Flashes of Gold

Chapter Eleven | Alliance

When I finally break free of the cold blanket of snow, I'm struck with one realization. The Gamemakers didn't want me to die. I'm surprised by this, because usually the audience would be eating up any death that the Careers inflict. Perhaps it's because they'd just killed the red haired girl. Whatever the reason, I'm not sure I'm thankful or not. Tunneling out from feet of snow isn't exactly safe, but luckily since I made it pretty far into the tree, it takes only a few minutes to reach the air.

By then, I can just about see the others breaking free as well, and I'm struck with a fight or flight reflex that inches towards flight.

I'm in no condition to fight them. But then, neither are they. And with the snow piled up as it is, it would be impossible to get a sure footing and run over to me, or me to them. We'd just sink into the snow and possibly never come back out.

I cling to the tree, eyeing the other Careers as they search for their teammate. But it's impossible to find him. He's probably stuck beneath the snow and suffocating to death. And now, they're left without their broadsword ally. Which is good for me, I suppose, but then I still don't know how I'm getting out of this one.

I don't know what to do when stuck in an avalanche! Here, the snow isn't packed very firmly. But perhaps I get find a better footing somewhere else. I can't see the branch I'm currently standing on though, and the snow is up to my waist, so how I'll find that sure footing, I have no idea.

One of the Careers yells in frustration. A frustrated Career is a dangerous Career, I know, but then how will they reach me anyway? I suppose one of them could throw a knife at me, but I'm surrounded by branches and I don't think they'd be that stupid.

I'm losing time, I know. I struggle upward, balancing blindly on a branch I find with my foot. I shuffle around, trying to find the thickness of the branch. It's pretty small, because I'm really far up, but the snow beneath it takes some of my weight and it doesn't threaten to snap.

I inch out again, hands leaving the tree. It's now of never, I think as I eye a nearby branch. I could make it. I've been jumping from tree to tree since the start of the Games, and this isn't any different.

But I can't see where my feet are, and the snow provides little traction beneath my boots. The jump is sloppy, but luckily I'm able to grab onto the long branch in time to pull myself up. I've only gone four feet, but it's more than the Careers, who are still stranded on their branches with no idea how to escape.

Of course, now they know. They're watching me, in an unsettling way that makes the hair on my neck prickle anxiously. The bored looking one looks especially unsettling. His eyes are practically staring holes into my head.

I don't know what prompts me to do it, but the realization that I'm practically as good as dead hits me square in the face. Even if I do escape, the Careers know how to follow me. They know that I'll probably be up in the trees and jumping like I am now. They know not to look for my footprints, but rather the piles of snow that fall from the branches as I push them off.

Overall, I've given way too much information away. The way I travel, the weapon I use, and the fact that I deserve a higher number than 6. They'll now be targeting me, coming after me. And the next time I meet them, the Gamemakers probably won't be as merciful as to create another avalanche just to save my miserable life. So I turn back, lock eyes with the bored looking one, whom I have a feeling is the natural leader, and I speak.

"It's not that hard, really. Just be mindful of where you put your feet when you jump. Follow me – I think the best route to take is East."

Team up with the Careers? I don't know what I'm thinking, just that I'm probably not. Even if we all make it out of this avalanche alive, they'll probably kill me once we reach ground. But then again, they'd most likely follow me out anyway. And I wouldn't be going fast enough to loose them, so it'd be death either way.

I know it takes them a long minute to decide whether or not to trust me. Eventually they do, and by then, I'm three trees gone. They haven't a choice, nor a reason, not to follow me. I'll be an easy kill and that's what they'll want.

I keep my emotions drained from my face as I lead them from the piled snow. Whether or not District 7 is ashamed of my actions, I don't know. But they have to realize that this is my only chance at survival. I wonder vaguely what Johanna thinks of my newest move. I try not to think about Evon. Calan, I know, is probably wishing for the Careers to catch up to me and kill me right where I stand.

I feels like miles before the snow starts to get heavier and begins slinking downward. I could probably walk atop it now, but I don't. I'm mindful of the trees that distance me from the Careers, and silently panicking about how my death will be. I hope they make it quick.

There's a shout from behind me, and I know that the Careers have discovered the solid snow. They're getting up, heaving themselves onto the surface, but I stay put. My thoughts are whirling about my head, looking at my situation from every angle. I could run downhill, but they would follow. I could climb into a tree, but they can climb equally fast as me. And they can jump, too. I don't dare bury myself in the snow, because that wouldn't do me any good. Only get myself sick if I'm even able to stay alive after one or two minutes with no air.

They're running at me, but I still don't move. I prop one leg up on a nearby branch and rest my chin in my hand. Lazily, I watch them come.

Death is imminent, but I can't seem to care. I've looked death in the eye before, when the snowy bob cat glared it's reflective eyes at me, and when the girl from District 12 stepped toward me with her weapon raised, and when I was so injured that I could barely sit up. This, I know, I slightly different. Because I'm not even gonna try to stop them.

The dagger boy is raising a sharp knife. His eyes are locked with mine. His face is contorted in a controlled mask. I think how remarkable it is for someone to be so stoic when they're about to kill, and then I remember how stoic I am when I'm about to be killed. The similarity strikes me before the knife does, and it shocks me in a way I've never been before.

It's getting closer, shifting through the air as he takes quick steps over the snow. I refuse to close my eyes. I want to show the other districts that I'm not afraid of death, but inside, my heart is pounding and fear is making me itch.

