Author's Note: Yes, I know I haven't updated in months and I am SO sorry for that. My computer broke and I just didn't get it fixed until today. Please excuse my tardiness. I really do feel terrible for making you all wait so long for chapter 8. :(
CHAPTER EIGHT: First Day In The Arena
Gale's POV:
Kanitss and I trek deeper and deeper into the unknown woods. The same thoughts run through my mind: "Get away from other tributes, find shelter, find water and food". And from the looks of it, Katniss shares my thoughts.
Finally, she speaks, breaking the silence, "So what's the plan?"
Like she doesn't know, But I answer anyway: "We need to find water and shelter. Hopefully food won't be too difficult. I suspect we're far enough from the Cornucopia."
The dark haired girl nod and stares ahead as she continues walking.
A few minutes later we hear the cannon shots begin to boom through the arena. 1...2...3...I begin to count. Finally, the cannons stop at 12. I begin to wonder if the girl who was about to kill Katniss has died. I had hit her straight in the stomach.
Katniss turns to me as the last cannon shot dies down. "There's only half of us left. 10 that we need to kill..."
I cringe slightly at the words "we need to kill". Sure, we kill dozens of animals each week, but people-people are different.
We keep walking for an hour until the sun begins to set below the horizon. Katniss sits down on a rock and puts her head in her hands.
I sit down next to her, reminding me of out times in the woods where we would share our rock overlooking the ground below. But here, the wildlife is unfamiliar to us. And we are more trapped then ever before, which I didn't think was possible.
"Let's look through our supplies." I say.
Katniss just nods without looking up.
"Well, we have your bow and arrows, I have 7 knives and about 10 feet of rope...let's see what's in this backpack you picked up". I say, gently pulling the backpack off her shoulders.
The pack is a bright orange, making us easy to spot. I make a mental note to coat it with mud soon. Swiftly, I pull on the zipper, opening the pack. I pull out each item while saying what they are, so Katniss won't have to look up.
"Some glasses, a pack of...beef jerky?, some crackers, a sleeping bag, a bottle...with no water, and this bottle of iodine. Oh look, some more rope!" I recite
"We've got quite the inventory of rope" Katniss says, only slightly amused.
"Yeah" I respond even less enthusiastic
I haven't been in these Games for even a day and I already hate it. Well, I really always hated it. But watching people's lifeless bodies fall to the ground stirs something inside you. I hate President Snow. I hate the Capitol people. I hate the game makers. I hate them more than I thought would ever be possible.
"Do you want to keep walking?" I ask her, noticing she's already dehydrated.
"I think we should start finding some place to rest for the night". she responds in a drowsy voice
"I guess you want to sleep in a tree, right?" I ask with a slight smirk
"Well where else is there?!" she yells at me sharply.
I try not to laugh at her rising aggression. She is obviously just too tired and stressed to hold herself back
"Fine, then find a tree" I say, crossing my arms
She points up at the tree branches above her, "Found one"
I roll my eyes at her and say, "Okay, Catnip-start climbing."
We haul ourselves up the tree until we come to two thick branches that almost make a smoother resting place. I spread the sleeping bag on the branches and open it up, signaling for Katniss to get in. She doesn't hesitate-knowing that I will wake her in a few hours to keep guard.
She lays down and falls asleep almost instantly. One of my hands clutches two knives while the other strokes Katniss's hair. I slowly bend down and kiss her forehead before returning my gaze to the forest below.
Suddenly, the anthem blares and the Capitol seal is projected onto the sky above. After the song is over, they begin to project the faces of the dead tributes. The girl from 2 that I hit in the stomach, Clove, has not made it for today. She had been so arrogant, and so sure she would win, yet she didn't even last the first day...all thanks to me. I feel guilty for a minute. I took her life...but to save Katniss's. I guess that makes up for it...right?
That's when I hear many loud footsteps, interrupting my thoughts.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading chap 8! Again, I'm super sorry it took so long but my computer was broken. Anyway, please leave comments! I LOVE reading what you guys have to say about my writing. Well...that's all for now, BYE guys! :) I 3 you
~Ivy Blackwell