Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. They belong to Suzanne Collins.

Note: Sorry for the delay! Been quite busy the past few days, due to vacation and all that. But, I managed to find some time to write, and here's the result! I'll try to get back to my TD stuff sooner than later, but I gotta say...it's nice having something so different to work on. Keeps the creative juices flowing and such. :) Hopefully I can update more things during the month. Just gotta make sure I do not get lazy! Enjoy!


Footsteps. I hear footsteps. How early is it? Has Rue gotten up and started looking for breakfast? No, she's still next to me, softly breathing in slumber. I should stop wondering, and just open my eyes. Urchin, you lazy bugger...

It's dawn. Crickets are chirping, thankfully not cricket mutts, and while the morning light shines through the trees, it's still hard to see a distance away. My growling stomach, louder than any fierce mutt, reminds me that food is my top priority right now.

...Heaven must be real, as that is a loaf of bread I see in front of me! Is it for me, or Rue though? Well, I see no harm in eating a small portion by myself.

That's when I remember the footsteps, and just like a blur a boy runs right by and grabs the bread. That snatcher! I think it's the boy from District 3, the one who seemed interested in the ground in front of his launch pedestal, next to where mine was.

"You snooze, you lose! Bye!" he says, sprinting away.

With a strangled cry, I haul myself from the safety of the den, leaving Rue asleep as I stumble and then break into a run. That bread matters too much to let the boy just have it. I can't let myself be seen as weak; if I take back what is mine the audience will like it. Finnick said the audience love tributes who put on a show...well, I'm not a star actor, but I know how to chase somebody. I blaze through the dawn lit bushes and trees, trying to keep the boy in my sights.

"Come back! You're stealing from children!" I call, almost tripping.

"You'll be dead soon," he says as he ducks under a thick branch. "I have a chance to win, I need it more!"

I don't know what his odds are, but they admittedly are likely better than mine. But, 15-1 is better than 15-0. I have a chance! Not a big one, but...it's still there.

The boy however is not still here. He's almost out of sight now. Back home, I would have rolled my eyes at people fighting over bread, but now...now I can see just how much it matters. Even just a bite of the most stale crusts would be great.

District 4 spoiled me.

"Ack! Owwwww..." groans the boy, having been hit by something and falling over, dropping the bread. I waste no time at all in running over and grabbing the bread back. "Give it back, runt!"

"You trip you...uh...don't get bread," I say awkwardly. I'm horrid at rhymes. The Capital must be groaning…

"You're welcome," says a voice.

Foxface! I owe her one...which may be what she wants. Hopefully something better than Rammy wanted. Thanks to him, I am wary of being offered help.

"Five girl? Come out and fight!" Exclaims the boy from 3, revealing a blow gun. "Why help him? Only one can live!"

The 3 boy runs off. I guess he has seen Foxface, but my eyes remain on the bread. Right now, hungry as I am, I've never seen anything that looks so beautiful. I take a bite, and the flavour hits me instantly. It's like no bread I have ever had...I'm not sure what District this is from, but it's not from 4. It's crunchy, and crisp. Before I realise it I've eaten half of it.

"I should give the rest to Rue," I decide. If I was this hungry, she probably is as well.

Only thing is, which direction did I come from? Crap, I was so quick to chase the boy from 3 that I did not keep track of where I came from! Ok, maybe I left footprints? Like, reverse tracking? Not much tracking to do in fishing, but I can't have strayed far from the den. I'll be back there soon.

For ten minutes I walk around, trying to come across familiar ground. Thing is, it's kinda hard to be familiar with somewhere after so little time actually being in the place. And unlike being lost at sea, I'm alone and I don't have the distant outline of the mainland to watch for...or peacekeepers coming to drag me back. Maybe that's a good thing about being here, no peacekeepers. Though, peacekeepers tend to not kill me on sight, so maybe it's not such a good thing after all. Forget the forest, I prefer the sea.

It's thankfully not long before I am back where I started. Two things quickly become apparent. First, my gear lays untouched in the den and, in fact, actually looks like some has been put into the backpack. Second, Rue is gone.

