endurance

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1.

As soon as the clock disappears, the twenty-four Tributes, one boy and one girl from each District, take off across the field towards the Cornucopia, and in some cases, away.

Almost immediately, a thick crimson red spills onto the grass. Not even five minutes into the Hunger Games, bodies are already lining the ground, showing off to Panem that the Capitol can force us to do this.

I try to stay away from the carnage, dashing towards a small backpack. Sliding towards it, I sling it onto my back. I can't hear anything at this point. Adrenaline has taken over my entire body. I can see Cato and the other Careers slaughtering the defenseless Tributes. With that thought in mind, I quickly reach for anything that I can use to defend myself.

My hand wraps around a short sword, and I grab it blindly. There's another laying only a few inches from the first one, and I make a grab for it, pulling the other short sword towards me as well. I grasp both of them, one in each hand, and I push myself to my feet and look for Clay. He's nowhere in sight.

A hand grabs mine. I look over to see Clay. He's saying something I can't hear. I shake my head wildly, trying to tell him that I can't hear what he's saying. His face grows concerned and and he just pulls me along, away from the bloody sight of the Cornucopia.

I notice that Clay has a large group of weapons strung across his back, covering his backpack. He's holding a giant axe with a long handle as he pulls me along with him. I look back for Cato, trying to see if he's coming, too.

If I try, I swear that I can hear the Capitol people screaming and cheering. They're cheering for our deaths outside of the arena. But I'm not dead. Me, the girl who got a measly four from Training has survived the first half-hour of the bloody Hunger Games. I've survived the killing spree of the angry, bloodthirsty, and dangerous Career Tributes. I've made it.

I'm still alive.

Clay sinks to the ground as we stop, leaning against a tree. For some reason, seeing all those kids, most of them younger than me, just broke me completely. I didn't even know most of their names.

"Zara?! Zara, where are you?!" a childish voice cries out. Clay is immediately on the offensive, unsheathing a sword. I shake my head and push his hand down. Sliding the two short swords onto my belt, I walk forward. "Zara?" I peer out from around the trees to see the small, frail boy from District 4. He's covered in blood and has his hand wrapped around a sheathed knife.

I walk out of the trees. The boy, whose name I remember is North, turns with tears in his eyes. "Hey… are you okay?"

He shakes his head and is about to reply, but a cannon shot cuts him off. Then a second one rings from a distance. They continue until I count ten cannon shots. I frown sadly. Ten teenagers, ten children, are dead already. They are – were – all around my age.

"Do you know where Zara is?" North asks quietly. He's shaking, as if I'm about to hurt him. I kneel in front of him and ruffle his dark hair. "Zara… she's my District partner. She told me to run… where is she?"

I frown even more. "Your name is North, right?" He nods slowly, eying the swords at my side. "I won't hurt you. Come on sweetheart, let's go. We've got to get away from here." I hold out my hand to the boy.

North slowly places his hand in mine, and puts his knife in his pocket. He takes a deep breath, shuttering as he does. "Zara's dead, isn't she?" he whimpers. I can see tears form in his eyes as I lead him back to Clay.

"I'm so sorry North." He starts crying quietly at the loss of his partner, someone he's depended on, and I bring him to Clay. "Clay." The dark-haired boy looks up at me from his seated position. "Clay, this is North. He lost his partner."

Clay's eyes soften a little. North's records show that he's only twelve, the same age as his little sister. "Hey there kid. We're going to get you through this, okay?" North nods, his eyes still a bit teary, but he manages a weak smile.

I hear something in the background, laughter and yelling. From the sound of it, I can tell it's the Careers. Glimmer, Marvel, Clove… and Cato. I know I can depend on Cato, but I doubt I can trust any of the others. After all, Cato and I are keeping our little relationship a secret.

My eyes widen as Glimmer spots us and she draws an arrow, notching it in her bow. I push North down and pick up a knife that Clay had picked up from the Cornucopia. With a loud grunt, I toss it, and push North away. "Go, go, go!" I yell quickly, grabbing our things. Clay grabs all the weaponry and I grab our two bags, and we run. I feel arrows streaking past my head, and I let out a yell.

