Princess of the Sea

By: CyanideMuffins7

Chapter 9: Cut and Run

A/Note: Hello Readers, this is the beginning of Part II, where the games begin! I hope you're in for it! I also uploaded the story cover. If it's hard to see, go to my profile where I have provided a link to the full picture. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Hunger Games, the trilogy or any of the characters Suzanne Collins has created. I only take credit for the characters I have created and the plot I have made.

My eyes quickly scan the items that were spewing from the Cornucopia. What was to be my first move? The weapons would provide me protection, and strength against the Tributes plus I could hunt animals for food quicker. But if I reach for a pack, I could be able to survive with supplies I have like food and such. I need to choose now.

The gong rang, and everyone dashed out of their glass cylinders and to the Cornucopia. I quickly began to sprint to the goods that were bestowed upon us. But the faster runners were already able to get the weapons. Lena already had her hands on a sheath of knives, already throwing as many as she could. I made sure I was behind some of the tributes who weren't so lucky. I had no time to strategize how to get to the spears, I need whatever I can get my hands on. I run until a black pack came into my sight. As I approach it, I swiftly grab onto the strap of the pack and continue running.

There was no sense in stopping to fight back or to get anything else. I need to haul out of there before I can kiss my life goodbye. I run as fast as I can further into the swamp, as far as I could go.

It's actually been a long time since I ran this fast and for this long. I didn't want to stop running though. No matter how far I got, I didn't feel safe so I kept running. My legs began to feel weak and I was beginning to lose control. I soon felt my legs cease moving and my whole body fell face forward into the moss. I felt my legs tingle and cramp as I lay on the ground when I attempt to get up. I had to use the trunk of the tree as support to get back up on my wobbly legs.

I used the trees to support myself as I continued to distance myself from the Cornucopia. I needed to get a good distance away from the rest of the Tributes out there. Once I reached a large willow, I stopped. This must be a good distance.

I prop myself against the tree, exhausted. But this is what I'll have to do in order to survive. I look down at the pack I was only able to get. I unbuckle the straps and open the pack. I have a packet of crackers, an empty canteen, rope and a magnifying glass. Great, not even a single utility knife. What will I do with a magnifying glass? Check if I have cuts on my body? I close the pack and place it on my shoulders.

It's still day time and I need to plan out my next move. So right now my first priority is to find some water. I can survive without food and shelter for more than five days, but I can't survive without water for more than three days. I walk on my own searching and searching. I must have ran pretty deep into the forest, because I can't find any source of water. It's a swamp. There should be at least some water.

I already began to notice the sunlight faded into a dark orange while the sky began to darken. Night was almost upon the arena, and I haven't been able to find one drop of water. I haven't even found an animal either, just pestering bugs.

I'm glad I made it this far. I didn't bother to keep track of how many tributes that died at the Cornucopia. Can't imagine Hei would be among them. I imagine he would be the one doing all of the killing. Coda might be one of those people though. I've never seen her hold herself in a fight, and I guess that was her advantage. But she had a pretty decent training score of a Career. Maybe, she joined up with them at the last minute. I could play a dozen scenarios in my mind, but I will never know if any of them were true.

Night finally had come and the anthem began to play. I look up at the dark sky to see the Capitol seal fade. The boy from District 3 is gone, along with the boy and girl from 9, then the boy from 10 and the girl from 11. So that leaves basically nineteen tributes left. The Careers made it alive, of course. That also leaves Coda and the boy from District 12 still out there. I guess I might be seeing them around here, getting ready to kill me when they have the chance.

I give up and plop myself against a shrub. There's no way I can find water like this. I haven't felt my stomach rumble at all, but I decide to nibble a little bit at the crackers, which wasn't such a great idea since the salt made me feel a little more dehydrated than I was. I felt very tired. I look around for a less conspicuous place to sleep and in the distance I notice large willow tree using its roots like legs to a chair. I carefully rise from the shrub and approach the tree. I carefully contort myself to get through the thick roots and to the center of the tree. The soil was dry yet soft, great for a bed. I lay down with the pack still on my shoulders, just in case if it's taken from me as I sleep.

Day one has ended and Day two will begin soon. Tomorrow, I will have to search for water. If I don't, then I'll most likely die of dehydration. When Evan and Ian were in the Games, they had to survive in a snowy tundra. Of course there was water around all around them except it was just in a different form. The only worry they had faced early in the Games was starvation. It was pretty much slim pickings. Right, now starving to death isn't what I'm worried about. But it will most likely be my problem in the morning.

Dawn soon breaks and I'm awoken by the sound of frogs croaking and crickets chirping. Frogs? When I open my eyes I see a pine green frog plainly in the distance. If frogs are hanging around here, then there must be water nearby. I crawl out of the tree and stood behind the frog, waiting for it to move.

"Come on frog, lead me to water." I mumble anxiously staring at the bumps on his back.

It doesn't move, just continuous croaking. I still wait however. I nudge it with my boot a little, but that only makes it move slightly forward. At this point, I've become frustrated and impatient.

"You're no help." I grumble as I walk past the frog. The day treads on as I continue my search, and I was beginning to feel emptiness in my stomach. Come by late afternoon, I was still in the same place I was hours ago, dehydrated and weak. I feel dehydration overcome me. My vision becomes blurry and I gradually began to feel my limbs losing all feeling.

That was when I heard a gunshot. Was it for me? Was I just imagining that I was walking and that I was actually collapsed onto the ground, dead? I just continue walking until trip over something and I fall flat onto my face. My body refuses to get up. But I know the cameras are probably on me right now, everyone who betted on me will be spouting foul language around while Valentine and Dad will be on the edge of their seat, screaming for me to get up. I use all of my strength and at least sit up. I wonder what tripped me, probably a root. I look at the root to see the mangled, bloody body of the District 7 boy. His empty brown eyes were gazing straight at me. But my eyes scanned his possessions, to see a clear dirty canteen. But past the dirt, I saw something swishing back in forth inside.

I knew his death, meant my salvation.