The Lady of the Lake

It had to happen sometime, but I'm still sad that I'm not overly happy with this chapter. I very quickly came to the realisation while writing it that this was always going to be a bit of a filler chapter, talking about Sky settling herself into the Arena and about her observations on the Careers.

I also realised that I really wanted Sky to get a bit more insight into Cato, and also the other Careers, as well as progressing Marvel and Darrien's relationship. It's hard to write them though, because all of it is from her view, and their relationship are not the greatest of her concerns right now.

So this chapter features Sky's base of operations, as well as a Note from Finnick, Darvel and Cato perhaps having a softer side than we expected.

Also guys seriously 13 Reviews? It makes me so happy! :D You rock!

Review responses as always are at the bottom of the chapter.

Enjoy!


Chapter 9

Trudging through the forest, following the curve of the lake, I can almost imagine that I am all alone, out in the wilderness.

It is another warm, bright day, the blue sky shining down brightly through the green canopy of the trees, especially here on the shore where the foliage is less thick. The steady sound of my feet through the grass and leaves is almost soothing, something to focus on rather than the events of the night before.

Zara's death still hurts, my chest aches a little from the knowledge that I had seen a little girl die in my arms. I'd woken with her blood still on my hands, dried on and caked, and upon finding the lakeshore, washing them had been my first priority.

I'm determined not to fall apart though.

For Finnick, because it would break his heart to get me through the Games only for me to be a shell of the girl he'd known.

For Darrien, who took risks to keep me safe.

For Cato, who had so blithely dismissed me as weak. No way was I going to prove him right if I could help it. Cocky ass.

This resolution prompted me to walk around the lake, searching out a good place to use as a base of operations. I needed somewhere I could defend easily.

And soon enough I find it.

I turn a corner of the lakeshore and gasp as I see the reason for the soft rushing roar I'd been hearing for the last hundred paces or so. It's a small waterfall, the height of two people, water rushing over the edge into a small lagoon that flows out into the main body of the lake.

Slowly I move forward, walking around the lagoon edge to reach out, my hands cupping the water from the waterfall, letting it flow through my fingertips. I'm tempted just to drink the clear crystal water as is, but caution wins out. This isn't like the water from home, who knows what the Gamemakers have put in there to make Tributes ill. So I capture some in my small flask, dropping in the water purifying tablet and set it down to wait.

It's pure chance that I look to the side as I wait, and see that the cliff that I'd just been looking at was not as sheer as I'd thought. From this angle, and this angle only I could see a thin stretch of flat rock, leading up the side and behind the sheet of falling water.

Curious, I tuck my pack under a bush and walk up the narrow slope. It's lucky I'm quite small, larger people would have much more difficulty navigating the thin path of rock. Stepping through the water, eyes closing, I open them again and gasp.

The path opens into a cave, a small cave hidden behind the sheeting water. A few small holes let sunlight in, and I walk over the soft sand, looking around me with delight.

This is…perfect.

Ducking outside once more, I pick my way down the path back to my supplies and carry them up into my new refuge.

Finding this relatively safe little haven buoys me, and I quickly set about getting my new home safe and defensible.

Unwinding the wire from my pack, I stretch part of it across the pathway up to my hideout, securing the two ends around two narrow rocks, creating a tripwire. Hopefully that would send an intruder off the path and if not it would slow them down and give me a chance to get away.

Pleased I walk into the trees and start setting up other snares and traps. My time in the snares station was not wasted, as I use my rope to create a net, using the reeds and rushes from around the lake. That would deal with some Tributes or large animals perhaps.

I also set up small noise traps, which would crack and rustle as people brush past them. I wouldn't hear them inside my cave, not over the roar of the falling water, but If I was out and checking my traps, or just outside in general, it would give me some warning.

By mid afternoon I feel safe enough in my little haven to strip down and dive into the lagoon, washing off the terror of yesterday, and letting the cool water soothe me.

Laying there, the sun on my face and the water lulling me, I feel at peace.

I feel at home.


The next day I leave my supplies in my haven and make my way back along the lake to the Career camp.

Teesa will be meeting me tomorrow to raid them again, but today I feel the need to watch, observe, and maybe learn something. While hiding out in my haven was nice, I felt my time could be better spent in reconnaissance.