It hasn't even been ten minutes since the bloodbath, and the Careers are already on our tail. I turn to see Glimmer notching another arrow, and I quickly reach into my bag. There's matches, like I'd hoped, and I quickly strike one. The small piece of wood lights up, and I throw it. A fire starts only a few inches behind me, spreading quickly through the dry leaves.

Glimmer and the other Careers don't follow. I lock eyes with Cato as they stop and glare at me. North and Clay continue to run. He gives me a small nod and turns away, perhaps to go find that girl from District 12, Katniss, who scored an 11. All I know is that he's leading them away from us.

But I don't stop running. Clay, North, and I continue along to a large cave. It seems safe. Clay tosses a rock into the cave, which clatters, but doesn't make a sound. He walks in first, still unsure of whether or not another Tribute is in there.

No one tries to kill us as we enter the cave. It's a start.

{ may the odds be ever in your favor }

Between Clay, North, and I, we have enough food for up to three days. Dried berries and meats, three canteens, and while Clay can hunt, North is the best fisher, and I'm pretty good at telling what's edible. The three of us have a chance, I decide.

The Panem National Anthem makes me look at the sky. The seal of the Capitol is flashing, and it shows the faces of the dead Tributes. I hear a sniffle come from North as Zara's pretty face shows up on the screen of those who had "fallen".

"I'll take first watch," I offer weakly. Both Clay and North look exhausted. Both of them are about to protest, but I throw my bag at them. "Sleep. I'll wake you guys when it's your turn."

Even though I say that I'll wake them up, I have no intention of doing so. Clay and North reluctantly fall asleep, both hidden under an open sleeping bag. I smile at them; they almost look like brothers.

A voice whispers, "Leilani. Hey, come over here." I recognize it as Cato's voice, and I see his face peeking out from behind a thick tree. I shake my head, and he sighs. "No one else is with me. I went out unarmed, too, I have nothing on me."

Slowly, I stand and walk over to the blond Career. "Yes, Cato?"

He frowns a little. "I had to come see you." I smile a little and gently reach for his hand. "Hey, listen to me. We're getting out of here, I promise." My eyes widen as I look at his arm. "What?"

"You're bleeding," I whimper. He follows my gaze to where he has a small, but deep gash on his arm. "Here… let me help you." Cato begins to protest, but I cut him off by scurrying back to the cave. There's a roll of bandages in my bag, and I rip off a small portion.

He almost smiles as I wrap the fabric around his arm, trying to stop the bleeding. "You don't have to do this, Lei." I shush him as I finish tying a knot. "But thanks anyways. You're so stubborn."

I smile a little. "You should really wear your jacket. It's going to get colder and colder, you know."

Cato gestures to the fabric that hides my body. "And you're still wearing that thing." I frown in protest and hug myself. He chuckles a little as I cuddle into the soft jacket. It still smells like Cato, like chocolate and strawberries.

"I like this jacket, I'll have you know. I got it from someone special," I reply sweetly, laughing a little. "He's someone I care about very much."

Leaning forward, he whispers into my ear, "This guy must be pretty special to you if you wore that jacket into the Games." A shiver runs down my spine, and I press closer to him. He practically purrs as he wraps his hands around my waist. "What's he like?"

I nuzzle my face into his neck and whisper, "He's strong… and brave. He's handsome, too. He's always sweet to me."

He pulls back a little, but leans his forehead against mine. "And what's this guy's name?" he asks expectantly, his whisper ghosting over my lips.

"Cato."

With that, Cato kisses me again, much more fiercely than he had the last time. I kiss back again, pulling him closer to me as he hugs me tighter. He kisses my nose before warily looking back at the forest.

He frowns apologetically. "I can't stay. I've got to go before Clove gets suspicious. I told her I was going to look for food or something." He kisses me one more time, caressing my face, then slowly walks back where he came from. "Oh, and, Lei?" He smiles widely. "Keep the jacket. It looks good on you."

{ may the odds be ever in your favor }

"Wow. A secret romance that leads to an alliance and protection for District 8." To say that Panem is shocked by what the cameras catch at night is an understatement. The entire world is able to see what the two Tributes are hiding.

Cato, District 2, and Leilani, District 8, are seeing each other and have a romantic relationship that no one can really tell how long it's been going.

Claudius nods in agreement to Caesar's statement. "I doubt the Careers will be very happy if they find out Cato is romantically involved with another Tribute."

