Short chapter but a lot is set up.

Noah Prones POV:

I carried Daston as far as I and Trill could run, which wasn't very fast with the axe strapped to my back. I was one of the few outer tributes to get a weapon from what I had seen. Naturally, I went for something I knew I could use in many different ways, a double headed axe. I didn't want to kill but at least I had protection.

The forest wasn't very dense and hiding places were second to none. Most, Daston might have been able to get into but me and Trill would have been left exposed. As we ran, animals awoke, birds bursting from the trees and I could have sworn I heard a bear growl but Trill assured me that it was just anxiety playing tricks on my mind.

Looking at all the tree's around me, my first response was to climb and get off the ground, people didn't tend to look up. However, I was sure Daston and Trill would make it. However, when I came to a large tree, I stopped and turned to a breathless Trill, my breath being laboured as well.

"Do you think you two could climb this?" I asked the pair. Daston shook his head, his eyes wide as he looked at the height of the tree.

"I have, I used to pick fruits back home...I am not the best but yeah, I could try," she said with a shrug. I gave a silent nod as I looked back to the tree, thinking of the best rout for two inexperienced climbers to take. When I had figured it out, I snapped my fingers, a large smile crawling across my face.

"Right, I will go up first, I can help you both up...Trill first then Daston," my two allies gave a nod. I lowered Daston to the ground and climbed up the tree with lightning speed, years of living Seven paying off.

Next was Trill's turn. She was right, she could climb but lack the strength when it came to areas without branches. With a helping hand, she was able to join me at the top. Daston proved to be a problem. The lad tried as best as he could, trying to replicate mine and Trill's technique but it was painfully apparent that he had never attempted to climb before.

I jumped down from the tree, getting under him and giving him a lift. It was enough for him to grab onto a branch but he lacked the upper body strength to pull himself up the rest of the way. He let out a little scream when his hand slipped, Trill just catching him.

The dark haired girl screamed in pain as she tried to hold the young boy with her injured arm. I scrambled up the tree as fast as I could and took over. My upper body strength allowed me to pull the boy up the rest of the way.

Once we were all the tree, we sat in silence, refusing to talk about anything we had experienced in the bloodbath. After an hour, Trill got bored and pulled the pack off her shoulders and hunted through it. There was a bustle of excitement as she pulled out a first aid kit, water purifier, four canteens and a small bag of nuts.

"Those nuts won't last long," Trill sighed, passing the bag of nuts over to me. I studied the pack and came to the conclusion that we would have received about four nuts each.

"I saw some berries not that far back-"

"They might be deadly," I groaned, rubbing my temples.

"Yeah but if we don't we die of starvation," Daston grumbled, I just paid no attention to him, not about to risk my life, the food was bound to come around, they wouldn't just let us starve out here. That would be very boring.

"Are we going to find Lux, Tristan and Enoki in the morning, they might have found some food," Trill said, opening the first aid kit and taking care of her wound.

"They are dead," Daston said bluntly, "Well, Tristan and Lux are anyway and I don't think Enoki will last long," we fell silent after that, although Daston didn't seem that fazed by the whole idea of three allies being dead. Enoki might still be alive but even I wasn't sure it was worth the risk. It went against all of my beliefs but it wasn't just me I had to look out for. I had to think of Daston and Trill as well.

When three canons rang out, shivers were sent down my spine for a number of reasons. First, which of those canons were Lux and Tristan, there was no way they had escaped Keith and Hap. Second and third was the happiness I got from the number of tributes who were still alive then the sadness in the pit of my stomach that told me I was still so far away from home.

Skau Sheerwater POV:

The sun was setting over the mountain that faced the beach. I could still see the giants wandering aimlessly on top like mindless zombies. I used to love seeing the sun set and rise but now it just fell me with dread. The coming of the night meant it was time to hunt.

My mind was running through the excuses I could use to get out of it that wouldn't result in my death. I could have volunteered to guard the supplies but they had only just bought Poseidon's lie about me wanting to kill. That would give the ghost up and put both of our lives in danger.

"Right!" Logan said, coming out of the tree line, zipping up his jeans. "We need two people to stay behind and guard the supplies," he looked around the group waiting for volunteers. Poseidon slowly put his hand up but Logan shot him and angered glare. "Not you!" he snapped, the dark haired boy slowly putting his hand down like he had been slapped.

"Me and Skau will," Aurum coughed up, leaning against the metal frame of the bronze cornucopia. I looked over to him and he shot me a quick wink as he ran his hand through his short blonde hair.