So light and well fed and rested, I hurry through forests before slipping into the water. Swimming silently I come up near the Career camp, hidden by the thick rushes and reeds, as well as the copse of trees that hangs near the water. It is there that I slide out of the water, huddling down to watch the most dangerous people in this game so far.

They're all there, all five of them, and Peeta, and they also appear to have a young boy with them, and I vaguely recognise him as the fidgety one from District 3. He's working nearby, digging something up and I blink as he reaches into his hole, withdrawing a small metal device.

It's one of the plate mines; he's digging up the plate mines.

Bemused I watch for a while, seeing him playing with the wires, before I see the flash of lights along the side. He's reactivated it…and he carefully carries it over and reburies it near the supplies.

My mouth falls open.

They're booby trapping their supplies.

The tricky bastards.

My attention turns to Cato who is prowling around the meadow, ignoring the others who are lounging in the shade under the canopy they've created with some tarps. Clearly the cornucopia isn't a good shelter, and so they are sprawled out lazily on the grass. Glimmer is brushing out her long blonde hair, using a small comb that had obviously been part of the supplies at the cornucopia and Clove is nearby, studiously ignoring the vain Career girl. She's tossing her knives, tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth with concentration.

Peeta is lying on his back, arms behind his head, eyes closed, seemingly relaxed, but I doubt he's sleeping. How could he be? Surrounded by these people. One of whom had killed a little girl two nights ago.

My heart clenches and I push the thought away.

Darrien and Marvel sit together nearby, heads bowed together, talking softly, and I feel my lips curl up subconsciously at the sight. Darrien's face is relaxed, eyes closed, but Marvel's eyes are open, and the tenderness in those green hazel eyes humbles me.

Something changed yesterday; they hadn't been nearly as affectionate with each other before then. But now, now I can see Marvel's arm resting behind Darrien, protectively placed, and I can see his fingers gently stroking the side of Darrien's leg. And my District partner is leaning into it, completely at ease.

"You two are sickening." Cato's voice rings out, and my eyes snap to him standing out in the sunlight, golden hair shining and blue eyes almost glittering in the light, "You're meant to be Careers."

"Fuck off Cato," is Marvel's pithy response, "We're enjoying ourselves."

"We should be hunting down the other Tributes," Cato grumbles, glaring at the brown haired boy from 1, "Like Lover Boy's 'Girl On Fire'."

I see Peeta tense slightly, so much for pretending to be asleep.

"It's too hot Cato," Clove points out dryly, "We've been through this. Just because you're an overactive idiot who can't sit still for five minutes, that doesn't mean the rest of us don't deserve a little rest,"

"We haven't killed anyone in almost 2 days though," Glimmer points out, her husky voice carrying easily, "Not since that stupid girl with the fire."

Zara, I think, fists clenching in the grass.

"Exactly." Cato points his sword at Glimmer, "If we aren't providing the entertainment, the Gamemakers will, and we won't like their idea of entertainment."

"We can handle it." Marvel rolls his eyes, "We've got this Cato."

"Who's left anyway?" Clove asks, rolling onto her belly, "That brute from 11…"

"Girl on fire," Glimmer sneers, pulling a face, "I'd like her dead sooner rather than later if you please."

"The little girl from 11," Darrien points out softly, blue eyes opening, "Rue,"

"The seven of us," Marvel contributes, counting on his fingers, "That's ten."

"The boy from 10," Clove interjects, "The one with the bad foot, I'm amazed he's done so well."

"Eleven," Glimmer muses, "Two more."

"Schuyler," Cato's voice breaks into the discussion, striding over, mouth set, "She's out there somewhere."

"Any idea's where?" Clove asks Darrien, a sly smile on her lips, "She would be easy enough to get out of the way."

Darrien frowns but surprisingly it's Cato who shakes his head.

"No. She's not our concern yet."

"She's a Tribute," Glimmer scoffs softly, "What are we going to just let her go when we catch her?"

"We're not seeking her out!" Cato's voice rises slightly, "And that's the end of it! Besides, she's my kill."

"You never did know how to share," Clove drawls, giving her District partner a look, "But if you are sure she's the one you want. I want 11, the male naturally."

"I want the Girl on Fire," Glimmer perks up, "Showing us all up like that…" she doesn't even look at Peeta, but I do, and I see the tense, angry set of his jaw. He won't just let Glimmer kill Katniss.