Laughing, Caesar adds, "Especially not that girl, Glimmer! She seems to like him, huh?" Claudius nods again. "I've got to wonder how this romance is going to play out. First, the Star-Crossed Lovers of District 12, now the Forbidden Love between two Tributes of Districts 2 and 8!"

{ may the odds be ever in your favor }

Finnick Odair smirks a bit as he watches the boy from 2 and the girl from 8 kissing where they hope no one can see them. From the corner of his eye, he sees Enobaria, looking horrified at her Tribute's actions, and Cecilia, who actually doesn't look all that shocked.

"What an interesting turn of events," he muses, grinning widely. He watches as the girl, Leilani, walks back over to the cave, and sits back down.

She reaches into the zipped up jacket, which Finnick now knows belongs to Cato, although he doesn't know how Leilani got her hands on that, and takes out a watch that hangs from a chain around her neck. She opens the pocket watch and stares at it for a moment before looking back. There's some rustling in the cave, and she closes it sharply.

Finnick stands and walks over to Enobaria. "So, m'dear, how does it feel to have a fierce Tribute that has feelings for a girl in the arena?" he taunts. Glaring, Enobaria swipes at him with her wine glass.

While the young mentor manages to avoid being slammed in the face by glass, he doesn't avoid the red liquid staining his face. "Hilarious," Enobaria spits out. "I'm going to kill him if he doesn't snap out of it and win."

"Hun, if he doesn't snap out of it and win, he's dead," Finnick shoots back, not missing a beat. He grabs a napkin, wiping his handsome face off with the white cloth. It looks like it's being stained by blood, and Finnick quickly tosses it away. She doesn't reply, just huffs again. In a more serious tone, Finnick says, "That kid, he's the same as I was in my games," he says gravely. "If she dies, he most likely won't make it either. He's in love with her."

Enobaria nods solemnly. "I know. I think that's what worries me the most."

Leaning over, Finnick whispers, "Don't let that little girl die, Enobaria. Keep her alive as long as you can. If you do, it'll eventually come down to just the two of them. That girl, from what I've seen, she's ready to sacrifice anything to ensure the safety of another person."

Nodding, Enobaria understands what Finnick is saying. "So she'll kill herself or have Cato do it if they're the final two."

"No." The dark-haired woman looks up in surprise. Finnick is dangerously serious, and he's staring at the screen, where Caesar and Claudius are speaking about the forbidden romance of the two Tributes. "He'd kill himself before he let her die. Their attachment to each other? It's only going to get stronger now that they're in the danger zone. Either way…" Finnick pauses, trying to find a right way to phrase his next words. "Either way, both of them have to survive, or Cato is going to die."

The District 2 mentor curses quietly at Finnick's new turn of events. Getting both of those Tributes out alive is going to be near impossible. Especially with the Girl on Fire as their competition.

{ may the odds be ever in your favor }

The next day is honestly uneventful. North and Clay find meat and fish for us, while I manage to get plants that are edible as well as good for medicine. We store them in our bags after cooking the fish and meat so it won't smell.

We survive by sticking together, which really is the best strategy we have. No one goes anywhere without the other two. We protect each other. North reminds both Clay and me of our little siblings. I honestly don't want to see him die. I want to see North make it safely out.

But then I remember. This is the Hunger Games, and only one person can survive. I'm not going to be that person, and I know it.

As North and Clay goof off, I sit and keep watch for any Career tributes. I pull out my watch once again and look at the time. Back home, it'd be a little past two in the afternoon. My siblings and I would be coming home from school about now. We'd all be laughing and joking like North and Clay are.

It makes me want to cry. Quickly snapping the watch shut, I put it back into my jacket before I seem like too much of a crybaby.

"Lei… are you okay?" North's quiet, childish voice asks. I look up at him, a weak and watery smile on my face. I nod, not wanting him to hear my voice waver. "You're not. What's wrong?"

Finally breaking down, I start crying and hug North. He wraps his small arms around me as I sob. "I want to go home, North. I don't want to be here anymore," I cry, my voice muffled in North's fluffy hair. "I hate this. I hate these so-called Games. I hate being stuck here, and I hate being forced to fight to the death with people who are my age and younger."

