Princess of the Sea

By: CyanideMuffins7

Chapter 12: Where the Birds Call

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 felt greedy as they scanned the goods in front of me. This is what my strategy was about, to catch everyone off guard. I'm pretty sure I haven't told anyone about my dance lessons before. It's never been a piece of conversation that people immediately ask me.

I decide to open the first parachute which contains a fresh black hoodless jacket. It looked different then the jacket we were issued. Besides this jacket being pitch black, the lining of the jacket were white with a high collar. Hidden within the collar, I noticed a small folded piece of paper.

I put the jacket down and pulled out the paper, unfolding it. It was a small note in black ink, 'Stick your landing'. I never imagined Imogene would be sponsoring me now. Thanks Imogene.

I put the note beside me then looked in another parachute which contains a steel canteen already filled with water. I opened the rest of the parachutes, scoring a new utility knife, a flashlight and a loaf of fresh District 4 bread.

I was glad to receive so many gifts from Sponsors. But where were they when I was struck by lightning? Or when I was searching for water? My hopes of receiving something, died when I was laying on the ground in pain after part of my skin was burned.

I then pick up the silver parachute and observed the material of the cloth then the chord that attached itself to the box that contained the goods. My fingers stayed on the chords however. They felt like the lines that were used for fishing rods, and I know that would come in handy. I rip the cloth of the parachute off and take the chords. I repeat the same action for each of the parachutes.

I pack everything in my pack, except the jacket and the flashlight. As I stand up, I put on the jacket. It reflected my body heat so I felt completely warm. I then picked up the flashlight and began to walk away from my rest point. I turned on the flashlight, giving me an intense light that lit my way. The light would bring a lot of attention, so it's best if I stay incognito until the heat from the Careers die down. I turn off the light and hooked it to my belt alongside one of my axes.

I trek through this part of the swamp, which evidently contained a lot of water. I kept walking until I noticed a large fox hole under a tree. I was quite tired, so I slipped through the roots of the tree and sat down on the dirt. I could see through the intervals in the roots and I could fit through, so I didn't worry too much as I closed my eyes.

This night, I wasn't plagued by nightmares or dreams. I dreamed of nothing and by the time I woke up, I felt well rested. But once I crawled out of the foxhole, everything was covered in fog. It was hard to see anything. The fog will be a definite obstacle. The Gamemakers wouldn't do this for no reason, there has to be. The monsters will have an advantage if we don't see them in the fog. Out of caution, I pulled out my axe and cautiously walked through the woods.

I let my fear slip from my body, because I needed all of my senses in order to be alert if anything were to jump out at me.

Foggy days happened like this every other week depending on the weather back in 4. Usually ships don't go out at sea at that time, unless they're willing to risk death. Evan told me this one story about a sea captain and his crew who went out at sea during a very foggy day. It was years until the boat had returned, mangled and ragged. The crew was nowhere to be seen, except for the sea captain, who was in his quarters. The sea captain looked like death and he wore a carcass of an albatross around his neck. When some of the sailors came to inspect the ship, the sea captain attacked with a gun. Before he was killed, he cursed the whole District of eternal bad luck. He then took off his albatross and hung it at the docks before he had a trident pierced through his head. After that, they said that the albatross wasn't there. But they said he haunted the docks, to sabotage ships and bring bad luck. I remembered I was always scared to go there after Evan told me that. Ian told me it was just a ghost story. Funny thing was, I saw the albatross. I saw it hanging under the pier. It was weird when I found it, it was a carcass. It seemed like it never decayed after the mad sea captain died.

I stopped thinking about the ghost story. It wasn't wise for me to think of such things when anything could happen in this swamp.

I walked on for quite a long time in the fog, but I think after a while, I became completely lost. I noticed the thin irrigations here and there, and of course the trees.

I began to feel something odd. You would hear the frogs croaking, the crickets chirping and the leaves rustling as the wind blew past. But there was only silence.

