Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. It belongs to Suzanne Collins.

Note: I don't know why, but this story is so much pure FUN to write! Maybe because it's just so unlike anything I usually write, and thus it's always full of new surprises and experiences in writing? Whatever the case, I'm glad to have finally branched out into a new fanbase. Shows I'm not a one trick pony! :D As the story approaches the mid-point of the games, the plot is getting more serious. With the numbers dwindling, expect more action...SOON. Hope you all enjoy. :)


I sleepily mutter to myself, rolling slightly. I feel a little damp, and the air smells kind of wet. I feel like I'm floating...maybe I'm still dreaming. I try to get comfy again, but I still feel weightless, like I am being suspended in my dream-world.

"Hello up there! Can I hang out with you, huh, huh?" asks a jittery voice.

I open my eyes, as I am clearly not asleep. Time to see just what's going on here.

I swear I did not scream, but I admit I yelled a bit. I've fallen off the tree I had been sleeping in, and I am now about ten feet off of the ground, suspended by two branches that are under my arms, and looking up at me is Lacey. I don't know what's stranger, the fact I did not wake up when I fell down here or the fact Lacey is wearing her…my...sleeping bag like a sort of armour. She's cut holes in it and covered it with leaves...it's like she's wearing it as a onesie or something.

"Oh, uh, hello Lacey," I say, not sure what else I can say really.

"Hi~!" she replies. "Day six and still hanging in there, huh?"

"Yeah, I am...and you just made a joke," I say, folding my arms. I bet I look comical to the audience. "Any chance you could help me down?"

"Can do! No need to kill me, for I am useful and able to help!" she says, nodding eagerly as she picks up a big rock, preparing to take aim.

"Help me down without giving me a concussion...can you do that?" I say, not daring to be too hopeful.

"Uh...sir yes sir!" she nods, saluting awkwardly. "Just a sec!"

Lacey jogs off into the woods.

"Be right back!" she calls.

And so, I'm left here hanging around. It's a new experience, hanging about in a tree. Back home, as I said, there are not really that many trees. The trees there are, well, they're more like bushes. District 7 is the lumber district after all. Hmm...District 8 being textiles explains why Lacey has, uh, upgraded by sleeping bag...I'm never getting it back, am I? At least nobody else seems to be nearby. Of course, right about now I'd love to see Katniss and Rue. I know they escaped Rammy, and he escaped with his life, so hopefully they'll find me soon.

It must have rained during the night, based on how damp I feel. Good thing I love the water. I would run a hand through my wet curls, but if I do I might fall. I doubt the fall would kill me, but even now I am still unaccustomed to pain. The water dripping down my forehead...it makes me feel the pain of homesickness. Feels just like how I would after I exit the sea following a long, free-form swim.

It also seems the water may have weighed me down just a little too much, as I can hear the branches cracking.

"No, no, no, no, NO, NO!" I yell in panic, before the branches snap and I fall to the ground. "Oof!"

Thankfully, I landed on some fallen leaves and on my butt, so I didn't take full impact to anywhere seriously vulnerable, like Thresh did...but even so, this hurts. I stagger to me feet, wincing and rubbing my rear.

"Aaahh, feels like what a lashing from the Peacekeepers must be like, " I groan, squirming for a moment. "...Hope none of my supplies got damaged."

Thankfully, a quick item check shows everything got through fine. All my food, knives and other items are still usable and edible. Hang on, where's the wire?

"...Oh yeah, I left it set up way back that way," I realize, clapping a hand to my forehead. "Not gonna get that back."

"I'm back~!" says Lacey cheerfully as she arrives with a big stick. "Now, I'm not sure if you have piñatas in District 4 but...oh, you're already down. That makes things even easier!"

One look at the big stick tells me I'm much happier not knowing what in Panem a piñata is. I just run my hands through my messy curls and make something of a smile.

"I appreciate the thought," I say, despite not knowing what the thought was, exactly. "So...I see my sleeping bag is serving you well."

"Yup! Armour!" Lacey says, beaming. "I'd say it's forty percent death proof!"

"How do you figure that?" I ask, unable to stop myself.

"Textile district," Lacey says with a giggle. "Um…you weren't wanting it back, were you?"

Yes, yes I damn well was!

"Nah, it's fine," I say, trying not to come off as too bothered by this. "The nights are not that bad right now anyway."

"That's right!" Lacey says, nodding her agreement. "They're nice and snug!"

"...I wouldn't know about that part," I say, while thinking the rest of my sentence. "Not anymore at least."

We stand in an awkward silence for a few moments. An audible wind blows by...perhaps a joke from the Gamemakers? Whatever the case, Lacey speaks before I do.

"So, uh, are you gonna try to stab me?" Lacey asks.

"What? Why do you think I would do that?" I ask, confusion probably evident on my face.

"Well, I hear you killed Cato, and he was the odds on favourite so...am I a dead girl walking?" Lacey asks, wringing her hands nervously.

"...I think we're all dead kids walking, one way or another," I say, lightly throwing up my arms. "But no, I'm not gonna kill you. Ideally I won't kill anybody else. Too bad I'm a bit of a cynic, huh?"

"Ah, no worries. District 8 is full of cynics, yep-yep! I might be the only optimist there, eheheheheh!" Lacey chuckles nervously. She even twitches a little. "So, where are you heading?"

