Phoenix Rise
Chapter 22: What is it?
Siobhan's POV
Mag's was able to find some food. Although how she found it gave everyone a scare. They were these nuts. Gale not being an expert on nuts panic telling the old woman to spit it out but didn't. Finnick suggested we waited to see if they're poisonous. Yeah, used a little old lady as a guinee pig for poisonous berries why don't you? Anyway, Gale took the lead going down the slope a quarter mile in circles. Sometimes he would flick nuts at the force field to make sure we're out of range. Soon sun set was about to come, turning the air steamy. By the afternoon, Mags and Gale were showing fatigue.
Finnick suggested making camp, close to the force fields. The idea seems reasonable in case the Careers come by and we could trick them to run into a death trap. Mags and Finnick pulled out blades of long grass and vines weaving them into mats. Being taught in medicine, I took a look at Mags condition to find no ill effect from consuming the nuts. So the nuts weren't poisonous, though Gale suggested frying them out of precaution incase raw wasn't infectious. I agreed to this though I worry about Gale, he seemed tired and the nuts we collected might not be satisfying. Also the shock was wearing thin into why I've been head forward.
Cinna.
I needed to be alone to take in what just happen this morning. "Finnick, mind guarding while I hunt for some water?" I asked. Nobody was pleased on the idea, but dehydration was close to torture. "I'll whistle close so you know how far I am."
"I'm com-"Gale started.
"No, not just after ya being blown up again!" I interrupted adjusting the crossbow strap. "Please, I won't take long."
I kissed him on the cheek and quietly moved through the trees, jumping over smooth area where collision would be silences or muffled. I walked my way down the straight, carving a small x on a few trees so I won't be lost or the guys try to find me. There was no sign of water, although something was off. How can these plants be green and lushes? I cut a vine squishing the cut end to squeeze some syrupy substance. Water….but not identifying the plant, vines in particular this water could be tamper with.
Boom!
The sound of cannon fire blared throughout the jungle causing birds to fly out. I stopped to listen on the total death count for the initial bloodbath at the Cornucopia has come to an end. Each death represents a dead tribute. Counting silently, ending the death toll at eight. Eight were dead compare to the normal casualties from previous games. I sighed leaning against a tree, wiping the sweat of my brow then stopped to lick the water. The salty taste was unsatisfying yet gave some water in return even if it was a less than a rain drop. Also with the steam, I took deep breath in collecting what can by breathing in. I took a deep breath wincing in feeling a strain at my side. Removing the water belt, I rubbed my belly to sooth the soreness in finding a bruise to form. The impact from Finnick pushing me left a good mark. Guess playing helpless mother of an imaginary unborn child, praying that it was okay. All the sympatric mothers who sponsor these games would probably be a tricked in getting something. Haymitch could send water….just needed to wait.
I open my eyes and cover my mouth to prevent a scream in seeing a hideous giant rat across from me, hanging upside down on a tree branch. Rats, I despise rats to a point of extinction. Screw if it is a mutt mixed with possum traits. It was a fucking damn rodent! God, I could remember boys pointing dead rats with sticks or some men eating it on a stick. Oh god, I think I'm gonna puke in the thought I'm considering of doing. Why could it be a gold squirrel? So firing at it, getting the thing heavily in the get where it let of a squeal then fell.
"Gross," I shriek picking the disgusting thing by the tail and slit it throat with a knife. I can handle snakes, spiders, squirrels, or any other forest animals. I practically vomited on the sight of blood when noticing the texture of its grey fur. It was damped. I looked at its muzzle where two big gnawing teeth poked out. I looked at where the thing was previously on the tree questioning on the source of water. An idea came to thought, but I couldn't conclude it since these plants were foreign.
Forget it, it's probably mist. Checking the time in the sky, deciding I should probably return back to camp. So disgusted and tired, holding the rodent at arm's length headed back to camp.
When I returned, the mass of jungle vines transformed into a campsite. District Four created a hut with mats, three walls, floor, and ceiling. There were weaved bowls full with nuts. Dang, I got to give Four more credit. When they turned to face me hopefully, I shook my head, "No water, sorry. But I shot this…thing."
Gale took the pest, examine the rodent, "Seems edible."
I gaged covering my mouth with my elbow to prevent from puking. I'm not eating that thing no matter what. If I have to, I'll go vegetarian for the entire game. Finnick raised a brow asking if I was okay, when Gale laughed telling a humiliating story about six grade when the boys put dead rats in the girls desk. I shudder in disgust trying to keep breakfast from coming spewing out. The boys chuckled afterwards Gale took the rodent behind a tree to gut and skin the thing. Fire was eliminated in using from the compacted arena, so Gale comes up with an idea. He carved the rodent meat like it was some turkey, skewers it to a stick, and tapped it onto the force field. I couldn't help but snicker on the creativity Gale had.
"Want some?" he asked holding the black chard meat in my face. I gaged turning around stepping back trying to cover my mouth.
"Gale, I swear, cut it out or I'll puke on you directly." I warned.
.o0o.
