Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. They belong to Suzanne Collins.
Note: With Bloodline Betrayal finished, and Gadget able to relax for a while, the time has come for a return to this story! Plenty left to come in this one, hopefully most of it good, so let's get on with things. You know what people say about a familiar place looking so foreign at night... but now, let's see how different the forest of the 74th Games looks when it's been vastly flooded. How will Nettle cope? For that matter, a question to you all, how would you deal with a very flooded Arena if you were in the Hunger Games?
Waking up to a cold morning I sit up quickly, looking all around. The fire has gone out and I'm freezing, but that's hardly my biggest issue right now. I can only stare around at the forest that stretches out for miles.
Or rather, what used to be a forest before all of the insane amounts of rainfall. I've seen forest floods before now back in Seven - from a safe distance, naturally - and none of it quite compares to this. It certainly would never have happened so fast either.
"What on Earth?" I ask out loud, sitting myself up straighter. "This... is a problem."
And how could it not be? This is no forest, it's now a vast swampland. The water hasn't reached me, thankfully, but it's a close thing. The shoreline, I suppose it would be called, has come to a stop around ten meters from my current position. The downpour is still ongoing and I can't see any signs of it stopping soon. Then again, this is artificial weather so perhaps I am wrong? I don't like being wrong.
Anyway, the point is that this is giving me a very limited choice of directions I can go to. I suppose nothing is really stopping me from wading through the water and swimming somewhere else, but I do not trust this swamp at all. Even though I have the luxury of knowing how to swim, I saw plenty of crocodiles yesterday. There could be more lurking beneath the water. If not, then there could be leeches, aggressive fish, nasty frogs... I gag thinking about it all, holding my backpack of supplies closer to myself.
"Ok, not exactly favourable weather for a swim," I decide as I stand up, backing away from the water until my back is against the cliff, the rocky overlook hanging right over me. "I miss the pool."
Ah, the backyard pool. A wonderful place to spend a summer's day relaxing. A two piece bikini, a nice floaty, a perfect guy... I shake my head, slapping myself. It's pampering like that which have me being the person I am and thus why Johanna refused to bother with me. Suddenly, I miss the pool a lot less.
Keeping my distance away from the edge of the water I walk around the side of the cliff. Thankfully, the water hasn't come up anywhere near as close on this side so it's easy to stay out of range of any crocodiles that may or may not be there. Sure enough, it's just a matter of walking and baring the rain for a bit until I find myself at the top of the cliff and able to see for miles.
"Dang. This is... yikes." I frown as I stare out at all of the swampland.
Isn't it amazing how a large flood can make huge trees suddenly seem much smaller? Of course, to me they are still huge but... less so, I suppose. As far as I can see, it's an ocean of swamp water. Just a large, dirty mass of deep water - maybe as much as quadruple my height in some places? - and, while plenty of land is still above the water, it's certainly nowhere as much as it was yesterday or the day before.
As I said, I can see for miles, but I cannot actually see any of the other tributes or any noticeable action going on. Perhaps for the best, honestly. But I can't just be doing nothing. If I become boring in the eyes of the Capitol, it will be a death sentence.
I can only shake my head a bit. Being executed for being boring, why is that even a rule in this world of ours?
Some time passes this way, with me just staring out at the vast swamp, sometimes looking up at the incredibly thick, grey rain clouds that cover the sky. I need shelter, very soon. This hood is not going to be offering me very much comfort by itself.
I squeal as thunder booms throughout the sky. I breath deeply, shaking a bit. I don't mind thunder much, but being taken by surprise like that... not fun. No, not at all. It takes a few moments for my breathing to return to normal. Ok then, where to go next...
"That way seems to have more water, but that might means fewer tributes," I say to myself, tapping my chin. "On the other hand that way has a lot more ground so it'd be easier to stay out of the water and find somewhere to rest... the Careers could be over there, though."
Another boom of thunder fills the Arena, but I don't scream because of that. Rather, the lightning that struck a tree very near the cliff I am on is what has me shrieking shrilly. With me stalling to decide, that cannot have been a coincidence. It's a message from the Gamemakers, and I know what they're saying.
Get moving, now.