"The Cornucopia. I'm meeting up with Rue and Katniss," I explain, glancing around. "It's that way, right?"

"Yup! Just keep going and you'll reach it...oh, but be careful. The careers and Weldar are that way," Lacey says, looking nervous.

"Weldar? Who...oh, that's the boy from 3, right?" I ask. It only really occurs to me now I'd never heard his name until now.

"It is. He's got a bowgun and rearmed the mines by the pedestals to guard the supplies! Sponsors like him and the Careers seem to be ok with him!? Heh, imagine if Cato was still there to intimidate him huh? Ehehehe, well, gotta go!" Lacey says before dashing off into the forest. "Later!"

"Wait, mines?! How did...and she's gone. This just got a whole lot more dangerous," I say, gulping. Nobody has ever used the landmines as weapons. How did the boy from...uh, I mean, how did Weldar do that?

If I'm not careful, the Careers' supplies won't be the only things getting blown to bits…

"Hopefully Katniss has a plan. Better than my plan of throwing rocks to trigger the mines," I say, wringing my hands. "Ok, better eat on the go. Katniss and Rue must be waiting for me."


(A while later…)


The sun is higher in the sky by the time I make it to the Cornucopia. Maybe there are still some useful items inside of it? Of course, I'm not about to go and check. I got very lucky escaping it once, I'm not gonna push my luck again. I may be fast, very fast, but with Weldar having a bowgun Id be dead from fifty feet ahead, maybe more.

I crouch in some thick bushes and behind some low hanging branches of a tree. I have to slightly squint to see as far as where the Career pack is, but I can see them. They've set up a little shelter from the sun and seem to be relaxing. I think Marvel is telling some kind of joke, since Glimmer and Clove seem to be laughing and clapping. Weldar is off to the side, holding his bow-gun and, I think, seems disinterested. I guess he's the bottom of the alliance, but with his weapon and land mine plan Lacey mentioned...well, he's certainly better off with Cato being dead.

I doubt the fact I killed Cato would make him spare me if he caught me one on one. As much chance of that as a chilled lake in a desert.

...And here I am thinking of using a murder as bargaining leverage. What is wrong with me?...Guilt later, survival first. I'll get my karma on the Victory Tour once I'm in District 2, if I live that long.

"Ok, where are those mines," I say quietly, shaking my head and trying to focus.

And there it is. Not the mines, but rather a mountain of supplies. Weapons, food, water and probably much more. It's all stacked up...and it looks tempting. Very tempting. Enough so that, if the Careers were not here and I didn't now mines were somewhere nearby, that I'd run out and grab some stuff.

But it's too easy. Too good to be true. Grandpa once told me how, when it comes to The Hunger Games, if something seems too good to be true, it always is. So, how could this pile of bounty be too good to be true? It seems so easy, so simple to sneak over when the Careers leave and maybe grab a couple loafs of bread.

Oh.

"...Looks like I know where the mines might be," I say softly, glancing back at the Careers to make sure they've not spotted me. Thankfully they are oblivious. "The perfect trap, and they don't even have to do anything. Not something they teach at the trap making station...maybe they will next year?"

I make myself focus again, pondering a plan. Of course, plan or not I'd rather not do anything until I find Katniss and Rue. Strength in numbers, and, well, one is a lonely number…

I can see Clove stand up. She and the others seem to exchange a few words, though what about I do not know, and she approaches the supplies. With the grace of a fish in the water she hops around in a rather odd way, until she reaches the pile of supplies and grabs some stuff.

Clove dances the same pattern as she returns to the other Careers, passing out what I think are some kind of candy bar. Chocolate maybe? If only I'd grabbed some of those...though, a second later and Cato may have noticed me. Maybe it's best I am without chocolate.

You know, Clove is pretty small. Not even a head taller than me. Kind of thin too. If she didn't have her knives on her, and I took her by surprise, perhaps I could stand a chance against her? But, that's a risk I'd rather not have to take. If all goes well, the three remaining Careers can be shot by Katniss. It feels wrong to talk like that, but it's the only way I'm gonna get to go home.

Glimmer is yelling something. I'm not sure what it is, but she hurls the candy bar away and approaches the pile of supplies, mimicking what Clove did and grabbing something else. Maybe she's a picky eater, huh?

Three meters. That's how far away the candy bar has fallen from where I am. I could run and grab it, but if the Careers spot me...even with my head start, I don't know if I'd be able to shake them off or not. Hiding in a tree is no escape with Weldar's bow-gun. But, the promise of tasty chocolate is tempting me.

"...Just gotta time it right," I say to myself, my decision made.

I sit quietly, watching the Careers as five minutes or so roll by. Marvel seems to be telling another joke.

They're laughing! Now's my chance!

I dash out from the bushes, sliding on my heel as I grab the candy bar and almost dive back into the hedges as though they were the sea by the dock's of District 4. Mission successful. I bet Claudius and Caesar are having a good giggle over this, but I don't care. I just unwrap the chocolate bar and wolf it down.

After a few days in the arena and having only the most basic of things to eat, aside the wonderful sponsor gift which likely will not be repeated, the chocolate tastes like a bar of heaven itself. Crunchy, full of flavour and it even has soft, white little gooey things in it. I think the Capital call them marshmallows. Well whatever they are, I'm glad to have them in this moment.

