A/N: So I know in this chapter is pretty far from what happened in the book, but I'm trying to stray away from Suzanne's Collins basis as the last chapter was pretty close to the events that actually happened in the book. Please review and let me know what you think about the events of this chapter. Thanks to everyone for the support so far!
The Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins.
"When I found you
You could run so fast
You never really wanted love
And it couldn't really hold you back."
- Meant To Be, Parachute
I twist and turn through the night, hardly really sleeping. Finally, when I wake up shivering for the third time, I decide it's useless to try and sleep anymore. Besides, it'll be warmer when I'm up and moving around. The sky is still dark, but I can feel the first signs of dawn approaching. I haven't even unstrapped myself from my tree when I hear a barely audible crack beneath me.
My heart races in my chest and I reach over my shoulder and find an arrow. I'm well concealed in a clump of trees. At least while the sun stays down. Through the leaves, I spot a color of fiery red. Foxface, she's hopping through the leaves as silently as possible, looking for my pond probably.
As quietly as possible, I undo the belt holding me in. Careful of my thigh, I climb down the tree. My hunting skills come in good here, and I use the same tread as I would when stalking my prey. I stand behind a tree right near the small clearing and watch her as she collapses in the water gratefully. She cups her hands and smells the water suspiciously before lapping it down. She must have been dehydrated from the looks of it.
I notice her backpack, a tiny black bag with one strap. It doesn't look like it could hold much, she probably grabbed it from the stuff strewn in the clearing before getting to the woods. Suddenly, she stands up straighter, alarmed. Then, her face snaps in my direction. She steps back once, as if to run, but I stick my palm out to stop her.
"I won't hurt you!" I whisper frantically.
I can see her breathing heavy, and I decide that to calm her I need to get her talking. I don't dare touch my arrows over my shoulder now. "What's your name?" I ask lamely.
She seems shocked by the question, but gulps and answers with more boldness than I expected, "Tacita, at least that's what you'd think if you heard the people in the Capitol rattling on. I like Tacey though, more simple. And you're Katniss, the famous girl on fire."
I chuckle slowly and nod at her, "Ironic, considering it's much more applying to you with your red hair."
Now it's her chance to chuckle. She covers her mouth to remain silent, and I watch her face turn read, which makes her appear even more fox like. Suddenly, Tacey catches sight of something close to me and her eyes widen. I don't even have time to turn around before she is directly in front of me, touching the sash containing my arrows.
"You got a weapon?" She asks admiringly. "No one can usually get close enough to get their hands on something this great. How'd you do it?"
"It wasn't easy, I got to the opening in the cornucopia before the Careers. I had to shoot the boy from two, I'm not sure I completely killed him now that I think of it. I mean I shot his chest, right over the heart, but it didn't lodge deep. Probably someone else finished him off for me. Oh, and I got this from the District 1 girl, she got an arrow in the eye as a result." I say in reply, showing her the wrapped area on my leg.
Her eyes drift over my makeshift wrap, and then her fingers glide over the ripped area of my pants. "Sit down, let me see this." She simply states demandingly.
I refuse for a moment, I don't want to be in the open. It feels like we are too vulnerable. So, I lead her back to my tree. I sit with my back to the trunk, hands on my bow in case of a surprise attack, while she unwraps my thigh. She doesn't seem fazed by the sight of the cut. She simply traces her finger around the exposed area, careful not to touch the area.
"You washed it off?" She asks finally.
I nod weakly. "Not very good, my mother or my sister would be ashamed of the lousy care I've given it." I state regretfully.
She simply nods. Her amber eyes meet my own, a thoughtful expression covering her facial features.
Finally, speaks. "In five, there's a lot of electrical burns. You know, it's like a burn that comes from electricity passing through the body. Most of them are bad, killing people and the extremes. Some are decent. We can usually stall the stinging feeling with Aloe Vera. I mean, it might sound dumb, but I know the wonder it does for my friends and family. It's worth a shot, just to have something other than water over it. I have some with me, a habit from working in the plants. I feel better carrying it, so I found some." And with that she produces a few leaves from her waistband.
I'd heard of Aloe before, but I didn't think about it for a cut. Still, as she busted one open and squeezed the gel-substance around the cut, it was almost relieving. She didn't touch it to smooth it out, but instead just grabbed the piece of jacket I had used to wrap it.
"Stay here, I'll clean this off. I've got a simple first aid pack in my bag. There is probably some gauze in their so we can properly wrap it." She says lightly, motioning to the bag over her shoulder.
I sit in my shaded area beneath the tree, the sun is rising now. The careers will be retreating back to the opening to get some rest after their night of hunting. They must have not been too successful, no cannons fired last night. My mind drifts to Tacey. We are not exactly allies yet, but she seemed comfortable enough around me since I promised I wouldn't hurt her. My thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a the ringing of a cannon. Automatically, my bow is brought into shooting position and I'm on my feet, back still pressed against my trunk. I almost call out to Tacey. I need to make sure she's okay, but I can't bring myself to call out. I hear footsteps and I stand armed and prepared. Tacey rounds the corner and looks at me with eyes as wide as the doe's I hunt back home.
She sighs in relief and I lower my bow slowly. We stare at each other for a while, neither of us able to speak yet. Finally, she breaks the silence.
"The Careers have been hunting all night. I followed them for a little while. There's only five of them this year."
"Five?" I question her.
"Yeah, the girl from two, the boy from one, both from four, and your lover boy." She states smirking.
I blush at the last one. "What is he doing with them? A noncareer teaming up with the career pack is dangerous." I say curiously.
She shrugs. "I'm more concerned about who is dead, I wouldn't be surprised if lover boy is gone. They probably used him to find you, but as soon as they realize he's clueless on your location, well, lover boy will be headed back to District 12 pretty soon and not alive for that matter."
"Well if you look at it like that, everyone but one of us here will be too pretty soon," I point out to her.
She nods uncomfortably and drops her back pack, taking a seat on the ground with her back facing away from my tree. She pats the ground in front of her to indicate that I should sit also. I sit cautiously, still holding my bow. She reaches in the tiny bag, and produces a white, square box. She rummages through, looking for some gauze I assume.
"I don't have gauze, but I do have some of these," she finally says, pulling out a few large band aids.
She puts some more aloe around the cut carefully before using three band aids to cover it tightly. I watch her work, and I see her small features. She's younger than me, but I can't tell by how much. She looks up and catches me staring at her eventually.
"How old are you?" I ask finally.
She smiles. "Fifteen, but you'd think younger wouldn't you?"
I nod at her slowly. "Tacey, you know the Careers aren't the only ones who can make alliances right?" I pause, then start back before she can answer the question. "I think we'd make a fine pair for a little while. I mean I can hunt and your good at sneaking around. I'm pretty silent myself too. So what do you say Tacey, allies?"
She smiles at me and again I notice the fox-like resemblance in her features. "Oh, how I'd be honored to align with the Girl on Fire." She says in a Capitol accent. She sticks her hand out, and I take it as I chuckle, thinking about mine and Gale's imitations of the Capitol's people ridiculous way of talking. Tacey and I aren't all that different after all, maybe this alliance would work.