She's gone!

"Rue! Rue!" I yell, hoping she's just nearby, and not laying face down in a pool of blood, or being held hostage by the careers. "I should have woken her up and bought her with me. Jabbernuts!"

At about this time I trip over a root and fall over. Groaning, I rub my hip, and spot a piece of paper on the ground. This was not here last night. It has a message on it.

-Only one can live, but I'd hate for kids to go hungry. Love from District 12.

-Peeta

Well, that explains the bread. I'm not sure if I could kill Peeta after that...is that his plan, or is he just a generally nice guy? I'm not sure which one, and if I pick wrong I may die faster. Chances are I will not come across all of the others, so maybe I won't need to make the decision. Still...that was very nice of him. Sharing sponsor gifts isn't a common thing.

It seems something is written on the back. It's written in dirt, so it's hard to see, but I think I can make it out.

-River-

-R-

Off I go, dropping the paper and jogging in the direction of the river. Being away from it and running out of water would be a death sentence, so it is certainly a good idea to stay in the area. Wouldn't it be nice if the careers were clumsy and could not swim.

Never hurts to hope.


(A few minutes later…)


I see the river, so I know I'm in the right place. Skidding to a halt, bread in hand, I look around the area. I can see Rue nearby. She's kneeling by the river, drinking some water. I feel better now, knowing that I'm not alone in the arena. Walking up, I kneel beside her.

"Seen anybody around." I ask. Probably could have said something better. Maybe ask if she slept well? Hindsight is such a pain.

"Nope. Just you," says Rue. "Where were you? Running off with the bread, hmmmmm?"

Rue seems playful, but I find myself feeling nervous under her gaze. After all, she does have her very sharp rock next to her, and now has made a slingshot. It looks like it'd be painful to receive rocks to the eyes from it.

"The boy from 3 tried to steal it," I explain, passing her the bread. The key word was 'tried' after all. "I got it back from him. Well, I did once Foxface knocked him over."

"So good," says Rue, her mouth full of bread. "Who's Foxface?"

"The girl from 5," I explain. "It's apparently her nickname back at her home."

"Lucky guess," remarks Rue. "We should keep moving, you know."

"Huh? Why? We're fine here," I insist. And it is true. Water, nuts...we could last a good few days without needing to move.

"If we stay in one place, we'd be easier to find. The careers don't like you. Thresh doesn't like you. The 10 boy doesn't like you," says Rue, counting on her fingers as she speaks.

Has it only been three days? Somehow in that time I've managed to make enemies of half of my twelve opponents. If Katniss ends up hating me too...I must be the most socially useless tribute yet. Even that weird guy who started talking to his cheese a few years ago could at least carry a conversation!

"...What direction should we go," I ask, after a pause.

"Maybe that way," suggests Rue, pointing beyond the river. "As good a direction as any. We might find something nice!"

"Or somebody nasty," I add. Just making sure some realism is included. I suppose most 12 year olds do not think realistically much, but I'd rather not have my throat slit.

"Well Urchin, we'll never know until we go," says Rue, standing up. "Come on, race you to that tree on the other side!"

Rue takes a leap and gets running. I try to keep pace, soon slipping on the wet rock and into the river.

At least I don't feel overly hot from the sunshine. Nice to feel cool, water dripping in my hair. Reminds me of home. I never did like excess heat.


(A while later…)


We've been walking for a while, and not found anything. The quiet walk might be nice, but it's not getting us any closer to end of the games and it's going to make us tire sooner or later. Plus, my young body is hungry once more. I get the feeling Rue feels the same aching feeling as me in her gut.

The forest around here is more overgrown than the rest. Plenty of bushes and grass, and several plants I do not recognise. Clearly Capital grown, but maybe also from some of the Districts? Can't say I know for sure. But, with a knife in each hand, I follow after Rue.

What else can I do, really? Better to be lost with somebody than alone. Well, unless it was a career.

