Chapter 22

Guinevere Pendragon's POV (District 9)

"Are you following me?" The older girl, Dekka snaps, looking back at me. I feel myself blush as I frantically shake my head. I'm lying of course. I need to stick close to her, because I simply haven't made an impression on the Gamemakers, and I can see Clarisse watching me like I'm… Well, like I'm a meal. Which I suppose I am, compared to her brute-like strength. All I've got is limited knowledge of grains, and that doesn't get you very far in a fight.

Dekka however, is powerful. She must be a foot taller than Clarisse, with broad shoulders, and a dark, fierce glare. She radiates power, and it's a lot more threatening than Clarisse's, because she could kill you with her hands. Dekka's power is silent and deadly, but crushing and large, whereas I can't imagine Clarisse without a snide comment and a weapon.

"No. Sorry." I mumble, and I'm about to walk off when Dekka glances behind me. I know district 7 have been following me about, deliberately, always a station behind; showing how much better they are than me. Dekka clenches her fists and I fight the urge to turn around and look at Clarisse's smug face.

"Come on." Dekka mutters, gruffly.

We're not an alliance; I can tell that much. But at least I'm not wandering the hall alone, like the scary one from 12. Not that he needs anyone. He seems perfectly content to wander about by himself, paying mild interest to the various different stations.

There are a lot of odd pairings this year.

In fact, when it comes down to it, there's only a couple of us who are going to be out in the arena by ourselves. There's me, Dekka, the scary boy from 12, the hook boy from 7, Clarisse, and… that's it. Everyone else has found themselves an Alliance, even if it's only temporary. I wonder what the Capitol will make of all this. Alliances are interesting, but too many might seem a little too extraordinary. You can bet that the Gamemakers will unleash something on one of them, mostly likely the largest.

Maybe being out by myself will be easier. Certainly less conspicuous. Six people in a group isn't gonna be hard to miss, especially if they're talking.

We sit ourselves down at the plants section. Dekka doesn't like to talk, but the instructor is more than happy to teach us a few things, and chatters on insistently, pleased to have people to teach. Seeing as we're both from agricultural districts, we both know a fair amount about what's edible, and what would kill you if you so much as touched it, so the instructor has an easy job. We complete a small test at the end of it and Dekka does better than me, but only by one question. The instructor looks proud, and sends us on our way with a cheery wave and an enthusiastic grin.

"I get the feeling he doesn't get many visitors." I murmur and catch the faint trace of a smile on Dekka's lips. "Where next?" I ask her and she shrugs.

"You choose."

"Uh…" I look around and spot a shelter building spot at the back. "There?" I ask, pointing. Dekka follows my finger and nods. As we walk over, I take the chance to look around at the other tributes. Sherlock and John, which is an alliance I would never have seen coming, are stood at the snares station, where Sherlock seems to be talking very quickly. John is grinning his head off, staring raptly at Sherlock as if he was God's gift.

The Doctor and Clara are sword fighting with two different instructors, which I find odd, because the other careers are completing an assault course on the opposite side of the room. District 2 is usually the one that binds the careers together, not the one that leaves it.

Then there's the largest alliance of six, who have broken up into threes and are walking around trying to find a station, occasionally conversing and changing between groups. They're going to be ones to watch out for. A large group like that will attract sponsors, and they'll have the individual merits of each person in the group. Something I won't have. Besides, they'll get proper rest, what with some of them keeping watch, while others sleep. I'll have to find a tree or a cave somewhere if I want a peaceful, bloodless night.

The perfect twins from 6 are practicing with the spears together, each sowing off, seemingly competing. I wonder if there's ever been any sibling rivalry, because the pressure of the arena has been known to amplify things. Past disputes can easily arise, and things can get messy if you aren't careful.

The trio of Amy, Jack, and tally are stood working at the hand-to-hand combat station, where they seem to be doing well. I wonder briefly if they'll be a bigger problem than I first thought. I have to win. There are people back at home who are counting on me, and I can't disappoint them. I have to see my family again. I have to see Arthur again.

Shelter building turns out to be relatively easy. There are couple of things you have to watch out for, such as insect nests, poisonous plants, and exposed areas, but usually it's a snap. The best hides are in clumps of bushes, or in trees. Some work best in caves. One of the main rules is; make it as dry as possible. Damp dens can be a lot more trouble than you'd think.

Lunchtime creeps up on me before I feel the time passing.

Harley Quinn (Head Gamemaker)

"Harley, please tell me you have found out who did this to the arena?" Asks the President, his voice low and menacing as always.

"No your honour, but we have people working to find them." I reply, fighting to keep my voice steady. If it wasn't for my need to publicly appear throughout the game commentary, I'd be dead already. I can rest assured that once this grace period is over, I'm as good as gone. President Saruman clicks his tongue impatiently.

"It must be done. In the meantime, have you changed any of the arena?"

"I have added heavier foliage, and expanded the grounds, using different terrain types. The pods have all been examined for bugs that could have been placed. They were clean." I tell him, my palms sweating. "I think whoever did it just wants to see their arena put into action."

The President stares at me for a minute, and just when I feel he's about to say something he looks away and sits back.

"You may go."

John Watson POV (District 9)

I'm walking painstakingly slowly into the dining room when Sherlock grabs my arm, knocking me off balance. I stumble, and manage to catch myself using the cane before I fall.

"John I need to talk to you." He says, urgently. I look up at him, mildly annoyed. I'm once again caught off guard by his perfect, sculpted features, but more so the vertigris eyes.

"About what?" I ask, worried. The careers stalk by us and we both watch them go, carefully. If they find out our strategies, particularly the blonde from 4, we're screwed.

"In private." Sherlock replied, his voice cold as usual. "Come on."

I follow after him, keeping up the limp, and he does charitable slow down for me. We thought about the limp, and how it could work as an advantage in the arena. They'll underestimate me. Think I can't run. People are easier to trick when they're caught off guard (or so Sherlock said).

We head into the weapons room, which is now empty, as everyone has departed for lunch. I don't doubt the room is bugged, but Sherlock is a fast talker and I'm a good listener.

"Ok, we need to rethink the whole meet up after the cornucopia." He tells me immediately. I frown.

"What's wrong with it?"

"There's no guarantee I'll be able to find you. Besides, we don't know what the arena is. I could be behind the cornucopia and, from your point of view, you couldn't see me." He explains and I pout.

"So what then?"

"We need a signal."

"A signal?"

"Anything. A bird call, a series of clues to find."

"A bird call I can manage." I decide, standing up straighter. "We have this signal in 9. They call it the Vatican Cameo."

"Why?"

"There was this little militia movement a while ago. They started fighting against the remaining mutts in 9, and they used that as a call. The bird call adapted from it." I explain, half-heartedly.

"Your district is very strange." Sherlock remarks, smiling a little. I grin.

"I could say the same about you techno boy." I reply and he laughs quietly.

"How does it go then?" He asks me and I whistle a short tune. It's concise, but easy to recognise. Sherlock has the memory of an elephant when he needs it. He repeats it and I nod.

"Fantastic." He grins and I can't help smiling too. "Lunch?"

"Starving."

OH YEAH IT WAS A LONG CHAPTER THIS TIME ARE YOU PROUD? Anyhow, this was the last chapter before the scary private training tomorrow, which must be worrying for the tributes. Does it show that I ship Johnlock? Anyhow, what did we think of this chapter? Let me know in the reviews, and remember to follow/favourite!

I LOVE YOU ALL YOU'RE AMAZING!

Lucy XXXX