Princess of the Sea

By: CyanideMuffins7

Chapter 13: Cracks in the Stone

A/N: Hello readers. I have began to see that my story isn't quite as popular as I wish it was. If you like my story or feel like it needs improving or simply to just comment about the events and your thoughts, then please leave a review. I read every review someone leaves and it affects on how I strive to improve myself or take notice of someone who has left me a review. That doesn't mean I've noticed everyone who's reviewed. I thank the people who go out of their way to comment on all of my chapters who leave me reviews. I also want to thank anyone who has favorited my story or me as an author and added me to their story/author alerts.

I have read my reviews and noticed that the subject of romance seems to be anticipating some people. Don't expect it to be like love at first sight or Katniss and Peeta love going on. There will be romance, just not yet. Soon though.

I won't take much anymore of your time and let you read the chapter.

I appreciate your attention,

-CyanideMuffins7

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.

The District 7 girl is Wren. She in fact, did learn a thing or two from Johanna's experience to play the useless, weak Tribute. At the blood bath, she didn't bother to take anything. She just ran from the Cornucopia and into the swamp.

Wren was rather welcoming towards Bachus and I. She let us have some of the bread she had which was the same bread I found on the District 7 male tribute.

Bachus ate rather slowly, but kept his eye on Wren. I guess he doesn't like the idea that he owed someone else. But Wren might be right, if we combine our strengths and our intelligence, then we may have a chance to take down the Careers.

"Don't look at me like that idiot." She said before taking a bite of her bread. I can tell Bachus isn't willing to be in an alliance with her, but he's going to just have to deal with it. But it's not like I trust her either. She is a Tribute after all, a clever one at that, for all I know she can be planning something else. Maybe she plans on taking down all of the Tributes without any weapons, although she wouldn't be the first.

Boone was a District 2 Victor back in one of the Hunger Games years before I was born. He single handily took down every Tribute, without even drawing his weapon. He used the most unexpected weapon against them, fear. He made them paranoid, constantly watching their backs, turning on alliances, until each of the Tributes died. All of Panem was impressed with him that his name seemed to change to, Fear whenever someone spoke of him.

I don't think Wren would use fear as her weapon though. She's clever enough to probably construct her own bomb or something to explode this whole arena. I think back to the moment when I first saw her in the tree, and how she trapped the Mugakus in that net and drowned them. How was she able to deal with the Mugakus?

"How did you trick those creatures?" I ask after long curiosity. Wren looks at her bread and takes a bite, "Because I know they can't swim." She says with a full mouth. She swallows and continues, "They're bodies are large and offensive, but they're really heavy like boulders. So they sink in water."

Not even Bachus knew their weakness was water. He just seemed to tackle the beasts head on, without a single thought of their weakness.

"I call them Mugakus, just to give them a name." Bachus pointed out as finished his bread.

"I guess it fits. You're not an idiot after all." Wren commented before she took a bite to finish her bread. Bachus glared at Wren. He doesn't seem too pleased to be under minded.

Wren decides to warn us about everything else in the arena. She told about each of the creatures she encountered and the names she gave them. The horse that attacked us was that cannibal horse that I overheard Fitz talking about back at the Career Camp. Wren called it, Diomede. She says she's only seen one by itself, but she thinks there may be more than just the one. They only eat humans or just other animals really. They creep up behind you or lure you to them by looking lost. When you approach it, it eats you. They actually live underwater, which is odd for a horse. That was why Wren took us away from the water. The Diomede is difficult to kill, and at the moment there is no way to kill it.

The moving island was called, Paludis. It was only one creature that lives in the water near the Cornucopia. Like what it is, it gives the illusion that it's back is an island. People are drowning in the water and climb on the island to find no food on it and dry as a bone. It moves with the rivers that run through the swamp. But after it finds larger, deeper bodies of water, it submerges underwater. It drowns whatever was on the island.