"Looks like nobody is around," I say, looking behind me for the sixth time in two minutes.

"We're safe then," adds Rue. "All three of us?"

"Three," I say. Do we have a third member of the group I've not noticed. I glance around again to check, but I cannot see anybody else.

"Have you forgotten me? Poor show," says Rue in a goofy voice, making one of her sock gloves move like a puppet.

It is time like this I remember that, really, we are children. I even giggle a little.

"How could I forget our team mascot?" I ask, smiling.

"No clue. Say...do you smell something?" Asks Rue. She sniffs the air uncertainly.

I mimic her action. She is right, something is in the air It's musky, thick...and smokey.

Fire!

"There's a fire nearby," I realise. So much for staying cool. "As long as we do not go near it, we should be fine. Fires will not spread as quick as we can run."

Rue seems like she is about to agree with me, but suddenly tackles me to the ground. I scream, thinking she is about to try and kill me, when a fireball blasts above us. If Rue had not tackled me I'd be dead where I was standing! Holy crap, that was close!

"I don't think this is a normal fire," I say, whimpering. "Also, there's a stick wedged in my butt cheek. It might have left a mark."

"It's a game-maker fire! We'll get worse marks if we don't run! Burn marks!" squeaks Rue, quickly rising and fleeing.

Screaming like a madman, I run after her as well. The fire starts to spread fast, and soon it has gone from being distant to being very close. I keep my legs moving and keep up the pace; the smoke I have inhaled makes my lungs burn, and beg for water, but I can't slow down. I'll take choking and wheezing once we stop over being burnt to ash.

"Watch out!" screams Rue, pointing forwards.

A burning tree falls down up ahead. With us being small, we'd never make the jump over it, so we keep running and veer to the left.

I can see two outcomes. Either we're going to find a safe place to rest or, more likely, the Game-Makers are herding us towards something.

...The fire seemed to be going before we arrived, so perhaps somebody else is in the area. The thought of seeing Cato, Glimmer or the other careers makes me swallow my acidic bile and grip my knives tighter. Of course, my lungs still feel tighter than my clenched hands ever could.

Rue leaps through a bush and I hear a shriek and then a splash. I cannot stop myself and so I do the same...landing into a river. Looks like my sleeping bag won't be drying off for a while now. Water dripping down my face I wearily swim over to the shore after Rue, flopping down onto the solid ground. I start hacking and gasping. I can barely get any words out.

I can hear Rue drinking the water behind me. I slowly turn my body around and dunk my head in. I drink and drink and drink. Some gets in my nose, but I don't care. This is bliss!

Ok, now I'm choking.

Not bliss!

I gasp, spluttering and wheezing as Rue pulls me out of the water.

"Thanks," I say once I stop coughing.

"No problem." she says, almost chirping. "...I need a rest..."

"Same..." I trail off, groaning.

I avoided the inferno, so why do my lungs and legs feel like they are on fire?


(Some time passes…)


It's a while before myself or Rue are ready to keep going, but eventually we find it in us to start walking again. We had to have been sent in this direction for a reason, so we're both alert. But with just knives, a slingshot and a sharp rock...hopefully we don't get seen by anybody. No cannons have gone off, so that means thirteen people are still alive, including us.

Just as I am wondering who we might come across first, or perhaps what in the case of mutts, I can hear a faint sound. I stop, and Rue does too.

"What is it?" she asks me.

"Ssssshhhh," I reply quietly. "Hear that?"

Rue listens. Soon enough we both hear the sound again. It's an agonized groan, and seems to be coming from somewhere nearby. I put away one of the knives, as I think I'll only need one, and I slowly edge forwards in the direction of the sound. Rue follows, loading a jagged stone into her slingshot and pulling it back, ready to fire at a moment's notice. I wonder how she will react if it is Katniss we can hear.

"It's blood," says Rue. She is pointing to a splatter of the stuff on a wet rock. I'm not an expert, but it seems like it's fresh. Makes sense, with the groaning we can hear. Somebody is very hurt...maybe it's obvious to say that, but knowing the facts of this game might save my life.