"Got anymore of that for me?" a voice from behind me asks.

I let out a short scream, falling over and trying to grab my knife out of my pocket. I relax somewhat when I see Rue looking down at me with a cheeky little grin.

"...Is that a no?" Rue asks teasingly.

"Rue...don't do that!" I complain, sitting myself back up. "Gosh, I thought you were somebody here to kill me."

"Not today sweetie," Rue giggles. "So, seen anything much since we last spoke, besides a tasty chocolate bar?"

"Well, the Careers and the boy from three, his name is Weldar by the way, are over there. Their supplies are guarded by mines," I reply, ducking down again just in case the careers look over in our direction.

Rue kneels next to me, peering out at the supplies.

"They rearmed the mines?" Rue asks, her eyes wide.

"I briefly came across Lacey. She says they did. No idea how, but Weldar is from District 3, so he'd be the one to know how out of everybody here," I reply, as I pocket the candy bar wrapper. No sense leaving any evidence somebody was here. "Not sure what it means for us though."

"I'll tell you what it means, it means we're gonna blow up those supplies," Rue says with an eager giggle. "If we can make the mines go boom, the Careers will be just as miserable and without luxury as the rest of us!"

"I don't think it'll be that simple," I say, briefly raising myself up just a tad. Just checking if Weldar had loaded his bow-gun or not.

"Maybe not, but luckily we have Katniss to even the odds," Rue says confidently. "She'll know what to do."

"...Where is she anyway?" I ask, the distinct lack of the Girl On Fire only just occurring to me. "Is she...injured? Rammy didn't hurt you guys, right?"

"Rammy's the ten boy, right," asks Rue to which I nod. "Nah, we outran him pretty easily. I think he might have one or two broken toes slowing him down. Katniss is fine, she's just gathering some berries. We saw you come this way, but you didn't hear us calling you. She told me to follow you, so here we are."

Rue, on her own cue, holds up her right hand.

"Rue would be nothing without I, Mr Sockosaurus!" Rue declares in a goofy voice, making the sock 'talk'. I can't help but giggle a bit. "Now that we know where the careers are and that they have mines, we should head back to Katniss. We can make a plan and...well...I don't like being too near the Careers.

"...Fancy that, I don't either," I reply with a murmur. "C'mon then, let's go."

We both get up and jog off, the Careers oblivious to the fact we had been so close to them. Just the way I like it.


(Not too much later…)


After about fifteen minutes of travelling we find Katniss. She's gathered a decently sized pile of berries. I can tell that, at least, these are not nightlock though there's no telling what other poisonous berries might be in this arena. But, I should trust Katniss, just like I think she trusts me. Of course, with my dislike of most fruits and the sponsored food in my backpack...well, more for the girls, right?

"Found him," Rue announces as we approach Katniss. "This one had chocolate."

"Oh, and did he not share?" asks Katniss, smirking playfully. She seems entertained.

"Not even a nibble," Rue sighs. "But, he has info. Don't you Urchin?"

"He does...uh, I mean, I do," I say, feeling a little awkward. "You know Weldar, the boy from District 3? The one with the bow-gun? Well, I can see why the Careers have let him into their pack...he's rearmed the mines from by the launch pedestals and now they're all around the Careers' supplies. Rue wants to detonate them, but I think it's kind of suicidal, so maybe we should do something else?"

I know it's hopeless to argue, but at least I can say I've tried, right? Katniss taps an arrow lightly to her chin, no doubt coming up with a risky, and explosive, plan.

"...If the Careers were all away from the Cornucopia, then we could blow the mines up and be gone before they could see us," Katniss says slowly. "The mines are very sensitive. A girl once dropped a small wooden ball and it blew her to fleshy bits. It couldn't have weighed more than a single pound, if that."

"But how will we blow them up without us being blown up too," Rue asks. I nod my head in agreement to this point.

"We'll figure out a way. I'm good under pressure. A time limit until the Careers return would get me thinking," Katniss assures us. "...You know what, I think I have a plan. A good one. After we eat, we'll put it into action."

"Yay, berries!" cheers Rue, picking up a big handful. "Want some Urchin?"

I shake my head, though I smile to show I am not being ungrateful.

"That's ok, I'm all set," I reply, taking off my backpack.

I open the backpack up and take out three beef and broccoli sandwiches. Even a day later, they still look delicious. I take a bit bite out of one, and see the girls giving me cold stares.

"...Pleeeeease?" Rue asks, her lower lip quivering. Katniss nods, smirking.

I can't help but laugh as I pass both of them a sandwhich. They sure know how to be convincing. Little moments like this...they make me almost forget I'm in a game where I'm near certainly going to die. I'll treasure any brief moment of relief I get, that's a promise.

"So, what's your plan?" I ask curiously.


(Time passes…)


After what could have been lightly described as lunch, Katniss briefed us on the plan. Which has led to me being where I am now. I stand alone in a forest clearing, the wind lightly blowing by and an unlit bonfire at my feet. My instructions are clear, count to three hundred and then light it. After that, head to the Cornucopia clearing and meet up with the girls where I had grabbed the candy bar earlier. With luck, the smoke will attract the Careers like flies to honey.