I stop for a second, to listen very carefully. It seemed like the whole swamp stood still. It feels like the silence was driving me insane. Through the silence, I was able to hear something. It sounded like the moaning from those jawless monsters and it sounded aggressive, like it was struggling or fighting. I frantically scan the area around me until I saw one of them in the distance, swinging its arms at another figure.

In order to see what was going on, I cautiously head in the direction of the creature and the figure. As I became closer, the creature became clear and the figure turned out to be a Tribute. He was trying to ward off the creature but it batted off his axe to the ground. As the creature came closer to the Tribute, he stepped back. But he seemed to have lost his balance and fell right into the water.

I take another step, and just as I did, the creature turned its head to me. Its white eyes were on me. Instinct caused me to throw my axe at the creature. It hit right inbetween its ugly eyes. The creature gurgled then fell to the ground.

I ran to the creature to retrieve my axe, but my eyes turned to the Tribute in the water. He was patting away at the water, with not even the sign of calmness in his actions. He obviously didn't know how to swim. But how come I can't stop watching? The feeling of guilt will burden me if I leave, but this is the Hunger Games. They will die eventually. It might as well be now. But that isn't how I feel.

I cave in and dash to the water. As his arm hits the water, I quickly grab onto it and began to pull him towards me. He was quite heavy, it's like carrying two fish barrels. I manage to pull him out of the water and back onto land. He was coughing aggressively until a pool of water came out of his mouth. I can't believe I just saved another Tribute. I wonder what the Gamemakers will think.

As I stood up my eyes met with the Tribute's hazel eyes and his cold dagger pressed against my throat. His cool ash brown colored hair, brown skin, his hazel eyes, and his striking face reminded me that he was the boy from District 11.

"Why did you do that?" He ordered with his voice so deep. Maybe saving him wasn't such a good idea, after all he is a Tribute. Plus this guy has ten times more muscle than I do. I had a better chance of killing with that jawless monster than I do killing him.

I looked at him straight in the eyes, "You were going to die, don't you want to live?" I reply with a cocky grin.

His eyebrows furrowed and he pressed the dagger harder, "I don't like owing people who save my life." He said monotone like. He then sheathed his dagger and crossed his arms over his chest, "But just this once I'll give you one favor until I repay that debt."

"Join forces with me." I blurt out, without thinking. He looked sternly at me for a moment but nodded, "Fine. But once it reaches the final eight, we're going our separate ways."

I nodded my head slowly, "Agreed." There was a long silence until I filled it, "What's your name?" I ask.

"Bachus. And you're Pandora." He introduced. I guess I'm well known already. I shouldn't question it though.

Afterwards, Bachus and I camped out by the water. We decided to spread out our supplies to split it up. Bachus had a bowl, a box of matches, a bandana which he decided to wear, dried fruit, some handmade snares and a comb.

"Why do you have a comb?" I decide to ask out of curiosity. Bachus shrugs, "It was a gift from the Sponsors. I don't use it though." I guess the Capitol would rather see him looking clean.

I then lay out my supplies. I decide to give him some of the raccoon meat I made yesterday, a bundle of rope and the steel canteen filled with water. He then gave me the bowl and half of the snares. We eat some of the raccoon meat before heading out.

After a while of walking through the woods with silence, I decided to try and make conversation. But it was just like in the interviews with Cesar, he was directing me away from conversation. But I decide to be reasonable in conversation.
"Have you fought one of those jawless creatures before?" I ask while keeping my eye around the foggy mist.

"Yeah. I fought enough to know about them." He murmured while keeping his axe at the ready.

Bachus called them Mugakus. They wonder around the Swamp typically in the darker parts, but some wonder in daylight like the one he was fighting. They wonder alone but in some cases are accompanied by others. So far I've only seen them individually and I have hopes that I will never see them in groups. They're very strong creatures, strong enough to probably knock down a tree with enough force. The Magakus have an incredible sense of hearing that makes up for their blindness. Bachus also told me about his many encounters with them.

