The Hunted
X
Kyna stood up watching from the jagged peak they were camped on as the forest changed dying and reforming into a jungle. "So they are changing the arena each day this year," she said quietly to Dean. "Each day to hold new horrors for the tributes," finished Dean frowning.
He continued muttering to her, "You know we have to rejoin the others below otherwise the Gamemakers are going to get impatient with us."
"I know, "she said quietly. He tossed her pack over her shoulder and clipped her dagger in its sheath to her equipment belt. "Let's go rejoin the party."
X
Nessarose trudged on through the dense jungle. Beads of sweat trickling down her forehead. She pushed through the ferns weakly her thirst overwhelming her, fatigue slowly closing in. She stumbled over the roots of a tree and plummeted down a hill falling into a pond with a splash. She smiled feeling the cool sensation spreading through her. She drank from the pond washing her thirst away bathing her face beneath the surface to replenish her energy.
She grasped her locks of hair wringing the icy water from them and waded back onto the bank trudging through the mud and back into the jungle. Her eyes darted everywhere constantly alert for the sound of tributes or Gamemaker surprises. She unsheathed her knife hearing voices ahead. She peered through the ferns watching the Careers pass clearly following a tribute's trail. She spotted Genesis and smiled, "Capitol wants a show I'll give them a show," she whispered to herself.
Genesis cut a path through the ferns leading Velvet and Arden on. Velvet's attention snapped as she heard voices in the distance. "Let's go," she called sprinting towards the noise. Arden followed hoping it was Sylvia unsheathing her dagger. Genesis followed but turned around hearing a noise in the bushes. Velvet raced on with Arden unknowingly leaving Genesis behind.
Genesis unsheathed his sword peering into the dense undergrowth. He spotted movement in the ferns. "Come out I know you're there," he called to Nessarose hiding in the ferns. She slowly walked out of the ferns flashing him a seductive smile. "You!" he said in shock. Nessarose walked up to him trailing a finger down his muscular chest. "What do you mean you?" she asked smiling her ruby red lips hypnotizing his every sense. His cheeks flushed red as her index finger trailed towards his belt and dropped away.
"Uncomfortable?" she asked grinning, "Good." Her lips drew closer to his her dazzling eyes holding him on the spot. He stared down at her and pressed his lips to hers overwhelming her own. She leaned in to the kiss allowing him to continue. She broke away with a smile leading him into the ferns. Genesis dropped his sword and it pierced the dirt sitting upright. He followed her lust clouding his vision. Minutes dragged on and the blackbirds took to the sky as metal slid from its sheath and his howl of pain filled the air. The familiar boom of the cannon sounded and Velvet spun around looking behind her. Arden cried out, "Genesis?"
Velvet turned reassuring her, "We don't know if it's him yet we'll find out tonight."
Nessarose trudged out readjusting her shirt and tossing aside her bloodstained jacket. She wiped the blood off the blade of her knife and sheathed it. She smiled to herself wickedly, I can do this. I can win.
X
Shianne followed the sandy banks of the river watching the water rush past disappearing around a jagged bend. She pulled the hunting knife from her pack finally having use of it. She spotted a tribute on the banks up ahead lying sprawled in the gravel unmoving. She made her way over to him slowly. She winced seeing the knife wounds and cuts from the rocks and the bruises covering his face. Is he dead?
He stirred his breathing growing heavier and then fading away again. She frowned looking over his wounds once more, "Poor bastard," she said softly. She raised her knife prepared to put him out of his misery. She faltered stepping away. Come on, if I do it I can get home that much faster.
Shianne took a deep breath and raised the blade again aiming for his heart. She pulled away and sighed tossing the knife beside her discarded pack. She scanned the cliffside searching for shelter and dragged him towards a hole in the cliff face. Moisture dripped from the ceiling and she dropped him beside a pool of crystalline water in the center of the cavern She pulled out the bandage wrap from her pack and dressed his wounds and got up staring at him as his breathing grew normal again.
She walked over to the pool and kicked water at him shocking him awake. His head snapped up searching the cave, "Where am I?"
"I found you all beat up by the riverbank so I pulled you inside and dressed your wounds so they wouldn't get infected," said Shianne stepping into the light from the sun peeking in at the mouth of the cavern.
