I do not own 'The Hunger Games' or anything related.


The girl checked her snares she set up before she went to sleep, finding a rabbit. After removing the unnecessary appendages (hiding them under a pile of leaves), she used the recently dead tribute's still burning fire to cook it, and used one of the charred sticks to cover her orange back pack in black soot so that it wouldn't be so visible at night. I checked the boy's monitor, and saw that the pack was heading back to camp. I also checked the main monitor that showed the main broadcast of the games, and found that rather than the pack, the main focus was on the girl. At times it would flick back to the careers, as well as the other remaining tributes (The girl from District 11 was busy gathering breakfast in the trees, while the one from district 5 did the same from the ground. The boy from 11 helped himself to the wheat in the field that had become his refuge), but the girl held the most attention at the moment. After she was done cooking it, she ate it along the way in the opposite direction of the careers, stashing away the leftovers for later.

While she walked, the careers got down to sleep, having been up all night. The boy apologised to the girl from District 4 for killing her fellow tribute. I couldn't help but groan. No, Boy, don't show compassion! The District 4 girl made it plain to him that even though they came from the same district, there was nothing between them. This came as a surprise to the boy, who said that surely since they must have known each other, that she must feel something for his passing. She told him that before they volunteered, she had never seen him before, which came as a shock to the boy, as it would have done for me. District 4 was a much larger district than 12, so not everyone would have known each other, not even from sight. Before they settled, she gave him some extra advice, the same I would have done: "Try not to show that kind of compassion among the careers again."

While the girl walked, she had that emotionless mask on. My right fist tightened as I restrained myself from thumping the arm of my chair. Sure, showing no emotions might have aided her survival in District 12, but this was the Hunger Games! The audience didn't respond well to a seemingly emotionless tribute!

She coated her lips in what was undoubtedly rabbit grease, and I got the impression that she was trying not to pant. I knew why. She hadn't had any water for a day.

As time passed, I could tell the girl was in trouble. Although she did her best to conceal it, I could see that she was suffering from a headache and something about her tongue was bothering her. Probably a dry patch there. The sun hurt her eyes and she tried to put on the glasses she had in her backpack, thinking that these were sunglasses so I wasn't surprised when she took them off.

By afternoon, the careers had woken, and set off to hunt for more tributes. At first they tried to hunt for the District 11 boy in the field, but they found the wheat there was too high and they almost got lost, even panicky, so in the end they decided to leave him for now and focus on the other tributes, with the girl as their highest priority.

By late afternoon, the girl came across a bunch of berries, and was about to eat them before she stopped. Most likely she was thinking whether they were poisonous, as if they were a berry she had never seen before and not liking the blood red juice. Thinking it was best to be careful, she threw them away, but clearly with great reluctance. Even so, better safe than dead. She was bound to find some non-poisonous fruit, though, unlike myself, who refused to take any of the fruit in my arena, no matter how luscious it was, no matter how thirsty I was, no matter how desperate for water I was!

I looked out for other supplies of water, and even though there were plenty of bodies, I didn't trust any of them, especially if any nearby mutt didn't take a drink from them. I looked out for any mutt, making sure that I was hidden, seeing where they would go for water, but if they had a water supply, then they weren't showing it. I had already consumed all the liquids I started off with (aside from the fizzy drink), and I was down to protein bars and beef strips, but I was going to have to ration these out, only having one at a time during meal times, and possibly in between if my hunger became too unbearable. Eventually, I chanced the fizzy drink. It was little too sweet for my liking, but tributes couldn't be choosers, so I drank this as I continued along my way. At least it quenched my thirst. Afterwards, I felt a feeling of re-invigoration, as if I could do anything, even take on the careers! All ten of them! Okay, maybe not all ten of them, and definitely not at once. Whatever I drank, it made me more focused, and I felt more energy than I felt before. I probably made twice as many steps as I did before taking it! Even at night time, when they broadcasted the deaths of the day (I heard the canon go off twice earlier today. There were no deaths from any of the careers, or Maysilee. I was sure the careers must have been responsible), I still felt like going. Eventually, fatigue started to set in, so I decided that I needed to sleep. Unfortunately, even though I felt tired I could not get to sleep, between what I had drank still going through my body and the fear of a mutt ready to pounce on me. I could have worn myself out by continuing to walk, but I couldn't risk making any sound, so all I could do was remain still and hope that I would eventually get to sleep, but as the hours passed and I was still awake, no matter how much I tried to remain still and relax (Which was impossible to do given that I was wary of death at every corner), or keep my eyes shut, I started to panic that I would never get to sleep, and how much the lack of it will affect me the next day.

