Absolution
They ran until Berthold was but a distant shadow on the horizon. Hero looked into the distance Berthold wasn't following them, he probably would come for them though, just not alone. An uneasiness still hung between them, Terra was confused by his actions. Hero was still somewhat bewildered by his actions two, but deep in his heart, he knew exactly why did what had done. It was right and it was heroic.
"Are you thirsty?" Hero asked, handing Terra his waterskin
Terra grabbed it and gulped down its contents.
"My former allies will probably come back for us. We should probably keep moving. Or find a way to descend in the chasms, we're too exposed here."
"But I haven't seen any way down."
"Then we must look for that path."
"What if there isn't one?"
"Then we'll find another way to survive "
Hero was exactly unsure of what the other way would be. Sure, he could defend Terra if the other Careers attacked but what of elements and simple matters of survival like food and water? The last remaining bit had gone and the arena didn't seem like it would yield any. Food was another problem. He had to for a sponsor gift, but his mentors would mostly try to block them or dissuade any Capitolites from sending anything his way after his actions. Shimmer and Legacy were most likely placing their hopes on Regal now. Terra's mentor could send something though. It was unlikely, younger tributes rarely got such gifts. Their fate was seen as a tragic inevitability. That being said, if what Shimmer and Legacy have was true, Cosmo Catalyst tended to be unconventional. Though it was pointless to ponder such things, it only distracted from the matter at hand.
After a short rest, Terra and Hero set out on a journey to find a way to descend into the abyss.
They had reached an uneven staircase - the path down into the chasms that they had hoped for. The descent was a fearful one.
"Don't down or your left" Hero said
The light became more and more distant, and darkness began to envelop them, but a faint glimmer of light reached the bottom.
"Almost there." Hero looked back at Terra who had just a few more steps to descend.
The walls on either side of Hero seemed close, almost like they were closing in on him. it was darker and more enclosed than Hero had expected.
"Where do we go now?" Terra asked
"Away from the path down, we don't want to be found"
They walked away from the staircase. Hero discovered that the ground was uneven. What little light they had soon began to escape, signalling that night was approaching. Hero and Terra stopped to rest for the night, taking refuge learning against the walls above them an overhanging crag that Hero hoped would provide enough cover in case the heavens decided to open. Hero knew that they had little hope of surviving the next few days. They have no food or water. All that Hero had was a spear and shield. He had to hope that a sponsor gift would come their way.
Though, for the first time since the start of the games, Hero's hopes proved not to be futile. A parachute with a package attached began to descend into the chasm.
"Someone's looking out for you," Hero said to Terra.
"Or you," Terra replied.
Hero deemed that to be unlikely but did not say as such. The parachute fell a few steps from them and he shuffled over to retrieve it. He opened the package revealing the contents within - a selection of fruits.
"We won't go hungry tonight at least, shouldn't eat it all in one go though, we don't know if we'll get another gift like this," Hero said
The pair ate a small selection of fruit and stored the rest of it away. No faces were projected in the sky that night. Sure enough, Hero's suspicions came true and a great storm was unleashed that night. Heavy rain. The heaviest that Hero has ever seen. Thunder that could have easily masked the sound of cannon fire. The occasional flash of lighting grave illumination gave brief illumination to the darkness they lay in. Hero held Terra close. Hero was thankful for the sheer rock walls and overhang, if they hadn't been able to find a way into the abyss they would have been completely exposed.
—
The next day came, and the arena had returned to a calmer state. The walls and overhang gave them the protection they needed to survive the storm. Hero looked around and noted that pool water now consumed the chasm floor. He wade into the water and filled up his waterskin - they would not go thirsty today. It became clear that Terra was too tired to travel through the arena right away- her earlier days in the arena are wearing on her.
"What's Five like?" Hero asked
"Fairly dull for the most part" Terra replied
"Why's that?"
"They don't like when you stick out, they're all but going with the crowd. And about screaming at the top of my about who I am"
"Ah, I see why you might not get along with the rest of your District."
"Cosmo, understand. My district partner Declan doesn't. So you tell who I got along with more."
"You, of course. I would have thought that -" Hero stopped himself deeming the end of his sentence to be too harsh
"That Cosmo would have thought me doomed because I'm twelve. He actually decided to focus on me because he saw that I was willing to stand out. Declan had the view of the other fools in Five."
"Cosmo sounds fun, perhaps on the eccentric side."
"He is, unlike most of Five"
"You talk about Five in broad strokes life specifically for Terra Kelvin?"
"If you must know, not great. From a poor family, the eldest of four kids didn't get along with any of 'em, still took out tressae to support 'em. Never really felt like they appreciated that. Didn't like me being myself, you see. I just bought oil and grain for 'em"
"I'm sorry." Hero said
"What's with all the questions, anyway? Terra asked
"Well, if we're sticking together I thought it'd be good to get to know each other"
"So I get to ask you tons of questions then?"
"Ask away."