Once dusk hit, we camped out in an empty cave. We had some of the crackers I had while we heard the anthem. If I didn't save Bachus, his face would have appeared in the sky tonight. Even though he's on the same side as me doesn't mean I trust him. I only saved him because I didn't feel like he should die. He's going to have to prove to me that he can earn my trust. But by the way I tried talking to him, he had the same thing in mind.

We agreed on taking shifts to be on guard for anything. I offered for the first shift, but Bachus insisted he should have the first. There was no point in arguing, so I let him take the first shift. I lean against the wall of the cave and close my eyes.

I had another nightmare where I'm sitting in the sitting room back in the Training Center. I'm waiting for something, but I don't know. Suddenly Nimbus enters the room with silver tape over his mouth and blood stains on his jacket, behind him came President Snow who sits across from me. He says, "You must choose, Miss Marshall." The sitting room turns into a dark room with Nimbus and Nex behind the couch.

Bachus then wakes me, thankfully. We switched shifts and I was sitting outside of the cave. For the first two hours it was quiet, minus the frogs, crickets, and some type of bird. I heard a moan about an hour ago, but it made that gurgle sound and I assume it died. It was hard to tell if dawn broke already, but the tone in the sky changed slightly. The fog was beginning to thin out a little, but it was still pretty thick.

Through the fog, I was able to make out a Mugaku, just staring at me. I decided not to get up since it was just standing there. It should go away sometime soon. I continue to observe the distant Mugaku, but it keeps staring at me. It feels like it wants me to attack it. It's probably just some trick the bog is playing on me.

I then feel a chill down my spine as a moan was abnormally close. It was coming from behind me. I slowly turn from my post to see a Mugaku trudging slowly towards Bachus in his sleep state. I unsheathe my throwing axe and throw it directly at the Mugaku. It went into a hysteric state by thrashing its arms around. This seems to wake Bachus up as it was pounding the ground with its long arms. I ready another axe when Bachus slashed right at its legs. It fell to the ground with a gurgle. I rush to the creature and retrieve my throwing axe.

"Even caves aren't safe from these creatures." Bachus muttered as we approached the mouth of the cave. I point out the Mugaku that I saw earlier, still there, but we began to hear more moaning in the distance. We scanned the horizon in the fog to see a few more Mugakus limping from behind the one that was watching me. I looked to my left to see more coming from that side as well. I guess this will just be as bad as the blood bath.

I then feel Bachus grip onto my wrist, "Run!" He shouts as he pulls me behind him until I manage to catch up to next to him. He releases his grip on me and we run as fast as we can through the woods. The moaning became aggressive and faster while Bachus and I were running like a bat out of hell.

We run for a long period of time when we stop by a large willow tree near another lake to catch our breaths. I don't have any ideas to escape the Mugakus except keep running. I look over to Bachus as he pressed his shoulder against the tree while the blade of his axe was poked lazily into the moist earth. He looks over at me, "If we stop making noise, it will stop chasing us but it will keep looking for us." Bachus said inbetween breathes.

I manage to stand up straight on my aching legs as I look up through the willow's thick branches. I noticed legs, human legs were on each side of the branch, much like when you sit at the edge of the docks.

I walk closer to the tree and lean my chest against the trunk to look up at through the leaves to the branches. There a girl sat on the branch, with her hand on a vine. Her eyes were where we just came from, but she turned her head to look over at me. She placed a finger over her lips before turning her head back to where it was. I flipped my torso so that my back was against the tree and I shush Bachus. He remains quiet, as do I. I peek over the trunk of the tree to see the Mugakus in sight, limping at a fast rate towards us.