I take the hint quickly, making a snap decision to go for the area with more ground. At least that way I might not fall into the water quite as easily. I'm freezing enough without that. I jog along quickly, my feet making wet sounding echoes every time I take a step forth. I stumble, but I stay standing.
I can't shake the feeling that if I stumble I could be struck with a lightning bolt. The very thought has me feeling cold from more than the weather and running faster. Soon the cliff and my campsite from last night has been left far behind and I'm running into a big thicket of trees, leaving the shoreline behind me.
It's tiring, running without a break, but I better get used to it. At least I'm not being chased by anything, or anybody. The lighting has me scared that if I slow down the Gamemakers won't hold back. Maybe they intend to have me run until I physically cannot do so anymore?
As I run through the trees, jumping over logs and getting my pants splatted in mud, I get the feeing this shan't take long. I'm so out of shape. So tiny. I can't help starting to shiver, scream and wheeze. The paranoia is impossible to ignore.
The deep water could have crocodiles within.
The trees may fall on me.
The Careers, or any other tributes, could be very nearby.
I grip my hatchet so tightly that my knuckles turn a ghostly white. The hatchet shakes; it's impossible for me to hold it still when I feel like this. Sick, terrified, every abd emotion.
I'm about to ask Johanna to please send me something, anything, that may help but I slap a hand over my mouth. No! I won't give her the satisfaction, I shan't!
As I soon stumble my way into a wet grove, all worn out, I think back to home and what I've sometimes overheard the lumberjacks saying. What is it that they do to relief stress again? That's right, they hit trees.
I have an axe, and no shortage of trees to hit. Well then, let it never be said I am not willing to partake in a challenge. One hit, two hits, three hits, more hit than I care to count. I just keep on swinging. I'm worn out already, but it's starting to help me calm down from my fright.
Soon enough I let the axe drop and let myself drop to my knees, wheezing. I practically tear a water bottle from my backpack and gulp it all down in moments. So, so good. Could do with a bit of citrus to it, but it'll do for now.
"I should've trained on the treadmill a bit more," I groan, breathing deeply in and out.
I soon get back up and keep on my way. I can still get my breath back if I walk slowly, and it's better to move than stay still in plain sight. I just wish I could think of something to do that would impress sponsors. I suppose I have plenty of time right now, being alone and all, but it's a tough one. It has to be impressive, yet preferably not dangerous either.
Perhaps I am a bit of a wimp, being so avoidant of all forms of pain, but it's who I am. Though, if who I am is not what the Capitol find interesting... what can I do but change? Change to somebody I'm not like many other Victors.
There is one surefire way to get the Capitol's attention upon me in a positive way, a way to get me sponsors. It's just that there is one little issue, a minor flaw in the plan.
Killing people is sick and wrong.
But if I don't suck it up, I could die as well. It's not like everybody is going to just drop dead or drown in the swamp somehow - not that I'd exactly mind such a thing happening, weird as it is to say it - and no matter what I do, I'm gonna have to fight somebody sooner or later anyway. Besides, every other tribute who tried to be a pacifist ended up the same way. Dead. I can hold off on killing, but I can't just not do it and expect success.
Yeah, I need to just get over it and start to think and act like a Victor would. Though, I'm nothing like the Victors of Seven who still live. So, what other Victor can I draw some inspiration from? You'd think being in the Arena would make it a simple matter to recall every Victor, but my mind is so abuzz with thoughts and fears that I can't spare the space for it.
"If only it were still possible to win like Pliny did," I can't help but say as I start to climb my way up a slope, slow and steady.
Seven was lucky to be the second District to win the Hunger Games, all the way back in the second Games. After Jakki - the first ever female from my District - was the first tribute to ever die, with Ty not lasting long either, hope had been low. Lower than it already was, which was levels of low previously thought impossible so the stories go. But as I was saying, Pliny Aransio won the second Games... by doing what some in the Capitol refer to as 'camping'. She ran into the Cornucopia, grabbed some good and water, before hiding in a chest. She hid there for the four days the Games lasted. Being in the Cornucopia, no traps at the time could reach her and in the end only the battered, large boy from Five was left. Pliny more or less put him out of his misery and won.
