I don't feel like I've gotten my share of sleep before my watch starts, but at least nothing else happened while Klavier was on watch. No cannons, either, from what he tells me. I wonder if the Careers are even on the prowl tonight. With one dead and an outside tribute or two thrown in, they may not be working at their best. Which would be fine by me.

I head toward the mouth of the cave, staying in the shadows. It isn't hard. While there is moonlight, it keeps getting blotted out by clouds. Anyone coming toward us would probably need a source of light just to keep from falling off the mountainside. That would make it easier for me to sound an alarm, though. Whether or not we could get away in time... we'd have to see. I haven't explored the whole tunnel, after all. That's a task for another time, if we do stay here.

But I don't see why we wouldn't. It's a haul to get to the stream, but that just means we're less likely to be tracked back here. Somewhere with softer ground would sure be nice, but it would be absurd to set up camp in a valley. So long as the Careers don't backtrack to the Cornucopia, we should be all right here.

At least, until the Gamemakers force us out. But that might not happen for a while... They had plenty of deaths yesterday to keep them happy, that's for sure.

I can only look at the night sky for a moment. Gritting my teeth, I stare down at the rocks instead. Clay... Who would kill you...?

A dark blur of motion catches my eye. Stiffening, I tiptoe to the right wall of the cave to get a better viewing angle. My eyes track the figure, but I can't see anyone else near it. I'm pretty sure it's a person scrambling up the rocks, though. Probably not a Career, at least, although that doesn't mean there's no threat.

As the tribute approaches, I can hear high-pitched panting. Is it a girl? I think—yeah. I can see some long hair flailing in the wind. In a ponytail, I think.

It's not Simon, is it?

I panic before realizing the figure is far too small to be him. I do think it's a girl, although it's impossible to see her face in this light. I'll have to wait and see if she goes past us.

Holding my breath, I take a step back. As she draws closer, I can tell she's whimpering between gasps for breath. Is... she all right? I don't think she's climbing funny. Quickly and recklessly, maybe, but not like she's injured.

Who on earth is it, anyway? As far as girls with ponytails... Well, there's Athena. That's not Athena, is it? I—honestly can't tell. Maybe I should give the flashlight another try. Surely whoever's scrabbling over the rocks in fear isn't out to get us.

But what is she running from? It wouldn't do her or us any good to give our location to an attacker.

She pulls herself up a few more feet, and I take another step back. She's almost headed straight for the cave. I guess if she comes in here, I can try to pull her inside without attracting any danger. Then again, she's close enough now that I could probably...

Swallowing, I make sure my voice is down when I say, "Who's there?"

The tribute freezes, although she doesn't stop shaking.

"Are you running from something?"

She shrinks against the mountain face, and I still get no other response. When she hasn't moved in a few minutes, I give up and step back, out of the moonlight. If something's after her, I guess it isn't coming too fast. And if she's too afraid to approach any other tributes, I'm not going to keep panicking her.

Could she tell where my voice was coming from? If she's avoiding us regardless, we can't possibly get in trouble from any of this.

I barely see her hands breaching the surface before her crouched silhouette blocks the little light coming in here. Is that...?

I take a step forward. "Jinxie?"

Her eyes widen—maybe she didn't see me before—and she lets out a piercing shriek before pelting back outside. Flinching back, I just get my arms lowered before I hear her yelp. Something thumps.

"J-Jinxie?!"

I pad to the entrance and try to locate her. You know, honestly, if anything was around, they would have heard that. I'm going to see if the flashlight's back in working condition.

I crane my neck to look behind me and suck in a breath. "Hey everyone! I need to check on something outside! Enemies could be coming, so keep an eye out!"

Even Ema seems to be stirring after that, so I clear my throat, grab the flashlight, and set out. I can't see Jinxie anywhere around, but several shadowy pits dot the rock from this angle. Covering the end of the flashlight with my hand, I flip the switch. My fingers are instantly outlined in a red glow. So it is working again. I didn't think the Capitol would bother to put such a short-lived flashlight in with good supplies.

I point the beam of light straight down and start to sweep it across the rocks. To my right, about ten feet down, Jinxie crouches, pressing her left shoulder against the rocks. Her head snaps up immediately, eyes widening.

