Adira Hemlock, 17, District Seven Female

Empty.

That's how full her stomach is right now, and the others can wait for her to wolf down an energy bar before they continue to hunt; like the lion pride that Joel glimpsed in the distance an hour ago. They had watched the lions quietly search for prey, their golden paws treading silently on the hard-baked earth. Her allies were like the lions, working together for their next prey. But the lions can trust one another, believe in the fact that they're all hunting for the pride and not themselves. Her allies were out for themselves.

And if she turned her back on them too long, she'd be the next cannon to ring out into the dry, arid savanna.

She rips the wrapper off and chews on the chocolate-flavoured bar, one of several snacks that she had found in one of the more choice backpacks in the cornucopia. A light-orange pack, it also had housed a waterproof poncho and what seemed to be some type of explosive. She wasn't sure what to do with that when she had first opened the backpack, so she had quietly buried it under a pile of bows and arrows before catching up with the rest of the group to hunt. They had gotten backpacks as well, Grace choosing a blue one with a knife and silver foil that seemed to be for sleeping, and Alexis with a grey pack that she had stuffed weapons and water into. They'd need water later; several hours hunting and the group still hadn't found any trace of even a stream, let alone a lake to fill their bottles in.

She quickly grabbed her backpack from the ground and kept moving, Joel looking at her until she caught up. He shivered and ran ahead as she settled into a loping pace, easily matching step for step with the rest of the group. Grace looks over her shoulder to see Adira and smiles confidently as she turns back and keeps running.

Suddenly Alexis, leading the front, stops, halting the group in its tracks. "I see a tribute!"

Adira squints into the horizon and, sure enough, there's a tribute heading into the setting sun. They can't be more than a mile in front of the group, surely a short enough distance for them to catch up if the tribute doesn't look back. They need that element of surprise.

Adira nods to the group and breaks into a quick jog, the others following quickly in her tracks. Joel is right behind her, holding one of the knives that she had given him after they had found him. He's breathing heavily, a sure sign of weariness from their long jog. But he is only fifteen to her seventeen, and he's kept up with them without a complaint thus far. He's earned his spot in the group. For now.

Grace moves ahead of Adira as they get closer, putting a slender, tanned finger to her lips as she runs with a lanky spear. They've gotten closer to the tribute right now, close enough for Adira to see that it's Leif they're hunting. He's slowed down to a walk right now, and still hasn't looked behind him to see the silent pack sprinting towards him. He's oblivious.

It's Grace who strikes first, throwing her spear into the air and unleashing a war cry - though Adira isn't sure if it's to strike fear into Leif or to boost her own confidence - that startles Leif. He leaps up and screams as the spear lands to his right, leading him to start sprinting away from the group. But Alexis races after him, her sword flying through the air as she slices at Leif's wiry frame. He keeps dodging the silver blade but trips, face planting into the dust. And then they surround him, Adira holding her ax directly in his face. "Any last words?"

Leif looks up at Adira with scared eyes, his small body trembling like a leaf. Adira stops herself from laughing at the irony, composing her face as the boy starts to speak. "I - I love you, Ma. And Father, I'm sorry that I got mad at you the last time I saw you. I guess - I guess I was wrong all this time."

Tears start to splash into the ground from his cheeks, and Adira turns to Joel. "You get this one, got it?"

Joel recoils, looking at Adira with confusion. "You want me to kill him? Me?"

"Pretend it's a chicken, farmboy," Grace quips, and the girls laugh as Joel gulps nervously. He takes one look at the panicked Leif before slowly reaching for his knife, sweat starting to form on his brow.

"O-okay," he replies, and Joel whispers something that Adira can't make out into Leif's ear before closing his eyes. Leif looks at him gratefully, then shuts his own as Joel quickly slits his neck. Leif spasms before falling onto the ground, his eyes peacefully remaining shut as the cannon finally booms.

Adira smiles, patting Joel on the back and helping him to his feet. "You did good."

Joel dry-heaves onto the ground, saliva falling onto the ground as he fights to regain control. He finally stands back up, wiping his face and sighing. He's as white as snow. "I'm alright."

Adira nods as Alexis throws the pale teen a water bottle, Joel gratefully gulping half of it down before handing it back to Alexis. "Thanks."

Adira taps her foot impatiently as Joel wipes his knife on the ground, fighting the urge to yell at him. "You guys ready to keep moving? There's got to be some water around here."