Then there were things called, Trumans. They were like a mutant spawn of a small monkey and a cat. They are very animated creatures that are either seen on trees or running around the swamp. As Wren describes, they're more annoying than they are dangerous. They make the oddest sounds that sound like an old man with a high pitched voice. Apparently they're intelligent creatures, but by our standards, they're extremely stupid. To me, these creatures sound like a mockery of the Capitol's creations.

Then there was that hallucinating monster called, Keiner. They are these disgusting cross between a human and a bat. Their weapon against Tributes is they scream a high frequency sound that causes us to hallucinate that the creature is someone you're rather close to. Just like any creature they can die, but you need a lot of guts to realize its playing tricks on you.

The Capitol has become creative with their creatures. If they think that these annoying yet strong monsters can take me down, they are dead wrong.

We all decide to turn in for the night. Wren said it was alright to sleep kind of out in the open since she was taking the first shift. Bachus decides to sleep where his bed of grass was. I decided to sleep on the grass too since it provided comfort.

But no matter how much I would close my eyes and lay there, I couldn't sleep. There was too much racing through my mind, and I couldn't let my mind drift. It must have been a few hours I was like this since the big white moon has slowly shifted over my head. I slowly turn my head to see Wren sitting by the spit while gazing into the dimmed fire.

I sat up, catching Wren's attention, "You should get some rest. You were running most of the night." Wren ordered. I let out a sigh and stretch my arms out in front of me.

"Can't sleep." I simply say as I gaze into the dimming fire. She looks back at the fire as well without saying another word. We watched together as the fire was dying out for a while. I didn't want to really fill the silence, but I was curious about Wren. She goes out of her way to save us to create an alliance to take down the Careers. Are we really that powerful? Perhaps with her mind yes, but why couldn't she do it herself? She obviously was clever enough to trap dozens of Mugakus, why can't she just take down the Careers?

"Why are Bachus and I here if you could probably take down the Careers alone if you wanted." I say.

Wren kept her eyes on the flame. She was silent for a moment but it was probably a minute later when she spoke, "I'm physically in able."

Physically in able? Was it because of her size compared to the rest of the Tributes? She didn't look that small, she wasn't that shorter from me. Wren seemed to have read my questioning thoughts and answered, "I have Spinocerebellar Ataxia. It's a disease where you gradually loose connection with the nerves in your body. In turn, I lose balance, coordination and such. If I'm running, my legs will stop unintentionally and I trip. When I fall, my arms don't react to catch myself so my face will slam into the ground." Wren confided as she stared at the dying flame on the last piece of wood.

I wondered how Wren felt when she was reaped, knowing that her disease will literally be the death of her. How could she even survive this long? You're basically running the entire time and climbing trees. Maybe her clever mind has given her the advantage over all of these tributes. Or she has some sort of mind powers.

"How can you even walk? How did you carry me and a guy like him over here?" I seem to blurt out before I could hold it back.

That was stupid of me. Now Wren is going to probably use her mind bending powers to kill me right here. Wren chuckles as the fire died out, and she looked at me, "I can walk and such, and I have the strength to carry you but it's just difficult."

The two of us looked over to Bachus who was laying in the grass, already passed out and we laugh. I never imagined to have a good laugh in a place like this. I wanted to take it back, but I didn't want to. Wren seemed like she was having as much fun as I am as well. Maybe this is the path to friendship.

We fell asleep by were we sat and awoken by dawn. The three of us ate some of the District 4 bread I had. I enjoyed it but I can tell in Bachus and Wren's faces, they did not enjoy it as much as I did. Once we finished, we headed out into the thrush of woods. We spent the day traveling around the bog. While Bachus and I were armed, Wren wasn't. She didn't carry anything, not even a pack. She asked me to put the teapot in my pack since she didn't have any. I guess it's one less burden to her.

She seemed to be fine, walking around, even running. I don't know what this disease holding her down thing was about. She seemed fine. That is until I saw her trip on absolutely nothing and true to her word, she didn't catch herself. Her face had a lot of cuts on it after that, but she had received a silver parachute containing a salve to put over the wounds. Throughout the afternoon, I began to wonder. Was she faking it? She was faking her innocent, weak façade. Why won't she fake a horrible disease to win over her sponsors?

