And the last chapter for today!

Mark's POV

A fourteen. He got a fourteen. And the maximum is twelve. Mac Intris must have had a… shocking performance. The other tributes weren't much better. Petunia got a twelve (hmm… charmspeak?), Yaerang and Andrew both got a 13, Ethan got a 12. Gabrielle (Gabby, as she calls herself) got an 11. The Hunters of Artemis, Gavin and Kayla, got 11.5. I didn't even know you could get decimals. David got a 10. Hannah got an 11, with her invisibility. I'm guessing Tamara made the training room float- she got a 13.5. I got a neat little round number- a 10. That way, people won't target me as they will certainly do for Mac, but they wouldn't think I'm weak either. Now, I'm not so sure, since I got one of the lowest scores out of everyone. The only one lower than me was Barbara Bobbins, who didn't have a good power to show off, and even she got a 9.5.

"60, 59, 58…" My thoughts are interrupted by the start of the countdown

I look around, taking in as much of the arena as I can. To my left is a large desert-like area, though I can see a field of flowers in the distance. On the horizon I can see beautiful gray mountains, with snowy caps. On my right are snowy plains, and there is a storm in the far end. I can see smoke in the distance. I wonder if there are other people living in the arena. Behind me there is a giant forest, the trees seem to move around and try to confuse me. I grow dizzy just from looking at them. There is a cold feeling coming from them, and it seems like the most dangerous place in the arena. But no, there are only supposed to be 24 people in the arena. Whatever is making the smoke, it isn't a person.

On the other side of the Cornucopia, I catch a glimpse of a dense forest that seemed to be in their autumn stage. Around the pods is a river, making it hard for people who can't swim, like me, hard to escape. The river wound only 3/4 around us, ending in the middle of the plains, and not touching the dense autumn forest across from me at all.

"20, 19, 18, 17..." I have roughly 15 seconds left to decide what part of the arena to go to. Probably not the snow plains or the thick forest behind me. The forest across from me is probably the best choice at the moment. Contacting Hannah isn't a big problem in the arena anymore, thanks to the Gamemakers' invention. Our tracker that they inserted into us also has an ability to form a temporary boosted empathy link, helping district partners talk with each other with thoughts. It lasts for the whole Hunger Games, or until you're killed. The lady in the Hovercraft said that if our district partner dies, we will be in pain for about 6 hours, making us very weak and easy to be caught.

"Step out of your pods" That voice, I need to listen to what it is telling me. I start to step out when I hear an explosion, which brings me out of the spell of charmspeak. Next to me, on my right a person screams out. I look and see Athlea, the tribute from district 12, and she bursts into fire. I realize that the explosion is probably one of the tributes, and Athlea is his partner. What was his name again? He had super strength... Ah, Kevin Jiminez. Poor dude.

A cannon sounds, telling me that he really is dead.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Go!" I telepathically contact Hannah and tell her to run to the forest and take Tamara with her if possible. I remember my promise to David and find him in the small crowd. I concentrate on the nearest spear and will it to fly towards David. He mouths "thanks" and then attacks Mac Intris, who, in return, controls the winds to fly up and into the plains. I hear a cannon, but I don't take the time to see who has been killed. To the left, I see Andrew Restorès pulling water out of the river and making a hurricane. As Gina Newton creeps closer to him, I look away, knowing that she came too close and will be pulled in. A cannon sounds.

I run through, and freeze. I see Ethan, from District 2, aiming his bow at me. My mind transforms into frantic thinking mode, but the only plan I can think of is to try to do something with his bow. He is too far for it to be good for my health, but that's the only way to save my life. I focus on the loaded arrow, and start slightly moving it down. My strength starts to wane, and I really hope for Ethan to let go if the arrow. He does, and it misses me by a meter. Before he can shoot another arrow, I dart to the side into the trees.

In front of me I see something materialize, and try to back away until I hit a tree.
"BOO!" Hannah shots as she completely materializes. I jump back, reaching for the dagger I always had at my side during my 6 month training, only to find it missing. Shoot. Hannah laughs her head off, which I don't appreciate.

"Hannah, be quiet, someone will hear!" I hiss at her

"That look on-" she bursts into giggles "-on your face-" she erupts in laughter "so… *laugh* hilarious"

I hear footsteps, and I pull Hannah down.

