Time for some Tracker Jackers! And fire... And death... Hehe! About half way through I changed to another persons pov, your just going to have to read to find out! And PLEASE tell me what you thought of it! I thought I did a pretty bad job... Anywho, I'm sorry for any spelling or grammer :) errors. I know I stink, but I TRY! Isn't that what counts? Now, chapter 17

Chapter 17

Clove

"Fire!" someone screamed, sending me flying out of my dream filled sleep. That night it wasn't a nightmare filled night, it was a Cato filled night. Every dream I had featured him in every way possible. Except him dying, for some reason.

I jumped out of my sleeping bag and Cato's arms. I ran across the tent and burst through the flap. I looked toward the forest and saw columns and columns of smoke rising from it. This was no camp fire, this was a gamemaker fire.

I heard rustling behind me and Cato appeared next to me. He had a sly grin on his face. He knew, like I did, that if the gamemakers were making a fire like this there had to be tributes there.

"Everyone gather up your weapons, we're going to the edge of the fire to see if we can find anyone. 3, stay here," Cato commanded.

I grabbed my jacket that was full of knives and pulled my backpack onto my shoulder. I looked to Cato and he waved his hand to tell us to move out. We walked through the woods toward the flames. When we got to the edge, we waited for someone to fall right into our clutches.

"Guys, over hear!" Marvel called. We followed him to a large rock that over looked a pond. In the pond I saw someone swimming around, Fire Girl.

I let out a maniacal laugh and started running toward her. I heard Glimmer and Marvel yelling out, "There she is!"

I ran down the rock and past the pond, which she had now gotten out of. I ran behind her through the woods. I pushed branches out of my face and jumped over bushes.

Eventually, she started to climb a giant tree. I laughed again and followed her up. Being small has its upsides.

I scaled the tree behind her with ease. "Clove," someone called to me. I stopped for a second to turn around.

"What?" I called back.

"Give her a taste of her own medicine," Cato replied.

It took me about five seconds to realize what he meant. He wanted me to shoot her instead of kill her with a knife. I smiled, it was genius.

I gauged about how high I was in the tree. It was about thirty feet high, which was low enough to jump. At least, it was for someone who'd trained to be able to jump from heights with out getting hurt.

I jumped and braced my self for the impact. When it came, it wasn't as bad as I remembered from the thirty foot jumps in training; I was getting better at this.

"Nice," Odyssey congratulated. I nodded her way and held my hand out to Glimmer. She gave me an odd look; apparently she didn't know what I was getting at. So, I just grabbed the bow out of her hands, and pulled an arrow out of her sheath. She was about to protest when she nodded her head in understanding.

I notched the arrow and pulled back the bow string. I aimed the arrow at her and she let out a nervous laugh.

"There's no way you'll be able to shoot me with that. I'm the only one here that can use a bow," she said. The last part sounded as if she was trying to reassure herself. To bad she was wrong.

"Good luck with that," I told her. Just to prove how accurate I was, I decided to shoot at a small target, her hand.

I closed my left eye and focused on the middle of her left hand. I released my fingers and the arrow went flying at her. I watched as she cried out in pain when the arrow hit its mark. "I was trying to do that," I spat at her. Her eyes were filled with pain and anger. Anger at me, because I had her bow. Too bad for her, I didn't plan on giving it back any time soon.

"Why don't you just wait her out?" Lover Boy piped up.

I turned around to face him, "What?"

"She had to come down some time, it's either that or she starves to death."

I turned to Cato, "Then I can get her with my knives, which is way more fun than the bow."

He nodded, "Yep. Someone go make a fire."

I went into the forest and motioned for Cato to follow me. "We can kill him now, we have her."

"Not yet Clove, not yet."

I looked him strait in the eye. "Why not?"

I noticed a flash of pain pass through his eyes. I almost broke down right there; he was in pain because we had to hide everything that was us. Our relationship, our untoughness [yes, I just made that up], our normal personalities. I knew Odyssey didn't like me much; I would have to prove her wrong. By not killing him, we were showing a tad bit of sympathy, that no one else would understand. I nodded to show him that I understood.

He smiled, "Let's go back. Someone has to make sure Fire Girl doesn't get away."

I smiled, the Clove that I had to be in the arena returning. "Wouldn't want our prized catch of the day to get away, now would we?"

How sick was that? I was talking about her like she was an animal. As much as I despised her, I wasn't that mean.

He grinned a grin worthy of the Grinch, and we headed back to the clearing. I followed him and took up a spot right under the tree. I sent an evil grin her way and she flinched.

I shook my head and joined Cato by the ever growing fire. The arena was rapidly growing darker. The anthem started blaring, but then stopped just as suddenly. There were no deaths today, but I could guarantee there would be soon.

We sat around the fire in dead silence. No one had anything to say at the moment, we were all in our own private worlds. Eventually, everyone else went to sleep. I stayed up to keep guard.

"Can't sleep?" I heard Cato ask me.

I turned my head and saw him watching me intently. He must have had nothing else to do. "Nope, u?"