"They're close. Must be hidden somewhere," I say, glancing around. "...Kill, or help?"

"...Helping would be much nicer," says Rue.

"Only one of us can get home… but, you're right," I admit. I'm gonna have to do it eventually, kill somebody...but maybe I can delay it. Or maybe I'm just weak.

As I carefully climb over a very rocky and uneven surface and then help Rue over, a thought occurs to me. Is it possible to win The Hunger Games without hurting anybody?

No, I'd say not. Foolish child, thy name is Urchin.

After a moment of glancing around, we see somebody nearby. They seem injured and trying to hide in the mud by the bank. Hang on, I think I've seen them before. Ok, yes, I've seen everybody here before...but this one rings a bell.

Oh! It's Peeta, the boy from District 12!

I quickly kneel down next to him, and Rue follows.

"Hi there," he says, flinching in pain. "Did you...like the bread?"

"It was wonderful," says Rue. She smiles, and I nod my head in agreement.

"Ah. Glad to hear," says Peeta. He looks pale...he's lost a bit of blood, I think. I wonder what hurt him.

Or rather, who.

Peeta seems to notice we are looking at his leg. It's clearly taken a big injury, and the fact Peeta is not crying and screaming shows he's tough. Far tougher than I could ever be.

"Careers," he says. Wait, are they nearby? How did Peeta get away from them? "Cato has a sword. He got me with it...I tried to protect Katniss and lead them away. They saw her in the other direction though...got me good...badly. Aaahhh..."

"There were no cannons. Is Katniss ok." asks Rue.

"Are you ok?" I ask, getting closer. "Um, uh...anything we can do?"

"I think I'm done," says Peeta. He seems to look at peace with this, not scared. "Look, I'll be fine. Don't you kids worry. A sponsor could help me. Katniss got chased that way over there...think you could take on the careers?"

I need not say anything. I know that I cannot.

"We can," says Rue. What?! No! NO! No we can't! What the hell Rue?! "If we can sneak up on them, anything may happen."

"Like our cannons sounding? We're two 12 year olds." I say. It's too risky after all.

"And the careers won't see us coming," says Rue. "We can make a plan."

"The odds are not in our favour," I moan. It's true, they really aren't.

"Then let's make them in our favour," replies Rue, looking determined. "The careers would find us eventually, if it's them and us in the top six."

Rue does have a point there. At some point, we'll near certainly have to face them. I grip my knife, and nod.

"We'll be back for you," I say to Peeta.

"Don't you go anywhere," says Rue, nodding.

"I won't," replies Peeta. Is he humouring us? I'm not sure. "Oh, and...could you tell Katniss a little secret for me? Something you can only tell her and nobody else."

"You can count on us," says Rue. She looks happy, being trusted with a secret. I do too actually. Hopefully Peeta will be alright so that we can tell him what Katniss says in response to the secret. Or maybe...so she can tell him herself.

I wonder what the secret is?

...I also wonder if Peeta knows cameras are filming us...

"Ok then. Please, tell Katniss...I really love her," says Peeta. He smiles, but then yelps from pain. His injury looks awful. I feel ill again.

Rue squeals. Is she the romantic sort? It seems like it. I've never really thought about it...just preferred to go fishing. With my reaping having been upcoming...unlikely as I had thought it was that I'd be chosen, I didn't want to leave behind a scared girlfriend. Guess I did the right thing, staying single. Plus, I am just twelve. Peeta though...he's sixteen, and he seems to know what he feels. I hope he'll be ok.

"We will tell her," promises Rue.

"Thanks..." says Peeta, hissing in pain. "Over there, through those bushes with the thorns. Katniss got chased that way."

"We'll be back soon." says Rue. "Come on Urchin, let's go. Let's get those odds in Katniss' favour."

"Right," I say.

Rue runs on and I glance at Peeta.

"We'll try to be back soon," I say. I'm not sure if we will be though.

