Chapter 7
It did not take long for the trio to find the Careers. They were too damn loud not to be noticed.
Whooping and laughter told the spies that they had found some prey, even if (thankfully) it wasn't the prey the Careers had been hoping for.
In some bushes a few yards away, Thresh, Katniss and Rue could see Peeta and the others circling a tree like wolves. A tree that sported an unusual crop of flaming red hair. The girl from 5, Foxface, as Katniss had nicknamed her. The tribute was cornered, literally treed like a raccoon.
When climbing up after her and trying to shoot her down didn't work – the Glimmer girl from 1 wasn't worth shit with a bow – Peeta suggested they wait her out by setting up camp right below.
"She's gotta come down at some point; it's that or starve to death," he rationalized.
"How cruel!" Rue whispered. A paranoid Thresh clapped a hand over her mouth even as Katniss shushed her.
The Careers prepared for the night. Within minutes, even the ones who were supposed to be on guard duty had fallen asleep. Katniss snorted. These are the worst Careers ever….
A buzzing cut across her thoughts. She rolled her eyes.
"Thresh, stop trying to make Rue laugh with bee noises," she admonished.
"That wasn't me," Thresh blinked at her, confused.
The three curiously followed the sound. And there. They saw it!
Right in the tree where Foxface had been trapped was a giant nest of tracker jackers.
Rue came up with a plan faster than either of her protectors. "I could climb up the tree one over and cut the branch! It'll fall right on them!" She bounced up and down between Katniss and Thresh, her hands folded in begging position, her eyes alternating between them. "Please let me go and cut it down! Oh please, oh please, oh please…."
Over her head, Katniss and Thresh looked at each other. And just as fast, Katniss shot the idea down.
"Absolutely not, Rue! It's too dangerous! Thresh, can you please explain to her how dangerous this is?" She then saw that Thresh was lost in thought. He couldn't possibly….
"No," Katniss said shortly. Thresh didn't answer, which only confirmed her suspicions. "No way! Oh come on, Thresh! You know she is too little to climb a tree that high!"
"I don't know…." Thresh mused, failing to hold back a grin. "She's a good little climber and cutting might not be such a bad idea…."
Katniss gaped at him before letting out a nervous laugh.
"I don't believe you! You're doing this on purpose! Not taking my side when you know I'm right! This is no time to argue-"
Her harsh words suddenly failed to be heard as Thresh clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Quiet," he teased only half-facetiously. "You'll wake them up."
Katniss let out a growl when his hand went away. Oh, how she hated it when they fought like this! Especially when it was just for fun! It's like we're a married couple or even parents… She pointedly ignored the blush that crept to her cheeks.
"So, I can cut it down!" Rue badgered.
"No," Katniss stated shortly, but patiently as she prepared her bow. "We're going to shoot it down." She fitted an arrow to the string and glowered at her companions when they stared mutely at her.
"Shoo, shoo," she prompted. Nobody moved. "Get down in those bushes before they come running or I'll shoot you myself!" she hissed angrily.
Thresh and Rue scrambled into the bushes. They were barely there when Katniss let the arrow fly, turning and diving in to join them without even bothering to check if she would hit her mark.
CRASH! CRACK! BUZZZ….
"Argghhh! Argghhh!" A great roar went up as the Careers were jolted awake, and they thundered past the bushes and into the trees. Two in the pack were swarmed, not even able to get up off the ground. Meanwhile, in the chaos, Foxface leapt from the tree; her eyes gave Katniss a grateful look before she disappeared.
The buzzing faded after a few minutes as the tracker jackers dispersed, mostly following in the direction the Careers went. There was no sign of Peeta – not that Katniss cared. As for the two bodies that now lay bloated in death, there was no help for them as yet another two cannons sounded – one for Glimmer and one for the girl from 4.
Nine tributes left…..