So far I'm up to two hundred and fifty. Rue and Katniss have headed towards the second bonfire and from there Rue will head alone to the third. Once they are all lit...either we go big or go home, I guess. Of course, big means explosion and home means that rather than winning we get the consolation prize of a custom made casket.

I need to stay focused.

Of course, even as I count it's hard to remain focused one hundred percent as there's every chance somebody may come across me. Foxface or Lacey would be fine, but Rammy...that would be a probably fatal problem.

If all goes well though, I know I can start the fire. I made sure to have this skill mastered before I began to really focus on knife training. It just seemed like a skill worth knowing. My plan was to light a fire to get the Careers baited away from me...I guess in a way that plan is in motion now, just...not in the way I'd expected. Ah well, when does anybody expect what happens in The Hunger Games?

"Two hundred ninety eight, two hundred ninety nine, three hundred," I count, before kneeling and taking out two stones. "Ok, just like I trained."

It takes a few tries, but soon enough I make a spark, and then another, and before long the bonfire is set and the smoke is rising. That's my cue to get out of here and head to the meeting spot.

"Hopefully the Careers trip or get lost on their way here. Delays for them are good for me," I say to myself as I take off running.

It's a funny thing really; I may love the sea and swimming so much, and not really consider myself a 'land lubber' as some of the older folk in District 4 say, but nonetheless I'm quick on my feet. Like aquatic lightning, dad would say.

I'm not sure if I could outrun a mutt, but so long as I can outrun a Career, I'm satisfied for now.


(A bit later…)


I'm back where I tasted the sweet, sweet flavour of chocolate a few hours ago and currently all alone. I hope that'll change soon, but as long as I keep crouching in the bushes and hidden from sight I'll be ok. For the past fifteen minutes I've been watching the Careers carefully. They're just sitting, enjoying the sun and chatting like old friends. It's so bizarre…

"Tick, tick, tick...time is passing. I hope the girls will be here soon," I say, glancing up at the sun as it ever so slowly moves along the sky. "Tick, tick, tick..."

I can see the Careers have spotted the smoke. Glimmer points, bouncing on her heels and giggling. Marvel and Clove cheer, running off towards the bonfire, the smoke rising above the trees a good distance away. Glimmer yells at them to wait for her as she grabs a sword and runs after them.

Looks like Weldar is still here, standing guard. Hmm...this might be a problem.

I jump a little as somebody kneels beside me, but I relax when I see it's just Katniss.

"Good to see you're here," I say. "Is Rue on her way?"

"I'd imagine so. She said she's gonna go by the trees, so she'll be fine," says Katniss reassuringly. "Looks like Land Mine Boy is still here. Whatever. Not a problem."

"I'd say is it," I reply, gulping. "He has a bow-gun shaped problem in his hands. See it?"

"And he doesn't see us, what's your point?" asks Katniss. I swear she's smirking a little. "We just need to figure out a way to detonate the mines without him seeing us."

"...I'm not gonna be the decoy, no way," I say firmly, shaking my head. I can feel my curls bounce as I do so. "I'm fast, but an arrow is faster. I took one to the shoulder...amazingly, I'm not ready to take one to the heart just yet."

"You won't have to," Katniss says, smirking as she takes an arrow from her quiver. "Look at the pile of supplies. See anything that looks a little off?"

I peer out where Katniss gestures to, taking it all in. At first I can't see what she means as it's just a neatly stacked pyramid of supplies, unlikely to be knocked over by an arrow. But, I soon notice what seems to be a netted bag of apples hanging somewhat loose.

"...The apples," I say in realisation. "You're gonna let them loose and have them create mayhem, yeah?"

"Exactly. I may only have one or two shots to do it, before the 3 boy notices," says Katniss, notching an arrow and pulling back. "I need silence."

"Uh...not to be that guy who speaks of murder, but why not just shoot Weldar?" I suggest, making awkward hand motions as I speak.

"His cannon might draw the other Careers back, and the point here is to take out their supplies to effect them all, not just kill one of them," says Katniss, still focused on the supplies. "Plus...I don't know how easily I can shoot him. Not really the same as shooting animals. ...Look at me, making excuses. I'll have to shoot him eventually, and if not me somebody else will. Foolish, huh?"

"Actually, I know what you mean. Cato's death is on my mind right now," I admit. Just gotta keep telling myself, survive now, grieve later. "So, um, you aim and I'll keep an eye out for Rue."

Katniss nods and pulls back on the bows string, her expression a look of pure focus. I take a few small steps back to give her space. I find myself mixed between glancing around for Rue, and observing Katniss. She must have had many years of practise with a bow...as hunting is illegal in 12, I think, she must be quite the convert rebel. Of course, I know better than to say that out loud, but I respect Katniss. She can get things done. No need to hunt back in 4, naturally, but if I did have to, I doubt I could match her skill, even if I was her age.

"Hi guys," says Rue as she jogs up. "Did I miss anything?"

"Nothing much," I say, not returning to watching Katniss.

"If you blink, you might." says Katniss, preparing to let go of her bow's string. "Ten seconds of silence, please."

Myself and Rue obey, watching with wide and attentive eyes at Katniss takes a soft breath. She seems to be done aiming, because just like that she released her hold and the arrow shoots off, as fast as though it were a bullet.

