*Updated*

Chapter two

It felt like I hadn't slept in days.

All I could do was keep moving forward, not knowing if I'd ever find civilization. Thoughts of finding my family alive were fading with each day, especially after a black bear had came across the crash site forcing me to grab my bag and run without looking back.

And I ran and ran.

To the point that my muscles in my legs cramped and burned with pain from overuse and where my vision blurred, catching my breath was nearly impossible. I didn't stop for long before I forced myself to stand on wobbly legs and to walk.

I couldn't give up, couldn't stop longer then I needed to. If I did, I wouldn't get back up.

Autopilot had kicked in from the moment I started moving, I'd stop at every tenth tree which wasn't as far apart as one would think to carve an arrowhead pointing in the direction I had come from. That way I'd be able to find my way back.

The walk dragged on for what seemed like a lifetime, a never-ending loop of me moving forward. With extraordinarily little to distract myself with I let my mind shut down, to become truly numb. Too afraid to think of what I was walking away from. To horrified to think my family might be dead and not wanting to face the grief of that reality.

Hours turned into days, I'd run out of food and water yesterday and was only just dropping down from a tree branch where I had chosen to spend my night when I realized my mistake. The growl vibrated my entire being as my eyes widened and landing on...a coyote? A wolf? I didn't know. I'd never seen one so up close.

The same amount of time it took me to draw out my knife it was already lunging for me.

My arm was up prepared to fend off its attack, but my mind was not as it reeled with the very immediate death that surely this creature would cause me.

My body was hurled to the ground with enough force that all the air left my lung and left me gasping as its mouth had closed around my right arm. The scream tore through my throat as my left hand, knife held tightly, repeatedly embedded itself into the wild dog's fur aiming for its throat and head.

The first one caused the creature to growl and tighten its grip, effectively snapping the bone in my arm. The second received a small whimper as its grip loosened slightly. The third ceased all movement the dog made bringing its entire body weight down on me.

My breathing was wild, as my eyes widened with the realization of what I had just endured and came out on top of. When my dad said he'd be taking me hunting up at the cabin this summer I don't think he had something like this in mind.

Struggling I rolled its weight off me, slowly I stood realizing I wasn't in the clear yet. I could see the other one running towards me, it's body a muddy brown colour, instinct took over it was a fight or flight situation and I'd already fought and barely came out alive so this time if I wanted to survive I'd have to run.

Scooping up my bag I turned and ran. Adrenaline pushing me forward and keeping me just far enough away from deaths grasp. The trees were started to thin out as I seen what I only assumed to be a clearing.

A part of me wanted to attempt climbing a tree, after all dogs can't climb, but weighting out the pros and cons I was sure that I wouldn't get high enough before its jaws got a hold of me. With that thought I pushed forward into what was a clearing.

Squinting ahead I seen something, about ten yards away I could make out buildings. That meant people. More importantly that meant safety.

Pushing myself harder than I'd ever done in track, I was coming up to a fence and braced myself to jump through the wires knowing that each one was separated by two feet I decided I could make it. Springing from the ground I dived for the fence and landed on the other side in a tuck and roll fashion.

I didn't get to stay down and relax for long; I barely had the chance to catch my breath before someone was hulling me up by my uninjured arm. My head snapped up to meet icy blue eyes, an older man was staring back at me with an unusually red face and short gray hair.

I watched as his featured shifted from astonishment to confusion and then settled on displeasure. "Who are you?" He asked keeping his voice low but stern, that's when I realized a group of on lookers had formed around us.

I also noticed how strangely dressed they all looked, including the man in front in me wearing some kind of white body armor. It was at that moment I was struck with a strong sense of day'ja'view as I recalled the book series I had only finished the night before the crash, and the movie I was planning to watch when we made it to the cabin.

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. The thought occurred to me as he shook my arm.

"I asked you a question." The man stated trying to remain calm as he watched me process my situation closely.

"Kira," I croaked then attempted to clear my throat "Kira Collins." I watched his forehead crinkle as he thought about how strange my name was, before he straightened and took in the growing crowd. I suppose if I just watched a strange girl jump through a fence that was supposed to be electrified, I'd be a tad bit curious too.

His grip tightened on my arm as he turned back to face me, his face becoming a darker shade of red from his irritation. "Come with me." He stated before starting to pull me through the crowd, as I stumbled behind him trying to ignore the intense pain my body was in.