The next day, the side effects of what it was I drank were kicking in. Not only did I feel more dehydrated than ever, but the lack of sleep I got had made me jittery, any noise I heard alarmed me. I needed water. Fast. But I still had no idea as to where to find a clean source. I decided to climb a tree to see one, even though I wasn't in the best condition, but what choice did I have? After climbing a tree, I got a better view of the arena, but still no sign of any clean water.

"Why don't you send her a bottle?"

I was startled, breaking out of me reminiscing. I turned to Effie.

"Why don't we send her a bottle of water? We have enough."

Effie had noticed what was obvious to me about the girl. I checked the menu. Yes, we certainly have enough water. Even plenty of money to buy numerous bottles. So why hadn't I sent any? Because I would only use these resources when completely necessary. I'm sure you're wondering, but wasn't that time necessary? Even though the girl didn't know it, she was a day away from a pond that should give her all the water she needed. You may think me cruel, withholding water for all that time, but there was no telling when she would be near water in the future, and I didn't want her to be in a situation where she was dying of thirst and I couldn't send her water because I had already used it up. Besides, I went for two days without water in my games. If I can make it, and if she's anything like me, then so can she. It was along these lines that I replied to Effie.

The girl was taking more breaks than usual. She even climbed a tree to see any sign of water, despite her shaky state, as I did, but just like me was unsuccessful. She was stumbling over her own feet when she decided to call it a day. I checked on the boy. The careers had decided to camp in the woods rather than return to their camp. He was safe with them, and had plenty of food and water, for now. But the girl was thirsty. After the broadcast, and they went to sleep, I decided to go to my room before Effie could heckle me.

"I'll wake you to let you know when she's died of thirst."


"Water. Water," Katniss said hoarsely.

She was thirsty. So thirsty. So thirsty in fact that she started to dry up, til the point she was a mummified corpse. The canon went off signalling her death.

I gasped as I woke up and my eyes snapped open. It took me a while to get back to sleep.

By next morning however the girl had not shrivelled into a dry corpse, but she wasn't doing well. She fell from the tree rather than jumping, and it took her several minutes to assemble her gear. Leaning back against the tree, stroking her tongue with her finger. I could tell she was trying to come up with a plan to find water, having no idea how close she was to it. Then I noticed a flash of anger across her face, and I had a feeling what had occurred to her.

"Water!" She shouted as loud as she could.

Yes, she's just realised that I could have sent her water, wondering why I had not done so. Effie looked at me.

"She's asking for water."

"She doesn't need it."

"But she doesn't know that!"

No, she doesn't. I was wondering what she must think of me, the reason why no parachute had come down with a fresh bottle of water. Did she think she had no sponsors? Did she believe that the boy's apparent betrayal had driven them all away? No, even if that was the case, she must have known that there was at least one sponsor who wanted to give her water. She knew that the only reason she was not getting any was because I was not releasing it. Did she truly believe that I hated her that much? I know that we didn't exactly get along, but surely she didn't believe that I would let her die! She knew that if I mistreated her, then I wouldn't be allowed in the hob, unable to gain access to the liquor I know she knew I desperately needed. Did she believe that I was punishing her, for all the times she drove me crazy? Did she think I was too drunk to care? She placed her hands over her face, and from the way she shook even though no tears came (probably because she was too dehydrated to create them), I could tell she was crying. If only there was some way to let her know. Let her know that she's close to water, that I'm not doing any of this to hurt her! But how? Then she stopped shaking. She lowered her hands, and I could see realisation on her face.

Yes, she's realised the only reason I haven't sent any water is because she's almost found it.

With greater determination, she continued. But she had to use a branch as a walking stick. With the state she was in, any tribute could take her down, even the District 11 girl. But all the tributes were too far away from her. Which in general should be a good thing, but a part of me actually wished one of them was nearby. Not the careers, but someone else, just so that I could have a reason for sending her water now, just to end her suffering!

If her state wasn't obvious to the audience before, it was now, as could be guessed by Claudius Templesmith commenting on it, wondering why her mentor hadn't sent her any water, even when she cried for it, joking that it must be because I was too drunk to notice! I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps District 12 thought the same. That her mother and sister must think the same, not knowing that I was doing everything to protect her.

"Katniss doesn't know it," He continued, "But if she continues walking in the direction she's in she should be at a pond this afternoon that will give her all water that she needs!"

A map appeared on the screen, showing the part of the arena between the girl and the pond, with a red dotted line showing that if she continued her way she would get to the pond.

