A/N: I'm in a mood so I'll just say enjoy!
Chapter 6
They were all gathered in the Cornucopia with the supplies and the boy from 3 looking fearfully up at all of them. "Why's he here?" Castro asked Cato pointing over to the boy from 3.
"Says, he can help us worth hearing out,"
"And if he turns up not to be then we'll just kill him." Clove said arranging her knives in her jacket. "Same goes for you so be careful."
"I know that already," Castro said.
"It just doesn't seem like he has much to offer." Castro noted.
"I have plenty to offer," He said.
"Like what?" Castro asked.
"I can arm those mines," He said.
"Really?" Castro asked, it made sense since he's from District 3 which export is electronics but no one had ever done it before.
"Yes, really, I swear." He said.
"Alright, then I guess I they're right."
"Prove you can do it," Clove said.
"I will. I just need to dig them up first." He said grabbing a shovel from the stash.
"Watch him," Cato told Marvel.
Marvel nodded and kept a close eye on him. "Now then, the rest of us should go hunting," he said.
"Alright," Castro said though he knew he obviously did not mean animals. He meant tributes.
"Good we'll break into groups," Cato said.
"One takes to the drop off, the other to the woods?" Castro asked.
"Exactly," Cato said.
"Could I go with the woods?" Castro asked both because it's familiar and he knows Katniss went there so it would be necessary to throw that group off her track.
"Are you sure you can handle the woods?" Cato asked.
"I'm sure," Castro smirked tossing up his knife so it flipped several times and catching it by the handle.
"Alright then, Clove leads the forest team,"
"It's an odd number with Marvel and Arda staying back. Which is going to have less?" Clove asked.
"I will," Cato said.
So it ended up with Clove, Castro, and Glimmer in the woods; Cato and the girl from 4 in the field.
"Alright follow me," Clove said and Castro and Glimmer did.
They searched the woods very carefully as the sun began to set. Then Clove noticed smoke breaking the foliage into the twilight, "Rookie mistake." She smirked and went towards it.
They followed all of them remaining quiet as possible and found the girl from 8 lying by the fire completely unaware of their presence yet. "Fool," Glimmer said.
The girl heard her and turned now absolutely terrified. "No, no, please," She begged clearly unarmed.
"Shouldn't have lite the fire," Clove said turning to Castro, "Kill her."
Castro reminded himself that she absolutely has to die eventually to save Katniss and die now to stay in the pack and through one of his knifes into her skull. The cannon went off in the distance and as Castro looked up into the tree's he saw Katniss. He met her gaze for about a second before looking away obviously not wanting Glimmer or Clove to follow his gaze and spot her.
"Good work," Glimmer said.
"Thank you. We should keep moving though; see who else we could find." Castro suggested in hopes to get them away from Katniss.
"He's right let's see who else we can find," Clove said.
'Already half way done,' Castro thought as they headed deeper into the woods.
Katniss breathed a sigh of relief.
They didn't find anyone else so after a while they headed back to Cornucopia. "We heard a cannon was it any of you?" Cato asked.
"Castro killed the girl from 8, serves her right for being stupid enough to build a fire." Clove said. "You would have gotten a good laugh from her when we showed up begging us not to kill her, so pathetic."
"I bet it was priceless," he said.
"Still, he's really good with a knife. Almost as good as I am." Clove noted.
"Really? That is high praise coming from you Clove," Cato said
"I said almost," Clove corrected. "Have you seen him though?"
"Not in action no," Cato said.
"Well, you'll have to some time." Clove said but turned her mind to other things. "Hey 3, you done yet?"
"Yeah, just burying this last mine," He said. He finished that one and turned to the rest nervously. "Now, you'll obviously have to be careful of your steps but they'll protect the supplies from any other tributes." Arda said and pointed out the location of each of them which memorized.
What none of them was aware of was the red headed girl well hidden nearby who had also caught and memorized the locations.
"Seems simple enough," Castro said.
"It is," Arda said making his way back obviously avoiding his own mines, "but any other tribute that feels bold enough to try to steel from it will be blown to bits."
"Maybe you are useful," Cato said.
This was obviously a huge relief to Arda, "So you won't kill me yet then?"
