Thanks for following along with this story! I'm sorry I don't update as much; I've been so busy. I'm going to try to update more often from now on. Enjoy!
Chapter 45- Oak Peacewood
It's only barely light out when I wake up with smoke in my nose. Aldar's already awake and looking concerned. "What is it? What's happening?" I ask, sitting up. "Forest fire. Not near us yet but it's probably coming towards us." "Where do we go? What are we going to do then?" I ask. "We're going to stay here. The pond's probably going to be the best place to be during a fire."
That also means that other tributes are going to find their way to us.
So we sit and wait, hidden in the bushes. We don't really talk. I don't feel up to company or anything right now but I'm glad that Aldar is alive and with me. Fire crackles on in the distance; you can see the smoke. It's so quiet out that Aldar and I both jump at the cannon.
"Who do you think it was?" I ask. "No telling. I don't even remember who's left." I make a face. "I hope it was that shallow girl from 1." "Why?" "She was so irritating in her interview." "Fair enough."
We come out to drink water from the pond, eat what's left of the bird from last night. And we wait. The fire seems to be coming a little closer but it's not too concerning yet. Aldar's right, the pond is the best place to be in a fire. I start to say it when he covers my mouth.
"Shh!" Aldar says. I hear it too. Someone or something is coming crashing through the woods towards us. We barely have enough time to drag ourselves into the bushes again when the tribute from 11 storms up to our camp.
He's burned on his arm, quite badly, and he throws himself into the pond, wading around. He's in rough shape; he's got wounds on his shoulders and when he climbs out of the water again, I can see a large gaping wound on his leg.
I'm terrified of him; he must be two feet taller than I am. And he's got weapons; he's carrying a spear and he's got a knife tucked through his jacket. We have nothing to defend ourselves with. I can feel Aldar tense up. Maybe we can wait him out.
No such luck. Our pond has become the most popular spot in the whole arena. The two tributes that I haven't seen throughout the whole Games appear in the woods. The one from 2 and the one from 1. I rack my brain for their names. Curia and Glow. The ditzy one from 1 isn't with them, further convincing me that she's the one who died this morning.
The tribute from 11 hasn't seen Curia and Glow yet; he's too busy drinking water on his hands and knees. But I see them; they're quietly arguing behind some trees. They're very well armed. If Aldar and I could get a hold of one of those weapons we'd have a chance. Too risky though.
11 looks up as Glow runs at him with a shining sword; he brings his spear up and stabs Glow in the hand. 11 brings up his knife and attempts to stab Glow again but Glow stumbles backward out of range.
Curia emerges from the woods and throws a knife at 11; it misses him and barely misses me. It lodges in the ground just behind me. I carefully ease my hand out and grab the knife. Now I'm armed. It won't do much good against that sword though.
The fight is going badly for everyone. 11 is slower and very hurt; Glow and Curia keep coughing from the smoking they got this morning. Where's the fire now?
I look over to the woods; there's no more smoke. The fire must have burnt itself out.
Curia notices it as soon as I do. "Glow, let's go!" She runs off, leaving her ally to make one last slash at 11.
A bleeding Glow runs after Curia into the woods. I guess they knew when they were beat. 11 makes no move to follow them. He's hurt badly and can't run I suppose. Once Glow and Curia are out of sight he sits back down on the water's edge.
I don't think they'll be coming back anytime soon, but you never know. I grip my knife even more tightly.
Glow and I are still stuck in the bushes. I'm really glad we thought to drink and eat a bit because it looks like we're not going to for a while. And the air is getting hotter by the day. My mouth feels drier every minute.
11 stays by the pond the rest of the day and we just sit and stay silent. Luckily, he hasn't thought of hiding in the bushes so we're safe. I doubt he'd fit.
I turn my knife over and over. It's a good one, and Aldar looks happy that I have it. No talking today. Not with 11 there.
When the day starts turning dark and he's starting to settle down by the water's edge I know he's there for the night. This is our chance to escape.
We stay to watch the anthem and the Capitol seal play above us- and to see who died this morning. To my surprise it's not the girl from 1; it's the boy from 4, Rigg. The one who had been stung by tracker jackers and saw us at the mountain.
11 starts snoring as soon as the seal disappears, leaving the woods in darkness. I'm terrified of the dark and what might be in there. Who knows where Curia and Glow are.
Aldar pokes me in the side, making me jump.
"Go."
I hesitate for a second, then he pushes me more urgently. I slide out of the bushes, clutching the knife. It's all I have in the arena. I stand, surrounded by darkness. I feel so utterly alone.
Then Aldar grabs my hand and we run off into the dark.