Clay's arms wrap around both of us and he squeezes us tight. "Hey, hey… it's okay. I'm going to make sure that you two get home," he vows quietly. "Even if it kills me, I promise."

The thing is, I'm worried that it will kill Clay.

Finally letting go of North, the three of us sit back for a minute. I stand slowly, brushing off leaves and dirt from my pants. "I'm going for a walk. Yes, I'm taking my swords. No, you two will stay right here. I'll be right back."

Without waiting for their response, I walk off, looking all around. For a few minutes, I wander away from my two friends and allies. I continue to walk for what feels like a long time, but in reality, is only a few minutes. Maybe it's because I haven't been alone in the longest time.

I stop and hide behind a thick tree trunk as I hear footsteps and loud laughter. I unsheathe one of my swords, holding it tightly in my fist as the laughter grows closer. I can hear Glimmer and Clove talking loudly. I peek out and see the Career alliance, now including Peeta from District 12.

Cato is there, too. Kneeling down slowly, I grab a rock from the ground, turning it a few times in my palm. I aim for Cato's side, and toss the rock. It hits him gently, and he looks around. His eyes lock with mine.

"I'm going to go check something out," he lies. Before Glimmer can demand where he's going, he slips into the thicker part of the woods. I peel myself away from the tree and run forward, quickly catching up to the blond. "Hey."

I cut to the chase. "Cato, if it came down to it, would you kill me?"

His eyes widen as he stops short. "What? What're you saying, Lei…?" he asks, almost as if he expects me to turn around and say that I'm just joking around. My face is serious. "Lei…"

{ may the odds be ever in your favor }

"Cato, if it came down to it, would you kill me?"

Haymitch's eyebrows practically shoot sky high. He certainly wasn't been expecting that when the cameras moved to the two "forbidden lovers", and now, he's curious to see how he's going to reply. Their conversation goes back and forth for a few minutes as they debate on whether or not Leilani is joking.

"Lei, listen to me now, and you listen good. If I killed you, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"Cato, you realize that the Cornucopia Bloodbath stole ten Tributes away from their families. I wouldn't be any different. All you'd have to do is stick that sword through my chest, and I'd be gone."

"Shut up! You're so dumb. It's not like I can't kill you. It's that I won't."

Haymitch leans back in his seat. Oh, how Cato reminds the older victor of Finnick. It's almost scary how the two of them seem so similar, not just in manner, but in their situation. Even Haymitch is similar to Cato and his pitiful situation. Three of them, Finnick, Haymitch, and Cato, all have fallen in love with someone whose fate was and is to die.

In the 2nd Quarter Quell, the 50th Hunger Games, Haymitch had been Reaped and sent into the games with a girl he fell in love with from the Seam. Her name was Serah. She died in the Bloodbath. Haymitch had been unable to make it to her before a sword went through her chest. But she made Haymitch promise to her that he'd win. He won because she wanted him to, and he wasn't about to disappoint her.

As for Finnick, before he met Annie Cresta, he'd been in love with a girl named Mae, a girl from District 1. They'd allied with each other, along with the rest of the Careers, but the girl from District 2 slit Mae's throat in the middle of the night. Finnick later killed her slowly and painfully.

Ever so often, more often nowadays, there's a Tribute that happens to fall in love with another Tribute. Most of the victors that are living have seen the same thing happen to them as Cato is going through now. Cato and Leilani are just more explicit about their relationship.

Gloss lost someone in the arena. Johanna watched her boyfriend and District partner die. Haymitch won for the girl he loved after her death. Finnick's first love was murdered in the Games. Now, not only are Katniss and Peeta doomed to the same fate, but so are Cato and Leilani.

Haymitch frowns as Cecilia immediately gets up. "Hey. Where the hell are you going?" he demands.

"I'm not about to let Leilani kill herself like this," she replies firmly. Cecilia's motherly instinct never fails her, as she's usually right. She's had to watch most of her Tributes die for the past fourteen years.

With that being said, Haymitch simply lets her go. Finnick collapses on the couch next to him. "She isn't what you thought, that girl."

Throwing a glare at the younger man, he grinds out, "I'm watching what the damn Capitol decides to show us." The situation that the two younger Tributes are in is almost painful for Haymitch to watch, due to the similarities between the Games that he was in and the Games that are playing on the screen now. Finnick grins a little, holding up his hands in surrender. "Look, I know you're just taking an interest in her 'cause she's saving your last Tribute left."