"Not yet," Cato said
For now, that was good enough for him. A lot better odds then he'd have alone. "Well then what now?" Castro asked.
Just then, the anthem begun to play as the seal appeared in the sky. "Ah the death toll," Cato said. The sky showed the girl from 3, the boy from 4, the boy from 5, both from 6, 7, 8, and 9 and the girl from 10. "Good start," Cato said.
"We already lost one though," Glimmer pointed out obviously refering to the boy from 4.
"It was his own fault," Clove said.
Cato nodded in agreement. "Who killed him?" Castro asked.
"The boy from 11," Glimmer answered.
"He's good," Cato conceded.
"I knew he was good but not that good." Cato added.
"Well now we know," Castro said.
"So, again, what now?" Castro asked again.
"Sleep, who is on guard duty?" Cato asked.
"I'll take it." The girl from 4 said.
"Alright Castro you will take over for her in two hours," Cato said.
"Alright," Castro said and took the safe path to the stash taking a sleeping bag.
The others followed and soon they were all sleeping in a circle. As Castro slept the girl from 8 took over his dreams. Sure, he killed Caesar but he deserved that and a few tributes in the bloodbath but that was self-defense. This girl was different. She had been innocent just like him forced into this hell hole known to the world as The Hunger games. He didn't know anything about her, even her name but she probably has a family and friends back in 8 who were desperately clinging to any hope she had of making it home alive. Now he just took that away so quickly. He hated that fact, but what other choice did he have?
He was relieved when the 4 girl woke him up for his shift since it pulled him out of the nightmares. "Your turn," She said.
"Right, thank you. By the way, I never learned your name." Castro said getting up.
"It's Macey."
"Well nice to meet you," Castro said.
"You too," She said getting into a sleeping bag. He stood knife in hand and began to walk around the Cornucopia. "Twelve down, eleven left to die in order to keep Katniss alive." He muttered to himself and possibly the cameras. So round and round he paced waiting for something to happen.
Nothing happen though and it was eventually the end of his shift. He went to wake Cato. Though nervous of what will happen, Castro gently nudged him awake. "What?" He grumbled.
"It's your turn," Castro said.
"Fine," He said getting up.
"Sorry," Castro said.
"Don't be it's my shift after all," He said.
"Right," Castro said and laid back down. He fell into an uneasy sleep. Predictably the girl made a reappearance. He tried to ignore her.
Despite nightmares, it was morning when he woke up. "Get up," Cato was saying to them all. They all got up and out of the sleeping bags. "Alright, we go straight into the woods," Cato said.
"What was at the drop off?" Castro asked.
"A field," He said.
"Why not go there?"
"That boy from 11 knows it better than we do," Cato said.
"Oh, alright," Castro said hoping Katniss made it far enough from when he last saw her.
"Problem?" He asked.
"No, I was just wondering." Castro said.
"More of the others went there," Cato said.
"Alright then, let's go." Castro said.
"Good grab some food and Marvel you stay behind on guard duty," Cato said. Each did as told and all but Marvel left.
Nothing of note happened that day, but the next day was different. They were woken up by a familiar towering wall of fire. "Damn it!" Castro swore. They all rushed to their feet trying to hurry back to the Cornucopia.
"Wonder if this was for us or someone else?" Clove asked as they ran.
"Someone else more likely," Cato said coughing from the smoke.
"Why do you think not us?" Castro asked.
"They're probably trying to draw them to the Cornucopia for a fight to make it more interesting which we would have gone back to anyways."
"Good point," Castro admitted.
They kept running but each of them was definitely catching the effects from the heat and smoke. "The water," Castro gasped.
"I don't think we can make it the lake." Macey coughed looking at how close the fire was getting. "Did your team find any other sources?"
"No!" Clove coughed.
"There has to be though, there's animals out here that need water as well." Castro gasped out.
"Well, which way did they run in from?" Clove gasped out.
Castro thought about it then gasped out, "Follow me!" heading parallel to the fire line and eventually past it finding water but instantly regretting that decision since Katniss had clearly had the same idea. "Of course," He muttered. As he said though, the Careers had followed her and this time there was no change of them not seeing her.
"There she is!" Clove said pointing.
