[32] - Rochelle

August tosses me some beef jerky from his bag as the sun peeks over the nearest sand dune. He's already done eating his breakfast - I can tell that he's anxious to get us back on our feet and get closer to water, but I don't want to overwork myself like I did with Mandy.

We're getting closer to water, but I know that we're also running out of time. August knows it, too. Yesterday, we spotted the Cornucopia from the peak of a tall dune, but it'll still be another day's journey if we're lucky.

I'm taking the last bite of my jerky when I hear a crackling noise above me, followed by the booming of a loud voice.

"Tributes!" A woman's voice calls. "This is Valentina speaking."

"With Venia, of course," her partner adds.

"Being in this scorching desert has been a draining experience for you all, surely," Valentina says. "As you have traversed the Arena, many of you have discovered a disappointing lack of water around you."

"Well, worry no more," says Venia. "For today and today only, we're providing you with a valuable resource that every one of you needs desperately. That's right: water will be openly available at the center of the Arena for everyone to enjoy."

"For convenience, a glowing light will be placed near the water source," Valentina tells us. "Follow the light, and the water will be yours."

August cheers next to me, grabbing his backpack from the ground. I stand with him - we should get going as soon as possible.

"Good luck tributes…" Venia says, her words echoing around the desert.

"...and may the odds be ever in your favor," says Venia.

"Jasper might be at the Feast!" I tell August, excited. "Who knows where he's been this whole time. He's probably running low."

"Well, there was an oasis by our Cornucopia," my partner reminds me as we walk. "If I was Jasper, I would've stayed back there the whole time."

I furrow my brow. "That's true…" I say, deep in thought. "But Valentina and Venia did say that every one of us needed water desperately. So unless they were being dramatic, Jasper's in the same position we are."

"I wouldn't count on it," August says. "But you have a point."

What I don't tell August is that Zinnia and Princess are likely in the same situation as us, meaning that we're bound to run into them today. August is bound to be thinking about it anyway, though. He's not stupid. I have to devise a plan for when we come face-to-face with the other girls, because I could be in trouble. This is August's first major test of loyalty, and I just have to hope that it goes my way.

For the first day in this Arena, I don't feel the heat beating down on me; the light ahead of me, whether at the end of a tunnel or not, makes me forget about that now. My heart is racing, and not just from exertion; today could decide the outcome of the Games. We're undoubtedly going to come across some of the biggest competitors today, and most of them will want to kill me.

I'm also nervous about August; if we run into Princess, which I know we will because she'll wait around until he arrives like a lost puppy - August will have to make an important decision, and I don't know if he'll make the choice that is best for me. That scares me the most. I know that without August alongside me in the Arena, I have no hope of survival, and today could be the day that I lose him.

It takes us about an hour and a half to reach the glowing point in the desert. I wonder how long it'll take everyone else - we could be the last to arrive for all I know.

The Feast is located in a crater of sand elevated from the desert around it. I can tell what Sylverthorn and the Gamemakers are trying to do here - as we enter the crater to collect water, there's no way of telling who could be watching, meaning that we could be attacked at any moment.

At the center of the crater sits a large basin of water. The sun glitters on its calm surface. There's nobody visible, but I have a bad feeling that we're not the only one in the area.

"You collect water," August tells me, passing me his canteen. "I'll guard."

I just nod. I take a look at the crater below us; my heart is pounding in my chest. If one of us dies right now, we'll go down together. We have to be careful.

"Let's go," August calls, and we break into a sprint to the basin. I frantically unscrew the first canteen, dipping it into the pool as August scans the surrounding area, sword in hand.

The crater is unnervingly quiet. I try to dispel the tension, clinking one of the metal canteens on the bottom of the basin. The desert wind whistles as it passes over me, and that's when I hear her.

"August!"

The sound of Princess' voice sends a shiver down my spine; in an instant I'm on my feet, ready to flee at any moment.

Princess looks like it's the best day of her life - she sprints down the sand dune toward August, and she almost impales herself on his sword as she wraps him in a hug. Zinnia trails behind her, standing a safe distance behind Princess.

"We've been looking everywhere for you!" Princess cries. "Over a week, August. I'm so glad you're okay."

My heart nearly slows to a stop as I watch August open his mouth; the time has finally come for him to make his decision.

"I know what you did," August says, his voice cold, and I feel a sense of relief wash over my body. Princess steps back as if she's been stabbed, and Zinnia moves her hand to grasp her dagger.

"What do you mean?" Princess asks, clearly wounded by August's words.

"Rochelle told me everything about you trying to kill her," August says. "So save it."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Princess says, now visibly annoyed. She finally glances in my direction, as if just noticing that I'm here. "I didn't touch a hair on her head, August. All I did was protect her and feed her just to bring her to you and keep you alive… Zinnia, stop it!"

Zinnia, who was creeping toward me, stands up straight as if chastised by a schoolteacher. I watch her subtly slip her dagger into her pocket.

"This was a misunderstanding, August," Princess pleads. "All I've done is try to protect you. Please, August, just give me a chance to explain myself!"

August glances at me, conflicted. I try to tell him everything he needs to know with my gaze: She's lying, August. Don't believe her, please!

"Rochelle, can you leave us for a minute?" August asks slowly. "Go hide outside the crater."

August glances back at me again, and I can tell that he's thinking up a scheme. I have to trust him right now - this is my only option. I just have to hope that Princess doesn't convince him to trust her.

I screw the last of our canteens shut and quietly retreat over the lip of the crater. I watch August as he talks to Princess and Zinnia - all three of them look much calmer than when they first reunited. Zinnia looks around at the crater as they talk, occasionally getting a word or two in as she scans her surroundings. I think she might be looking around for Jasper - is she hoping he appears today?

August embraces Princess and gives Zinnia a nod as he turns in my direction. I watch Zinnia and Princess approach the basin as August climbs the edge of the crater.

I slip a few feet down the side of the crater, grabbing my blade out of my pocket. It'll do me no good in a battle against August with his sword, but I should at least try to defend myself if the opportunity arises. Who knows what Princess just told him - we're still tethered together, but that doesn't mean that August couldn't hurt me and leave me to die later.

August peeks over the lip of the crater, but he doesn't have a murderous look about him. I hide my dagger behind my back.

"We have a plan," August says, smiling down at me. "They won't know what hit them."