"Hannah, its Saige Butcher! You know, the megalomaniac Ares girl?" I whispered to Hannah

"Yeah, the one that can transform her weapon into another weapon of her choice?" She answers

"Yes, her."

Surprisingly, Saige didn't seem to have heard Hannah. She is focused on something different. I look at where she is looking, and I see a small tree. I look closer, and realize that it's not a tree after all, it's a girl. She has short brown hair and nerdy looking glasses. It's-

"Gabby! Mark, its Gabby!" Hannah whispers. A bit louder than I would prefer, but Saige doesn't notice.

In her hand is an Emperial Gold sword, but I know it isn't only limited to that. Most Emperial gold swords also transform into a roman lance—a rod of gold about seven feet long, with a spear tip at one end. Despite that, Saige's power can make it any weapon she wants. I wonder if she can make a gun out of it…

My very important thoughts are disrupted by an aggressive yell from Saige, who starts to charge at Gabby, her sword transforming into a lance. Gabby reaches out, as if to hug Saige and I almost laugh at the comical scene until I see what Gabby is actually doing. Green plants shoot out of the ground into her hands, and Gabby lashes out with her new supremely terrifying and cool plant-whips. Saige, surprisingly, is fast to react, and her lance turns into a scutum- the rectangular, semi-cylindrical body shield carried by Roman legionaries.

Gabby launches herself upwards, her whips trailing behind her like a glorified tree-rainbow. She lands behind Saige with her back to the cornucopia, rolling to break her fall. Saige takes a step towards her, but stops in her tracks. Growing around her ankles were small vines, quickly tightening themselves and growing bigger by the instant. Gabby quickly follows up, flailing her vine-whips in rapid succession. Saige crouches, making herself a smaller target, and blocks the strokes with her shield. Saige quickly retaliates, her shield growing longer and skinnier, becoming a Roman pilum, a Javelin. The pilum is in the air before Gabby can react, and she's forced to stop her rapid whip-strokes in order to dodge.

I watch the scene with growing apprehension as Saige uses the time she's bought herself to cut through the vines entangling her feet. She stands, her knife growing into a sword. A bellow worthy of a Viking emits from her mouth as she charges Gabby. Saige swings at her chest, but Gabby ducks and wraps her whip around the other girl's legs. Gabby jerks, and Saige collapses on the ground. But as Gabby backs away, Saige manages to grab onto her whips, trailing Gabby on the ground. With a strong jerk, the whips fly out of Gabby's unready hands and are flung to the ground behind Saige. Saige, faster than I would've thought possible, moves to Gabby, sword at her throat.

It was over. I begin to stand, but Hannah pulls me down as we watch Gabby's bewildered eyes close in concentration. Gnarled, claw like tree limbs explode out of the ground behind Gabby, grabbing at Saige and chucking her far into the forest, shouting the whole way. When Saige can no longer be seen, or heard, for that matter, Gabby collapses onto the ground.

We should help her. Hannah mind messages me.
What? She's an enemy! We shouldn't help someone who can possibly kill us!
I won't be your ally if we won't help her.

I look at Hannah. She doesn't seem to be joking.

"Fine," I mutter, "Let's find a good place to put her down, maybe a cave or something, and conceal her from sight."

We carry Gabby a little way until we find a small place hidden by roots. We lay her down and go back in the direction of the Cornucopia. Hannah peers through the trees, and I come up next to her and look too. Around the Cornucopia, the Career tributes seem to be camping out. I see Andrew, Ethan, Tamara, Petunia, even Yaerang, who they might have rejected because she is so small and looks weak.

We need to find a way to get into their camp, and get Tamara. Hannah mind-messages

My brain goes into overdrive, thinking of possible ways to get into their camp. Suddenly, my brain hits the perfect idea, and I smile.

Uh-oh, I think you have an idea.

Yes Hannah, a plan worthy of Athena

Anyways, there you go. We will hopefully be updating more over the summer we have the plot line down... well, mostly (or partly, whatever). We might update a few for each week. If you get lucky, it might be four... Keep those reviews coming! They help uphold the evil kingdom of this fanfiction writer... Mwahaha... Also, suggestions are most welcome! Those would be great.

Farewell!