And then, when the boy is five feet away and about to plunge me to my death, a loud voice shouts through the static silence, and the boy trips and is sent sprawling in the snow three feet from me. I'm shocked, eyes wide with the first emotion I've shown in hours, and completely baffled at the fact that my life has been temporarily saved twice in one day. But the bored looking Career – the one who had shouted – keeps his face naturally composed in a way that sort of scares me.

We stare at each other for a long minute, a silent contest creating a wall of concentration. When he speaks, I'm further baffled. But this time, I manage to keep some control over my emotions. Only the slight shaking of my hands and the confusion in my eyes lingers.

He raises a brow, steps closer, and tilts his head in a way that I'm sure is to frighten me. "Well? Will you join us or not?"

I can't imagine why they'd want me to join forces with them. It has to be because there's only three of them left. And that I've proved myself competent with a sword. But still, I'm confused, because they know I'm injured and I can't properly fight with said sword. So why would they want me?

I'd be stupid to refuse, though. I nod stoutly, rise to my feet, and hold my hand out to shake his. In a strong voice that wavers just a bit, I say, "I'm Wren Fey, District 7."

He merely shrugs, "I know." But takes my hand anyway and says, "Samuel Hayes, from 2." And so our cursed, twisted alliance begins.

Johanna's POV – Capitol

Her face is kept artfully blank, fingers loose at her sides, eyes transfixed upon the screen that shows the two tributes shaking hands. Her thoughts are buzzing around her head, intermingled with an angry sort of vengeance that has no direction and no end.

She is glad she is alone, because even though her emotions are carefully checked, she still feels furious. Not at Wren, not even at the Capitol. She has no idea why her anger is so tightly forced, but she knows that it has something to do with the chance of death that Wren has just faced...the two chances of death.

Johanna can see her determination as clearly as she had felt her own, when she was back in the Arena. Wren and Johanna are so alike that it is uncanny. They share the same mind set, the same anger, the same twisted home life. Except Wren has something – someone – to fight for, and she had no one. For this, Johanna worries.

She leans forward, elbows now resting on her knees as she glares at the TV. The new Career pack is reassembling, making their way off of the packed snow and onto level ground. They're discussing which direction to go. Wren, surprisingly, has attained some form of control. During their discussion, Samuel Hayes seems to take her input very seriously. Johanna has a feeling that he accepted Wren into the pack for the simple reason of her knowing her way around. Wren was born amidst pine trees, and she has the best bearing for direction and survival whilst surrounded by them.

She watches as Wren gestures towards the mountains. No doubt other tributes have made their way up them. The Career pack agrees, and the four of them begin to make their way around the huge avalanche. It will take miles of walking, but getting to the mountain has, once again, become a necessity.

Johanna agrees that this alliance is good. It will ensure Wren's life for a while. But what happens, she wonders, when they are out of the pine forest? And what happens when Wren's impeccable sense of direction isn't needed anymore...?

Wren's POV – Arena

I know when I'm being played. The very aspect of being a Tribute is to be played. I've been played with my entire life, by my father, by Calan, even by Evon. And I know, with every step I take, that it's a step closer to death. Still, I persist. Because my mind has blanked and I cannot think of any other plan. I'm safe for now, but since being played with has become second nature, I know that safety is all too imperfect.

We're wrapping around the mountain, trying to get farther towards it whilst seeing what lies behind the towering peaks. The other Careers have decided that, if they were prey, they'd get as far away from us as possible, which means that over the mountain we go. There is logic to the plan, and I'm thankful that it'll take at least an entire day to get halfway across. Samuel and the others know of a river passing about mid-way around the mountain, so if we find that, we can follow the stream down to the forest below.

All in all, by the time we set up camp later that night below a large tree, I feel physically better than I've had since the Games begun. The Careers have a copious amount of food, and we all eat more than our fair share. My hunger sated, all that's left to be desired is a bath and some medicine for my leg, which seems to have gotten worse from walking so far. I stretch it out, unravel the wrappings to check on it, but it's so grotesque looking that I'd rather not look at it for long. All the while, Samuel watches with cool, calculating eyes.

The Anthem plays a few hours later, illuminating the sky with the face of the Career that the avalanche claimed. Two more faces show, but I hardly remember their district or anything about them at all, really. Nor do I care. They just mean two less people I have to worry about when I break free of these Careers...

Because I do plan on breaking free, when the time is right. I've seen this sort of alliance happen before, numerous times in past Games. The Career pack, teaming up with a poor, helpless Tribute that will be useful only for a short amount of time. And then, when their backs are turned, the Pack goes in and takes them out, just like that. No strings attached. I've no doubt that, unless I manage to come up with a plan to break free, I'll meet the same fate. And I'm far too stubborn and selfish to allow that to happen.

A/N: Woah thanks for all the reviews! I logged in and was surprised that so many people like the story xD Thanks to all the new reviews and a special thanks to IDreamtOfHim for once again making me smile :DDD

I'll admit that this wasn't what I had planned for the chapter, but I like it anyway. I'm thinking they'll about 4-5 more chapters that take place in the Arena, and then I'll finish up in District 7 and tie up all those loose ends~

Chapter Points: 1. Wren joins up with Career Pack and lets them use her to navigate through the pine forest.

2. Johanna's thoughts on Wren's new move...I just wanted to write Johanna's character though soo there's no real reason bahaha

3. Wren's knowledge of the fact that the Careers are using her and plan to dispose of her when she isn't needed anymore. In typical badguy fashion.

Thanks for reading and I'll try to get another chapter up within the next two or so days! (Pray for a snow day~)