Logan smiled a mischievous grin, biting his lip, "Fair enough, now, Posie, I have a job for you," he said turning to Poseidon. He placed his hand on his shoulder and lead him towards the edge of the beach. I got ready to run, expecting Logan to kill him but he just whispered something in his ear before turning around to face the group once more.

"Thanks to his lack of care, the girl from Six escaped with a backpack so instead of him coming on the hunt with us, we will send him off to fix his wrongs," the alliance agreed silently. I looked over to my District partner who avoided eye contact, his green eyes full of guilt and sadness.

"Are you really going to send him off by himself?" Bellona asked, still sulking as she looked at her broken finger. Logan flashed her a bloodcurdling smile, the setting sun lighting up his face with an orange tint.

"That's why we are sending Keith with him," Keith looked up from sharpening his knife, his mouth open like he was generally offended. I wanted to protest but I had been given the duty of being on watch no questions asked. Admitted, we wouldn't be doing much in terms of guarding the supplies but as long as I didn't have to hunt, I was fine.

"Why me?" Keith questioned, Logan rolling his eyes at the boy. "I killed, send Hap or Bellona or even Aurum-"

"You going because I know you will dispose of him if he doesn't complete his task," Logan bellowed. Keith fell silent and went back to sharpening his knife but he was still clearly angered

about babysitting Poseidon. "And look, I am such a good ally, I even packed your things," Logan grinned, picking up two backpacks and throwing them to the boys. Keith looked through the backpack while Poseidon just pulled out the night vision goggles and placing them on his head.

"Hey, there is only water in here-"

"I wouldn't want you two running off now...would I, Keith,"

"You are a real piece of shit...you know that?" The stocky boy growled as he slung the pack over his shoulders and walked away.

Bellona Scythe POV:

It was dark by the time we set off, making sure Poseidon and Keith left long before us. Everyone knew what Skau and Aurum were doing back at the cornucopia but no one spoke up about it. Logan even seemed to find humour in it. I didn't think it was funny, the two had clearly shown that they were not interested in the alliance. Like the boy from Nine had said, it was only a matter of time before they betrayed us so they could both further their chances.

I was hoping the two would come hunting, then I might just miss with my knife, two times, and accidentally kill them. I doubt Hap would mind but Logan liked Aurum so he would flip and there was no way I would kill him after he had seen what I did to his friend.

Either way, the two traitors were nice and cosy back there and we were walking through the jungle trying to find even the slightest footprint that might lead us to a tribute.

The sky above was black, the moon engulfed by the dark clouds. Thunder crackled from above but so far, there had been no sign of lightning or rain. We walked for what seemed like hours, even running into Keith and Poseidon who just gave us a small nod and carried on their way.

By the fifth hour, we all just wanted to sleep. It would take us another five hours to get back to camp, any longer and we would pass out before we got there. Logan made us go on, though, his eyes bloodshot and full of fight. It was painfully clear that none of us would get sleep until he had got his kill. As much as I hated the Aurum and Skau, I was starting to envy them. Even Keith and Poseidon, they would most likely be asleep now.

It was like an oasis when we found Heavenly trying to build a waterproof shelter without the help of night vision. I egged Logan on to kill her and not just because she broke my finger. I just wanted to sleep.

Logan crept forward with his spear, as me and Hap hid from sight. Seven looked up, clearly hearing footsteps but due to the lack of vision, was unable to pinpoint it. The moon struggled out from between the clouds, filtering through the trees and lighting Heavenly up. It gave Logan a clear shot but also showed his hiding place. Just as he got ready to throw and the dark haired girl made eye contact with him, the arena shook.

Logan lost his balance and fell over while Heavenly tried her best to run. Hap ran over to a floundering Logan and picked up his spear, throwing it at Heavenly. Bears, wolves and birds screamed in fears as Hap through the weapon at the girl, striking her in the leg. The girl didn't give up though and continued to drag her leg into the darkness.

The ground beneath us calmed down not long after that, the monsters on top of the mountain were laughing once more like they had caused it. Logan stood up to his feet, flustered. Just as he started to chase after the girl, a bright flash filled the arena and thick, warm rain fell from the sky. After a few moments, the rain was getting so thick, we could hardly see. Only then did Logan agree to leave the girl and go back.

Ah, a nice chapter with no deaths. This is the first night and by Bellona's chapter, the anthem has played. They didn't react because they know who died, they saw the bodies. Some of the tributes will though in the next chapter.

The next few chapters, something big happens and I am really excited to write it. I hope you like it too.