Finnick shakes his head. "No. I'm not interested in her, I'm interested in the kid and if he's going to do the same thing that any of us had to do." Haymitch frowns. When Finnick says "us", he means the victors that had to watch the ones they loved die in front of them in the Games.

He gazes back at the screen. Cato's face is stony and protective as he stares down at Leilani in his arms. "He's not going to make the same mistakes we did, Finnick. You know he won't."

"I'm just not going to let another Tribute die for love," Finnick practically spits. "I almost made that mistake, too. You saw it, Haymitch."

"I will never let you die. I can't… I can't see leaving this arena without you with me."

"Cato…"

Haymitch stands violently, almost turning over the table. Finnick only continues to stare at the screen, at Cato and Leilani. It would be so much more touching if only the both of them were able to escape from the arena.

And suddenly, Finnick realizes that he's rooting for the two of them. Not for his own Tributes or for the Star-Crossed Lovers of District 12. He wants both Cato and Leilani to make it out.

{ may the odds be ever in your favor }

Cato stares down at me, his eyes still seeming to ask if I'm joking. "Cato, just answer the question," I demand. I'm particularly frustrated by his lack of response. "Please. I need to know. And no lying… there's no point to lie."

He finally says, "No. I can't kill you, Lei."

I practically yell at him, "Shut up and stop lying! You can kill me, Cato, it'd be so easy for you!" He glares at me.

"Lei, listen to me now, and you listen good." His tone is abnormally serious, which shuts me up quickly. "If I killed you, I wouldn't be able to live with myself," Cato confesses quietly turning back around to keep moving.

Shaking my head, I wearily reply, "Cato, you realize that the Cornucopia Bloodbath stole ten Tributes away from their families. I wouldn't be any different. All you'd have to do is stick that sword through my chest, and I'd be gone."

Cato whirls around, practically glaring at me. His hands grip my arms. His face is too close to mine. I can feel heat rushing to my face. "Shut up! You're so dumb. It's not like I can't kill you. It's that I won't." He pauses, running one hand through his hair, an exasperated look on his face. "I could, you know. Right now, right in this very spot. No one in this arena would ever know that it was me." He reaches up and carefully cups my face in his hands. "I could take your head in both my hands and twist. Your neck would be broken. You'd be dead on the spot." Instead of twisting though, his hands fall to my shoulders. "I could've done that so many times, Lei. But I didn't. I can't kill you, stupid."

I realize he's right. We'd met privately last night, and he could've thrown something at me through the fire instead of walking away. But he hadn't. Each time I'm with him, he never shows any sign of being violent towards me. I feel stupid and I move forward, burying my head in his chest.

His arms wrap around me, and he strongly declares, "I will never let you die. I can't… I can't see leaving this arena without you with me. I just wouldn't be able to do it."

My eyes widens as he kisses the top of my head repeatedly. "Cato…" I mutter softly, clutching at his shirt. His hold on me tightens as I can feel myself beginning to cry once again.

"Hey, don't cry," he says.

I pull away, viciously wiping away my tears. "I know, I know. God, I'm such a crybaby. Everyone must think I'm so stupid."

He grins a little. "I don't think you're stupid. I think you're sensitive, and do you want to know something?" I look up at him curiously. "I think you're adorable when you cry. It makes me want to wipe away those tears and protect you from whatever is making you cry."

I smile and slowly stand on my toes, pressing my lips to his. He kisses back with a gentleness that I feel is made for me.

When he pulls away, I ask, "Cato, when did you start to like me?" I ask this childish question out of sheer curiosity. I want to know at what point he started to have feelings for me.

Cato thinks for a moment. "I'm not sure. I know when I met you, you were crying. I didn't really care all that much at that point, to be honest. But I felt as if you didn't deserve to be the one in tears." He purses his lips, trying to think. "Actually, I think I started feeling weird around you when you sent me that smile after the Parade. It was so different than the first time I saw you. After that, I guess it just went from there." He hugs me to his side as he starts walking.

"You're sweet." He rolls his eyes and squeezes me a little as we continue to walk. "As for me, I guess when I first saw you. I was upset about leaving behind everything, you know? I'd kind of resigned myself to die right before you found me. You asked me why I volunteered. It kind of reminded me that I have to fight hard because I have to go home to someone. Not to mention I thought you were cute."

