The Lady of the Lake
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This chapter features Teesa and Sky deciding about their futures in the Game, The Feast and all it entails, and the immediate aftermath.
Review responses are at the end of this chapter as always!
Enjoy
Chapter 15
"You do know that if it comes down to you three, you won't have a snowflakes chance in a firestorm of coming out alive right?"
I jump and swivel around, looking up from my perusal of the forest floor to see Teesa, hanging upside down from a branch by her legs. She grins at me and I roll my eyes, quietly pleased to see my former partner safe and sound…and still popping up out of nowhere.
It's the day after the announcement, and life back at my cave has been awkward to say the least. Clove took one look at my marked neck, then Cato's guilty expression and fell about laughing at him. It resulted in a playful tussle across the sandy floor, while I tried not to show my amusement.
The problem is that I actually quite like Clove. I don't feel the kind of connection that I found with Finnick, Teesa, Peeta and Darrien, or the fondness I'd felt for little Zara, and definitely not the burning attraction that Cato instils in me, but I do like her. She's dry, honest, smart as a whip and the only person I've seen who can taunt Cato and merely get a growl in return.
It's probably a good thing Teesa and Clove are from different Districts, the kind of chaos they could cause together is something even I didn't want to imagine.
"I know," I sigh softly, and rub my face, "Before, when it was only going to be one Victor, I'd hoped that once they were each others biggest competition they would…turn on one another. But now…"
"Now there are two Victors, and if there are two Victors and you're the third solitary little body in their way, they'll get rid of you." Teesa shakes her head, still hanging upside down, "You're terrible at tactics Schuyler, how have you survived this long? It's like you have an allergy to deception and intrigue. I'd be fascinated watching you at home. You know if I weren't in these Games and if you weren't leading this Game down stranger and stranger turns."
"Shut up," I mutter at her and move off, hearing her swing down off the branch.
"Katniss found Peeta," I look back around and see the girl looking back at me with those intelligent brown eyes, "But he's in bad shape…"
"How bad?"
"'I have no idea how he survived this long' kind of bad."
"She'll get sponsor gifts for him," I point out, and my mouth curls bitterly, "I'm sure her decimation of the Career pack has helped her sponsor base enormously."
"She does look extremely competent." Teesa drawls wryly, and walks over to me, "Schuyler, work with me…" she walks forward and grips my arm, "Ditch the Careers, you don't owe them anything."
"I gave them my word," I say softly, "I can't…"
"That was before…" and why am I not surprised she knows all about it, "You can't be expected to hold to your word until it leads you to your death."
"Teesa…"
She turns me to face her, "We could do it: together we could outsmart these idiots."
"I know we could," I say it softly, "But…I promised…and I can't just…turn on Cato."
She smacks me across the head, "Are you crazy?" she hisses, "Fun is one thing, but letting your infatuation with that fatuous dickhead lead you down a path of certain destruction? What good will that do? Do you think Darrien would want that for you?"
"Don't use him against me!" I snap, shoving her away from me, "He deserves better than that."
"Maybe you should have helped him more then!" She points at me, dark eyes flaring, "Instead of letting his biggest competition walk away from certain death. Cato and Peeta would be dead, and maybe he would still live."
Her words hit me like a blow to the gut, and blind rage swamps me for a second before I suck in a breath.
"I would have done anything!" I scream at her, fury causing my eyes to blur, "I would have given ANYTHING for him to live! Question me, the games, anything, but not that!"
We stare at one another and then she sighs, turning away.
"You're on your own then. I'm going to find Thresh, I'm sure he'll align. You're going to be alone Schuyler…the only person without a partner."
"Then the game just hasn't changed for me." My voice is steady.
She walks away and then pauses at the edge of the clearing before walking back over to me and pulling me into a hug.
"I didn't mean it. About Darrien."
"I know." I hug her back, "Good luck Teesa,"
"You too Sky." She kisses my cheek and heads into the bushes, disappearing from one heartbeat to the next, "May the odds be ever in your favour."
I stand there for long moments, and then turn away, back towards the cave and my two alliance members, wondering what to do now.
I think it's a stupid plan from the moment Cato and Clove share it with me.
The announcement of the Feast has filled my two cave mates with a fervour that reminds me of their eagerness from earlier in the Games. Cato uses his battered and dulled blade to draw a small map of the Cornucopia clearing and lake.
