I make my way through the woods. I have to put some distance between the Cornucopia and my camp. I find a stream and sit down to sort my pack. There is a jack knife with a serrated edge, a bottle, iodine drops, some crackers, a small first aid kit, some strips of cloth, and a wire. I take my bottle and fill it up with the correct number of iodine drops. Then I set some basic traps with the wire and some sticks. I walk a little more to find a nice tree.
I climb up the tree and put my hood up. I burrow down in my jacket, thankful that I am so small. As a last precaution, I take my belt and loop it around the branch so I don't fall out. Strangely enough I fall asleep quickly.
A few hours later I am awoken by the sound of the Capitol anthem. There are 10 dead at the Cornucopia. Peeta and Glimmer are still alive. I am still alive. That is all that matters.
The next morning I wake up and find that it is cold. I can see my breath in the air. I climb down the tree and check my traps to find a little bird in one.
Ok, I think, I can do this. I skin the bird and start a small fire. By the time I've eaten, it is about midday. It is heating up fast. I hear a cannon and instinctively freeze. That's when I smell the smoke.
Fire! I grab my pack and take off running, following the frightened animals. They know where they are going. The smoke fills my lungs and it is hard to breathe. I cough and allow myself to rest for one minute.
One minute is up. I take off running again. Fireballs shoot out at me. I keep running. Faster, faster. A fireball catches me in the side. I cry out in pain. Keep running.
I finally outrun the fire. Or the Gamemakers decide not to kill me yet.
I find a small pond and submerse my side in it. It soothes me and I rummage in my pack for the first aid kit when I hear voices. Yelling. The Careers! I jump up with a start and my side screams at me in pain.
I take off running again, but I can tell I am slower. The fire tired me. I find a tree and start to climb and I hear their voices, closer and closer. They found me. I am high enough up that they won't follow me. But they have their weapons. One of the girls, from 2 I think, throws a knife and it barely misses my head. Close. Another one flies up and is lodged in a tree. Finally I hear a voice. A familiar voice.
"Let's just wait her out. It's not like she's going anywhere." Peeta. My heart sinks all the way down the bottom of the tree. They all slowly leave to start up a fire. Even Glimmer. Peeta stays and I have to turn away. I trusted him! I liked him!
The sun sets and I examine my wounds. My neck stitches have held up well even with all the running. I mentally thank Glimmer. I take a deep breath and pull up my shirt to examine the burn. It's bad. My skin is charred and burnt and I smell festering flesh. I vomit off the tree. I am shaky. I pour some of my water on it. It helps - a little when I hear some beeping and a silver parachute slowly floats down. It's from Haymitch and my sponsors. I am so grateful right now. I open it and inside is a tube of cream and a note that reads - Delphi, keep up your strength and spirits. Apply to your burn. From H.
The relief is immediate. I sigh and have a few crackers to calm my stomach. Then I belt myself in and watch the sky. 2 more tributes dead. 12 gone in total. I made it halfway! With that I fall asleep.
When I wake up it is barely dawn. One of the Careers - the boy from 1 was supposed to be on watch but he fell asleep. Now is my chance. I carefully make my way from tree to tree, like in the Training Center. When I am far enough away I climb down and hear a shout.
"She's gone!" It's the huge boy from 2. And he's angry. I start sprinting and hear the crashing of the brush behind me. Great. I run, as fast as I can. But it's not enough. He catches up to me and I see a bracelet that says Cato. Now I know my killer's name. He holds up a scary looking knife and I brace myself. He stares at me and it looks like he is going to go for my neck. I throw my hands up and at the last minute I feel searing pain. Not in my neck. Worse. On my burn.
He's about to finish me off when I hear a scream. Glimmer. Looking out for me.
He runs off to find her. Allies. That is my last thought before I black out.
I wake up. I don't know how long it has been. I am lying in my blood. This is not good. I slowly sit up and drink some water. I see some mint leaves near me and chew on them to calm my queasy stomach. I don't even want to look at my side.
I hear another scream and I know that it is real. Something makes me go to find her.
I come to a clearing and see the boy from 6 and Glimmer. He is long gone and I see that she has a knife in her chest. I kneel by her side.
"You have to win. For me." She coughs a little and even dying, she still looks beautiful. "Take my stuff."
I start babbling. "You're ok, you're ok."
She looks at me and her eyes are sad.
"You're not like the Careers," I begin. "You're different. And you were a great sister. You saved me twice."
"Goodbye little sister," she whispers and I can't tell if she is talking to me or her sister in District 1.
"Goodbye big sister," I reply anyway and kiss her forehead. I collect some flowers and place them in her arms. There.
I am about to leave when i hear trumpets. "There has been a rule change. There can be 2 victors from the same district. That is all." Peeta. I grab her bow and arrows and her backpack and take off. Or try to. I end up slamming my head into a tree and falling down, my side searing with pain.