"I'll try to be here for that," replies Peeta. He seems to know he may not make it.

"...Thanks for the bread. That was very nice of you. Thank you very much," I say. I know District 12 is poor, so for him to to do that...it's a very nice token of kindness and generosity.

"Any time." chuckles Peeta.

"Come on Urchin!" calls Rue from ahead.

With a last nod to Peeta, I run after Rue. She may be even smaller than me, but she's really fast. I can only pant a little as I try to keep up. Gee, that really does not leave much for me to excel at, does it?

If only the arena was by the sea. That would be my domain.


(A short time later…)


Rue and myself crouch in some bushes, peering into a clearing.

"Look," says Rue, ducking down a little more.

"That looks pretty bad," I say, feeling rather nervous.

Katniss is up a tall tree, and the careers are standing at the base of it. I can't see Katniss holding any weapons, but the careers all have their weapons. Glimmer has put down her bow and quiver, and seems kind of annoyed. Maybe she's a bad shot? Then again, I am too so I cannot really judge her for that.

I'd just judge her for being so happy and eager to kill. That's kinda bad...

Though, maybe she's just doing what it takes to win and get home. District 1 sees the games very differently than District 4.

"You've got to come down sooner or later," calls Gimmer up at Katniss.

"Unless you want to starve," adds Clove, once again jugging her knife. It seems even sharper now.

"We can wait as long as you can. Much longer too, as we're the ones with supplies," agrees Cato. I can see blood on his sword, which goes well with the smirk on his face…

"Mmmmm!" teases Marvel, holding up a pack of dried fruit, rubbing his gut with a snicker. Somehow, the fruit does not seem appetising.

"So, come on down," repeats Glimmer. "Nothing else you can do."

"Oh, I can think of a few things. I can watch for miles, I can look at the clouds, I can stay out of range of your 'archery skills', and I can look down on bugs like you. I'm afraid my schedule is too packed to come down," says Katniss. She is putting on an apologetic tone, but the mocking is clear.

Rue giggles quietly, looking impressed. I have to say, I am as well.

"Well, loverboy is gonna die if you're not down soon. What a shame," sneers Clove.

I do not know for sure due to the distance, but I think Katniss looked worried for a moment there. Clove is right though; Peeta needs aid, and Katniss needs to be helped. What can we do though?

"Any ideas," I ask Rue, keeping my voice low.

"We need to fight them," decides Rue.

"Well, our weapons won't be enough," I say.

"Think we could distract them?" suggests Rue.

"And have them come to us? Bad idea," I say, flinching at the sight of the blood covered sword.

"Well, got anything in that backpack?" asks Rue.

I empty out the backpack and look at what we have to work with. Wire...tripping won't help. Sleeping gear, no. Throwing knife...might not be enough.

"That's nightlock," says Rue, pointing to the berries. "Lethal in any dose if it gets inside you."

"But the careers would know that. They won't eat it," I reply. Maybe if they didn't attend certain classes, but...I have no proof of that.

"...Maybe they won't have to," says Rue. She seems to have realised something. "Coat the blade of the throwing knife in nightlock juice! One stab would be lethal!"

"...It's worth a try," I agree. "But once I throw it, it won't be coming back. We'll have to hide and let them run past us. This is really risky."

"Maybe," agrees Rue. "But this way...it'd be three on two, not four on two."

I know Rue has a point, so I get to work. Within moments the throwing knife is coated in the horrible juice. I carefully step forth and stand behind a tree. I only have one shot, so I better make it count. I stand carefully, in the stance I trained in, and carefully rear back my arm.

Ok, which one do I aim for? Who do I...kill?

There's only one real option. Thus, with much force I throw the knife forth.

"ARRGGH!" Cato shrieks as the knife hits his arm. He looks very angry. I'm not sure whether it's due to the pain, or due to being taken off guard. He yanks the knife out and holds up his sword, staring in my direction.

Or, where I had been before hiding behind one of the bigger trees.

"Somebody is there," says Cato. "Let's get-"

At that moment Cato wordlessly falls forwards, hitting the ground lifelessly.