The adrenaline that had numbed the pain had vanished as I sat crumbled in a chair cradling my broken arm.

The Peacekeeper, Cray I had found out when he instructed me to sit down, had been questioning me for over an hour at the Justice Building. It was obvious I wasn't from here, even if I did look like I was a part of the Seam, I had confirmed that I was on a hovercraft that crashed in the side of the mountain, which was only a white lie after all I did crash there.

He then started asking if I was from the capitol, which I had the good sense to tell the truth about, after all he would have found out in minutes I was lying if I claimed to be from the capitol. Then he started asking if I was a criminal, I also went with the truth about that.

"So then, why the hell were you out there?!" He snapped obviously thinking I had lied to him.

"I'm not from the districts." I answered quietly, I knew it was clear in my body language and tone how broken I was, I knew it and hated it. I looked up watching him press his lips together, thinking over my words. I could see the trace of pity in his eyes, if it wasn't for the pain and the situation, I had found myself in I would have straightened and made that look disappear faster than my family had.

Cringing at the thought I asked the only question that mattered at this point, "What are you going to do to me?" I took in how the question or perhaps the fact I had asked at all took him off guard.

"I'm going to verify your story with the capitol. But first we should get you looked at by one of our doctors." He stated getting out of his chair, shocking me to my core. I had read that the Peacekeeper's weren't friendly that they were here to enforce the rules, but I guess that was after book one.

Nodding mutely, I slowly followed him out, ignoring his hand that circled the bicep on my good arm the held my injured on to my chest. We walked through the town square like this, where all the legit shops were and kept going for at least ten minutes. Never did I raise my eyes to look up, hoping that if I kept my head down and ignored this reality it would go away.

When we stopped at what I would describe as a medium sized hut, Cray pounded on the front door. I was certain he didn't do this out of urgency but simply because he could. A woman with blonde hair tied up answered the door, trying to keep her exposure calm but I could read how nervous the pounding had made her as she only half opened the door.

Her worry gave way to confusion when her eyes landed on my torn and beaten form. "Cray," she greeted the man evenly, "how can I help you?"

"This one needs some medical tending," he stated ducking his chin towards me, "mind if we come in Mrs. Everdeen?" It wasn't really like she could refuse, so she opened her door and stepped back leading us to a small kitchen.

Where for the first time I got a look at Katniss and Prim Everdeen.

The girls stood at the far end of the kitchen; Katniss had her hands tightly grasping her younger sister's shoulders keeping the girl in place. "Take a seat," she spoke looking at me, "and remove your jacket."

Pushing past how odd it felt to be in their kitchen I sat down on one of the old looking wooden chairs, slipping my jacket off of my good arm before doing the same to the injured side hissing in pain as the leather pulled and tore away from the dried blood causing the wound to start bleeding again.

"What happened?" Mrs. Everdeen asked examining the gaping holes in my forearm.

My mouth opened to respond but the voice that came out wasn't mine, "She was bit by a wild dog." Cray stated leaning against the kitchen counter eyeing Mrs. Everdeen and me keenly before his gaze shifted to where I knew Katniss and Prim were.

My gaze shifted back to Mrs. Everdeen as her face set in to an all business one, "Prim boil some water." She instructed as I glanced up catching Katniss leaving the room as her sister went to fallow her mother's orders.

"I'm going to need stitches," I groaned at the realization as I let my head roll back onto the back of the chair. I'd never had stitches before; I've broken a few bones here and there sure but that was normal with martial arts and acrobat lessons. All this blood...stitches that was not normal for me.

"You will." Mrs. Everdeen confirmed as she disinfected the area causing me to cringe and resist moving away.

"I think it's broken, my pinky finger too." I stated feeling myself start to get lightheaded with all of the blood loss, pain and lack of food in my system.

I seen the scowl that crossed her features as she nodded, "anything else?" she questioned clearly annoyed with my physical condition.

"Got pretty banged up...in the crash...my head...my ribs are probably bruised." I struggled to keep conscious as her eyes locked on mine, and her expression visible softened.

"Don't fight it, it's easier if you sleep through it." Her voice was kind and soft as I obediently nodded with blurry eyes as I looked back at her and whispered a final plea before the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision overtook me.

"I…I need to find my family."