It hits the netting.

The apples are let loose and, like a fruity rockfall, tumble down the pyramid of supplies. Weldar notices this and quickly puts his arms in front of his face. A second later, it all happens.

BOOOOOOOOM!

Even back here in the bushes I'm knocked backwards into a heap. A moment later Rue falls on top on me, also dazed. Katniss staggers towards a tree, leaning against it and looking a bit out of it. As my ears clear a few moments later I find myself looking up at Rue.

Maybe now is the time to say something mature, smart and polite?

"So...come here often?" I say, smiling.

Of all the stupidity in all of Panem…

Rue just giggles, seeming amused by what I said.

"Only for almost a week," she says with another giggle, getting up and helping me to my feet.

I look out at the field, as do the girls, to survey the fruits of out labours. Where the supplies used to me is now a black and smouldering crater. Debris are scattered around, and I bet just about everything useful has been completely destroyed. It'd be a miracle if anything is still usable.

For all of their weapon skills, fighting knowledge, physical endurance and how scary they are to be against...without the supplies from the Cornucopia, the Careers are going to have a much harder time than they probably expected. I can't help but laugh in glee, I think my odds of getting home just doubled!

Weldar lays on the ground, looking very still. Did he just...die? He was kind of close to the blast, but I didn't think he was that close. Of course, nothing is certain without a cannon.

BANG!

And there's the cannon. Guess the boy with the bow-gun and mines is gone.

"Look, he's getting up," says Rue.

Huh? He...he is. Weldar staggers to his feet and lets out a few foul swears at the site of the wreckage. He glances in the direction the three Careers had ran and, shaking his head, grabs two bags of supplies from the now rather dishevelled shelter and legs it. He flees into the woods, not looking back even once.

"So, if he's alive, who died?" I ask, scratching my head. "Think the Careers found somebody else?"

Rue and Katniss both shrug, not knowing what happened. Chances are, we'll have to wait for the Anthem tonight to learn who it was.

"What the fuck happened here!?" Shrieks a rather horrified voice.

Glimmer runs into the clearing, looking horrified at what she is seeing. Marvel and Clove follow, looking equally shocked and angry.

"No, no, NO, NO!" yells Glimmer, starting to stomp around, swinging her sword in thin air and striking the ground, yelling and screaming in anger.

I can't hear Clove and Marvel from where I am, but they both look angry as well, but seem to also be trying to calm Glimmer down. Marvel puts his hands on her shoulders, whispering something and gently stroking her hair. Glimmer seems to calm after a few moments, though I do not doubt she's still full of bloodlust. Clove picks up a few knives, probably some of what little stuff survived the explosion, and points to the woods.

"Spread out and kill the rat from 3!" she barks. "Cut him up! His plan, his fault!"

The Careers sprint off from the clearing and into the woods. If they're gonna be separating, they might not be back here for a while. Now could be our chance to find anything useful that may have survived the blast. Might as well check, just in case.

The three of us run towards the wreckage of the supplies and begin to look through them. It's what I expected; broken weapons, destroyed water bottles, food charred to an ashy crisp. Perhaps we cannot use it, but that means that neither can the Careers.

"Do you think any of the mines did not go off?" Rue says after a minute or two of searching.

"Hmmm...I'm not sure," I say. It is a point, and the explosion was so loud I could not tell if there were 24 blasts or not. "Let's not go near the charred spot, just in case."

"Urchin is right. Everything right near there is probably destroyed, and it's not worth checking if a pack of crackers survived and risking being blown apart," Katniss agrees.

A few minutes roll by as we search for anything useful. In the end though, all we find is a bottle full of water and two chocolate bars, and nothing more. I put the bottle in my backpack as Rue and Katniss enjoy the chocolate, but something strikes me as odd.

A hovercraft is in the air above us. Quite far away, but clearly wanting to come down.

"Huh, what's that doing up there?" I ask, pointing to the hovercraft.

"Maybe it wants to come down and is waiting for us to move?" Rue says, her mouth full of chocolate.

"But, a hovercraft only comes down to take away a body," says Katniss.

We all freeze, the same thought in our heads.

We heard a cannon.

On cue, we quickly begin searching the area for a body. If it wasn't the Careers or Weldar, then who was it?

A few moments later, I see the body. I gasp in horror, it coming out as more of a choked wheeze. I drop to my knees and stare at the body lying motionless.

"...No...no...Foxface...Cinder..." I whisper, sadness in my eyes. Oh, I bet the Capital is loving this.

Foxface...no, Cinder lies dead on the ground, her eyes still open in a look of surprise. Shrapnel and sharp debris, blasted at her by the land mines, are pierced through her gut and her chest. A large lump is on her head, likely the result of a container bashing her at a high speed. It seems like it was a quick death...but, was she in pain? Like, the emotional pain of killing Thresh? How sad were her final seconds? Will anybody ever truly know?

"Poor Foxface," says Katniss, sounding upset.

"Yeah..." I said, because what else can I really say?

"The Careers lose their supplies, and a family in District 5 loses a daughter. That's a depressing trade," says Rue, looking at her shoes.

"Well...nothing we can do now," Katniss says as she looks away. "We need to stay on the move. Sooner or later the Careers will be back to look around for anything that they can salvage."

