Princess of the Sea
By: CyanideMuffins7
Chapter 20: Falling Columns
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.
Their eyes are still on me, awaiting my thoughts. I begin to wonder if they planned this for long or is it something they came up with when I was out by the stream. But this had to happen sooner or later. If we were here any longer, the Gamemakers would throw something at us (literally or metaphorically).
I wipe any shock that is on my face and I face my comrades, "Well, lay it on me." I say willingly.
Wren squats down on the ground and gestures us towards her. Each of us squats down beside her as she begins to draw out a map of the arena. Before we met Wren, she was spending her time scouting the arena and making a mental map so she knew where everyone and everything was. That was how she learned about herbs that were around and the creatures that were in the arena. I could only recognize some of the "landmarks" that she had drawn out like the Cornucopia, the bog, and our camp. But there were more like the trees at the edge of the arena, the bayou where the Paludis was, the cave where the Mugakus typically spawn from and the streams that all lead to the giant lake. According to Bachus, the Omega team stays at the edge of the arena. They don't venture out far, that's why we haven't had a chance to see them.
I didn't travel that far from the Cornucopia when I escaped their camp. It looked like it was close but we were probably a few miles away from it if we were to do proper measurements.
Wren points to the Cornucopia, "As you all know, the Careers have taken the Cornucopia as their asset or camp." She said as she lightly traces a circle around the crudely drawn Cornucopia.
"It's probably one of the safest places in the entire arena." Coda commented.
"Actually, we never ventured outside of the camp much. There were a ton of Mugakus appearing close to camp." Canon responded to Coda's comment. I never noticed any Mugakus when I was at the Career Camp, but I guess that was towards the beginning of the Games, when they were still learning about the beasts.
"Well, what's the plan?" I nudge to Wren, trying to get back on track with this conversation.
Wren grins and draws a squares and triangles with small circles over their heads, which I assume are the Tributes, "Imagine the columns holding up a tall building." Wren began as she kept drawing the Tributes, "Without the columns the building wouldn't quite be a spectacular building, would it?"
Wren then traced lines next to the squares and boxes, "What if the columns were destroyed, what would happen to the building?" She asked as she looks up at me.
"The building would fall." I respond looking back at Wren.
"So replace the building with the Tributes and the columns with their weapons."
The Careers would fall. That metaphor was fitting. Some like Hei were trained in hand to hand combat, but I highly doubt they can do so much damage when hunting with their fists.
Tonight is when the plan will initiate. Thanks to Canon's observations, the Careers take shifts during nighttime. It only takes one person to guard the camp, so they rest until it was time for someone else to take the shift. Each Career sleeps with their supplies and weapons on them, just in case there is an ambush.
Bachus and I will be sneaking into the Career Camp to stealthily steal the weapons. If they wake up, we just leave with what we got and hide in a fox hole near the bayou. At that time, Coda, Canon and Wren will be making fires around the arena to indicate how much time has passed. But if we happen to get all of their weapons, then the Careers would be struggling to fight off the beasts. If our plan is successful, then the Careers should be terminated within days. The Careers are going to come after us sooner or later, but I highly doubt they will without their weapons.
"But that is just the beginning." Wren smirked as she keeps her eyes on me.
I didn't know that a plan like taking down the Careers is just the beginning. It sounds big enough as it was. I look around our circle to see their own reactions, but they seemed so neutral. I look over to Bachus, who was scowling at a Truman that was squatting in between Canon and Coda. The corners of its mouth were curved abnormally upwards. All of us look over to the Truman, who looks at us with the same grin and a childlike like wonder in his eyes while making a contented yet quizzical noise.
"Anyways," Wren said as she looks back at me, "Next is to take down Omega." She continued.
Omega. That is supposedly another problem. From what Bachus told us, the Omega are the weakest people in the entire arena. They are led by Jadalis, who is only slightly stronger than the rest of her comrades. They didn't have any weapons last time Bachus was there, and we don't quite know the situation now since they camp out at the edge of the arena. Bachus was actually the only one to receive a weapon. The rest had to suffice with just simple defenses such as running away.
While the Careers are dependent on weapons, Omega is dependent on their supplies. Omega never had proper training with weapons, but they fit well with what they are given.
After the Careers begin to die down, we leave camp and head towards the edge of the forest. Bachus will be the one guiding us since he knows where their camp is. Once we reach there, we observe them for a bit. When their guard is down, that's when we take their supplies.