Yeah... after such an 'unsatisfying' ending, the Gamemakers began killing off tributes who stayed in one place for too long and also make traps that could attack those inside the Cornucopia a lot easier. The only way to truly hide would be to have your tracker break when the Gamemakers are not watching you and hide in a bush. A thing that will never happen.
Finally, I reach the top of the slope. I'm at higher ground now, but it seems it's all downhill from here. Right down towards more water as a matter of fact. Seems the ground is dipping particularly low here and has created a bit of a mire.
From where I stand I can see more of those horrid reptiles a distance away. But, they're over there... and I am over here. I'm certainly charmed to be out of snacking distance. If one's flavour is determined by wealth, I'd be the perfect bite sized snack for them. I can't hold back a shudder from this.
Ok, one foot in front of the other. Left, then right. If I'm lucky, I could make it down the hill without slipping again. It's becoming quite the embarrassing trend.
One misplaced foot a few moments later has me screaming as I tumble down the hill Ack! Oof! My screams is swiftly cut off as I thump down to the ground at the bottom. I groan as I pick myself back up. It's a wonder I didn't land upon my hatchet.
"Ick, uncouth," I mutter as I brush off the mud from my sleeves.
But, looking at the mire ahead of me, I know I have bigger problems to face off against than muddy sleeves and... well, muddy everything.
No point to delaying the inevitable, I suppose. Ok, handaxe, supplies, alive, some logs I could move across. I'm all set for this.
Well, as much as I could be anyway. Ick, what a moisty mire this is!
(Not much later...)
I feel as though I should retract my statement, or perhaps build upon it as the case might be. This mire is moisty, but it's also repulsive! Gross! Disgusting!
I feel somewhat ashamed for how much this makes me sound like a Capitol citizen, those whom cheer for our deaths, want for nothing and never have to actually go out and try for much in their long, lazy lives. In some ways, that describes a lot of my life so far.
Perhaps that's part of why Johanna had such a strong contempt towards me from the start? Not just as she came from a poor background, but the Capitol killed her loved ones. If I act like those from the Capitol, well... I guess I can see why she wouldn't feel inclined to help me and would just be essentially a second mentor to Wood.
Well, a Capitol citizen wouldn't be trekking their way through a swamp and that's what I am doing right now. Narrowing my eyes a little, I march forwards with more purpose in my stride.
Right now, I'm starting to run out of ground to walk upon. The rain isn't quite as heavy as before, but it's still ongoing. I think the water has risen a few inches since I woke up, actually. It all adds up to this place being putrid and the lack of ground.
And what ground there is... it's not much. I'd not be able to run far on it before I'd just come to more water. I'm making my best effort towards avoiding going into it, just in case whatever is within it might be lethal.
Looking back over my shoulder I can see that I have come a fair distance through the mire already, but there's still plenty of ground to cover. I can see what could pass as the exit a distance from where I am now, where ground is a lot more solid and spacious. It's my destination, but reaching it will be a problem.
The biggest problem being the crocodiles swimming around. They're not done anything towards me just yet, besides giving me perhaps the most evil eyed glare I have ever seen, but I just know it will take nothing more than a command from the Gamemakers to have them start doing much, much worse.
I've thrown some meat a distance away from me a few times to distract any that come too close, but soon enough they might wonder what I taste like. Plus, I don't have much meat left and I'd rather have it for myself. It's been hard to not plow through all of my food and my restraint is only being further tested as the day goes by.
The crocodiles want to eat me. I want to eat actual good... the name 'Hunger Games' is very appropriate.
I'm creeping along, crouched as I walk across the wet ground. I figure that the smaller I make myself, the less the crocodiles are going to want to eat me. Also, smaller targets are harder to hit. That's the hope, anyway. So far, it's worked. I've not hear my cannon fire. I suppose I did die I'd not hear it either, but that is beside the point.
My ears flicker at the sound of a low growling. Sharply looking to the side, I can see an crocodile is swimming closer. It leers at me, ever so slightly opening its jaws. Its tongue flicks the air, tasting it.
Tasting me. They can do that, right? I recall reading a book about that, or was it those dragon things...
Nuts, it's coming nearer!