"We split," he says, drawing three arrows, two from the opposite forest sides and one from the water. I can guess which one represents me, "I'll cover you from the forest, and you two run in. Clove you cover Sky, she's faster and you have ranged skills. Sky gets the bags, the two 2's the 4 and anyone else's you can grab to give us an advantage, and then we cover your retreat."
"They'll come after us if we have their bags," I point out, "What if it's four on three? I have limited skills…at best."
"We'll handle them," Cato says arrogantly, "It's what we're trained for."
Clove takes the opportunity to punch him in the stomach, "Bet I get more than you."
"You're on." He growls back, shoving at her head, messing up the tangled brown braid, "Bitch."
"Dick."
"Well this is lovely," I say, interrupting them before they get really going, "If I can get back to the water after the feast, none of them will catch me."
"Good…that will give us an edge." Clove smirks wickedly, "Waterway escape."
"We need our packs," Cato's voice is firm, "We can't afford to give up such an advantage this late in the Game."
"And if Fire girl pokes her head up?" Clove fingers one of her knives, "I owe her a blade or two for that dumb bitch Glimmer as well as Darrien and Marvel."
Cato's eyes meet mine for a long moment and then he nods at his District partner.
"You can have her. Just make it a good show."
I look away, my stomach clenching queasily.
It is dawn and I'm crouching in the grove of trees by the lakeshore, the nearest point to the cornucopia that I can manage while still maintaining my cover.
My eyes scan the trees, knowing that somewhere out there are Cato and Clove, and most likely Katniss, Thresh, Teesa and Peeta as well.
The Feast is to lure us in, to draw us to a single place for a second bloodbath as we scrap over the things we so desperately need. The thought of the blatant manipulation makes me feel ill, but I can't defy it.
We need those supplies too badly.
The sun is just rising as a table slowly begins to rise out of the ground, seven bags resting on it. I wait for a heartbeat of time, and it's just enough for Teesa to duck out of her hiding place in the actual Cornucopia, grab a bag and dash for the trees.
Clever.
My eyes track her, and then I'm moving too, sprinting across the grass.
It's a rush, the feeling of running at top speed, the air rushing past your ears, and your heartbeat pounding so loud you're sure everyone around Panem can hear it too. My feet are flying across the ground, and my eyes are focused on the Cornucopia.
I have to trust the plan.
I have to trust Cato and Clove.
I skid around the side of the cornucopia and come face to face with Katniss, both of us reaching for our bags at the same moment. I yelp in shock, sliding to a stop, and we stare at one another, wary. She has her bow, but there is no arrow drawn; she needed a hand free to grab the bag. I'm clutching my hunting knife, but it's only for show, I doubt I could ever use it for the purpose the Gamemakers intended.
We stare at one another, and then her hand slowly reaches for her bag.
Carefully my hand does the same, reaching out to snag the one with the number 4 proudly emblazoned on the front. I sling it over my shoulder my eyes not leaving Katniss'.
Neither of us move, and then we both reach out again, Katniss for the second 12 and me for the pair of 2's which are larger than most of the others, and imposing.
Her eyes narrow slightly as she watches me take the two 2 bags.
"They'll hunt you down." She points out, "Unless…you're working with them?"
"It's none of your business who I work with." I growl at her, "I'm guessing that bag," and I nod to the male 12 bag, "Has medicine for Peeta. You should concern yourself with that."
"Don't get in my way Schuyler," she growls at me.
"Don't get in mine." We look at each other for a few more moments and then we both turn on our heels to run.
And of course that's when the plan goes to shit.
I run around the side of the Cornucopia and then for the second time in as many minutes I skid to a stop, sliding to the ground with a yelp as a scythe slashes the air above me, right in the air where my throat would have been a few moments ago.
The world reels as I roll out of the way of a follow up blow and I manage to scamper backwards.
I scramble back, dragging my prizes as Thresh, the boy from 11, slowly advances on me. Its only as I scrabble across the ground that I realise I've lost my knife.
I'm helpless, with a massive young man bearing down on me.
He doesn't say anything, just adjusts his grip on the scythe, before gripping my shirt and hauling me up slightly. I struggle wildly, my eyes fixed on the wickedly curved scythe above my head.