Yes, thank you for reminding me, Templesmith!

By afternoon, her legs were shaking. I could tell that she kept forgetting what exactly it was that she was doing. She was stumbling repeatedly.

"Things aren't looking good for the female tribute of District 12," Templesmith continued, "Will she make it to the pond before she collapses?"

"She's dying, Haymitch!" Effie screamed at me, making me glad that our booth was sound proofed.

"She can make it," I told her, "I know she can."

Even though I wasn't so sure myself.

You're almost there, sweetheart! Almost! Just a few more metres-

Her walking stick slid out from under her, and she tumbled to the ground. She was unable to get up this time. Her eyes closed.

"No!"

I made a mistake. I made a terrible mistake. I expected too much from her! I promised to do whatever I could to keep her alive and my cautiousness has probably just killed her!

"Haymitch, if you don't send her some water, I will!" Effie hissed at me through gritted teeth.

She knew that was an empty threat. She knew that the rules forbid an escort to do anything without the mentor's permission. As I couldn't help but stare at the girl's fallen form, I nodded.

"Do it," I muttered.

Effie brought up the screen to look for a bottle of water. All that suffering for nothing! I couldn't help but think. And just think! She was so close to the pond, too! If only she held up a little longer, or at least hadn't lost her grip on her walking stick, or that it slid from her! I couldn't but think about just how pitiful she looked now, probably embracing death, stroking the ground, playing with the mud.

Wait.

"WAIT!"

Effie was just about to send the bottle when she was startled by my outburst.

"Just wait a moment!"

Effie looked at me.

"Please. Trust me!"

Even though we have rarely got along, Effie trusted my judgement.

"One minute. And then we send it. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

Although hopefully she won't need a minute.

The girl continued to make swirling patterns in the mud.

Come on, Sweetheart! Work it out! If there's mud, then there's water.

Her eyes snapped open. She digged into the earth, as if making sure it was mud. Crawling along the ground, she fell into the pond. She still had enough sense to purify the water in her flask rather than drink it directly. After drinking 4 litres of water, she filled the bottle again, and retired in a tree while she ate rabbit and had a cracker along with a sip of water.

It was night time again. Both of my tributes were all right. For now at least. Peeta with his food and water, and the girl with hers. I thought I would sleep better tonight. My only concern was that there had been no deaths today. When that happened, the game makers would do something to shake things up, but that's a worry for another day.


I was walking through the woods, away from the snow-capped mountain. Suddenly it erupted. The lava that spouted would likely kill many of the other tributes, including the careers.

Wait.

Peeta is among the careers!

I ran towards the mountain, hoping to save him. Sure enough, I found him clinging to the edge of the volcano, threatening to fall in.

"Haymitch!" He called to me.

I ran forward to save him.

"Haymitch!"

I now turned to someone else threatening to fall in. It was Katniss.

"Haymitch, save her!"

"Haymitch, save him!"

Each one was begging me to save the other, but I didn't know who to save. I wanted to save both of them, but there was only enough time to save one of them. Who do I save? Who do I save?

"Remember your promise, Mitch!"

I turned around, see floating afar and above an old friend.

"Mel."

That's right. I did promise to save the girl. I ran to her, catching her arm before she had a chance to fall. Peeta however lost his grip, screaming as he fell into the lava below. The canon fired.

"You let him die!"

Katniss was in tears.

"I'm sorry, Katniss! I promised to protect you, no matter what. I'm so, so sorry-"

She let out an unearthly scream, attacking me, scratching me. She turned into a giant golden squirrel, and I tried to fight her off amid the scratches and bites. I felt a hand grab me by the shoulder and turn me around. By instinct I grabbed the person by the throat and held my knife at it.

It took me a moment to realise that this didn't look like a tribute. They were too old, and were clearly capitol. After a moment I realised who I had grabbed.

Effie.

I backed away back on my bed, dropping the knife. She was crying, shaking.

"Effie, I'm so sorry-"

I gave my hand but she backed away. I too was shaking, out of shame. Capitol citizens were as fragile as children, even if they enjoyed watching our deaths. I'm not talking about the peacekeepers or officials. Just the regular civilian. I gave her a moment to calm down, to get a grip of herself, as she stood up.

"Effie, you mustn't wake me."

It felt so awful to say, as if I was blaming her for being attacked, when it was my own fault.

"I'll remember that in future," She told me calmly.

I let a minute passed.

"Is there a reason you woke me?"

I could see that Effie suddenly remembered.

"Yes! It was to let you know that the arena's on fire!"