Fight, or flee. It's one or the other, I need to decide now. I could smash it in the face with the axe... but then the rest will certainly start to close in. If I run I may have to go into the water and risk dangers beneath the surface that I cannot see.
I turn to run. I'll take a leech over an crocodile! I can hear the crocodile growing louder now, annoyed that its small snack is escaping. Upon glancing back I quickly wish I hadn't. The beast opens its jaw wide and charges after me. Nuts!
"Nuts, nuts, nuts," I mutter, running through the shallow water and towards the nearest island I can see. Nothing gnaws or sucks at my ankles, a relief for certain, but the splashing is attracting attention and I can't run as fast in the water.
I'm only running through the water for about twenty seconds, but it's some of the scariest seconds of my life - the scariest are those that happened in the bloodbath, or when I overheard Ramsay kill Weld - and it's only going to get worse. There's at least six of those beast starting to swim over, maybe as many as nine, all of them with their teeth barred and growling in hunger.
Nuts...
One on one, maybe I could kill one or at least drive it off. But this many, it's impossible! I try not to cry or scream. I just try to focus on running away. Perhaps it could be called cowardice, but running into an unwinnable battle is recklessness. That's no better.
Glancing back, I can see that the crocodiles have split into two groups. They swim left and right. A flanking manoeuvrer, one to try and cut me off up ahead. Nuts! But, as it happens, I'm faster than they are.
I can still do this, I can still do this.
As I scramble over logs, mud and roots I cannot help but wonder how the people of my District are feeling as they see me run for my life. Scared and anxious or just apathetic? I know Ranger would be panicking, but what of the maids? Or, father? I know we've been distant ever since... well, I just hope he's feeling something. Not that I'd wish terror upon him. His job is already stressful enough on a good day.
I'm quick to reach the other side of the swamp island, but now a new problem has presented itself to me. Nuts! Several tree stumps in a row lead to solid ground and any chance I have left for escaping the mire. The crocodiles are closing in on both sides... looks like I'm gonna have to jump across them. I'm no acrobat - in fact, I'm not that great at long jumping, perhaps because of my small legs - but I have to try to be one, or close enough. It's that, or...
One glance at the open jaw of one of the crocodiles has me quickly leaping onto the first stump. I stumble, almost tumbling into the swamp water. A close thing, but I keep myself balanced. I need a calm mind for this, something that's pretty impossible right now. Urgghh, why couldn't the escort have picked the paper slip beside my own? Surely it could've been somebody else.
Though, what if it was a twelve year old? A lot of younger kids in Seven have been dealing with tree sickness lately. A nasty condition, one that'd surely give them less chance than I. Even s the women I am, I have odds listed as seven to one. Come on Nettle, you have a chance. Now, take it!
At that last word I leap to the second stump, stumbling again. But, less than I did with the first stump. Behind me two of the crocodiles jump up to where I was and smash into each other. Growing in pain, they start biting at each other. Well, better they gain a taste for their own flesh than mine. Oh, those chewing sounds are not charming...
I scream and duck down as two more crocodiles lunge at me. No, no, no! My breathing is fast and light, my chest hurting from the pounding of my heart. It's only because I'm so short that I'm still alive. They soar right over my head and into the water either side of me. By the time they're snarling in such contempt at me, I have already leapt over to the next stump. Not much further to go now; just one more stump and then a sprint through some swamp water. Urrggghh, gross...
I scream and lunge forth on reflex when the crocodile comes forwards to try and bite me. Nuts! It's making me jump forwards the last crocodile, perched upon the last stump with its jaw wide open. I shriek in a way most shrill, swinging the hatchet at it as hard as I can.
The sound of the sharp edge hitting the crocodile's flesh is certainly off-putting. A gross mixture of squishy and like the sound of a book splatting a bug. In this case, a huge reptile bug with horrible, horrible and s-s-sharp t-t-teeth...
The crocodile roars, though whether from anger or pain I'd rather not stick around to find out. I'm already lunging past it and into the swamp water. It's coming up to my kneels and it's quite a strain to slog my way through it. I'm feeling fatigued already. Glancing back, I see the crocodile with a now bloodied face is starting to swim after me. It snarls, slowly opening its jaws all the way.
Nuts, nuts, nuts!