"No," I claw at his hand desperately, feeling as helpless as I had when 10 cornered me, "No…Clove!"
"She's busy." Thresh's voice is deep as he hauls me up close, arm rising to deliver the death blow, and I look around wildly.
Clove is nearby, pinning Katniss to the ground, a sharp dagger poised delicately in her fingers over the older girls mouth, a wild and almost feral grin on her face as she murmurs to her prey.
She's making it a good show, like she promised Cato she would, but it seems in her eagerness to finally get Katniss she's forgotten me.
I squeeze my eyes closed and hope desperately that Finnick isn't watching. That my parents aren't watching. Decapitation is bloody and messy, and for all Thresh's strength he will not kill me with a single blow…it will be painful.
The world narrows to the hand holding me up and the sound of my heartbeat pounding franticly in my ears. I have seconds, seconds to live, and I whimper.
I don't want my family to see this.
But the blow doesn't come.
Instead I'm dropped to the ground unceremoniously, and my eyes shoot open as I gasp, the world rushing back into focus around me. Thresh walks away from where I am lying, and after a few paces he breaks into a charge, scooping up something from the ground, bearing down on Clove who is crouched over Katniss, unaware of her danger.
"Clove!" I scream.
She twists but her eyes only have time to widen before Thresh is hauling her up, a rock clenched in his huge meaty hand.
I don't even think of running away.
I scramble up to my feet and stagger forward, dropping the bags as Clove begins to scream for Cato. His roar of her name in return is too far away, and I suddenly realise just who is responsible for that.
Teesa.
My clever former partner has played him, and us perfectly, and everything is falling apart. Thresh shakes Clove like a dog shaking a rat and she screams once more, and once again I don't think.
I launch myself in a desperate leap onto his back, trying to distract him from the girl he's holding, dangling there like a helpless doll. She's screaming and Katniss' eyes are wide from where she's sprawled on the ground.
Thresh roars in anger and rams me back against the metal of the cornucopia, once, twice and then I scream as I feel something snap from the third blow, a rib maybe, and suddenly my chest is on fire. I drop to the ground, my arms loosening of their own volition.
I'm helpless as Thresh pounds the rock against Clove's temple and drops her to the ground contemptuously. She lands nearby and I crawl towards her, my body howling in agony as I come to a stop beside her.
"Clove," I whisper, "Clove…."
She's barely conscious, eyes fluttering wildly, and my hand hovers over the noticeable dent in her temple. She won't survive this, I know it deep in my bones, and I feel the despair well up once more. She looks up at me, her attention fuzzy and unfocused but her mouth curls slightly, "Sky," she mumbles thickly, "Look after him."
I know who she means without having to ask.
"I swear it to you." I whisper back, "I'll protect him with everything I have."
She smiles, her hand lifting slightly to wave muzzily before finding my cheek, "He's an idiot," she gasps a little on a breath, "But he's honourable. He'll…blame himself….like he did with Darrien…like he did with Marvel. It's not his fault…"
"I'll make sure he knows that…" I stroke her undamaged cheek, "You're safe now Clove."
"Stay with me…" she rasps, but before I can promise not to leave her I'm hauled up by my waist.
I scream and thrash, the world almost disintegrating before me in absolute agony, my eyes fixed on Clove's despairing brown ones. I twist, coming around to face Thresh who holds me up in the air, helpless, like Clove before me.
"Schuyler!" I hear her moan, eyes sliding closed.
"Sky!"
I can see Cato, sprinting towards me, charging across the field like a golden vision, the look of fear on his face frightening to behold.
He's too late.
The blow strikes me across the head and I know no more.
I come to and for a moment I wonder if I am dead.
It's a fleeting thought as the next second my body seems to realise I'm conscious and agony lances through me. I scream, and the sound rings out in the air.
"That ought to bring him running,"
I turn my head, blinking through blood and tears, and I see Teesa crouched beside me, her face pitying.
"Teesa," my voice is hoarse, "Why aren't I dead?"
"You're more use alive than dead right now." She moves forward and checks over me quickly, "Try not to move, one of your ribs is poking through your skin. We don't want another one to puncture your lungs."
"What do you want?" The world feels fuzzy, nothing is focusing, and everything seems to be a golden blur around us, "Where am I?"
"In the wheat field." She reaches over and I hear the sound of water before she dabs my face with a wet cloth, "I think your wounds are infected…you have a fever."