Katniss got out of the water and ran the other direction but even from a distance Castro could see the burn on her calf and how bad it was slowing her down.
He ran after her trying to slow the pack subtlety. Luckily with that and the damage they received themselves Katniss was able to make it up a tree but this time they all knew exactly which it was. "We've got her," Macey said.
"I'll get her." Cato said and started to climb the tree.
"That won't work," Castro said but Cato didn't listen though and just kept climbing until a branch broke under him. He landed straight on his back cursing and sputtering.
Katniss looked at her bow and arrows considering shooting them, excluding Castro of course. "Guys, we should move she has a bow," Clove said.
Glimmer looked up surprised now knowing where they went but said, "That doesn't mean she knows how to use it."
"Plus she is injured her aim might be off even if she did," Cato said.
"Still, are we willing to risk it? A bow has a lot longer range than any of our weapons." Castro pointed out. "I think Clove's right."
"Is that so? Sure you are not just saying that?" He asked.
"Yeah, I don't think I could even through a knife all the way up there but if she can use the bow then she could shoot any of us dead from there." Castro said obviously having more reasons he wanted them out of there. "Though unlikely are you really to bet your life on it? After all, one way or another she did earn an eleven."
"He makes a good point." Marvel said.
Cato still wasn't convinced though, until an arrow went ripping through the air straight through the air and through Glimmer's heart. The cannon went off as she dropped to the ground. Cato looked up and saw Katniss straddling the branch she was on with another arrow nocked and ready to shoot. "Move out," he said.
Obviously no one hesitated to run back to the Cornucopia except Castro who stayed there looking back and forth between the Careers and Katniss who put the arrow back in her quiver and climbed down from the tree taking the arrow out of Glimmer since her number's limited, "Better decide fast." She said simply.
"Can you stand?" He asked quickly looking at her leg.
"I am right now aren't I? It'll fine. I just need to get it back to the water."
"Do you need any help?" He asked still suspicious her leg was hurt more than she was letting on.
"I don't need help." She said and walked away trying not to have a noticeable limp.
"Yes you do. You can barely walk," He said.
"I don't need help, Castro." She repeated stubbornly.
"I'm staying with you," He said simply.
"Fine," She said and kept walking towards the pond.
He followed her continually looking behind them for the pack. "Do you know where a different one is?" Castro asked. "They might come back when I don't."
"Yeah, I found one other one," She said.
"Do you think you could make it to that one?" He asked.
"Maybe, but I might need help to move quickly," She said. Relieved that she finally accepted help, Castro went up to the side that had her injured calf and helped take some of the weight. "Thanks," She said.
"Anything for you," Castro said truthfully and knowing their edge.
"You don't mean that," She said.
"Yes, I do." Castro corrected.
"No way," She said blushing a little
"Yes way, I love you, Katniss." She seemed surprised at that and turned a bit redder. He gave her a brief kiss really only brief since they have to keep moving. She smiled a little at that as they headed onward.
Back in 12 there was someone who was stuck somewhere between furious and jealous. He glared at the small television in his house. "I should have never trust you, Castro."
"Gale, are you okay?" Rory asked.
Gale didn't answer and just continued to glare. "Gale you're scaring us," Posy said.
Gale stopped glaring and turned to his younger siblings awkwardly, "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
"What's the matter then?" She asked.
"It's just… you know what Katniss means to me."
"Yeah, but maybe they are just trying to stay alive?" Rory offered.
"How would kissing help that? If anything it's distracting and anyone could just come and kill them both."
"Plays it up for the Capital," That clearly only angered Gale more so Rory said, "Sponsors, Gale, even Katniss needs sponsors to win this."
"Sponsors?" He said in a confused tone.
"Yeah, the Capitol sponsors are probably falling over themselves over the idea." Rory said.
"Hadn't considered that," Gale said.
"So could you stop glaring at Castro?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, he was always nice to us," Posy said. For now at least, Gale did stop glaring. He was going to watch them though. The screen had then switched over to the Careers though.
Back in the pack Cato did a headcount, Castro's absence was not lost on him and he growled angrily heading back to the tree. "Cato it could be a trap!" Clove shouted after him.
"I don't care. They're both going to die."
"Cato, at least take a weapon!" She called. Cato just held up his sword in response.