"It's just me! Apollo! Trucy's district partner?" I step down, keeping the light on her. Gasping, she presses back against the stone. Once her right arm bumps it, she shouts. Is she hurt? Her shoulder does look a little off.

But I won't be able to get any closer to her, not when she's like this. Inhaling, I shut off the flashlight and slip back into the cave.

"Trucy? Are you awake?"

"We are all awake, Herr Forehead. What's our situation? I'm sure I heard a Fräulein, but I don't seem to see her now."

I try not to sigh. "Actually, she took one look at me and ran off screaming."

"Who was it?" The silk of Trucy's hat reflects a bit of the moonlight as she walks over.

"Jinxie. Maybe she'll be more willing to talk to you." I hand over the flashlight. "She looked hurt, so don't startle her any more."

"Got it." With a yawn, she hurries to the entrance, a blaze of light distinguishing her silhouette. It takes a few minutes of quiet coaxing, but she comes back with Jinxie cowering behind her. The flashlight stays on as Trucy guides her to sit by the wall not far into the cave.

"There's definitely something wrong with her shoulder." She frowns and aims the light toward Jinxie's right side. "Do you think it's broken?"

"Let's hope not." Klavier, crouching, takes a crawling step toward her. She pulls back and screams, though I'm not sure if it's from fear or pain.

Klavier freezes, slowly lifting his hands to show empty palms. "It's okay. We just want to help you."

Jinxie's still breathing too quickly, but she manages to stay in place as he gets close enough to give her shoulder a look-over.

"That blood isn't yours, is it, Fräulein?"

Jinxie opens her mouth but can't seem to get anything out of it.

"How badly are you hurt? Do you know?" Trucy presses Jinxie's hand between hers. After getting no response, she tries, "What happened?"

"I..." The 8 squeezes her eyes shut. "D-demon... but..." She flicks a glance at her bloodstained shirt before she has to shut her eyes again. "F-Florent."

That's—Florent's blood?! It's a dense spatter, though; he must have been killed right in front of her. No wonder she's so shaken up. She wasn't at ease in the first place, and after witnessing something like that...

"I'm sorry to hear about that." I catch myself trying to lean closer and stop. "But don't worry! You're safe with us now!"

She shrinks back, yelping in pain again.

"Apollo!" Trucy hisses at me. "Don't yell at her!"

"But I wasn't yelling!"

Jinxie's back to full-blown whimpering when someone shoves me to the side.

"Listen, how about you be quiet and guard the door?"

I frown at Ema, but she manages a much dirtier look on her part, and I go toward the entrance. She's right, of course; we've been flashing lights and making noise. Someone has to stay alert to the outside. I guess it is my job right now...

"I'm going to roll up your sleeve a little to see the damage. Okay?"

Jinxie whimpers harder. I know I don't have any painkillers...

"Achtung. Definitely dislocated."

"When did you hurt it?" Trucy keeps her voice down.

"J-just... now..."

"Good," Ema says, her voice already getting worn again. "There shouldn't be much damage, then."

"All right, I'm going to pop it back in. This will hurt, but you'll feel a lot better afterward. Okay? Take my hand, don't be afraid..."

Jinxie stifles a few yells before shrieking. I can't hear any more whimpering after that, so I check to see her slumped onto Klavier's chest.

"I-is she okay?!" Trucy pulls her friend's shoulders back.

"I'm sure she's only fainted." Klavier helps to lean her against the rock wall.

"All right..." Trucy checks for a pulse, anyway, but it only takes a moment for her to drop her hands. "I wonder if she's really going to be okay, though."

"We'll make sure she will be." He feels over her shoulder one more time before pulling back. "The rest of us may as well get some rest if we can." He turns to grin at me. "Of course, you're still on watch."

I cross my arms. "I realize that, thanks."

"Good night, Polly." Trucy pushes the flashlight into my palm before turning it off. "Just yell if anybody else shows up. It worked well enough this time."

"I will." Slipping the flashlight into my backpack, I stare back at the entrance and let my eyes adjust to the darkness.