"Aw you've left me a baby, a cripple and…who the hell is the other one?" Marvel ponders, "Who's the last one?"

They consider and I hide a grin.

"Oh!" Darrien, snaps his fingers, "The redhead from 5."

A chorus of aahs come up from the group and they all settle down again. Marvel lies down on the grass but this time Darrien doesn't follow him, instead his eyes stay on Cato. Eventually he gets up and nudges the other boy and they start walking towards me, towards the lake.

I flatten myself in the long grass, and stay very still as the two young men walk down to the edge of the water.

"Darrien." Cato says, voice bored.

"Cato." Darrien's voice is steady, and I lift my head slightly to look up at them, "Why?"

"Why what?" Cato's stance is deliberately nonchalant.

"Why Sky?" Darrien, folds his arms, his face frowning, "I mean, I just don't get why you're so determined for her to be your kill when 12…"

"We said we'd leave her for later, there are six Tributes besides us, the pickings are getting slim Darrien." Cato shrugs.

"You're seriously going to kill off Sky while that twitchy kid from 3 is still living? While Peeta still lives?"

"Peeta is part of the pack," Cato leans in, a smirk curling up his handsome mouth, "You wanted him in, remember Darrien."

"We could have used Sky," Darrien begins.

"Hah!" Cato snorts, "She'd throw up every kill we made."

Darrien shakes his head at him. "Laugh it up, but I think going after Sky is a big mistake."

"We're not going after her," Cato nods towards the lake and I feel my heart dropping slightly, "For example, I'm sure your water girl is somewhere near the lake or the river out there. And yet you'll notice all of the hunting parties I've led out have gone out into the forest. It's not a coincidence 4, use your head."

Darrien frowns, "Then you're protecting her? You want to kill her but you're protecting her? Why?"

Cato doesn't answer, and I feel my heart thundering in my chest.

"Cato," Darrien asks, "Why…."

"Just drop it." Cato growls at him finally, turning back to the camp, "Just rest easier knowing I'm not hunting her down…yet."

"Fine," Darrien sighs, "Just…don't okay?"

The two boys walk back up to the camp, Darrien splitting from Cato to flop back down next to Marvel who gives him a small, relieved smile. Just before I look away I see Marvel's hand hesitantly taking Darrien's in his, and Darrien's fingers gently curling around his in return.

Then I'm watching Cato. Cato who is looking out at the lake, at the river, with a small frown on his face.

And not for the first time I wish that I knew what he was thinking.


I get home and manage to catch a fish for dinner.

I cook it away from my camp, using dry tinder, no green anywhere, so as to minimise smoke. But the instant it's cooked I shift to eat elsewhere.

I'm reminded of an old story from one of my old books. An old celtic legend of two lovers fleeing from sight, and the advice the magical godfather gave them.

Do not eat your food in the same place you cook it; do not sleep in the same place you eat.

Sound advice, I decide, and smirk in amusement.

And Cato thought stories wouldn't help me in the Arena.

It's as I'm picking my way home, that I hear the soft bell tinkling of a sponsor gift. I follow the sound and find a small capsule, emblazoned with the number 4.

Smiling I open it, and gasp as it reveals a thin, dark almost wetsuit.

A note flutters out of the container and down onto the ground and I scoop it up.

'Finnick is always right, always listen to Finnick. Swim well. – F' is all it says and I roll my eyes at the sky.

"You're an ass Finnick Odair." I say, and grin as I imagine him laughing.

Carrying my treasure away I hum contentedly as I pick my way up to my warm, dry cave, and settle myself down on the flat rock shelf I've claimed as my bed.

It's been an interesting day, and my mind slowly turns over everything I've heard before I drift off to sleep.


The next day I find Teesa back at our grove of trees near the Career camp.

"Happy Hunger games," she greets me wryly, "So far the odds have been in our favour."

"That can change quick as blinking." I point out, crawling in to lay beside her on my belly, "Eleven dead."

"I saw the girl from 8 in the sky," Teesa's voice is soft, and when I glance at her, I see her dark brown eyes are looking at me, rather than at the Careers, "After you raced into the forest…was she the one who screamed?"

I swallow, and nod slowly.

"Yeah, Zara."

"I'm sorry." She said, but her voice sounds more tired than sympathetic, "But sadly that is the nature of the game."