He sprinted towards the tree the girl from 12 had been in but he only found a smear of Glimmer's blood and the branch he broke confirming that he had the right tree. Other than that there was no real clear path.
He checked the pond they found her at and found nothing. "DAMN IT!" He swore swinging his sword into a tree in rage.
Back with Castro and Katniss, they both heard him and stayed completely silent, both being hunters they were good at that despite the injures.
They waited until they heard him retreat to the Cornucopia. "Well, now we're both major targets." Castro said simply.
"Hey you choose to follow me," Katniss said.
"And I do not regret it." He said simply.
"Stop with the sweet talk," She said smiling.
"Why should I do that? You're smiling and that's difficult to get from you."
"We need to focus," She said.
"Right," He said as they moved on. "We need to get you something for that leg," Castro said
"Well, maybe Haymitch is sober enough to scrap something up."
"I hope so," Castro said.
Katniss chuckled slightly and said to the cameras, "Seriously, Haymitch a little help would be nice."
Then a small package drifted down seconds later. Katniss grabbed and opened it. "Thanks Haymitch," Castro said.
She opened the container and ran her finger through it, "This could only be from the Capitol."
"Well, then it should be fast acting," Castro said.
Katniss just nodded and but some on her hands and calf before handing the container to Castro. He held on to it. "You need some too," Katniss insisted staring at his right arm.
"Well, I guess," He sighed and took a little bit in his left hand rubbing it on the burns. They were both surprised at how soothed they felt. "Wow, that's really powerful stuff." Castro observed.
"Yes it is," Katniss sighed.
"Think we should still get to the water?" He asked capping the medicine.
"Yeah, I think so," She said.
"Then let's go." He said moving on.
"Where though?" She asked.
"The one you mentioned?" He asked.
"Right, right" She said.
"So where is it?" He asked.
"Just to the east of here," She said.
"Alright," He said and they headed there.
"Feeling better?" He asked.
"Yes, actually, not completely but a lot better." Katniss said.
"Me too," He admitted.
"That's the Capitol for you."
"Always keeping the good medicine," He said.
Katniss left it at that knowing he's already playing with fire by saying so.
"It was a joke," Castro sighed.
"A dangerous one," Katniss said.
"I know," He muttered.
"Let's just stop talking." She said.
He nodded and went silent. They walked in silence until they got to the other pond and refilled their water jugs.
"Already only eleven of us left." Castro said capping his off.
"Yeah, the number went down fast," Katniss said.
"Now the Careers all know your secret though." He pointed out.
"I know," She sighed.
"There's something you should know about their camp though." Castro said.
"What?" She asked questioningly.
"The boy from three had managed to dig up and reactivated the mines from the beginning; they're using them to protect the supply pile."
"So they are untouchable?" Katniss asked.
"Unless you know the right path to avoid them, which I do."
"Oh, that helps," She said thoughtfully.
"It also makes them vulnerable to an attack." Castro supplied.
"We can work with that," Katniss said.
Castro nodded, "We'd just need a plan."
"Maybe I can help?" Offered a small voice from the trees, they were surprised and looked in the direction but didn't see the source.
"Where are you?" Castro asked. He then saw Rue materialize herself from the branches. "How did you do that?" He asked.
"I'm small and I live in 11 I know how to blend in with plants," She said.
"Wow, that's very impressive." Katniss said.
"Thank you," She said still hanging above them.
"You'd really help us though?" Castro asked.
"Of course I would," She said.
"Why?" He asked.
"I know I can trust you," She said. "Your pin told me." She said climbing down.
"The mockingjay?" Katniss asked.
"Exactly," Rue nodded.
"Okay," Katniss said.
"So, you guys are going to blow up the pack's supplies?"
"Yeah that is the idea," Castro said.
"They don't know how to be hungry or find their own food." Katniss said.
"True," Rue said.
"We just need to figure out a plan." Castro said.
"So we're a team?" Rue asked.
"If you really want to be," Castro said. She nodded smiling a little. "Then yes," Castro said.
"Thank you," She said.
"You seem like a good choice," Katniss supplied.
"I promise I will try to be," She said.
"Good, just know that Katniss comes first." Castro said to her.
"Alright," Rue nodded.