I reach the bank of the mire before any of the crocodiles get into biting range. Tired as I may be, I take off as quickly as I can. I shan't be a snack today, I shan't!
My legs throb as I sprint along as quickly as possible. I'm panting before long, but I'm too afraid to look back. I don't dare do anything but run.
Distantly, I hear something rattle through the air. Was... was that an explosion!? A faint boom, but certainly not that of a cannon. Nobody died... indeed, after several seconds pass without a cannon firing I know for certain that there are still fourteen of us left. But, what was that?!
It occurs to me a few minutes later, once I finally see the crocodiles have given up the chase and then allow myself to collapse against the base of a large tree, that it finally occurs to me in a moment of shaky clarity what the explosion must have been.
What natural thing of nature causes an explosion in the woods? Trick question, nothing does. Not that I know of anyway. It has to be something humans have built... ok, the whole Arena was technically but bare with me here.
I refer to the fact landmines are always under the pedestals, and how it's been made clear to me that Gadget rearmed them, so... wait... oh... nuts!
Gadget must be nearby! With explosives... this doesn't bode well. One of those and I'm dead. Even if it's not a direct hit, the radius of the blast would certainly do more than just tickle.
Well, the best thing about hearing an explosion is knowing where the bomber will be, roughly. I'll just do the smart thing and go the exact opposite direction. Feels crazy to say it, but I'm not confident about facing the thirteen year old from Three. Or, perhaps, her bombs are what I'd rather not face.
Either way, I'm getting the heck out of here! Between the direction of the explosion or towards the flooded, extra creepy woodland a distance away I'll take the latter!
(Time passes...)
Maybe the explosion path would've been better. I mean, maybe I could've reasoned with Gadget or give her some food in exchange for a safe passage? How hard could somebody that young be to negotiate with? I guess I shan't know, as now I've picked my path and have no time to waste in turning back.
The rain's getting heavy again, but it seems the clouds are starting to get a lighter shade of grey. I think that means they're running out of water within them. Just as well, as being soaked almost to my underwear is certainly not fun to deal with. As I wring out some of the water from my braids, I can't help but think back to my bed back home.
Warm covers.
Soft mattress.
Hot water bottle...
I slap myself. No, no! Longing for home just makes it even worse. The best I can do is focus upon my tribute token and the comfort it may bring me. I reach into my pocket and take it out, holding it tightly in my left fist. A token should be personal, and remind a tribute of their home; of their very life as it stands outside the Games. After all, it's a life that may never be reclaimed... even if you win.
This thing in my hand started life as a fine branch of a mighty oak tree. But, it was carved by some of the best whittlers in Seven, if not the best, and became the idol I now hold in my hand. Some would call it a 'tiki'. As for me, I would call it a fancy possession. The attention to detail sure is stunning, just look at the way the mouth is carved and how carefully the spikes upon the head were spaced apart. Lovely, isn't it?
I soon slip it back into my pocket. That's enough comfort for now; I have work to do.
For starters, finding a way across the fast flowing river beside me. It looks pretty deep, and I'd much rather find a way past it that won't involve having to get wet. Not only is it terribly gross looking water, but I could freeze to death if I get soaked head to toe. So, I'm in search of a bridge.
Ok, less a bridge and more of a fallen tree that leads across. Eh, same thing right? Either way I stay dry and oh so far away from death. I'd hope at least.
"Hey," I say, looking up at the sky. "Any chance of a better axe? It's just that I might need to chop down a tree to get across and this hatchet isn't big enough."
I stand still, tapping my foot a bit, awaiting any kind of sponsor. Alas, nothing. Guess it's all up to me to figure it out then. Ok, fine. So I'll have find a tree with enough length to form a bridge first of all - six meters should be enough - and then get the angle just right. Perhaps I-oh my goodness, yes!
A sponsor parachute falls towards the ground nearby, coming to a gentle stop. I'm quickly running over to it, eager as can be. My eagerness swiftly turns into confusion when I see no axe has come with it. In fact, there's not even a substitute for an axe. There's nothing here!
Well, actually, upon closer inspection it seems that I've gotten a letter. Hm, they must be using some special ink to stop the rain smudging it into being illegible.
-Kid
Just swim across, it's not that hard. Seriously.