The cannon goes off.

"What the fuck?!" screams Clove, looking horrified.

Marvel picks up the knife, and drops it as though it were on fire. He actually seems scared.

"It's nightlock!" yells Marvel. "Somebody's got nightlock knives! Run!"

Marvel sprints away with Clove following. Glimmer, shrieking at the sight of Cato's corpse, flees with her arm flailing. She doesn't bother to pick up her bow and quiver as she goes, tripping a little on the way. She runs off after Marvel and Clove without looking back.

The careers are gone...driven off in fear...by me. And Rue, of course. That...was not what I had expected.

"Nice throw," Rue says to me, giving me a high five.

"Thanks...I think that means twelve are left. We're halfway there." I say, after a quick count on my fingers. "We took down a career. That's...that's awesome!"

"We may be kids, but we're tough," says Rue, grinning.

"...I'm also a murderer," I say. I feel bothered...bothered that I am not more upset. "I guess I'm really playing the game now. Um...should we grab the sword?"

"It's a bit big for me," says Rue.

I walk forwards and pick up the sword. It's quite heavy, but I can sort of use it. And if I have it then it cannot be used against me.

"Rue? Four?" says a voice. "Thanks for that. I owe you one."

I turn around, just as Katniss gets down from the tree. She is smiling, and quickly picks up the bow and the quiver of arrows. Part of me wants to run, but the other part of me wants to stay. I have a sword, and we just helped Katniss. No reason to be scared.

"Oh, uh, don't mention it," I say, feeling kind of awkward. "Had to get my first kill somewhere, right?"

"And on the leader of the careers," remarks Katniss, lightly nudging Cato's body with her foot. "You sure you're not just a short, young looking eighteen year old?"

"Quite sure," I reply, blushing a little. Being praised for murder is really awkward. "The nightlock on the knife was Rue's idea."

Rue smiles as she walks up, not making eye contact. She looks kinda cute when she's shy. But she deserves praise, it was her idea after all and it may have put the odds in our favour too.

"Well, thank you," says Katniss. "Looks like they're gone. Twelve of us left, right?"

"Yup! Not sure where the others are though," replies Rue.

"Except Peeta. He's still back by the river," I say. Hopefully he's still hanging in there.

"Oh! Katniss, Peeta wanted us to give you a message. He says that he loves you," says Rue, giggling. She sure is the romantic sort. I'm more the 'cautious and not wanting to die' sort. It's a nice lifestyle.

Katniss is silent, looking stunned. Like, as though she'd just been clubbed. Though, she does not exactly look unhappy either. I guess love in a death game is complex? Maybe it's a teen thing.

"...Where is Peeta?" asks Katniss, her voice slightly higher pitched than before.

"Back by the river. He's kinda injured...a lot," I say, rubbing my arm a little.

"He'll be there for us though, and we can help him," says Rue optimistically.

A cannon goes off.

I almost scream from the sound, but it's clear I'm alive, and so are Katniss and Rue. Then, who was it?

...Oh.

In usion we all sprint through the woods back to the river. Katniss takes the lead easily, while Rue keeps pace swinging through the trees. I stumble and trip a lot, wheezing a little as I try to keep pace. I may be fast, but Katniss is bigger and able to hit aside any branches in her path, while Rue can swing with ease. I'm starting to feel like kind of the outmatched third wheel here.

At least nobody will kill me for being a massive danger to them. Though if the careers find out I killed Cato, they may kill me for other reasons.

I can hear a noise behind us. It must be the hovercraft, coming to pick up Cato's body. Part of me wonders what the Capital does to the bodies. Maybe horrible things I just cannot imagine...or maybe I just don't want to.

Crap! I left my knife back there! ...Well, it wasn't exactly in his body, so maybe it'll be there when I go back?

At least I have a sword now. Gotta say...it's pretty epic! Not quite a solid gold trident, but good enough.


(Not very much later…)


The day seems to be getting on. I guess it has been a while since I woke up, but it feels like an early sunset.