"Castro," Katniss snapped.
"What?" He asked.
"You need to worry about yourself." Katniss said.
"I do, but I worry about you more," he said.
"Well, what if I worry about you more?"
"I would still make sure you were safe," he said.
"Can we just not worry about that yet?"
"Right we need a plan," Castro said.
"We need to find a way to get them away from the camp first."
"A fire," Rue said.
"She's right. Nothing attracts Careers like the smoke from a campfire."
"Good idea," Katniss said.
"Maybe we should use more than one though just in case." Katniss supplied.
"That would keep them away longer," Rue said.
"Exactly," Katniss said.
"Okay so we build to noticeable fires," Castro said.
"Wouldn't they still leave a guard though?" Rue asked.
"Yeah likely the boy from 3," Castro said.
"That does make it a little more complicated." Katniss said.
"Not really he's smart, but not a genius," Castro said.
"Plus that's about all he has. They only let him in since he could reactivate the mines to protect the supplies." He added.
"So he is the weak link?" Katniss asked.
"Exactly, and if this plan succeeds Cato will undoubtedly kill him." Castro said.
"Which is one less opponent," Katniss said.
"Maybe we should kill him first though. Cato's way is unlikely to be quick when he finds out." Castro suggested.
"Really?" Katniss asked.
"Yeah, he has quite the temper on him."
"We can take advantage of that," Rue said.
"Definitely," Castro nodded.
"Does he get sloppy when angry?" Katniss asked.
Castro nodded, "Most of the time."
"Good," Katniss said.
Castro nodded, "The perfect weakness."
"Dangerous though," Rue said.
"Very, but we already knew that." Castro said simply.
"Well, you were not acting like it," She said.
"How are we not?" Castro asked.
"You make it seem like this will be easy," Rue said.
"Well, that wasn't not how I meant it to come off. It definitely won't."
"Okay, just being sure," Rue said.
"Trust me. We have a good idea of what we're in for." Katniss said.
"Okay," She said nodding.
"That's why we need to get this plan figured out." Castro said.
"Well then let's do that, Castro do you have any food?" Katniss asked hopefully staring at the pack he had on.
Castro took it off having actually never dug threw it yet. "I have dried fruit and meat, a sleeping bag, my water container, and a few spear heads," Castro said.
"Pretty good, I have a sleeping bag, dried beef, crackers, a water bottle, iodine, and some wire. I also have a sheet of plastic to protect from rain."
"Rue?" Castro asked.
"Just a sling shot, an extra pair of socks, and some nuts and berries I gathered."
"Well at least we have a decent amount of supplies," Katniss said.
Castro nodded, "Pretty well off."
"Yeah we need to plan then rest," Rue said.
"Right, was there anything that could be set lose to set off the mines?" Katniss asked Castro.
We could either throw a rock or slice the bag of apples," He said
"The apples might work," Katniss said thinking it over.
"So might the rock," Rue said.
"The apples would be mostly at the same time instead of one at a time though." Katniss pointed out.
"True," Rue said.
"I'd just need a few arrows to open the bag though." Katniss added.
"Could you do it?"
"Shooting wise, definitely," Castro said. "She never misses. Plan wise, we can at least hope."
"I think it will work," Katniss said.
"Well, alright." Rue said.
"Good so now we figure out where to set the fires," Castro said.
"We're going to want to place them pretty far from the Cornucopia that way I can get away enough before they show back up after the explosion." Katniss said.
"Right and we should use green branches so they are noticeable," Rue said.
"Right, any other ideas?" Katniss asked.
"Space them far apart," Castro said.
"Right," Katniss and Rue nodded.
"Good then we have a plan," he said.
"So, rest then?" Katniss asked.
"I will take first watch," he said.
"Well, alright, wake me in a few hours." Katniss told him seriously.
"Right," he said.
"I'm serious." She added taking out her sleeping bag.
"I know," he said wondering if he really would.
"Castro please, we're going to need you to be rested for the plan."
"Okay," he sighed. Katniss laid out her sleeping bag hoping he'll keep to his word. "Sleep well," He said.
"Better not be for too long." She warned again getting in.
"It won't," he said. She laid down and fell asleep.
A/N: Leave a review and tell us what you thought.