Alexis and Grace nod slowly, Grace looking a little green herself as she starts to run. But they all quickly turn back to their normal pallor as they continue to run, beads of sweat falling off of their cheeks and onto the ground. Thank Panem that there had been changes of clothes in the Cornucopia, Adira would have died if she had to run in that stupid dress around the arena. Alexis had ripped a strip off of hers and tied it to her wrist as a band, whilst Grace had laughed at her cerulean marvel as she had pulled on a much more comfortable training outfit. It was Joel who was still outfitted in the tuxedo that he had worn for the bloodbath, but he had stripped off the jacket and tied it around his waist as he ran with the girls. He didn't seem to be feeling the heat as much as the rest of the group, consuming only around half of the water that Alexis drank. Maybe it was all of that sun in Ten that had him acclimatized to the arena.

Adira bumps bump into Grace as she halts to a stop, pointing to the horizon. "Guys, there's water over there! Water!"

Adira looks, and sure enough, there's a glistening river hidden in the savanna. They all run as quick as they can, their grievances about the arena quenched by the thought of running water to bathe in. The sun is so hot!

It's Joel who dives into the river first, sighing in relief as the waters engulf his body. He walks out with satisfaction, his dark hair clinging to his forehead and his clothes sticking to him as he lets the sun dry him off. "Anyone else up for a dip?"

"Not with those things hogging the water," Grace replies wryly, and Joel jumps in fright as the group notices a pair of lazy crocodiles drifting through the river. Right on cue, one of them leaps into the air and snaps its jaws, and the allies all scream in horror and back away from the foul reptiles.

"So much for swimming,' pants Alexis as they run, Adira a healthy distance ahead of the rest of the group. No one dares to reply, they all just keep running until Adira deems that they're far enough from the crocodiles to sit down. They all collapse when Adira finally stops, Grace rubbing her forehead and pushing away her blonde hair.

"No way can you make me go back to those things," gasps Joel, and they all nod in sympathy. But the girls look at the refreshed Joel enviously, wishing that they had been the ones to jump in the river before they saw the crocodiles. But the threat of death was great enough to keep them away from the water, and they all sit for a bit before Grace finally gets up to her feet. "We should probably head back to the cornucopia. The sky is starting to darken."

The rest nod as they look up at the sky, watching the stars start to show up above their heads before they all start to move. They opt for a slow jog this time around, the day of hunting having worn the group out. Adira watches the lights on the hotel dance, the first, second, and fifth floor all sporting red lights, while the third and fourth flash shades of green as the arena turns to dusk. It's almost night.

She looks back at her allies, watching the three follow her slowly. Grace seems none-the-worse from the kill, only a tired gaze on her face as she keeps moving. Alexis still seems nervous about the wildlife in the arena, looking behind her back every-so-often and muttering something about peacekeepers and some brother she had. It was Joel who remained silent, a stunned look on his face. He didn't want to kill that kid. But if he hadn't, Adira would have killed him alongside her district partner. She couldn't risk an unreliable member of the pack. It would only lead to death, for her or for him. And it won't be her, she can guarantee that.

Alexis stumbles and the group stops, waiting for her to pull up the heel of her shoe and drink a bit. "Want any water?"

Adira catches the bottle thrown to her and gulps it down, greedily sucking up every last drop in the container before tossing it back to Alexis. Grace gives back hers as well after she finishes, but Joel refuses the one Alexis offers him. "I'm not thirsty right now."

Alexis shrugs, putting the water back in her pack. "Your choice."

They keep moving, the arena having faded to a dark plain of shadows. Adira pays no attention to the screeches in the distances, neither the fire that she can see being lit up behind them. They'll hunt tomorrow. But for now, they had to get back. They needed to sleep.

Alexis yawns, pushing her hair away from her face. "This is taking forever. Are we ever going to make it back?"

Soon, Adira almost says as she turns around, but she's interrupted by a massive explosion that lights up the night. A wave of heat follows the sound, blasting Adira's face and making her shut her eyes.

When they finally look up, a dulled fire can be seen close to them, the sound of a cannon ringing through the air as the lights of the hotel continue to dance in front of them. Adira turns to Alexis, her face twisting into a wry smile. "That answers your question."

They sprint to see what made that explosion, Grace muttering worriedly to herself and Joel breathing heavily. And as the group get closer, Adira can see the golden metal of the cornucopia lit up by the flames.

Something's blown up the supplies.

Another chapter! And two deaths! Were you surprised by this turn of events? I enjoyed writing it a lot, and the pack now finds themselves in a situation that may recall something in the far future… *cough cough the 74th games cough cough*

Well, I hope you guys liked it! I'm so glad I was able to churn this chapter out quickly, and maybe you guys will send in sponsor gifts in sometime soon! (Please send them in I want to commence transactions)

15th: Leif Freyson, District Seven Male, killed by Joel Fletcher.

14th: District Eleven Male, killed by Sidney Fawkes.

And how did the second death occur? I guess you'll just have to wait for… the next chapter ;) XD

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Hope you guys are enjoying, and especially this chapter! I like what I wrote XDD Until next time (maybe tomorrow if I'm very nice ;D) TheAmazingJAJ