I turn my head and my lips curl up into a small smile as I see water. There is a deep pond here in the wheat field, a burbling stream running down towards where I assume my lake is. No wonder no one had seen Thresh, he had food, he had water. He just had to bide his time.
"Mmmmm…" I murmur, and reach out, brushing my fingertips against the cool water, "What do you want?"
"Cato." It's not Teesa's voice but the deep booming voice of Thresh. My head isn't working properly and my neck feels limp and lolling as I try to look at him. He stands over me, arms folded and those dark eyes are fixed on mine, "He'll come."
"He won't come for me…" I mutter, voice wobbling as I woozily try to focus on him, "He has Clove…"
"Clove is dead." Teesa's voice is calm, "And we have you, and the three bags that would have been yours. He will come, for you and for the gear he needs, and then we will deal with him."
"And then you." Thresh shakes his head, "It will be quick. I have no desire to prolong your suffering. I don't play games with lives."
"He won't…"
"He will." Thresh stares at me, "I saw you together, you were near the wheat field, both of you. He will come for you."
"He's smart."
"Not smart enough." Teesa's voice is emotionless but she moves the wet cloth over my face again, "She's burning up."
They want to hurt Cato.
I can't let them.
"Don't…" The world is so fuzzy, "Don't hurt him…"
One of them responds but the world is darkening again and the words don't make sense, and slowly the world vanishes and I fall into silence and black nothingness once more.
Farewell to Clove :( I would have dearly loved to write more of her, but Sky and Clove were never going to click too well as characters. They liked and respected one another by the end though
MoonlightDiva – It's easy to choose when the decision is taken out of your hands…
IamCharliedaughterofPoseidon – It was a very passionate kiss wasn't it! And here is that update you were so eager for.
Bluetigers – I am spoiling you, you should feel warm, fluffy and special. I love Clove too, she's a fascinating little character to me.
Luli Cullen – Thank you xoxo
WonderGirl556 – That's the kicker isn't it. It's killing Sky that if Darrien had lived this long they could have paired up, but then she would have hated to make Darrien choose between her and Marvel…so perhaps she would have been self sacrificing there.
Guest – Thank you! Here is the next chapter for youuuu.
Queen of sharks – Lots of drama!
TitanShadow – Thank you! I'm so glad you love it! I love Cato, Finnick and Mags too, they're very lovable. Here is the update!
Guest – Thank you! So glad you love it so much!
Reviewer08 – Ooh jumping! I think Clove is a much deeper and much more complex character than most people portray her as, so it was nice giving her a bit of love. And yes poor Cato. And thanks! I'm glad you like the quick updates.
EGilly – I applaud your faithfulness!
Its-A-Passion – Clove and Cato were mad fun to write, they are such siblings. And I'm glad you like the depth of them. Cato and Sky approved of the make out session too and Finnick is just itching to give Cato the 'You hurt her and I'll shove my trident somewhere very unpleasant'. Hmmm I shall ponder the Darvel.
RoseMaple – They were funny weren't they, dear Clove and Cato, such siblings they are!
Red Eyed Newborn – Daaaaaaaaaang is right!
SophiaLily1980 – We certainly are. And I dunno if what you thought was going to unfold this chapter unfolded. I love Clove, so yeah she was never going to be one dimensional to me.
Eve – I have made it very difficult, I love all of them, and as the march towards the end increases in tempo it's getting more and more difficult to kill them L And Cato likes his backing people into trees. It's like a trademark at this point.
Frazzle – Cato and Clove have a very strong sibling relationship in my head, it's one of the reasons Cato was able to empathise a little with Sky when she lost Darrien. I loved writing their bickering :D
Undertaker's Hattress – We shall have to wait and see!
SorceressDamia – Wow I'm so glad that you found my story worthy enough to comment on J I love it when people let me know they love what I'm doing. I hope to hear from you again!
StardustIsMagic – So much love! And yes it was a bit of an intense chapter for Sky and Cato…poor babies…I hurt them so.
Guest – He's a loyal man is Cato….both of them deserve his loyalty...but Clove had it first.
Hahaha – Sky is still resentful of Katniss for killing Darrien and Marvel the way she did. She won't hurt her herself, but she's not sticking her neck out for her. For now…