I'm about to state my agreement, maybe make a last word in Cinder's memory, but somebody cuts me off.

"Look! It's fire girl and her little friend! Oooooh, and Ankles is there too!" yells Glimmer eagerly.

One brief look tells me all I need to know. The Careers are back, and they are armed. With eager looks on their faces they charge towards us, Glimmer holding a sword, Marvel holding a spear and Clove holding two knives.

"Run!" I yell, leaping up and fleeing as fast as my legs can carry my small body.

"Scatter! We'll find each other later!" Katniss orders, veering off to the left.

"Got it," says Rue as she veers to the right.

I do not reply and only focus on sprinting forwards. I may be fast, but I know Clove's knives are faster. I just have to reach the perimeter of the forest and I'll be ok.

"Dibs on Fire Girl!" yells Clove from behind me, and slightly to my left. Oh, thank goodness…

"I get the little girl," cheers Marvel. He sounds way too into this…

"Ankles for me! C'mere little guy!" Glimmer yells eagerly. "I just wanna talk! Haha!"

This just makes me run faster. I blaze into the forest, swatting aside branches and jumping over a log. The flora comes up to my knees and makes me stumble a bit, but I don't slow down. Won't slow down. Can't slow down.

In training, Glimmer seemed like the weakest of the Careers. Still stronger than me, of course, but hopefully the fact the weakest Career is after me might give me some small advantage. It might even spare me.

"I can see you~!" sings Glimmer from a ways behind me.

But first, I have to lose her.


(Time passes…)


She just won't stop! I'm exhausted from all the constant running with only precious seconds to stop and take a breath. I drank the last of my water about half an hour ago, but this game of cat and mouse is far from over. Even after what must be more than three hours Glimmer is still pursuing me. My only relief is that, like me, she is very tired as well and, also like me, sometimes has to stop for breath.

By now I'm far from the Cornucopia and wherever Katniss and Rue are. There were no cannons while I've been running, so for now they are fine. Maybe they've already outran Clove and Marvel?

"Need...to...find...somewhere to...hide," I gasp out between wheezes.

But, if I hide then I am not moving. What's to stop Glimmer hanging around until I make the smallest of noises? My only option is to keep going and hope I find somewhere she cannot follow me.

At least now the Career pack is separated. Hopefully somebody will be able to take out one of the other two when they are alone. I can't say I'd miss Clove's knives being a constant threat hanging over me.

"Hurts...hurts..." I wheeze between coughs.

If I had been chased to the lake I am reasonably sure I could have out-swam Glimmer without too much trouble. Though, if there are any fish mutts, what would it matter? ...I suppose I could try to fight Glimmer, but with me small, not overly trained and armed with knives, and her being tall, well trained and having a sword it would be like a minnow trying to eat a shark. ...It's a District 4 saying.

With how tired I am, I'm gonna collapse sooner or later. Right now the priority is finding somewhere to hide and rest. But all around me are bushes and trees, and the bushes would be too obvious. Glimmer would be sure to look within each of them.

"Tree, tree. Which tree...would Gimmer not...be able to climb..." I ask myself, leaning against one large tree, allowing myself ten seconds to catch my breath.

"Where are yooooou~?" Glimmer calls from somewhere nearby. Crap, she's closer than I thought!

I quickly scan the area and, picking a tree mostly at random, flee towards it. The branches are kind of thin and just look off, but given my small size I think they should be able to support me. Probably Rue too. Certainly not Glimmer.

Thankfully, fortune smiles upon me as I climb. The branches do not even creak as, my limbs feeling like they are on fire, I make my way up the tree. Gimmer is getting very close, but I do not stop or scream. I have to keep going.

Thankfully, in just over ten seconds more it's over. I let myself collapse against the tree trunk, hugging my arms around it for support, and breath deeply, taking in as such oxygen as I possibly can. For a short while at least, I'm safe.

A few moments later, while I am still catching my breath, Glimmer arrives. She also looks tired and completely winded, but she seems to be handling it better. With her training and the fact she's simply bigger than me, I'm sure she can get her breath back quicker than I am able to. For the next two minutes we're both silent, just getting our breaths back.

"Damn...you're fast," says Glimmer, looking up at me. Her hand is gripping the sword very tightly...her intent is clear.

"Well, usually I'm quicker in the water...but, I had certain factors motivating me," I reply, adjusting my position so that I am leaning against the tree trunk and looking down at Glimmer. "You...really are persistent, huh?"

"I'm a privileged District 1 lady," Glimmer says with a giggle. "If I want something then I will get it, you'll see. And, what I want right now is my sword deep in you little tummy, hon."

"Well, uh, sorry 'princess', but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to say no to that," I reply nervously.

Am I actually having banter with my would-be murderer? This is bizarre...like, what the hell? How have things come to this? Well...if she's talking, she's not climbing, so I guess I'll keep it up.

"Oh, many people have said no before. 'Glimmer, no dessert', or 'Glimmer, they're already knocked out, the spar is over', but if I want something...you'll find I often get what I want," Glimmer continues, a sweet smile on her face. Sweet as honey, sharp as a blade that is. "Now, sit tight, I'm coming up there~!"