Maybe the game-makers want us to rest soon, or want us fumbling around in the dark. I hope it's not the latter, but hope does not change what is likely, does it?

We're back at the river, and the only sound is the slow flow of the river. No groaning, or flinching, just the river. Katniss lets out a gasp.

All too quickly, I see why.

Peeta lies dead on the ground. He has moved from where he was, towards a sponsor gift that is still beeping. It seems he tried to move to it, and the movement caused him to bleed out. I feel bile rising in my throat, a lump of unease following it, but I force myself to swallow it.

Rue looks sad, and Katniss...it seems that she is unsure how to feel.

"I hardly knew him," says Katniss. "But, it still hurts. Knowing he loved me...him dying before I could say anything...not knowing what I'd even say. I bet the Capital is loving this. They love a good show."

"What can we do," I ask.

"There's nothing we can do. He's gone," says Katniss. She tries not to look at Peeta's corpse. "It hurts to see it...but if I ever want to see Prim again...well, I am only here for her."

That is true. Katniss volunteered for her little sister. I can't say I'd have done the same in her situation...who am I kidding, there is no way I would have. But that kind of bravery, it merits a good deal of respect.

Heh, maybe that's why I get little respect. Heheh, yeah, probably...

"...Rest in peace, boy with the bread," says Katniss. She plucks a red rose, lays it down on Peeta and holds up her hand. Rue repeats her action.

That sign must mean something...not sure what, exactly, but I get the feeling that not doing it would probably be rather rude, so I follow their lead. I hold the sign for as long as they do, a whole thirty seconds. Soon it ends, and silence remains. Again, silence besides the sound of the flowing water.

I can see the hovercraft in the sky. As with Cato, it seems to be waiting for us to leave. Perhaps they are willing to wait, due to wanting to see us cry over Peeta? No! I will not gift the capital with my tears!

...That sounded so weird…

"So Katniss, what do we do now," asks Rue. She wrings her hands together. Why must she be cute?

It starts to rain. A light shower, but I have no doubt it will pick up in time.

"...We find shelter," says Katniss. "I volunteered to keep my sister safe..."

Katniss manages to softly grin.

"...I think I can keep you two safe as well, for a while," says Katniss. She smiles in an almost sisterly way.

"Thanks Katniss!" says Rue. She even hugs Katniss.

Part of me wonders if I'd be welcome in a group hug. I join in after a pause, but it feels so awkward...but, it seems the careers are not the only ones with an alliance.

I think the odds are starting to go in my favour. Maybe people are betting on me?

Well, better not die. Lest the Capital citizens lose money…

Katniss walks onwards, notching an arrow in her bow and aiming as she walks forth. Rue and I follow her, both ready to fight, but...I'd be lying if I said I was in the mood for more killing. I will if I must, but...I can think of better hobbies.

Fishing, for example.

Before we move on, I pick up Peeta's sponsor gift. With him dead…maybe it can be of some use to us?


(Later that day…)


The sun has set once more. The rain shower is still going on, and I can tell that the river banks will be muddy and hard to stand on by the time it ends. But for now, we're all safe. We found a cave near the river. It's dry, kinda warm-ish and it seems well hidden. At the very least, nobody is coming for us, and in this weather I doubt anybody will be for at least a little while.

It's a good thing I picked up Peeta's sponsor gift. It had a container inside that was filled with a special cream, the kind the Capital uses to cure basically anything, and it was just what Katniss needed...and what Peeta needed too, I guess..poor guy. Katniss had burnt her leg on the fires from the inferno myself and Rue almost got charbroiled by. She seems fine now...though I do wonder what she did to provoke the game makers into trying to burn her.

Existing, maybe?

I wonder if the staff of the games are making jokes about her really being the 'girl on fire'. All I know is I am not going to. I mean, would you want to get on the bad side of somebody tougher than you and holding a bow with a sharp arrow notched? I thought not.

