Chapter 41- Oak Peacewood

It's the boy from 4, Rigg, I think he's called. The tall one with the blonde hair. And he's coming towards us. He's unarmed though. I lean against Aldar and wait for Rigg to come closer. Oddly enough he has his hands up.

"Truce! Peace!" he calls. "What is he on about? This is the Hunger Games, there's no truce," Aldar mutters. "Let's see what he has to say," I whisper back.

Rigg collapses on a rock ten feet away from us. "Please don't kill me. I've been asleep the past two days and I just woke up." "Why?" Aldar says , reaching down for a rock. "Tracker jackers. They're everywhere. I disturbed a nest and three of them got me. I'll leave and we can go back to being enemies, but can you tell me who's left? Who's dead?"

Aldar and I look at each other. Neither of us really trusts Rigg. But there he is waiting. Finally I speak. "The ones left are us three, the two from 1, the girl from 2, the little girl with red hair from 5, and the boys from 9 and 11."

"Cass is dead? My district partner?" "She died yesterday; I saw it in the sky last night." Rigg's face changes momentarily, then becomes blank again. Then he nods. "I didn't think she'd win." Silence. Finally Rigg breaks the stillness. "Good luck, 7," he says, slowly getting up. Then, without another word, he runs off into the woods, disappearing.

Aldar and I look at each other again and sit down. "We need food and water. That should be our priority," he says, dropping the rock he was holding. "Odd how Rigg sought us out, wasn't it?" I ask. He shrugs. "He's been drugged and he's out of his mind. We should have killed him while we could." "He didn't kill us, though." "The Hunger Games is no place for mercy, Oak."

Without speaking further we leave the mountain, this time for good. I'm limping, and I'm all too aware of the blood on my face that makes me feel sticky. All the fire inside me has burnt out, though. I'm tired and I hurt. So I let Aldar lead the way, limp and all. I can't go far, even with Aldar's help though. Every step on that ankle feels like my leg is full of broken glass, and I end up crying again.

"We have to keep going, Oak. Someone's going to catch us; we need water and food." I nod, but when I try to put weight on my ankle my leg buckles and I end up on the ground. I draw my knees up to my head and bury my face in them. "I can't go any further," I say, my voice muffled. Aldar crouches next to me.

"I'm going to carry you. Get on my back." "But-" "Now, Oak." So I climb onto Aldar's back and he begins moving swiftly and quietly through the forest. My nose starts bleeding again, and soon his back is damp, since I can't hold onto Aldar and my nose at the same time.

This goes on for maybe twenty minutes, by my guess. Maybe less or longer. Then Aldar sets me down gently on a tree stump and stretches. He seems okay, even after the avalanche. I don't have any supplies anymore. Not that I ever did.

My boots don't really help keep my ankle in place, so I tear off strips of my coat and wrap my ankle in those. Maybe that will help. It's swelling, though, and it's not really looking like a foot anymore. Aldar is pacing, looking in every direction. I feel like telling him to sit down and stop pacing, but where we are it's probably a good idea he is.

"You okay?" he asks, pausing finally. "Yeah, I'll be fine," I lie. "Let's go. We need supplies." "Okay." I break a branch off a tree and test it to see if it supports me. Then I hobble after Aldar who's already several paces ahead of me, keeping as much weight off my ankle as I can.

It's quiet in the forest; of course it is; there's hardly anyone left. And it's only the fourth day. I don't want to think about who's dead. I just feel tired and I hurt all over. I don't feel angry anymore. It's like I've become numb.

Aldar shoots his hand back so suddenly he nearly hits me. Then he drags me into the bushes, to a little opening between the leaves. I peer through and see a large pool, with water plants that might be edible, and little birds flitting about. Even a duck that might be caught and eaten. It's the ideal place to stay. Then I notice the little tribute kneeling on the edge, cupping water in her hands and looking around.

It's the little redhead from 5, Lily or Rose or whatever her name was. The flower one. I accidentally rustle a leaf and she jumps up, spilling the water, and sprints off. She reminds me of a rabbit or a deer or something. Something quick and nimble.

"This should be a good place to stay," I say, and Aldar nods. After a few minutes, to see if anyone else arrives, we come out of the bush and collapse at the edge of the pool. The first thing we do is drink as much as we dare; the second is wash the blood off ourselves.

"Look!" Aldar says, pointing up. A silver parachute descends from the sky and rests gently in my outstretched hand. "What is it?" I say, admiring the silver box from all sides. "It must be a gift from our sponsors," Aldar says, moving closer. "Open it!"

I crack the box open and inside is a little needle and the picture of a bone on it. I turn it this way and that, trying to figure out what it's for. Aldar takes it from me and looks at it closely.

"I think it's for your ankle!" he says finally. "You think so?" "I've heard of bone mending serums before." He looks me dead in the eyes. "Should we try it?" "It's a gift, isn't it?" I reply, and Aldar eases the point into the skin of my ankle. It stings and I wince, then it's over. Nothing happens.

"It might take some time. Let's set up camp here for now; it's a good spot." I agree immediately. "Lie down Oak, get some sleep. I'll keep watch." I take my coat off and ball it up under my head. I'm asleep almost as soon as I close my eyes.