Wren led us around most of the time. I have to say, she knows her way around the swamp pretty well.

It wasn't until late afternoon we ended up by a very dark and eerie part of the swamp. My ears were able to pick up the sound of rustling, then a crack. Bachus immediately armed himself with his axe in hand, looking around franticly. Wren and I began to join as well. The three of us get into our defensive positions and I, arming myself with my throwing axe. Bachus kept his eye on the trees around us.

"It came from over there." Wren whispered as she pointed to the clearing by the trees. Bachus and I cautiously creep up behind the trees and hid near the trunks. Wren joined on my side and peaked over by the trunk. I didn't do so, but Bachus did as well then looked back at me and Wren. I could see in his eyes that there was something dangerous there.

"It's by the tree." Bachus said in a hush tone. I slowly peek over the tree to see the danger. It was dark but I was able to make out a figure hanging by the branch. But once my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I was able to make out a very familiar tiny girl, with a rope that hung her ankle from the large branch of the tree. I squint to get a good look at the girl, but my eyes soon laid on Coda's face as she just hung there with her arms crossed over her chest.

I quickly dash from the tree and to Coda while Wren and Bachus were calling me back, "Idiot! Get back here!" Bachus said while his voice was raised.

I paid no attention to him and went for Coda. I stopped when I was right in front of her, and she smiled, "Hey Pandora." I look up at the rope attached to the thick tree branch. On the branch, I noticed a rather white fuzzy creature poking at Coda's leg with its paw while making a very curious aggressive sound. The creature looked weird, very weird. I think it's a Truman, if my knowledge of the creatures is right. It seemed like it was having fun messing around with Coda until it attempts to stand on its hind legs on the branch, fell off and die once it hit the ground. I looked up at Coda and she kept smiling, "They're pretty stupid." Coda chuckled attempting to break the tension.

I need to get Coda down from there. I dash to the trunk of the tree, hoping to climb it but once I look up, I realize I can't. That only leaves cutting her down with my axe option. I run back to face Coda and flip my axe in my hand and stand on my toes to reach up to the rope.

Bachus's hand gripped onto my wrist and his strength had pulled me down while Wren had disarmed me of my throwing axe, "Are you insane?" Wren said breathlessly as she managed to rid me of my weapon. Bachus also decided to join in, "She's a fricking Tribute! How can you trust her! Idiot!" He barked as he managed to force me to the ground while keeping his grip on my wrist.

That's right, how can I trust Coda now? She was a Tribute pitted in this arena. Apparently you treat someone like their no one to you…I guess they are. But when Coda smiled when she saw me and we knew each other pretty well before we went into the arena. But Bachus and Wren were right, how can I trust her?

"Can someone let me down, I feel like I'm going to pass out." Coda says after a rather awkward silence. I look up to Bachus and Wren, who are giving Coda dirty looks, "Let her join the alliance." I blurt out. I really have to stop saying things before I think them. Bachus and Wren look back at me with a questioning look, "We can work stronger in groups, right?" I say. Bachus releases his grip on my wrist, leaving a cherry red mark on my skin.

Bachus looks at Wren for a moment until Wren gives a reluctant nod and hands me back my throwing axe. Bachus raises his axe and slashes down the rope, while letting Coda drop to the ground with a thud.

"What do you have on you?" Wren asks as she and Bachus approach Coda. From my perspective, it looked like Bachus and Wren were bullies trying to get something from Coda. I stand up while rubbing my wrist, it feels like he crushed my bones.

I squeeze my way in between Bachus and Wren and look down at Coda who was already armed with those rods I saw in the Training Center, "All I have are my Tasers." Coda replied while gripping tightly onto the tasers, causing the rods that had split in the middle to light up with a constant electrical pulse in between the rods.

The electricity brought a shiver down my spine just by staring at the weapon. If I saw Coda armed with this, I would be running away from her, like I feel like doing now. Wren seemed to have approved of her weapon by nodding, "Impressive. It may come in handy." Wren says approvingly.