The creatures came close to us, but as they ran straight, like they didn't see us. A net soon rose to the height of the large willow tree and the other tree adjacent from it. As the Mugakus ran straight, they were caught in the net, but they kept running. The net was beginning to stretch until the Mugakus accidently ran towards the edge of the water, causing them to all fall within the mossy lake's contents. I turned to the water, watching the Mugakus moan and struggle around in the water but with the net they were restrained to free themselves. Soon every one of them sank, and the nets were cut off from the trees. I look up to the tree to see the girl was gone, but I then turn around to see her right behind me.

She was kind of shorter than me, but not by that much. She wore the olive green beater while her jacket was tied around her waist. She had long fire like hair tied in a ponytail that ran down her back. Covering the top of her head was a black beanie, for warmth no doubt. She had defined features, yet in some places like her nose and her brow were soft. The girl looked up at me with her golden brown eyes with a neutral look. She was the District 7 girl.

Bachus pointed the end of his axe at the District 7 girl. I then pull out my throwing axe as well, but the girl remained there, not even showing any kind of fear. Bachus chuckles and lowers his axe, "She's the one that got a two. She's not going to attack us."

The District 7 girl began to step back. We must be scaring her, but she doesn't look scared. She looks, cautious. But it doesn't seem to be towards us. Right as I'm about to turn, something bites onto Bachus's shoulder. Its snout looked like that of a horse. I turn to see a white horse with stringy gray hair dangling from the side of its long thin neck. Its eyes reflect hunger, yet sadness.

Bachus breaks free from the monster, but evidently, falls into the water in the process. I try to dash towards the water to help Bachus, but the beast has caught onto my right arm, trying to yank it off my body. I take my axe and hacked at its skull, but it wasn't going down. Suddenly the whole world became blurry, and the next thing I know I'm blacked out.

My eyes flutter open and I immediately feel the lingering soreness in my body. I felt it in my legs and in my right arm where the horse had bit me. I look over to my right arm to see my forearm was wrapped in bandages with something underneath it, but I couldn't feel the pain where the bite was.

I move my head up to see Bachus laying on blades of grass that wasn't there before. In fact we were actually in a different place, not near water. Bachus had bandages wrapped around his shoulder like my bite had. He was still asleep though, so I couldn't ask him what had happened.

"Ah, so your awake." Said a voice in front of me. I lazily turn my head to see the District 7 girl holding a metal tea kettle in her hand and a small cup in another. I could smell the fresh scent of tea from the kettle as well as burning wood. She sat down beside me and poured the tea into the cup. She then handed it to me, "Careful, it's hot." She warned.

I gingerly take the cup with my hands and bring the cup under my nose. It smelled quite soothing, so I gently blow and take a sip. It was sweet with the taste of burning leaves with it.

"It's ginger. It's supposed to help the soreness in your body." She said as she placed the kettle beside her.

I refrain from looking her, I just look at the rippling reflection of myself in the tea, "Why are you helping us?" I ask rather coldly.

She sighed heavily, "Because I want to alliance with you two." She replied.

Of course, why else would she want to join me and Bachus. I can't really deny her though, she did help us after all. Now Bachus has another debt to repay. She seemed ok I guess. She was more clever than I thought she was. It took me a moment to realize that she was mentored by Johanna Mason. That was why she acted weaker then she was. It was a façade.

I take another sip of my tea, almost burning my tongue, "Why do you want to alliance with us?" I ask curiously.

She shrugged, "You two, well not much of him, are clever. I think if we create a group, we can take down the Careers."

I can sort of agree Bachus wasn't that clever, he probably only has enough knowledge to surpass a child's basic mind. I think I'm exaggerating. Taking down the Careers was something different. I can say that if I didn't dance when I did, I would have died. I highly doubt just the three of us can take down the Careers. But maybe I guess she's thinking if we can be stronger in a group, like the Careers.

"So, what do you say?" She asks with her hand held out.

I pry my eyes off of my tea and extend my left hand and shook hers, "Deal."