"After that, it's just another falling column." Wren concluded as she leans back.
The doubts inside of me stirred within the pit in my stomach. But this may actually be a way to finally end the savage Careers and perhaps Omega. But there was still one thing bugging me. After the Careers fall and Omega, we will be the last alliance left in this arena. There will be only five people left. What will happen then? Will the Gamemakers have us fight each other in a bloody frenzy? I could run many scenarios in my mind, but the only way I could ever find out is if I ask.
I look down at my feet while tussling my knotted hair. I look back up to my friends, "After they're done, what about us? What will we do when we're what's left of the arena?" I ask.
Wren avoids my eyes as I ask. She pulls her woven basket in front of her and pulls out a large black leaf that reflected in the moonlight to be a deep red. The edges of the leaf looked jagged and sharp like it could probably cut the skin.
"This is Nezo. It comes from an edible bush down by the bayou." She begins as she slowly rotates the stem within her fingers, "The fruit is edible. But the leaf contains enough cyanide that if consumed, could kill instantly."
My eyes were entranced with the leaf but once it stopped, my eyes slowly met Wren's dimmed eyes, "Once the five of us are left in the arena, each of us will consume the leaf and…" Wren was reluctant to finish her sentence.
Death is like a word that is forbidden to say. When you speak about a subject that leads up to it, you hesitate to speak it. Death is something that slips from your tongue, and just when it's about to slide off the tongue you stop. Wren must have known this, and let us complete the sentence in our heads.
I don't know how to react to this plan. I want to agree but something inside of me wants to deny the fact that I shouldn't go through with this. I didn't come all this way just to die here.
"If we do this…" Coda begins while looking down at her boots, "Then we make fools of the Capitol." Bachus finished while his eyes are sternly looking at the ground.
"We could do what no one else in the history of the Hunger Games could ever do." Canon added while his hand and Wren's hands clasped on to each other.
"The 71st Hunger Games; the first ever Hunger Games with no winner." Wren chuckled as she holds onto Canon's hand tightly.
These are my friends, my only friends who want what I want. To usurp the Capitol brings something positive to my doubts. But after I begin to think about that, I begin to think about the positives into my doubts.
Over the time I have come to know each of them, I don't know what I would do without them. I love each and everyone of them. I would die for them if it was necessary, and that is what needs to be done.
I slowly grin while standing up, "Well, let's prepare. The Careers are just waiting for us." I say.
Coda lifts her eyes from her boots and stands, as well as Bachus, then Canon and Wren hand in hand. "Pack your things. We're heading out in ten." Wren orders with a smile.
Each of us disperses to make preparations for the mission. I pull out my throwing axes to sharpen them. I only have two remaining axes that have lasted throughout a portion of my time in the arena. I should have made more when I had the chance but I probably didn't have any room for them on my belt. After I sharpen them I open my pack and empty out some unnecessary things like some extra rope, the teapot and the tea cups. I keep the canteen, flashlight, parachute lining and one rolls of rope.
Canon approaches beside me as I was about to close my pack. Before I could, "Don't bring your flashlight." He said as he swiftly took it out of my pack. He tosses it behind him before I could argue to return it. Canon then hands me two long heavy sticks that resemble dynamite but it was painted with mud over the stick part.
"They're flares. It's not much of a weapon, but it's good if you want to ward off some creatures." Canon explained while making a motion as if he had one in his hand, "Just pull the cap off and it will light. But don't bring it close to you or else you'll catch fire."
I let a short breath out of my nose with a light smile. I put the new items in my pack and closed it, "Pandora, let's go." Bachus beckoned. I look up to see Bachus by the space in the trees with his pack resting on his shoulders and his axe in hand. I stand up and sling the pack over my shoulders.
"Hey." Canon said as he stood up with me. I look up to Canon and he pulls me in for a tight hug. I was rather comfortable in his strong arms. I feel slightly jealous of Wren as he lets go of me. I place my hand on his upper arm and look at him in his ocean blue eyes, "Good luck." I say.
I rush off to Bachus and he nods me over to the direction we will be venturing in.
As Bachus begins jogging north, I look up into the trees –where the cameras were recording us—and I decided to say one last thing I will be saying to Panem.
But I want to say it to Valentine and Dad, "Goodbye."