A/N: So my laptop/main writing computer is being repaired right now, and I didn't think I would write, but guess what? I DID! I'm actually quite fond of using the desktop computer, and it's in a good spot to watch the Women's Gymnastics at the same time.

This chapter is short because I thought I ended it at a good ending spot. Part 2 will be the last day of the games. Yes it will be ending that quickly. It's sort of bittersweet when I think about it...

Aeron Swann (2)

"So, we're just going to go out in the middle of the night and hunt for this mutt?" Lucian asks for the hundredth time since we've left the cornucopia. He's a nuisance. My only hope is that the mutt kills him, not because I'm heartless, but because my patience is wearing thin and I am becoming more restless each day I am here.

How long have I been stranded here? At least two weeks. I imagined that during the games we would just fight to the death and it would take a few hours, but this is the complete opposite of that. At least that would have been quick and easy, the past weeks have been physically,\ and mentally draining. I can feel my mental state dying, and it's painful.

The more I think about dying without seeing my baby, the more determined I am to get home. Sure, she'll probably see her mother, the ruthless killer, but if it means I get to go home and see her grow then I'll do it.

"Aeron?" Lucian calls me when I haven't answered.

"Yes Lucian! I've already told you..."

"No, in front of you…"

I glance up and see the creatures, white as snow; the same kind of mutts that ran after Noah and me. Lucky for us these ones are currently preoccupied with their dinner.

"Don't… move," I command and pray Lucian listens.

I count four of them. One of them must have wandered to close to our 'camp' and that's when it attacked Ashley.

"What are we going to do?" Lucian whispers and I shush him immediately.

A Mutt's ears perk up in response to Lucian's noise.

These things are meant to be hit from a distance. I recall the day we were chased and Dorien sliced one through the head with her bow and arrow. Where was that bow now? Probably back with her lying useless on the cornucopia floor.

The only idea I have is to throw knife and hope it hits one of them head, but that seems unreasonable. What am I to do with the other three then?

I turn slowly keeping the mutts in vision. I point back towards camp and command Lucian to follow.

I walk as soundlessly as possible, but the snow is deep and crunches underneath my feet. Lucian is forced to take big steps to try to wedge his feet out of the snow. I look behind me to find the mutts and thankfully they are still preoccupied.

I will go back to camp, retrieve the bow and probably ask Noah to accompany me. As far as I know, we are the only two left who can properly use a weapon around here. Then him and I can finish off the mutts without problem.

Boom.

The cannon goes off, probably signaling Ashley's death, and boy did it come at the wrong time. The mutts' attention are pulled from their meal and as soon as one makes eye contact with us it lets out a howl and begins speeding off towards us.

"Shit! Run!" I yell.

This snow is not built for running, so I hop as fast as I can through the tundra back to the cornucopia.

"We can't lead them back to the others!" Lucian yells to me, and I ignore him and keep going. There's no other choice.

"Help!" I scream through the silence, hopefully alerting everybody else so they can prepare themselves to attack.

Noah appears from the cornucopia, Athea flanks his side.

Noah has nothing but his knife and makes a decision to throw. The blade barely misses Lucian and sinks into the mutt, injuring it.

I turn around and attempt to finish it off, but it lunges at me, knocking me to the ground.

For the first time I get a good look at the creature. It's built small and quick like a fox, but has the ferocity and strength of a dog-like creature.

It snaps at my neck and I sink my knife in its fur throwing its weight from me, and I turn to run.

That's when Athea pulls out some kind of dart gun and sends it after the mutt. I want to laugh at her choice of weapon, but when the mutt tumbles to the ground I realize I may have taken Athea for granted.

There are still three more left, and both Noah and I've lost our only knife. Lucian is gone, probably hiding, and Athea shakes her head back and forth quickly. I should've brought another weapon with me.

We dash to the safety of the cornucopia, and the mutts bear down on our compound.

Lucian and Athea have crawled to the back of the cornucopia as though that'll save them from the attack. I'm still asking myself why the two are still here, and alive, but right now is not the time for thoughts.

One mutt immediately lashes upon Dorien and grabs her by the leg. She screams, and thrusts her fists at it.

The other two come after the rest of us. One seems to have Lucian in its sights and the other is coming straight towards I quickly grab one of my knives from my bag and finish it off without problem.

I turn towards the other mutt as it jumps towards Lucian. I could do something about it, but I'd rather not. We can't all be saved here.

Athea looks at me wide-eyed. She has nothing to stop it from killing her ally and she is almost begging me to help the poor boy.

I raise my eyebrows as though I have no idea what she's talking about. Lucian is struggling with the mutt, who is trying to make a bite. Some kind of fire lights beneath Athea when she reallizes she is the only one who can stop it. She grips the mutt's ears and yanks them back so hard that the mutt yelps in pain and Lucian is able to get out. It turns to attack her, and in one swift movement she has a dagger out. I watch as she shoves the blade between its eyes, and the mutt sinks to the ground, dead.

She retrieves her weapon and then points it towards me.

"You wouldn't," I snap.

"We'll see," she says back and puts the dagger away.

"What happened to Dorien?" Noah asks.

On cue, everybody rushes to the mouth of the cornucopia. I look out to see her bloody body lying in the snow. The last mutt lies dead next to her.

Athea is the one to hobble out first.

"It's ironic," I hear Dorien say.

"What?"

"I left Kyra to be killed by mutts, and now look. Karma has come for me, and it truely is a bitch." Dorien tries to laugh, but she has no strength left.

"I'm sorry Pats!" She yells. "I tried. I really tried," she whispers.

I join Athea, and she glares at me. I ignore it.

"This is your fault," Dorien says when she sees me. "If you wouldn't have stabbed me, I could've properly defended myself."

"Looks like you did an okay job." I respond glancing over at the mutt. I have no idea how she did it. Perhaps she managed to snap it's neck, but not without lethally hurting Dorien.

"Yeah, but it's going to cost me my life." She pauses for a second. I see what looks like a tear forming in her eye, but maybe it's just my imagination.

Dorien loses focus and she stares absently into the sky.

"I thought there was supposed to be some kind of light, but all I see is darkness," her voice cracks on her last word. "All I see... is darkness."

That was the last thing Dorien Oakfree said before she left the world for good. Another cannon in less than an hour.

I turn to look at the others. There are only four of us remaining. I can make it home. I will make it home, I swear it.

A/N: Only four remain. Who do you guys want to win?

Also, the tribute form for my sequel is on my profile, please check to see what districts are already taken before you submit please! If you asked for a spot please don't back out. I will harp you with multiple PMs until you send in your tribute form!

I'm going to take a break and probably start writing part 2. I'm having insomnia tonight, so this chapter may be out by tomorrow.

Please REVIEW, and have a wonderful start to your August.

-Kayla