*Luna Garcia's POV*
It was my turn to patrol around the houses. I crouch-walked about them, every once and a while glancing over my shoulder and shuddering. This place just wasn't right. I hoped that we would be out of here soon.
I blinked when I thought I heard something – a twig break, maybe? I wished there were shadows to hide in here, but the fog on the ground kind of glowed, so there weren't any. I peered into the darkness beyond the district. Was someone – or something – out there?
Another twig snapped.
I glanced about my surroundings, and back to the houses that the others were sleeping in. Should I go tell someone about the noises?
No.
They already thought I was a weakling – I couldn't afford to be wrong about this. I had to prove myself.
Gulping, I took out my short sword. I knew the others doubted that I could use it. I had used large knives in the kitchen before that were similar to this sword. I could lift it easily, and had no doubts that I could attack with it.
Another twig snapped, closer this time. I thought I head whispering voices.
I crouched and slunk into the other houses, heading towards the woods surrounding the ghostly district. I glanced behind me at the houses, but Nich was on guard in the middle of them, so I knew they'd be fine.
I entered the woods, checking to make sure I wasn't snapping any twigs. While I was looking down, something heavy hit me, bringing me to the ground.
I tried to see what it was, but it was blocking my view. I couldn't breathe. I was grabbing the thing on top of me – it was sort of soft – trying to get it off me. It didn't move. I was gasping for air. . .
Air . . .
Air . . .
. . .
*Elvatorix Fox's POV*
The girl that Armondo had jumped on was completely still now. A cannon went off. "All right, Armondo," I told him "Get up."
Carrie glared at me, as if to say I'm in charge here, remember? I ignored her.
"Who was she?" I asked, glancing at the face contorted into desperate, gory features as she had struggled for air. White blonde hair was stretched out about her.
"Luna Garcia," Carter James answered me. "District 3." I glanced in surprise at the normally silent tribute. I had been beginning to think him mute.
"So he finally speaks," Carrie smirked, and then looked at me "I don't see why it matters who she was. Only that there's one more down."
"One more down," Armondo repeated.
"16 left to fight," Carrie added
"16." Armondo repeated.
"Where to now?" I squinted towards where Mazie's alliance had made camp. "Go pick off more?"
"No," Carrie said "I don't want to face them all at once, and now they'll be expecting us. We'll go back to the Cornucopia."
We all took drinks from the water-filled canteens that we had found in the Cornucopia. I drained mine, but that was okay. On the opposite side of the Cornucopia was a stream where I could refill the canteen.
We headed back to camp.
*Lystra's POV*
We were all awoken to a cannon blast. For a moment, I thought that it was a dream – the whole arena was just a dream – a horrible, nasty dream!
But then I saw the fog on the floor.
Not a dream.
Thinking of the cannon blast, I wondered if we were under attack. I listened carefully. No noises. Stumbling out of bed, I put my knife bag back on and snuck out of the house.
Most of the tributes were already gathered in a circle around Nich, who had been guarding the middle of the houses. We were all talking loudly, worriedly. The Careers were at it again. It was the middle of the night, I thought, yawning, Couldn't the Careers take some time off?
"Wait!" Nich called "Quiet!" she mouthed numbers and she pointed to each of us in turn, counting us. She stopped, brow wrinkled and tried again. "We – we're missing Luna." She said.
"Luna?" Totsie asked "We switched patrolling the outside of the houses – I got her up a few minutes ago."
I asked the question that was making everybody's heart pound harder; everyone's lips were forming the question. "So was it Luna? Did they kill Luna?"
A hovercraft materialized at the edge of the district, picking up a body. We all peered towards it, and, maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I saw a swath of white-blonde hair.
"I imagine it was," Nich said quietly. Then she stood. "All right!" she called "We need to move out! Careers are nearby! We are in stealth mode now, all right, people?" We all nodded, staying quiet. "Good." Nich said. "Move out!"
We were out of the camp quickly, and walking silently through the woods. I kept my eyes peeled for other tributes – loaners, or Careers. Both were threats. I had a backpack slung over my back, my hands instinctively reaching towards my knives at every odd movement.
The others were like this too. Our fear kept our senses sharp.
But after an hour it was apparent to us that the danger was gone. No more canons had gone off, and we had not seen another soul.
We began to slacken our pace, like sluggish zombies. I knew we needed water – I was thirstier now than ever. As the sun began to rise, it got worst. I knew we had to find water.
Around breakfast time, I noticed something that lightened my mood considerably. I inched closer to Nich. "Think we need a break?" I asked, my voice cracking. My throat was swollen – it felt weird talking.
She nodded. Her forehead, like us all, was beaded with sweat. We were all panting, and were quite an ugly sight. I shivered when I thought what Vincent would say about my appearance right now.
"Those berries," I pointed to a clump of trees nearby "are edible."
She squinted at them, staggering slightly over a fallen branch. "Are you sure?"
I nodded. "We eat them all the time in 11."
"All right." She said as we came under them. She raised her hand and raised her voice slightly. "Stop. Stop."
Everyone stopped gratefully, looking at Nich. She pointed up to the trees. "These are edible." There were immediate cries of thanks, because these berries might quench our thirst. "Who can climb?" Nich asked.
At that moment, I thought we all could climb if we needed to. Immediately, we began to climb the trees, plucking berries off and tasting them. I pulled my bag of knives off, grabbing just one, and joined them, stuffing a berry in my mouth.
It exploded with a burst, and the sweet juice filled my mouth, running down my swollen throat. I grabbed another, and another. Before I knew it, I was sitting on a branch, stuffing the berries down. I made myself stop. A lifetime of living on fruits told me to wait and eat slowly. I told the others by me to do the same, and they passed the message on.
I made myself wait, but it was like torture to my throat. It took all my willpower not to scarf down more berries, but I managed. When my stomach was full, I leaned back against the tree, wanting to eat more, but not daring. Through the branches, I saw Totsie throw up. She'd eaten too much.
I leaned against the branch and dozed off . . .
*Echo Griffensong's POV*
I sat in a tree with Totsie, watching her puke and the others fall asleep. The berries had tasted really good on my sore throat, but I had enough sense to stop . . . unlike Totise. When she was finally up, I told her, "You know which district's next right?"
She gazed at me a moment. "Yeah – 10. Your district. My original district."
I shivered. "Not looking forward to it."
She smiled gently. "Me either."
"Well," I said, trying to brighten up the mood. "At least we're out of the ghost district."
She shivered. "Yeah – that was really creepy."
I nodded vigorously. "Yeah . . . really creepy." There was a pause. "There's a river that runs through 10," I offered "it'll be there . . . as long as it isn't ruined."
Totsie shivered. "That river holds bad memories."
I nodded agreement. That was the river where Mom and Dad had died. But, unlike Totsie, I had also had some pretty happy memories at different parts of the river – like my first kiss. But I grabbed Totsie's hand again.
"I'm so glad I found you," I whispered. "I've missed you so much." Tears were in my eyes again, because I knew I might lose her again, and soon.
She had tears in her eyes too, and she squeezed my hand. "We'll work this out." She said, but we both wondered how.