"Yeah," I sigh, "The Careers will go hunting this afternoon," It's my turn to deflect a painful conversation towards our common goal, "And keep away from the right hand side of the supplies."

"Mines?" I blink at her, and she smirks, "I have been observing too you know."

"I am not surprised," I chuckle.

Together the two of us lay there until Marvel whoops suddenly, pointing somewhere out into the forest. I glance around and gasp at the sight of smoke, lots of smoke curling up through the trees. That is not the fire of a campfire…that is a forest fire, and I'm reminded of Cato's words yesterday about how if the Careers weren't providing the entertainment then the Gamemakers would. Clearly this was that.

They grab their weapons, and send 3 to continue digging up mines, and disappear into the trees. For a moment I feel a pang of pity, knowing that there will be a Tribute, or Tributes caught in that fire, and that they will be sent straight to the Careers.

But Zara forces me to focus on the here and know, as the two of us slip from hiding, dashing lightly into the clearing and behind the pile of supplies. The poor kid from 3 never even knew we were there.


As I'm making my way back to my little cave, with a pack full of supplies and feeling pretty good about myself, I hear the Careers shouting and jeering.

Instantly I dart into the cover of the trees and creep closer. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, and with the Careers it's always better to be forearmed. So I pad lightly through the trees, keeping low, until I see the Careers clustered around the base of a thick, strong looking tree.

They are circling it, like a pack of hungry wolves, but it's the fact that Peeta is standing back, with a tense unhappy expression on his face, that alerts me to who is up the tree.

Sure enough, I can pick out the shape of Katniss up in the branches, glaring down at them all. None of the others seem to want to climb up after her, so for the moment it appears to be a stalemate.

She's in no immediate danger, I decide, right now my concern should be that they are closer to my hideaway than ever before. I'll need to be quiet, and cautious, and get back there now.

So I ease back and circle around them, running quietly through the trees, avoiding the leaves and my concealed noise traps until I reach the waterfall and duck up into my home.

I stand for a moment in the centre of the cave, and then I unpack my supplies, thinking furiously.

I'll check on them tomorrow, I decide, and see if there is anything I can do to help Peeta, and therefore by extension, Katniss, without getting my ass handed to me by an angry Career pack.

Tomorrow I think, and settle down to eat a small raw meal of vegetables and protein bars.

I can't risk a fire. Not with the Careers so close.

I finish eating and lay down, curling up on my flat rock. It's the first time they've ever been close to my hideout, and I can't say I like the feeling.

But I can't do anything about it until tomorrow.

Even so, a little after dawn, I'm awake once more, eyes wide.

Because a cannon has boomed across the Arena, and I can hear screaming.

And it's getting louder.


There we have it, hopefully the only filler chapter of the story.

Azulish - Not thinking about ending it any time soon, and believe me, at this rate it's going to go on past the Hunger Game book and into AU versions of Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I have plans you see. And yay, someone else who loves the Darvel.

Glimmer is sexy - No Finnick/Sky ship sadly, and not really any Glimmer either. I'll write something else with her in it, but she's not a part of this one sadly.

Eve - I'm glad you like Finnick's style and whatever makes Cato Cato. I hope you keep reading and enjoying.

Sugarpearl - I knowwwwwwwwwwwww. I'm such a mean person, poor little Zara :( I cried while writing it. Hope you don't actually hate me and keep reading!

Queen of Sharks - Updated as you requested!

IamCharliedaughterofPoseidon - I loved our little PM chat 3

Luli Cullen - Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it!

EGilly - Yeah Peeta made her death quick and easy, so she didn't suffer from her wound from her belly. I don't think Sky will be too happy when she finds out it was Cato's blade that did such a botched job.

Hahaha - Here is an update, and I hope you like the Career and Teesa snapshots.

It's-A-Passion - Thank you! And I hope you don't hate this chapter too much xD. I'm glad you liked the District 4 quote and this chapter has the first of many Finnick notes. He's such a brat, can't stay out of my fic for long!

RoseMaple - But if you kill Cato then...well...fun things won't happen later ;)

Loopyloola - You can't steal my computer! I need it! Although if you want to write Sky and Cato feel free ;) I won't stop you! Ahahaha.

District6Tribute - Thank you :D Here is your update and I hope you like the Sky moments and the Darvel moments too!