Disclaimer: I don't own Hunger Games.
Chapter 5:
Thresh's POV
I run as fast as I can towards the forest. That's where Rue must be. The mockingjay came from there and so did the tune.
I brush through brambles and swivel around trees as silently as I can. Which isn't very quiet.
I hear movement in the distance despite all the racket I'm making. I travel toward whatever's making the noises and reach a clearing. I look around but spot no one. The rustling has stopped. They're probably hiding from me.
I take one last look around, and spot what looks like a necklace hanging from a branch. That's odd. I walk over to it and I see it is indeed a necklace, with a woven grass string and a wooden star on it.
Before I can take it down to get a better look at it, a figure darts out of the bushes and grabs the necklace. It then sprints away with curly dark brown hair flying behind it.
My mouth knows it before it reaches my brain. "Rue!" I shout and dash after her.
She stops and spins around. "Thresh?"
"Rue!" I say again, and run to her.
"Thresh," she says with glee, running towards me. Then she lowers her voice. "Be quiet! We don't need the careers coming for us."
"Let them come! You have me to protect you," I respond proudly.
A smile crosses her face. "Thanks Thresh."
"Your welcome Rue," Although I didn't smile, she could tell I meant it.
"So this is where you made your camp," Rue says, looking around the grain stalks that surround us in awe.
"Do you like it? Nobody attacks me in here. They know I have the advantage," I say, proud of my decision to stay here. "It also reminds me of home," I sigh. "I'd do anything to be back there."
"Me too," Rue stares longingly at the sky.
"Do you miss your family?" I ask, out of the blue. I know I do. My only family, my sister, Rose, and my grandmother, Hazel, I miss so much. They could probably last without me, but I'm sure they miss me too. I'd do anything to be back with them. A pang of longing shoots through me. Rue must've noticed because she puts her hand on my back to comfort me.
"Don't worry," she says sympathetically, "we'll both be home before you know it."
"I'm not so sure..." I say uncertainly. My pride from before has worn off and I'm back in reality. I had only thought of actually finding Rue before, not protecting her. It was hard enough protecting myself, what if I'm not able to do it.
"Of course we will! We have you! What could possibly go wrong?" Rue is certainly more sure of myself than me.
"I guess," I say.
"I know," Rue smiles.
I try to smile, but from the looks of Rue's face, it's more like a grimace.
"Whatever," I say. I search my mind for something to change the subject. I look up at the sky. "It's late, we should settle down before they show the dead tributes and it's too dark."
"I didn't hear any cannons," Rue tilts her head to the side, puzzled.
"Me neither, I guess there are no dead tributes today," I am somewhat relieved that no other innocent boys and girls have died today. "Here," I lead Rue over to a soft patch of ground. "You can sleep here."
"Oh, it's okay, I have a sleeping bag," Rue tells me.
"You do?" there is relief, not surprise in my voice. I don't want Rue to have to sleep on the ground.
"Yes Katniss gave it to me," there is sadness in her voice as she remembers her former ally. "She was a great friend."
"And I will be too. Now seriously, hurry up, the anthem will play any second," I nudge Rue as she opens her pack, smiles, and speeds up a bit.
"You can come in too if you want," Rue says from inside the sleeping bag.
"It's fine, I probably won't even fit," I tell her. I probably won't, but the real reason I don't want to go in, is that I don't even sleep. It's just a habit. I can't, I'm constantly on the watch for tributes and now that Rue is here, it's more important than ever that I protect them.
"I can get out," she starts to climb out of the sleeping bag.
"No, it's okay," I gently shove her back in. "You stay, I'll take first watch."
"If you insist," Rue says uncertainly.
"I insist," I plop down on the ground next to Rue as the anthem plays. Like we suspected no tributes died.
"Goodnight Thresh," Rue says sleepily. Her head pokes out of the sleeping bag and her eyes are drooping.
"Rue?" I ask urgently. I remember something that had popped into my head before. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, but make it quick," Rue says and a yawn follows.
"Why did you take that necklace? If I had been one of the Careers you could've been killed."
"It's my lucky charm. Mama made it for me herself," she smiles at the memory. "She told me that as long as I had it, I would win."
"And you're going to." Now I feel confident that we're going to win. I need to protect this little girl. I had only met her weeks ago, but now it seems like a lifetime.
"Goodnight Thresh," Rue barely gets this out before plopping her head down and falling asleep. I guess she had a long day.
"Goodnight Rue," I pat Rue on the head.
Like I always, I don't fall asleep. I just stare at the stars, swearing by them that I will protect Rue.