Johanna.
"Kid?" I ask, snorting. "I'm sixteen Johanna, sixteen. That's old enough to get married and have sex... not that such matters are at the front of my mind right now or anything. Uh... well, anyway, some Mentor you're turning out to be. Some bad one, that is! Fine then, I'll just do it myself! I don't need you Johanna. You're superfluous."
A few moments pass. Right before I keep walking I spot another parachute coming towards me. Like the first one, no useful gear has been sponsored. Just another note.
-Brat
The hell's superfluous mean?
Johanna-
"Unnecessary. I don't need you to win these Games," I say, sniffing in a manner perhaps snooty. "I need you the same way I need a broken leg. Not particularly."
I walk only a few paces before a third parachute drops down, a third letter attached to it.
-Tribute
Fuck you.
Johanna-
"Charmed," I say, rolling my eyes.
Perhaps antagonising my Mentor is not a very good idea. But really, if she's written me off and doesn't want to give me actual help, does Johanna really count as a Mentor? It feels as though there are two separate Games being played right now; the battle between us tributes, and a sort of verbal duel between Johanna and I. If I have my way like I often do back home then I'll hopefully win both.
I discard the parachutes into the river - no sense leaving evidence I was here - and continue on my way. My drive to win and survive is stronger than ever. Isn't it amazing how the thought of proving somebody wrong makes it easier to do things? One could say that contempt is magic.
I walk along for several minutes, always on the watch for a passage across the river. The rain is starting to finally die out now. At last! Though, the river remains fast flowing and surely dangerous. At least I'll dry off in a few hours if I can stay out of it.
My blood runs cold when I hear voices and footsteps getting closer towards me. I'm swift to hide behind a boulder, not making a sound as the voices come closer. Maybe if I remain silent they'll pass by without ever knowing I'm here?
As soon as I recognise the voices, my heart rate becomes painfully fast and everything begins to feel light. Nuts! Oh, please don't let them find me...
It's Glimmer and Clove. Where they are, surely it means that Marvel, Cato and Peeta are not very far behind. Nuts, of all the tributes to be near me it had to be them...
"I'm getting really sick of this rain," Glimmer says, sounding frustrated. "It's making my skin feel sore, and everything smells gross."
"I hate for more practical reasons," Clove responds. "It's hard to navigate through the rain, mud and floods. As they tell us at the academy, you never split the pack. But look what's happened."
"Think the boys will be ok?" Glimmer sounds uneasy.
"Cato and Marvel will be. Peeta, who the fuck cares?" Clove asks, sounding bored. "I know he can lead us to Katniss, but she'll probably drown. Since when do tributes from Twelve know how to swim?"
"Not once, to my memory," Glimmer replies. "What was up with that explosion? You heard it, right Clove?"
"How could I not, it was an explosion," Clove responds, flatly. They've stopped walking by now, standing nearby but not seeing me. Come on, leave... "We saw the pedestals, somebody dug up the mines. Not hard to put two and two together."
"I bet it was that girl from Three," Glimmer says. She sounds contemptuous. "Technology is her thing, she'd know how to do that. I expected her to die easily, but now I'm not so sure."
"She's a twig," Clove says, dryly.
"A twig who has landmines!" Glimmer hisses. "What if she blows up the boys, Clove?!"
"You sound attached," Clove says slowly. "I mean, Cato is nice and all, but Marvel... eh, five out of ten. That's me being generous."
"Well, we used to date," Glimmer says. I hear her put away her bow. I think so at least. "I guess I feel sentimental."
"Well don't, it'll get you killed. I don't want that happening too early," Clove says, sulking. "Not when there are still a bunch of people I need to stab. Especially that girl from Seven."
I shudder, suddenly feeling ever so sick. Talking about me when I'm so close, it all adds up to make me feel extra scared than I already was. Come on, go away...
"Marvel is an idiot for not realising she was alive. He went right up beside her!" Clove stomps her foot, sounding pissed. "We lost lots of supplies, and the flood is gonna make it hard to get back to the Cornucopia. I swear, I just want to stab her. Stab anything!"
"Not me, I hope?" Glimmer says, huffing.