"Nope," he replied. I yearned for him to come over and put his arms around me. If only we hadn't gone for the discreet attack, even thought anyone who was smart would know I was talking about him.

"Good night Cato."

"Goodnight Clove."

"Run! To the lake!" someone yelled desperately, jolting me awake. I jumped up, grabbed my backpack, and didn't hesitate to follow their directions. I heard buzzing and knew what they were so panicked about, Tracker Jackers. Their venom causes powerful hallucinations, I would know, I've gotten stung before.

I felt one sting my left hand, but it wasn't the searing pain I'd felt before. It was as if it was once and done with these guys, or for me at least.

I turned around to make sure everyone was following; I only saw Cato, Reese, Odyssey and Marvel. I stopped dead in my tracks, where was Glimmer? I abandoned all rational thinking and ran back toward the clearing.

"Clove, what the?" Cato called to me. I waved my hand to tell him to go on. But he didn't listen to me, when did he ever listen to me? He pushed me toward the lake and ran back toward the clearing. I sighed, but sprinted for the lake. I flew past the cornucopia and only then did I start to feel the power of the hallucinations. I dove into the lake and floated on my back. I looked up at the clear blue sky for just a second, before blacking out.

Cato

She must think she's invincible. She's stronger than most people her age sure, but she's not strong enough to not be bothered by Tracker Jackers. I don't know why she tried to go back for Glimmer, I thought she hated her, but I had to go.

I ran back toward the clearing and was there just in time to see Lover Boy yelling at Fire Girl to run. Then I noticed Glimmer on the ground, not moving and without her bow.

I pulled out my sword and charged Lover Boy, he was never with us. All he wanted to do was protect Fire Girl. How could I have been so stupid?

I cut up his leg good, then ran to the lake myself. Everyone was already floating in the water, probably already consumed by the hallucinations. I knew how powerful they were, I'd been stung by Tracker Jackers more than once before while training near the forest. They didn't affect me much anymore, I got used to them. I don't even think I got stung very much; they all went straight for Glimmer. I sat down on a log near the cornucopia and watched the others float in the water.

Of the many things I thought while sitting there, only two stood out to me. One: crap, Fire Girl got the bow, the others are doomed. Two: why doesn't someone come and try to steal from our supplies? For all they know I'm out cold.

Just as the last thought crossed my mind, someone appeared at the edge of the tree line. It was a boy with brown hair. He looked tall from where I was, but I couldn't tell what district he was from.

He looked all around, as if searching for someone who might be standing guard. The boy from 3 had disappeared somewhere, so I was the only one. I ducked into the cornucopia and waited for him to fall into my clutches.

He made his way across the field toward the mountain of supplies. I could have just sat there and watched, to see if 3's trap worked, but that was against my morals. They guy was a sitting duck; he had no supplies with him. An evil grin passed over my face, kill time.

As he passed right in front of the cornucopia, I jumped on him.

I swung my sword directly at his heart, and met my mark. He fell over and I finally could tell which district he was from, 10.

I rolled my eyes at his utter stupidity and went back to being impatient. Who knew how long it would take before the other woke up. I only knew Clove would come to within the day.

Clove. Just thinking of her made me want to go kill someone. But then again, what doesn't make me want to go kill someone? I was mad at the capital, mad at them for ruining the perfect life we could have had together. Anger flared up inside me. I could only think of one thing to do, yell at the capital.

"Maledicam capitis! Et omnes eius fautores! Odi urbe superbus," I screamed at the cameras that I hoped were on me. Curse the capital! And all of its supporters! I hate the capital, and I'm proud.

Latin. It's a life savior in the heat of a battle. When you want to communicate with your friend who's fighting with you, but don't want the opponent to hear what your saying. Clove and I had been learning it for as long as we'd been training for the games. It was something her father wanted us to know, not that I know why. It's a long dead langue, so at first I didn't see the point. But now I do, to yell at someone you cant yell at in a langue they can understand.

I heard yelling coming from the lake, someone must have been having horrible nightmares. Oh right, they all were.

"Non, non! Cato non! Ne te! Cato non!" Clove yelled. No, no. Cato no! Don't let them take you! Cato no!

I could hear Clove's screams above all the others. One, because she was screaming in Latin (thank goodness). And two because I knew her the best. Well, actually, she was the only person I really knew. I may have had a huge posse at home, but they only followed me around because they were scared of me, not because they were my friends. Clove is the only person that knows me for me, not some blood thirsty career. I hated to hear her suffer, and know I couldn't do anything.

I heard someone gasp for breath, then let out a long sigh. I jumped up from my spot to see if someone had woken up.

I looked down on the lake, and saw Clove treading water, looking like she had seen the devil.

Is the Latin cheesy? Or weird? Or out of context? Awesome is always an option too... Do you like Cato? I'm pretty sure I failed epicly at his character, but that's for you to decide. PLEASE review and tell me what you think! Glimmer is finally dead! In my original story I liked her, but in this one I didn't like her so I killed her. Sorry to you Glimmer fans...

THANKS
KATE