Day Nine

Afternoon into Evening

Haden Plutoran, D12

Haden peered out through the gaps in their entranceway. The two tributes from District Two were still there; they'd been leaving in shifts, so that one of them had been at camp at all times. Haden, as well as the others, need them to move, now. They'd run out of food, and their water supply was dangerously low. He felt his stomach growl at him in anger. Haelle shot him a glare. He couldn't help it. Haden knew they needed to keep silent, but his stomach didn't seem to care.

"We need to take care of ourselves," he whispered to her, as inaudible as he could manage. She nodded at him, still glaring.

"We would die if we tried to fight those careers," he was glad the sun was up. If it'd been darker, he wouldn't have been able to read her lips. "We need to wait them out."

"If they stay any longer, we'll be dead. We need to attack. We'll wait, until one of them leaves, and then we need to try to attack." He saw Haelle nod. He wasn't going to include Evie in this. She was small and age wouldn't stand a chance, even against one career.

They waited around in the burrow for what felt like days, but Haden could tell by the just-setting sun that it'd only been five hours. The boy, who had been napping the whole time, stood up, grabbed a sword and spear, and stalked off into the woods. Haden knew this would be their one chance. He motioned for Haelle, and the two of them prepared for battle. Evie, on their instruction, hid in the back corner of the burrow, in a hole she'd dug today.

They snuck out of the shelter, trying not to catch the Career girl's attention. Her head quickly moved to face them; they must have been making more noise than Haden thought. He jumped out of the ditch at the edge of their shelter, and pulled his knife and spear. Haelle did the same, and he watched her throw her knife. The career girl dodged it, and yelled. Probably signaling the other one, thought Haden. He threw his knife, charging after it, and as the girl dodged it yet again, he went in with the spear.

She made a noise, like air getting caught in her throat, as Haden stabbed her in the stomach. She fell to the ground under the force of his push, and Haden pulled the spear out s she did. The cannon sounded, signaling her death.

"Evie!" Come on. Let's go!" He called. They needed to be gone when the boy came back, because he'd have all their heads if he knew who killed the girl. Haden saw Evie running from the burrow, carrying the two small backpacks of supplies they had. His attention was on the forest behind her, so he wasn't able to see the fight break out behind him.

"Haden! RUN!" called Haelle. He turned to see her tensing to fight the career boy, who had just come bounding into view from the other edge of the clearing. Haden swung Evie over his shoulder and took off from the area. He owed everything to Haelle.

Macen McGrathe, D11

Macen watched the fight take place from his hide-out in the trees. He saw the tributes from Twelve take down the girl from Two, and then her district partner killing the eldest girl from Twelve. Now, all that stood beneath him was the boy from Two. Macen recognized him from their time in the Capitol. Peter, his name was. Macen knew that with the element of surprise he would be able to kill him from this spot. He tensed to drop from the branch, blade in hand. But then the boy moved, drawn away from some unheard, unseen cause. He'd lost his chance.

Macen slumped back against the trunk of his tree. How would he be able to win this alone?

Peter Cooper, D2

Peter heard a yelp of pain come somewhere from the forest, just to his south. He ran to the cause, and as he crouched down behind a large wall of plants, he could make them out. The two male tributes of Eight, the ones that were together. One of them was injured, on the ground while the other was applying fresh bandages to his arm. Peter's hand instinctually moved to the hilt of his sword, ready to attack, ready to remove these two from the games.

But then he saw something that froze him in his tracks. The blonde boy, the one who had been aiding the injured on, leaned in and kissed him, and Peter couldn't help but think of Colin back home. He knew it was going against his nature as a Career, and especially as a Career who'd earned an 11, but he backed away from the area, moving in the other direction.

Would the gamemakers punish him for letting those two go? Peter swore to himself that if he ran into them again he wouldn't hesitate. He'd do what he came here to do. He'd win.

The Fallen

Helena Jenkins, District Two. Killed by Haden.

Haelle Windsor, District Twelve. Killed by Peter.

What'd you think, guys? I put a new poll up, for those who haven't voted. We're down to the top 20! I'm sorry that this chapter is so much shorter than most, but I'm gonna try and pick up on updates, because of how close it's getting to the end. The suspense is killing me, too, and I already know what's going to happen, hahaha. I had to take down a few chapters, because someone called me out on the fact that they were violations, but you can find the list of remaining tributes posted on my profile.