Chapter Twelve:

"We could rest nicely for some time," Ronan began.

"And get caught, ambushed, and killed by Careers," Cedric finished, with a grim smile. "So, we are going to move camp."

Cedric seemed like the natural leader. Despite the glares and couple muttered arguments, we ended up packing. Besides, somewhere in my dense brain, I knew he was right. I just had already gotten comfortable.

I wasn't allowed to carry anything except my bow and arrows. We had walked for around five minutes, sneaking cautiously through the jungle. Cedric was at the head, Faren and I were close behind, and Ronan was at the back.

There was a loud cannon shot, nearly causing me to scream. I brought my hand up to my mouth to silence myself. The image of the dead tribute came through the air. It was the District 9 boy, soon followed by the District 9 girl.

"They have to be within a hundred feet of us," growled Cedric softly. "Come on, this way!"

We started running as quietly as possible, when there was a loud noise like thunder. The sky was clear. That was impossible.

"I'm going to climb a tree," I whispered. "See what's going on."

Before anybody could argue, I threw myself up to the lowest branch and started climbing. Nothing had changed. I saw the tropical trees, the field, the lake, and...the mountain? The mountain had changed, steam making a large smoky fog above the top of the mountain. Red, fiery, liquidy stuff flowed down the mountain, taking out everything in its path.

I knew the word; it was on the tip of my tongue. Villino? Voluno? Volcano! The mountain that erupts and kills animals! I slid down the tree as fast as I could, keeping an eye on the direction of the lake.

"Volcano," I panted. "Erupt. Run! Lake!"

They started to exchange worried glances, but I started sprinting in the direction of the lake. The lava - ha! I had figured out the word for the red stuff! - was going to travel a lot faster than we ever could. I wonder if Haymitch could send us a car. I don't think it would fit with the parachute.

"Where are we going?" panted Ronan as he caught up with me.

"Straight ahead," I answered. "The lake."

I was about to turn around when Ronan stopped, and I crashed in to him heavily. "What?" I asked, turning to see something feathery, thick, and silvery. It was pretty, like threads of moonlight.

"Spider webs," growled Ronan. "The carnivorous spiders."

I shrugged. We had no choice but to run through it. "We have no choice but to run through it if we expect to live."

"The spiders will eat us alive!" snarled Ronan.

"Not if we run fast," I replied, taking lead. The threads were thick and distracting, but they broke easily. My heart leapt in to my throat when I caught sight of the first black and yellow striped punch bowl sized spider. I pulled an arrow out of the quiver and prepared to stomp and stab spiders. Something made my knee hurt, but I gave a strong kick and the creature flew off my leg. I could feel the spiders falling on my back, my shoulders, my arms, and legs, but I forced myself through the webs.

We finally broke through the last strand, and we stabbed each others spiders off before making sure everyone was alright, and then started sprinting for the lake again.

The end of the jungle. I could see it, just barely. I burst through the trees, and then started falling through space. I had barely known what happened, when I slammed in to the water.

Cedric, Ronan, and Faren all fell in after me. They bobbed up, their eyes bright and grins on their faces despite the fact they were desperately trying to catch their breaths.

We started swimming for the opposite side of the lake, the cold water soothing on our spider bites. I stopped after a good distance and watched as thick red lava flooded the land, taking apart trees and everything in its path. Then, it hit the lake, and disappeared. Capitol made lava was not the same as real lava. Real lava could've continued farther in water, possibly to the spot we were.

Nearly giddy with relief and excitement, I pushed the rest of my energy in to swimming away. Ronan, Faren, and Cedric followed close behind. It took us a while to reach the edge, but we all collapsed on the shore and rested for a moment. My muscles were so tired and sore that I was worried I would never regain strength in them. Then, a white parachute landed next to Ronan.

Ronan eagerly opened the package. "It says glutton free on it," he said, barely containing a huge grin. "Cake!"

"That's exactly what I want right now," Faren said, smiling, relieved.

It was huge. One of the largest cakes I've seen. Ronan gave fair sized pieces to each of us, and saved the rest for later. He handed the container of frosting around, and we frosted our cakes before eating them.

Cedric finished his first, and opened the backpacks to look for the first aid kit. He spread the stinging medicine on each of our injuries and then applied bandages, and then I helped him. He's like my dad. Always looking out for others before himself.

"We're alive," I whispered, gleefully.

That's when I felt the statement was selfish. Seven people were dead. 17 people left. And then, killed probably from the lava, nine cannon shots went off. Only eight people alive.

We glanced at each other. "Was that...eight?" stammered Faren.

"Nine," Ronan and Cedric said at the same time.

I nodded, feeling sick. "There's...there's eight people left."

"If you hadn't stubbornly climbed a tree, there'd be four left," Faren said, putting a warm hand on my shoulder. "I thought it was stupid, waiting for you down there. Turns out it was brilliant."

I nodded again. "There's just us four and...and possibly..."

"The Careers?" Ronan suggested.

"Ariana..." I said, carefully avoiding Cedric's eyes.

"Drake," Cedric added, and when I looked back up at him, his eyes were dark and cold. I had never seen him like this before. Bitter, cold, and...resentful? He added, "I think the District 3 is dead, but District 4...Er, Janecia and Kedric."

I sighed softly. "The strongest fighters, besides us, naturally." I slowly looked up at all of them. "Now what?"