I nervously gulp as Glimmer takes hold of the trunk of the tree and one of the branches, and starts to climb her way up towards me. For a few horrible seconds I am afraid she might actually be able to reach me.

A branch breaks.

With a shriek, Glimmer falls backwards and towards the ground where she lands with a thud and another shriek. I can't stop myself from giggling a bit, as her angry face looks rather comical from my angle up here.

As Glimmer starts to get up I quickly look at which branch snapped. Hmmm...based on its position, it seems that Glimmer will not be able to climb her way to me. The gap it left is simply too far for her to get past. Yes!

"Shut up," Glimmer barks. "Fine, if I can't reach you myself..."

Glimmer is silent for a moment and I ever so slightly lean forwards, just to try and get a better look at what she is doing. But, she seems to just be standing there. Strange.

"Yaaargh!" Glimmer yells, hurling her sword.

"Waaaah!" I yelp, shielding myself with my arms in panic.

I needn't have done so though, as the sword just hits the tree trunk a good ways below me and falls back down to the ground in front of Glimmer.

"Good effort, wanna try again? You can do it, sweetie," I say. I really should quit while I'm ahead, but the fact I'm safe from Glimmer and she's been trying to kill me for hours...I just cannot help myself.

"Shut up, you little brat!" barks Glimmer, shaking her fists. "You're really an annoying little prick, you know that, Ankles? Like an itch I just barely cannot reach to scratch out."

"Sorry," I call down to her. "So, uh… guess I'll see you next time our paths cross, huh?"

Glimmer, however, shakes her head and looks smug. I can't help but feel really nervous at the look in her eyes…

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere," says Glimmer as she starts to gather sticks, branches and leaves. "I'll just stay here. You know, keep you company until you come down."

"...Yeah, uh, I'm not coming down," I say as firmly as I can manage to. "I'm staying right here."

"Sure, you say that now, but you're gonna have to sooner or later," Glimmer says, her voice a tone of teasing. "Its either come down, or stay up there and starve to death...well that, or die of thirst which might actually happen sooner. Plus, you could always fall and break your neck."

As Glimmer starts to work on setting a fire, I can only gulp nervously. She's right...sooner or later, I will need to come down. And, I get the feeling Glimmer could wait out my hunger and thirst longer than I could hold out against the pain of it.

I look up at the setting sun with a worried look on my face. I even lightly bite my lip in concern. How am I going to get out of this one? I need to make her leave somehow...and with my position on this branch, I doubt throwing knives at her is going to work. Not well enough, at least.

I look down at Glimmer again, as it's best that I keep her in my sights as much as I can. She's working on making a fire currently...hmmm, but why? It's not dark yet or particularly cold. I would have expected her to work on making a spot for her to sleep, if she even will.

"You're making a fire already," I call down to her. "It's not even cold. It's actually kinda nice weather."

"Oh, it's not for warmth," says Glimmer with a chuckle.

"Then what is it for?" I ask, curiosity in my tone.

"A signal," Glimmer says, a grin on her face.

I can't help but blink. What is she getting at?

"A signal?" I repeat.

Glimmer throws up her arms, looking irritated.

"It's a fire to get Marvel and Clove to find us, stupid! Spear or a throwing knife would kill you faster so I can get back to cutting everybody else! Do you understand, little boy," Glimmer says, starting off annoyed and finishing in a sugary sweet tone.

Fear in my eyes, I slowly nod.

Soon enough the fire has been lit and Glimmer sits at the base of the tree, relaxing as though she owns the place. How spoiled is she? ...Doesn't matter, I have bigger problems now...

The time limit is not my thirst or hunger...but rather, if and when Marvel and Clove show up.


(A bit later…)


The sun has set a while ago and it's dark now. The vicinity, from the ground to a little above me, is illuminated by the fire. Stars are out and overall it's almost like camping...just with a girl who wants my blood several meters below me. And who knows how close or far the other Careers might be...yeah, I'm hoping very, very far away. With how big the Arena is, I doubt they could see the fire if they were far enough away.

I've eaten some of my sponsor food, which is now almost gone, but I couldn't eat all of it as I don't want to speed up my thirst. Meanwhile, Glimmer got sponsored water and some fine Capital bread. She looks so smug as she lays cosily by the fire, eating it at a casual pace.

"Bet you wish you had sponsors right about now, huh Ankles?" Glimmer calls up to me. I don't even need to look to know she is smirking.

"It would be nice," I agree. I mean, let's face it, sponsoring a bomb to drop on Glimmer would be a life saver right now. "But I don't need a sponsor to escape."

"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. That's why you kids never last long in these games. You're way too optimistic," she replies. I bet she just rolled her eyes too.

"First time I've been called that," I cannot help but remark.

Our little conversation is cut short as the Anthem begins to play. For a brief moment I can't stop myself wondering who exactly composed it. After all, it pre-dates The Hunger Games themselves. My musings stop when I see Foxface's, um, Cinder's face in the sky. For a few seconds I quietly look at her face...the face of a pacifist. I shan't soon forget her. But within a few seconds her face is gone, and I am sure the Capital has more or less forgotten her already…

"Yeah!" Glimmer cheers, raising her sword up enthusiastically. "Single digits!"

"That's your reaction to her death," I say in disbelief. I don't know why it surprises me, but I cannot stop myself commenting anyway.