Once we moved on, it was a hazy afternoon. Coda was timid around Wren and Bachus since they intimidated her. But after a few close calls of seeing Mugakus and the Diomede, Wren and Bachus were impressed with Coda's fighting skills. She was able to electrocute the Mugakus while letting Bachus and I to killing them. But the entire time we were fighting, Wren wasn't fighting. She was really using herself as a distraction by chucking the rocks at the monsters. Bachus and Wren seemed to begin to trust Coda a bit, and Coda began to feel comfortable around them as well. She began chatting away like she did on the first day that we met.

We were a pretty good team. But the Diomede was still overwhelming for us. Seeing it again just made my bandaged wound itch. I could see scars of where I hit it, and it was just yesterday! All the damage we were able to do was just crippling its leg and gashed it's torso a bit before it managed to run off. We approached the end of the bog once the sun had set, leaving us another day without any deaths. While we walked, I look over to Bachus who seemed a bit too fine for a person who injured his shoulder.

"How are you able to fight when you were just hurt yesterday?" I ask as Coda skipped beside me. Bachus leaned his axe against his uninjured shoulder and without looking at me said, "It takes a lot more to take me down." That's strange to hear even though I was the one saving him from drowning. I don't bother to say anything and just continue while the rest of us remain silent.

It wasn't until Wren had stopped us. I didn't understand until I noticed a Mugaku slowly moving towards a tree. It must be some sort of idiot, or it's going after a Truman. I step a bit closer, muffling my steps as I do but it spun around to face us and it began to charge right us.

"Move!" Bachus shouts as we disperse as the creature came closer. But as I look over from behind my tree, Wren is just standing right in the path of the Mugaku. Was she the idiot now!

"Wren, move!" I shout to Wren, but she just stays there. I look at her body language she was giving off. Her legs were dead stiff and her arms were shaking nervously. Wren's face looked stern, like she was trying to do something.

I decide not to just stare at Wren and dash from my hiding spot and push Wren out of the way, which wasn't really much of a good idea since she didn't catch herself when she fell and she hit her head on a root, but she'll be fine.

The Mugaku kept running until it rammed itself into the tree. Bachus and Coda ran towards the creature, attacking it full on while I try to stand up. But once I unsheathed my throwing axe, the Mugaku has smacked Coda against a tree and Bachus was on its back. After a few hits to its head with the blade of Bachus's axe, it went down.

I decide to help Wren up, since it was the least I could do after probably giving her a concussion. But she seemed alright. Wren rubbed the back of her head and gave me a small smile before looking over towards Bachus and Coda, "Will she be alright?" She asked as I look over towards them. Bachus was holding Coda within his arms like a child who went to sleep on the porch and was being put into bed. I felt something deepen within me as I saw Coda. Was it fear, that she might be dead? As Bachus walked towards us, I was able to see Coda's eyes blinking here and there with blood pouring from her nose, "She'll be fine, just won't be 'here' for a while." Bachus replied as Coda was looking over towards us with a light smile.

The deepening feeling faded once I saw Coda's smile, at least I know she'll be alright. What was that Mugaku doing here anyway, and looking at that tree anyways? I turn to the tree it was looking at in the distance and noticed a figure sitting against the tree.

"I think I see something." I say, motioning my allies to see as well. Bachus and Wren stood by my side to get a good look at the figure, "I see it too." Wren muttered while she was squinting her eyes to see. I felt curious about this figure. Maybe it was a Tribute, dying before us? Now that I think about it, that was probably the best answer. It was a Tribute dying and the Mugaku was going to eat him. Sounds reasonable. But I actually felt more curious to who was dying. I couldn't contain it any longer, and I dashed towards the tree, "Wait up!" Wren called. I heard more footfalls behind me after Wren had spoken. I kept running until I reached the tree and I finally got a good look at the dying Tribute in the moonlight. The left side of his face was gushing blood down his chin and neck.

It was the District 12 boy.