What happens next completely shocks me. The boy lowers his weapon and extends a hand toward Peeta. Peeta takes it. Peeta actually takes it! "You scared me there for a second." Peeta says. The two tributes from district 2 laugh. I'm still laying on the ground, wondering why no one helped me up. "You two aren't with them are you?" He asks nodding toward the tributes across the river.
"No, of course not we had an agreement." Says the girl.
"Which is what?" I say getting off the ground shooting Peeta a very annoyed look. The guys looks at Peeta confused.
"I was getting around to it." Peeta shrugs. I raise one of my eyebrows at him. "We made an alliance."
"We made an alliance?" Peeta nods. Hm. I wonder when he was going to tell me. "When exactly did this happen again?" I also would like to know why Peeta chose the kids from district 2. Of all districts, district 2!
"While we were all getting in training almost as soon as the reaping was over." Said the boy. Ah. Peeta works fast. But why he wouldn't let me know is beyond me. I thought we were on the same page. I wonder what else Peeta is keeping from me. He extends a hand toward me. I eye it wearily. Unsure if this is a trick. But I trust Peeta judgment. I shake his hand. "Grayson." He says.
"Katniss." I reply. Graysons fellow tribute clears her throat.
"I'm Celia." She says. "And personally, I would like to get down to business. In case nobody noticed there are 12 other tributes running around. And im pretty sure half of them have no idea what there doing." She nods and the tributes across from the lake. "Let's start by taking them out." Grayson smiles. I glace at Peeta. I don't need to ask, because I know what he wants to say. Peeta wants to apologize for this. But I suppose if he hadn't made that alliance we would both be dead now.
We take several minutes to figure out a plan of attack. One that seems full proof. Grayson and Celia had previously scoped them out. It appears to be both tributes from districts 5 and 7 and the male from district 10. Celia killed the female tribute he came with in the bloodbath at the golden horn.
We decided to attack from the woods they face. Because surely if we started treading water to get to them they would all take off. Or fight and try to kill us. But no one wanted to risk it. So we are going to walk a good mile by the river and then cross and head toward the group of tributes. Grayson leads us. Peeta follows him and I am behind him. Celia is at the end of the line. This makes me quite uncomfortable. Because at any moment I feel like she could just throw an axe in my back and Grayson would turn around in enough time to kill Peeta without him even knowing what was going on. I watch Peeta walk. My thoughts keep going back and wondering why he wouldn't tell me. I want to talk to Peeta. He has seemed very distant from me since the Games started. I don't like it. Why won't he talk to me? Is there something else he wants to tell me? Why is he shutting me out? I sigh. I know there will be a time when I get to ask Peeta all these questions. Now is not the time. I force myself to look at the surroundings. To take everything in. It's amazing actually, the arena, the gamemakers did quite a good job. Just like they do every year. I guess it's because they love it. Half the fun of the games is the arena. I'm just glad the arena is in the forest. Something I know quite well. Im also glad there was a bow among the weapons at the horn. I suppose things could be much worse for me right now.
After about half a mile I switch places with Celia. Then I realize the hunger in my stomach and I remember its been several hours since I've had something to eat. I want to suggest we stop to hunt, but something tells me this wont sit well with Celia. She is eager to kill. Just like everyone in district 2. Everyone is so eager to volunteer. And to play the games. I know either Celia or Grayson volunteered this year, but I don't remember which one.
Finally Grayson stops. "This is where we cross." Peeta nods in agreement. And Celia mumbles something like finally. I don't quite catch it. Celia is the first one in the water. Practically running in the water. Grayson is quick to follow. I stay back and wait for Peeta. He doesn't move. I decide he is waiting for me and I take his hand to comfort him and start in the water. Peeta pulls back. Confused I tell him we need to go. But he shakes his head. I hear Celia yelling at us to move. This is when Peeta tells me he can't swim and I suddenly feel like our alliance with district 2 is going to come to an end.