I stop. I don't want her to find me after all.
Clove look for clues, but can't figure out what's going on. I take pleasure in the confusion she must be experiencing. In the real world this would be nothing, but this is the Games; anything can kill you at a moment's notice. Something we tributes are deadly aware off. When she starts moving again I repeat the trick and again she pause, crushing down and looking around. Very and guarded.
"Guys, if that's you I'll kill you." She snaps between clench jaws. No answer comes.
I smirk. Her calm is being torn apart by a measly sound. For a while I keep it up; sneaking after her and making the sound. Sometimes close and sometimes far away. It's damaging her calm. In the end she explodes. Letting lose all her knives in hopes that the animal will reveal itself. Or a tribute. I'm safe behind a low elevation and they fly over me, but they are a sign to stop. Best to allow Clove to believe she's safe, anything else would leave me vulnerable to her impulses. While she's busy collecting the knives I snatch one up and attach it to my belt. I then make a hasty retreat before she come up with one knife missing.
As I move away I can hear her calling to the others. I look back and see her standing in a sloop. It won't allow the call to travel far enough. Clove is on her own. From the stiff posture I guess the same thought occurred to her. She starts heading back. Struck with an idea I hurry to get ahead of her. Climbing the first sturdy tree I find in her path. Getting into position I lie in wait, trying with the leaves to cover any exposed skin that might be seen in the nightlight. I'm dirty enough that it's not a major problem, but it still take a few seconds. In those Clove has gotten closer and I can spot her jacket between the trees.
She's in a hurry and I will only get one chance. Since I need bait to place her beneath me I drop the knife I just manage to steal. Its hilt pierce the ground below. Now I can only hope that she sees it and walks over. Standing on two thin branches I wait anxiously. This is a risky move with many dangers, but it's the best chance I'll ever have and I'm willing to risk it.
Clove spots the knife long before she passes it. I can see it as she pause. Likely in fear off an attack. I do my best not to move and show myself. She hesitantly walks in my direction, weighting every step and looking around. I could roll my eyes that not once does she look upwards. Soon she's only steps away and both of us can feel the tension growing.
A minute pass before she takes the last step and crouch to pick it up. I let go of the tree and fall. For a second our eyes meet and then I land on her. My body knocks her over, pressing her into the ground with an ump. I lift my arms in preparation for a fight, but it doesn't come. Clove's unconscious. The moment feel anticlimactic, but I don't look a gift-horse in the mouth.
Hearing voices in the distant I set to work. It seems that the others have regroup and are looking for their missing comrade. I strip of her down; taking her jacket, sweater, dry boots and socks. I place all her knives in the jacket and tie it together with the sleeves. When I'm done I collect the bait-knife and start to shred the remaining items. This way she will be forced to walk naked to the Cornucopia. It will leave a lasting impression on all of them.
Fearful that the others might be getting closer I hurry to mask my tracks and take off running. Not away from the voices, but to the side. This way they won't see me and I won't have them behind me. I don't see the group as we pass, but I hear them. Glimmer is laughing and Marvel giving an odd shout now and then. They must suspect Clove to be lost. It will buy me extra time. I don't stop until I hear Cato's roar, weak in the distant but it still washes over me like a tidal-wave. Sending goose bumps over my body for I know he will be thirsting for blood, especially mine.
With careers' on my tail I sit down behind a large tree; I need to go over my loot before making the next decision and know it's the best time for it. Darkness is still covering the forest and I'm sure that my trails are well covered. I should have a half hour at the most before they start closing in on me again.
Hurriedly I untie the jacket and let the knives spill out. Going over them I pick out five that I like. Two short ones, a bigger hunting knife and two throwing knives. They will be good for scavenging, defence and hunting; much to my pride and joy. The others I burry so no one else can use them. Next I spread out the clothes, letting my eyes scan them over.
Holding up the sweeter I give it a critical look, it will be small, but it offer warmth so I slip it on. It's tight around the arms and neck, but I can live with that. The jacket is too colourful and it doesn't have the same stretch as the sweater. What it does have is a chocolate bar that I'm quick to consume.
With warm and sweet chocolate in my mouth I zip the jacket and turn it inside out; it's inside being a darker red. After rolling it a few times in the overturn dirt it's harder to spot and after tying its strings together I have a useful bag that goes around my belt. It won't be comfortable, but at least it's something.
Next I hold up her boots. They are of a better model and to my surprise, a good size. At most they will be a little big around the toes, but I can live with that. I hurry to remove my old ones and slip on the dry socks and boots. The warmth is welcomed and I happily tie the shoelaces.
The older boots gets tossed into a bush and left behind as I start looking for the river. It will guide me to the Cornucopia and their camp, my best guess is that the careers will head home; Peeta with them. If I can get there first I have a chance to get him away from them. And… I might even have the opportunity to blow up their food pyramid. That would really hurt the group and level the playing field.
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