Cato's lips press upon the top of my head. I kiss his jaw, and I realize we're back near where Clay and North are. "Go on," he says. "I can't steal you forever."

I look up at him, one eyebrow raised skeptically. "How the hell did you even know where our camp is?" Cato shrugs. "Come on, Cato!" I practically whine, pouting like a kid who's had their toy taken away.

He puts a finger to my lips. "Trade secret," he whispers. "I'll see you later, Lei." His finger drops from my lips. He walks away again, but this time, I smile.

"See you later." Those words, the exact ones I said to Simba before I went up to the arena, are still the same promise, too. He's promising that neither of us will die. We'll both live to see each other again.

{ may the odds be ever in your favor }

Simba smiles. He's not dumb. He's Leilani's stylist. She'd come into the room below the arena with a large jacket over her clothing, and he'd been surprised that the Peacekeepers let her in with that on. It definitely hadn't been hers. He knew that it had to be a boy's.

Not many people had the build to fit in that jacket. It was between Thresh, Cato, and Peeta. Simba had immediately ruled Peeta out, due to the kid's love for the Girl on Fire. He'd ruled out Thresh, too, as Thresh hadn't been seen associating with many other Tributes.

He'd seen Cato's look towards her at the Tribute Parade and backstage. He'd known that they'd been hiding something. He just hopes that it'll last.

{ may the odds ever be in your favor }

Another day passes without many events. No one is dying, I know that much. There hasn't been a cannon in almost two days now. The Gamemakers must be getting restless. I mentally count down the people that are left.

There's both from the two Career Districts, District 1 and 2, which means Cato, Clove, Glimmer, and Marvel.

Loki, the boy from District 3 escaped the Cornucopia, although I don't know where he is.

North, from District 4, is with me.

That girl from District 5, Vie, is still alive. I don't know where she is either.

Me and Clay, from District 8 are left.

The boy from 10, I think his name is Roland, is also alive.

Then there's Thresh and Rue from 11 and Katniss and Peeta from 12.

That's a lot of Tributes left. I'm really surprised we haven't run into any of them yet. It's kind of a shock that no one's died within the two days since the bloodbath.

In that day, though, North, Clay, and I move camp. We abandon our cave, deciding to look for water to refill our canteens after we left the river to escape the Careers.

North is still as adorable as ever. His smile can melt even the coldest of hearts. If he lives past these Games, that kid is going to become a heartbreaker. Clay has saved me more than once. He's kept me from going insane in the arena and kept me from walking into dangerous traps.

I keep asking him why he's saving me. He just replies with a simple answer. "My debt to you isn't repaid yet."

I have to wonder when it will be repaid.

First off, I related Cato and Finnick to each other, as well as many of the other Victors, to each other because honestly, I find that most Victors go through the same thing. They're haunted by nightmares, plagued by the ghosts of those they couldn't save. I wanted to play up the fact that despite everything, each of them are united against the Games. Even Gloss, who is portrayed as a ruthless killer in Catching Fire. I wanted to play up that each of them probably have lost someone they care for in the Games.

No matter what, I believe that it's so easy to fall in love. It takes a look, like it did for Cato and Leilani. Truthfully, it only takes a second of conversation to truly fall in love, or at least become attracted to someone. So for me, I don't think it'd be implausible for the Victors to have someone they cared about lose the Games. I'm going off of what I believe. If I was to lose someone who I came to care about, I'd try my hardest to win, and to get revenge for the person I cared about. Honestly, it's not too implausible for each of the Victors to have come to love someone who died.

If you want me to elaborate on each of these stories, I can write them all out. However, most of them will be Original Characters and pre-existing Victors, much like this story. They'd be pretty short, to be honest. I'd love to hear what you think. Also, I'm unsure of whether or not this story will have a sequel, as I have several different endings in mind that I can upload.

Another thing is that I'm on a superhero craze. I'll be continuing this story, but I will most likely start another story as well, and attempt to balance them all out. I'm usure of which superhero movie I'll be writing for. Most likely X-Men: First Class or Nolan's Batman films.

Hope you enjoy, drop a review if you liked this chapter!