What is home? It was the woods, the dense forests, the smell of wood. Not my house, not the chilling interior, not the benches for exercise. I took a tentative step forward and took in the scent of pine and flowers. This was a jungle, not a forest, but good enough. I was comfortable on a tree, so I picked the thickest and tallest tree to climb, easily making my way up. There were only three limbs of it which could most possibly support my weight. These trees aren't part of nature. Their limbs are thin while their trunks are thick. IT was a mutated version, a work of the Capitol. Anyway, I hope it keeps me alive.
I could hear shouting from some distance, and I think I heard Chad cursing the curses only known to District Seven. Those words are vile and evil, and are of an ancient language. I was more interested in curses other people can understand. Those are much cooler. I loaded my bow and hung it on a branch. The leaves provide decent cover and there were berries hanging from the branches. Bright berries in the colours of orange, red and yellow. I think they are poisonous...
If they are poisonous, then the leaves would be the same, and the bark of this tree... I looked at my skin. No rashes, no redness, no swelling. I'm safe. I took out the silver parachutes and tried to pull the fabric out. There must be some things worth salvaging! Parachutes are meant to help, they're not for nothing. They are used by mentors to give their tributes gifts from sponsors. If I were a mentor, I'll load a parachute full of poisonous stuff and drop them on unsuspecting tributes. If I were a mentor, I would load the parachutes with explosives, triggered by a drop. If I were a mentor, I'll kill off those tributes for my tribute.
Then it struck me. Why don't I follow my own advice? I don't have any poison with me but... those berries! There are those berries which might be poisonous! I cackled with glee and moved to pluck them off. Bad idea. Instead, I took a knife and cut the branches they are hanging from and let them drop straight into the parachute. The next tribute who passes by would get this treat from me. Berries. Perfect. If a group of them pass by, it would be better. More deaths. More steps closer to victory. I'm not a bloodthirsty Career, but I want to go home and I'll do it my way. There would not be any confrontations needed, I hope.
Them, I picked a spot to drop the parachute. It was a medium sized opening which could allow the parachute to pass through but let me remain hidden. I prepared two parachutes and placed one near the spot. If these berries are not poisonous, I'll eat them myself. Of course, to prove that point, I need to have some experiments...
My test subject came pretty fast in the form of a small child. If I'm not wrong, she's from District Three. She doesn't have a chance. I hope that she's not very smart, though, or she'll figure out that the berries might be poisonous. Shrugging, I watched her make her way closer to my tree and finally, she sat down, leaning against the trunk. I dropped the parachute then.
The child gave a squeal as she caught the parachute. Frankly, it dropped really fast and I wouldn't have believed it if I were her. But she did and I guess it's my great luck. She opened the parachute and saw the berries. I saw her smile as she dug in, gobbling those berries. Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, appeared two burly tributes, a male and a female. District Eleven. Both of them charged towards the District Three girl. With a swing of her axe, ended the girl's life. The cannon boomed. Fourteen down. District Eleven's tributes crouched down and looked at the District Three girl's parachute. With a frown, the boy turned to the girl and muttered something. They looked up to my tree. I held my breath, afraid. They can't climb this tree but they can chop it down with the axe. With MY axe. The axe is supposed to be mine. After a few seconds, both of them walked away. The hovercraft came and collected the body. I leapt down from the tree with a few steps and removed the parachute. I can reuse it for later. The berries are most likely poisonous. District Eleven has just proven that by being a little suspicious.
My stomach was growling by the time I climbed back up my tree. I gobbled down some meat and cheese and took a swig of water. I need a water source fast or I'll run out of resources. But lulled by the wind and the heat, my eyes closed again and I took a nap.