"Why didn't you just kill me?" he asked unsure of her motives.
"Oh believe me I thought about," she said with a smile.
Shylam frowned and tried to get to his feet wincing and falling back as sharp pain filled his every sensation emanating in waves. He fell back to the cave floor and Shianne laughed, "Your stupid if you think you're going anywhere with those wounds."
Shylam fell back to the cave sighing. "What happened to you anyway?" asked Shianne genuinely curious. "Well first, I got attacked by the Careers and managed to escape by rolling off of a cliff then the arena changed and the river surged at me swallowing me up and smashing me onto shore where you found me before I blacked out," explained Shylam.
"Ouch…" said Shianne frowning, "Yesterday was not your day."
"Yah," said Shylam quietly agreeing and his head fell back to the cave floor.
X
Rowan stumbled through the ferns peering around, "Anna?" he called out unsure as he heard rustling ahead. Velvet burst out of the brush her hand clenching tight around his throat. She lifted the small boy off his feet with a wicked grin. Arden followed her eyes brimming with fury, "Where's Sylvia," she choked out through her wrath.
"W-who?" squeaked the boy.
Velvet hurled him across the clearing with surprising strength. Rowan struck the tree roughly sliding the bark scraping his back. Velvet pulled a spear from her quiver and hurled one into his left shoulder pinning him against the tree. She walked over to him watching him struggle. Arden followed. The boy suddenly stopped his eyes widening as his arm spasmed and picked up a long twig beside him.
Velvet laughed and finally reached him pulling out anther spear, "Any last words for Panem?" she said her eyes darting around up into the sky quickly.
The boy struggled as his arm moved on its own scribbling something deep into the dirt. Velvet looked down reading the writing, Are you ready to fucking die bitch?
Velvet gasped as he pulled the spear free and threw t aside drawing a knife and running at her. Arden shoved her aside and he stabbed her square in the shoulder. He punched her in the stomach and she fell to the ground gasping for air.
Anna burst through the brush seeing Velvet frozen watching the boy. Sh turned to see Rowan beating her up. That isn't him. Her eyes followed his wicked grin. He's enjoying it. "Rowan!" she called trying to break him out of his murderous trance. He ignored her calls and raised his knife stabbing Arden again and again. Blood pooled around her and her vision started to fade out. She spat a mouthful of blood aside and her head turned to Velvet, "K-kill Sylvia for me."
Her eyes zoned out into the sky. She swore she saw Avani in the sky with Kyle. I'm sorry I couldn't keep your promise Avani. Her eyes glazed over and the dull boom of the cannon filled the arena.
X
Laury jumped up hearing the cannon. Rose looked up seeing two parachutes flying down towards them, "Look guys!"
Laury caught them both and handed one to Estelle and Leon to open and kept one to open. She pulled out the note, "This one's addressed to me anyway," she said surprised.
She opened the package underneath and found a bundle of black arrows with raven feathers attached at the bottom. She examined the razor sharp obsidian tips and smiled. She could get used to these babies. Leon looked at the arrows, "Someone must really like you. The best obsidian comes from one of the dormant volcanoes deep in District 2," he said.
Estelle finished opening the package addressed to the group. "That's a lot of bread," she said happily staring at all the assorted buns and loaves crammed into the case. Rose jumped up along with Laury picking a small loaf each and sat down by the fire happily eating their worries away.
Estelle pulled out a pumpkin spice bun and took a bite out of it the spices warming her up. Leon took a bite out of an iced cinnamon bun savoring the sweet taste and delicious tang of cinnamon.
X
Sylvia looked up as the last rays of sunlight were disappearing and watched the metallic shine of a silver parachute float down into her lap. She opened the huge metal case full of material and smiled at the note, "Happy hunting."
A/N: Fin! *wipes sweat from forehead* SO sorry I haven't updated in forever was suffering from writer's block but don't worry I stabbed it repeatedly. *insane laughter* Oh well, I hope you all liked next chapter is will be aaaawesome I promise. Mark my words tributes will die. Review sponsoring your tributes. I lost all of them…you guys know what happened. Reviews inspire lots more bloodshed. This story will be wrapped up in I think about four more chapters. Adios!