The sun began to set as our…alliance huddled in the hut munching on ration of nuts. Finnick announced Mags remembered the nuts from a previous game. I spent some time in the edible plant station and learned herbology from Mark, but didn't recognize these things. Also Mags seemed fine, except the fatigue and dehydration affected the wise woman condition. Although as the girls ate nuts, the boys ate the rodent, somewhat complaining the texture of the meat to be strong and gamey. So you could say it was an okay meal on the first night.
The rodent became the ultimate subject, which Finnick called the ugly thing tree rat. The fishermen pester me on all information of the thing, asking about how high it was, how long did I watched it before I killed it, and what it was doing? Man and I thought Gale was full with questions or even district 3 not him.
Night soon arrived and I fear what goes bumping in the night. This wasn't your typical forest where wolves, bears, and cougars stalk the floor on game. This was a jungle full with exotic creatures that might had been extinct and turned into mutts. I laid down on the might, tracing the cross hatching pattern in consuming time. Waiting for anthem to play on those of the fallen.
We stared at the edge of the hut which Gale took my hand. The sky gridded dome lit up in presenting the Capitol seal. As we listen to the music, thought of sympathy go to Mag in Finnick for they knew the others better than us. Though I felt pity too for the fallen, for they had families.
The first face to appear was the man from District five. So that concluded tributes from one through four were alive. Next the man from District 6 the morphling, Cecelia and Woof from 8, both 9's, the woman from 10, and Seeder from 11. On the last note the Capitol seal disappeared leaving a grid dark sky.
No one speaks. Seeder was dead; the woman who mentors Rue was gone. Also Cecelia leaving three children orphan. And the others were all gone. I don't know how long we sat there lost in our dismay until we all heard a soft beeping. Beeping. Beeping mean Silver parachute, and silver parachute means sponsors. Gale claimed the canister, untying the cord to reveal a small metal pipe.
"What is it?" Gale asked.
Everyone picked up the pipe to examine the gift. The pipe turned out to be a hollow tube, tapered with a spike end while curved on the other. Gale blows out on the end to see if it makes a noise. Finnick tapped his pinking to see if it was a weapon. Nothing. I looked at them closely for my mind is disoriented. They look familiar, something I saw at Marks shelf. Something he used rarely. Something that is important and special in a way.
"Can you use it for fishing, Mags?" Gale asked.
If this was a fishing tool, then Haymitch must have sent it for our alliances. Haymitch knows his ways with presents. I crawled over to the canister to see if there was a card. There was with a small message saying, 'Use your brain if you have one. What is it?' I could imagine him growling at us as we speak. Oh god, why can't I remember. Mark and dad used it! But what was it for again?
I closed my eyes trying to remember a moment when Mark or Dad used this. In the memory, it was snowing outside. Mark was setting out ingredients and Dad grabbed the curved pipe and a bucket going outside. I followed my dad, hugging tight to my shawl while he went up to the maple tree…..
"Damn it, I give. If we hook up with Beetee and Wiress they might know." Gale said jamming the pipe in the dirt. He stretched out, pressing his hand over his sweaty face. I rubbed the tensed knot in his shoulder and looked at the pipe. How it impaled the earth, just like dad would hammer it into the tree to collect maple sap. Only time and patience for the sweet liquid to drip out into the bucket and….and…
"Spile!" I exclaimed, Haymitch you genius!
"What?" Finnick asked.
I yanked the spile that was in the ground and cleaned it the best I can. Now I remembered what it is. When winter season came, Dad and Mark would go to the maple trees behind our house to collect maple syrup and sell it at the Hob or at the bakery. All you need to do is drill a hole, insert the spile into the designated spot and let gravity takes it course. Patience's to see raw sap dripped down into the bucket.
"It's called a spile, almost like a faucet. You inject this into a tree and the sap comes out!" I explained happily.
"Sap?" Finnick asked. Oh right, District four doesn't correspond with trees or the right resources.
"Syrup," Gale muttered. "Unless…Siob didn't you say the rat was wet?"
"Yeah, wet precisely in the muzzle region." I said then stopped. The tree rat's sharp teeth were design for puncturing the bark. Like a woodpecker in pursuit of worms, than the rat was in water. Finnick goes up to hammer the spile into a tree with a rock, except I stopped him. "No, not like that you'll bend it. Drill first!"
Mags offered her awl which Gale digs into the bark, digging about three inches in then inserted the spile. The boys took turns in opening the hole with any small potential object to keep the spile in. Anticipation filled the atmosphere until the first drop of water came and Mags took a taste. Adjustments were made; we got a stream of water. We took turns from drinking from the actual source till Mags makes a tightly made basket to secure the water in place. Now finding water is checked off our list. Next would be finding an absolute hiding place until further noticed.
Finnick offered to take the first shift which Gale lets him after another argument. Something off was going on between those two. Either it was a guy thing on being competitive of who's best or something else. Either way it was slightly annoying if not ridicules. Sure impressing the audiences will get us sponsors but why are they doing it in front of Mags and me? I looked at Mags who just shrugged lying down. I sighed, men; and laid back down trying to go to sleep. Gale lay down next to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissed my cheek.
I smiled and closed my eyes imagining were lying on autumn leaves instead of vines. Back in Twelve where the forest was our home and our friends could seek for game. Not in the humid jungle that of an arena. But home.