"District One - Tell me about it"
"In many ways it places grandeur and beauty, reflecting its industry of luxury. Nothing compared to the grandness of the Capitol. Although in One of the wealthier districts, that is something they are very proud of and want to make sure that its citizens know it is. In One, you are encouraged to stand out, and be unique"
"That's one in broad strokes, what life specifically is like for Hero Sol?" Terra said imitating Hero.
"I was an only child. My parents showered me with praise, and pushed me into training, though entering the academy seemed natural, as did volunteering." Everything seemed natural, until the arena
"Then why are you here and not with Carrer pals?"
"Because protecting you is what is right"
A rumbling sound distributed them. Hero grabbed his spear and shield. He looked to his left. Then to his right. A shadow. A shadow down the path to his right. A monstrous one.
"We've got to move, something has come for us."
"What?" Terra asked
"Not sure could be a mutt"
They dashed down the left path, the shadow following behind them. Whatever it was that was chasing them, it was getting closer. And closer. Hero had hoped they would lose the creature in the labyrinthian network of the chasms, but the creature was prescient and continued the chase.
He had to turn around and face it. It was the only way.
Hero turned to face the creature, where he saw it in all its monstrous glory. A huge crustacean-like creature that could have been fifty feet tall. It had fourteen trunk-like legs. Four massive foreclaws with two clawed toes on each of them set on board shoulders. It had a twisted face shaped like an arrowhead, dozens of sets of red eyes and a mouth with barbed mandibles. The creature was covered in an interlocking carapace, the colour ink. It was clear that this creature was meant to be fled from and not fought. Though it needed to, it would continue chasing them until they could run no longer. Besides he hadn't exactly been doing what he was meant to recently.
He ran to the end of their current path and turned a corner.
"I have a crazy plan," he told her
"You're going to fight that thing."
"That's part of it. Yes."
"I'm going to stab it in as many legs as I can, then we're gonna run under it. It'll be too injured to chase us and it doesn't look like it will change direction that easily. That's if everything goes to plan that is."
The creature had stopped.
"Any other options?" Terra asked
"Not really, that thing seems to be set on chasing us down, until we can't run anymore."
"Guess we'll have to try your mad plan then"
Hero ran towards the creature. As he approached the first set of legs, he rammed his spear in the leg on the left. The creature let an excruciatingly high-pitch scream. It began to thrash about trying to find its attacker. Hero proceeds to stab as many legs as he could with each blow, the creature's scream grew more and more loud, so loud that Hero could feel it piercing through his soul. Its panic and bloodthirstiness grew more frantic. Hero and Terra ran through the bottom of the creature's legs until they emerged out the other side. The pair continued their flight, hoping that the creature could become a distant memory. Just as Hero thought he had escaped the danger of the creature, he saw a group of figures in the distance. His former allies. Straight from one danger to the next.
"Stop!" Hero said
They stopped.
"What do we do now?" Terra asked
"Pray that they haven't noticed us." They probably had, they were probably planning their attack right now.
"And if they do?
"We're gonna have to try something reckless again."
Hero had always known that the Careers - his former allies- would come for them. Berthold could not bear being insulted, and that's what Hero had done: he chose to protect Terra. What he did was a tribute slip through their grip on the first hunt. At least that's how Berthold would view it. Taking another look, Hero noted that all of his careers had come for him. They certainly wanted to ensure that he and Terra would die. He knew that they would soon be closing in.
"The creature," Hero said. "We lead the Careers to it and let them get tangled up in fighting it."
"Are we going back the way we came?"
"No, across and around, give them plenty of chances to see us, let them know where we're going."
They dashed across in full of the Careers. Hero could hear Berthold yelling to give chase, just as he had intended. He proceeds down the other side of the plateau beside them. Wait. No. Regal can…
Just as the thought had crossed his mind, one of Regal's knives flew past them, to Hero's relief it did not find its target. The next one, however, struck Terra. Plunging itself into her leg. She let out a scream of pain. Hero ran to her side and allowed her against his side. He continued to run as fast as he could whilst bearing Terra's weight. But then the creature came into view. Was it the same one they had encountered? Or another of its kind? Either way, it was saving grace to Hero and Terra, something that was never intended to be. Hero and Terra continued to run forwards whilst the creature approached from the left. They passed it, leaving it can the careers to tangle with each other
Once Hero and Terra had put a suitable amount of distance between them, the careers, and the creature, they stopped to rest. Terra winced in pain. Hero removed the knife, allowing blood to flow out. Hero pulled a strip of fabric from his cape and tied it around the open wound.
"Best I can for now," Hero said.
"All of the Careers came looking for us?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Think it's time for a mad plan of my own."
"Elaborate."
"We take from the Careers, head back to their camp and help ourselves to their supplies. If we're quick and lucky they'll be no one waiting for us"
"It's too dangerous, especially with your injury"
"We need food, and water and they probably have medical supplies to help with my injured leg"
Terra had a point, and Hero knew it. They were in desperate need of supplies, even more so now. With reluctance, Hero agreed to the plan. "You have a point, suppose it is our best shot at getting what we need."
Their journey back to Cornucopia began.