I fly through the trees, knowing that Cato will surely be after me. He's probably discovered my camp by now, so close to his.
As I run, my mind wanders back to my encounter with The Fire Girl. I wish I knew her name. I think again of the glint in her eye. Why should she feel so strongly about Rue? This puzzles me, until I remember her sister. I come to the assumption that she treated Rue like a little sister, used her to fill the hole her real sibling used to fill. A strange emotion fills me. I want to cry, but quickly dismiss it.
I am heading towards the fields, where I have spent most of my time during the Games, apart from when I was stalking Cato and Clove. Down there I have crops to eat, and reasonable shelter. It surprises me that no one else has decided to camp here too. As I reach the fields, I am careful not to trample any crops, and give away my route. I head directly forwards, to where the crop turns from a milky yellow colour to a more rusty brown. Once the crop around me is all brown, I turn right, head on for about a mile and then reach my place of rest.
I have made a little clearing in the crop, big enough to fit me, as well as some food supplies, consisting of three groosling legs, a bottle of water, some nuts and a large pile of berries. I have woven a small blanket from the crops around me, which I wrap around me at night to keep me warm. I sit down on the blanket and reach for a groosling leg. Five minutes later, I have eaten all three of the groosling legs and most of the berries. Cursing myself, I decide to go hunt, when I remember the backpack. How could I have forgotten it?
I swing the pack off my shoulders, and look at it. It is large and black, but quite light for its size. I shake it, and hear something shake inside. Hoping for a weapon, I slowly pull the zip, and reach inside. My hands touch something cold, almost like a metal mesh. My heart sinks, no weapon. I reflect upon my earlier thought that the Gamemakers might be enjoying the fact my only useful defence is a rock.
I pull out the object, and inspect it. At first I think it is some sort of chain-link pillow, but then I realise it is a very thin type of body armour. It is made with very tightly woven metal links, creating pretty much full protection to the upper body. I slip it on, and it fits perfectly. The Gamemakers must have got my measurements from my stylist. Although it is no weapon, it will still provide protection to me from the other tributes. I realise that the Fire Girl is probably the tribute most intended for my armour to protect me from. I feel a strong irritation at the Gamemakers. They could easily have given me a spear in that pack, a knife, any useful weapon. Instead they give me something that isn't really what I desperately need. A compromise, but not even that. The Gamemakers never think of anyone but themselves.
I decide that I need to hunt, to at least find some more groosling. I stand up, and head toward the forest again. I decide to go toward the left of the forest where I am sure the trees are mostly evergreen, and I will be supplied with more shelter than…Wait. The word evergreen seems to stir something within me, a recognition, an answer. Everdeen. Yes! The last name of the Fire Girl. Everdeen. I try to conjure up a memory of her first name, but nothing comes to me.
As I reach the trees, I hear a screech and footfalls nearby. Cato. I throw myself to the ground, amongst the long grass. He must have hunted something. Sure enough, I see him stumble from inside the forest, with a small animal in hand. My breath catches. It's a mockingjay.
How did he catch one? They live so high up in the trees, so far from view. How? The only solution I can think of is that the bird was already injured, and on the ground. Cato has no sufficient training with weapons, and catching a mockingjay would be difficult for any experienced huntsmen. I go to wipe sweat from my face, but then I realise it is tears. The sight of the mockingjay has hurt me, deep inside. It seems to symbolise Rue. Suddenly I want to get away, as far as possible from Cato and his kill. Once I see Cato head back into the forest, I stand up, and run back to my camp.
After about five minutes, I realise that I am being followed. However, I keep running, desperate to show no submission, no recognition of Cato. I know that it must be him, only he would have such heavy footfalls. I reach the brown crop, and turn right. I wonder why Cato hasn't killed me yet. If he still has his spear he could easily have me face down and out cold by now. It crosses my mind that he wants to hold out until we reach my camp. So that after I'm out of the way, he can take his pick of my possessions.
I turn left. Into the unknown. This is unmarked territory, unknown turf. I keep running. Maybe Cato will get bored, head back to the forest, but after fifteen more minutes of running I realise this is not the case. I can hear his heavy breathing now, and know he must realise I am aware of him. I decide to end this once and for all. For Rue, For the mockingjay. Thinking of that bird seems to bring something to the surface. Katniss. The name of the fire Girl.
I stop, and turn towards the enemy.