I sit at the furthest point from the cave entrance, with Rue sitting beside me. Katniss is nearer the gaping maw of the cave, looking into the rain. She's been silent for a while.

She must be sad about Peeta.

At least her leg is better.

...Somehow, I get the feeling saying this might not be as comforting as it seems in my head.

"Quite a day today," I say. The silence is not a good show for the Capital, and I'd rather they not unleash mutts to tear off my face for the crowd to enjoy.

"Yeah," agrees Katniss. "Wonder how many days are left, one way or the other."

"Hopefully few in the arena and many back home," adds Rue. Ever the optimist, this one.

At that moment to Anthem begins to play. This time I do not jump from it. I sit quietly, as there is no need to go and see the faces of the dead in the sky. I already know who is dead. I wonder what the Capital thought when they saw me take down Cato.

Urchin Hook, murderer extreme. Not exactly a title I expected to get before I even turn thirteen. Let alone thirty...

Soon enough the anthem stops, and once again all is quiet.

"I'll watch out for danger. Not tired yet," says Katniss, looking out into the rain.

Rue seems ok with this. Well, I assume she would be anyway, given how she is now sleeping. She breaths softly, a small smile on her face. Sleep seems like a pretty good idea right now...once again it seems I'll be following her lead.

I feel pretty hungry again. Hopefully I can still sleep regardless. I can tell a rough night is approaching, but...better than bunking with the careers, right?

I'm so dead, aren't I? Well, if I can take down Cato...maybe not.


END OF DAY 3…


REMAINING TRIBUTES

Marvel (District 1 Male)

Glimmer (District 1 Female)

Clove (District 2 Female)

Weldar (District 3 Male)

Urchin (District 4 Male)

Cinder / 'Foxface' (District 5 Female)

Lacey (District 8 Female)

Rammy (District 10 Male)

Thresh (District 11 Male)

Rue (District 11 Female)

Katniss (District 12 Female)


THE FALLEN

12th- Peeta (District 12 Male) - Leg cut by Cato with a sword, and then bled out over time

13th- Cato (District 2 Male) - Stabbed with a throwing knife covered in nightlock juice.

14th- Marina (District 4 Female) - Beaten by careers and neck crushed by Glimmer

15th- Jason (District 6 Male) - Tripped and slashed to death with a scythe by Cato.

16th- Nettle (District 7 Female) - Speared in the heart with a spear by Marvel

17th- Sparky (District 5 Male) - Pinned to a crate and stabbed in the abdomen with a knife by Glimmer.

18th- Sickle (District 9 Female) - Knife to the lung by Clove.

19th- Wood (District 7 Male) - Slashed in the throat with a crescent sword by Thresh

20th- Miller (District 9 Male) - Knife thrown into back by Clove

21st- Tamora (District 6 Female) - Stabbed with a knife by Glimmer

22nd- Gadget (District 3 Female) - Slashed in the forehead with a sickle by Sparky.

23rd- Sable (District 10 Female) - Skull hit with an axe by Cato.

24th- Callico (District 8 Male) - Stabbed with a kukri by Marvel.


TRIBUTE NOTES

Cato: Was anybody expecting him to be gone so soon? Well, he is! A big point of divergence indeed, having the Big Bad of the first book be the first of the careers to fall. But with their leader gone, we can see the other 3 careers really start to come into their own...if they live long enough. For the way he died...given nightlock is so lethal, I think that clearly the juice is highly toxic. Thus, coating a weapon in it seems like a logical way for a strong hit. And as Urchin trained with knives in particular, things aligned to allow for the killing blow. No amount of training and skill can protect somebody from lethal toxins...unless they are President Snow, I guess. XD

Peeta: A sad case, as I truly love Peeta as a character. An extremely likeable protagonist, at least to me. But in this what-if scenario, he did not make it. Due to the careers catching on quicker that he was misleading them, the attack took him more off guard, and then it was a matter of time before he bled out...with help tragically within reach. Ever the nice guy, even sharing his bread, but things have gone crumbs for him here. But, how will his admission effect Katniss?