"Yeah. So?" she asks, shrugging. "Don't be a baby, it's a game kid."

"I bet her parents are even sadder than I am," I say, holding onto the tree trunk, just in case my low mood makes me unsteady.

"Who cares?" Glimmer says with a yawn.

"I do," I say firmly. "She...was my friend."

Glimmer laughs loudly. I find it within me to scowl at her. She soon takes notice of this.

"Oh wait, you were serious..." she says softly.

Wait, is Glimmer starting to care.

"Let me laugh even harder!" Glimmer says as she laughs loudly and gleefully.

"Not funny," I mutter.

"Oh come off of it, so what if I don't care she's dead?" she shrugs. "Not like you care about anybody you've killed...if you've even killed anybody, that is."

"...I killed Cato, and it has me feeling so empty and lost inside," I say softly. "I gotta say, I don't know how you Careers do it. I just don't have that killing instinct like you do. I'm not a fighter, am I?"

Glimmer is silent as she stares up at me.

"You killed Cato," Glimmer gasps. "...You little RAT! Oh, your death will not be painless. It'll be slow, and long, and full of knife cuts all over your skin!"

I shiver, holding the tree trunk as Glimmer wants. I want to block her out, but I hear it all. I hear it loud and clear.

"This is why I volunteered. To kill little brats like you," says Glimmer as she sits down again, turning up her nose and pouting. Yes, her reaction to me killing Cato is sulking and pouting. I expected her to chop the tree down, so I can't really complain.

"...Since we've only got each other for company, for now anyway, wanna know something," I say as I look up at the sky, still holding the tree trunk tightly. "...When I was young, maybe six or seven, I don't remember exactly when...I wanted to volunteer for these games."

Glimmer, even with her desire to kill me painfully, looks curious.

"Wait, really?" she asks, looking somewhat interested.

"Yeah," I reply, taking a breath as I start to speak. I just have to be careful with my words here so I don't get anybody in trouble. "We were having our first real lesson about the games in school. They showed us footage of Finnick's games and how he won, and how loved he was. I think it was, uh, is propaganda the word? Yeah, it was that. I was a silly boy, you know. I said I was gonna volunteer at my first reaping, and become the youngest winner the games would ever have. It was actually my twelfth birthday only a month before the reaping, you know? Well, my 'training', I use that word loosely, lasted all of three days before my parents asked me what I was doing. They...well, they made me see that volunteering would not be the greatest idea and that, in truth...I was making myself look like a, well...a prat. And now...heh, even if I know how dumb I was being now, it looks like I got my wish of being here without even needing to volunteer."

I weakly chuckle, pausing to consider my next words.

"I don't see why you'd want to volunteer, unless you were, I don't know, saving somebody who had zero chance of winning. Just can't see why," I say, trying to keep my tone casual. I must not provoke the Game-Makers even slightly.

Glimmer stands up, looking like a combination of bold, proud and smug.

"Being a volunteer...it shows you have courage, power and a nerve few in history can match. And then you're not just another tribute, you're one of Panem's greats. And by winning, by being a Victor...you become what less than a hundred humans in Panem and prior to our nation have done. Nobody will forget you. You show you're a God," Glimmer says boldly and with determination. I swear, her eyes must be glimmering as much as her name implies.

She then giggles too loud for it to be natural.

"Not sure why I'm telling you this though. You'll be dead in the morning, if not sooner," she says, teasing again. "Sweet dreams~!"

It's true...the part of me needing sleep, not being dead tomorrow. But, how to secure myself?

"It'll have to do," I say as I take off my jacket, stretching it out around the tree trunk, tying the sleeves around my waist. "If I fall, hopefully it'll be quick and painless."

I lay back against the tree and close my eyes. Hopefully I'll be able to catch at least three hours of sleep. Hopefully wherever in the Arena Katniss and Rue are, they can sleep decently as well.

...Farewell Foxface.


END OF DAY 6…


REMAINING TRIBUTES

Marvel (District 1 Male)

Glimmer (District 1 Female)

Clove (District 2 Female)

Weldar (District 3 Male)

Urchin (District 4 Male)

Lacey (District 8 Female)

Rammy (District 10 Male)

Rue (District 11 Female)

Katniss (District 12 Female)


THE FALLEN

10th- Cinder / Foxface (District 5 Female) – Impaled by shrapnel propelled via explosions.

11th- Thresh (District 11 Male) - Thrown off a cliff by Foxface and broke neck.

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 then 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

Cinder/Foxface: As she is a popular character from canon, I wanted to do her justice here. Obviously I was not going to have her be without lines so I needed a plan for her. And I like what I came up with. Since she made it to 4th / 5th by a simple stealing and running strategy as well as not hurting, let alone killing, a single person...I had the idea that maybe Foxface could be a pacifist, one who does not like or enjoy conflict or fights. Combining a love of peace with her smart and sly side, and she was fun to write for, and enjoyable to write playing off of Urchin. But, the chain of 'shock deaths' continue and she passes on here. With the fact there were surely sharp objects blasted by the mines...well, she stood a little too close by a pure fluke of misfortune and reality ensued. With Urchin assisting, Katniss' plan started earlier, and thus Foxface could not grab supplies and run first. Sad to lose her, but Urchin will not forget her.