"Eh, give it a week," Clove shrugs. "Anyway, while we're here and having no idea where the hell to go... entertain me so I don't get bored and stabby. What's it like in One?"
"Well, it's pretty nice," Glimmer says. "Beautiful snow coated winters, rich streets with not a crack or a flaw in sight. Oh, and there's a solid gold lake at the park. It's wonderful, trust me."
"...A solid lake? Uh, how the hell does that even work?" Clove sounds confused. Honestly, I am too.
"It works very well," Glimmer says, giggling. "Perfect place for a day out in the summer. It's where I learned to swim and-"
"You learned to swim in gold? Gold, as in a liquid metal? ...You people in One are a strange lot," Clove sighs, as if offended by the mere existence of such an admittedly weird thing as a gold lake. "Almost makes me wish we had a third Career District for some variety."
"Maybe Five? They're, like, third richest after One and Two," Glimmers says. "Not bad looking either."
They seem distracted, so I take the chance to start creeping away. I'm mindful to not step on a single twig or anything that might make a loud noise at a very bad moment. I've seen enough TV to know the cliche and enough Hunger Games to know what to avoid doing.
Interested to note that Marvel and Glimmer were once an item. It makes me wonder if this might effect how they'll act in days ahead, or if there truly is nothing there anymore. District Partners from Career Districts tend to always have a strong bond, or at least work well as a team. I get a sense of this from Cato and Clove, though I still wonder about the pair from One. Hopefully I can just get out of here unseen and then never have to think about them again... or, not for a few days, maybe.
I creep carefully, my form low to the ground and every step quick yet soft. I glance back every few seconds to be sure I've not been seen. Thankfully not; the two Careers are more focused on discussing the pros and cons of Five being a Career District prospect.
Personally, I'd not mind it if Seven could be one. Maybe then my citizens would have more of a chance than normal, but then of course the thought of them becoming sadists springs to mind. An ugly thought, but you don't need to be a Career to be a sadist. Maybe it could work out.
Just as a thick patch of trees comes in range, barely a few meters away, a shout fills the air. It also fills me with purest dread. Nuts...
"It's her!" Glimmer screams. Looking over my shoulder, I see she's pointing right at me as she shrieks. No, no, no!
I don't dare stick around to hear more, I just run for my life. There is a time for negotiating, but as any leader - past, present or future - would tell you, there is also a time to say 'screw it' and run away from your problems. Perhaps it's unbecoming of a leader, but most leaders don't have two trained killers only a short distance from them!
"Where you going Seven?" Clove yells, suddenly very eager. Eager for blood that is. "I'll help you play dead! This time, you'll die properly!"
"I'll get her!" Glimmer says.
I run between the trees. If she's gonna try firing an arrow at me, the best I can do is make myself a very hard target to hit. Sure enough, I hear the arrow sailing by and coming nowhere near me. I have no idea where it landed, but so long as it's away from Glimmer and my body then I don't care where it went.
Glimmer may not be a huge issue, but Clove sure is. She scored higher and I am pretty sure she's a lot more agile. Worst yet are those knives of hers. She can throw them so well, like nothing I've seen before. At least, not recently. I can only hope I'll be too hard of a target for her to hit.
"Kill her, Clove!" Glimmer says, sounding a bit more distant. "Urgh, screw this mud!"
Glancing back for the briefest of moments I see that Clove isn't far behind - in fact, only the trees and slipper ground are holding her back from throwing a knife at me - while Glimmer is getting a bit further away. It seems like Clove is more capable in rough terrain. An issue, as she's coming right for me! Nuts, nuts, nuts!
I scream as a knife flies at me, mercifully lodging into my backpack. On the one hand a new weapon. On the other hand, that matters little as surely I would be slain if I tried to fight Clove up close. What do I do!? How can I get rid of her and not be killed as soon as I try? Come on think! I'll be out of energy soon.
Glancing at the raging river I have my answer. Surely Clove would not be able to swim against that current, and even if she did she's be soaked like a drowned rat, much less able to fight than before. If I could just throw her in somehow...
...Of course, with how small I am it's not like I can just grab her and throw her down there. Now, Thresh, he was big and strong. If I was tall like him then I could easily do it. I'd have to surprise her somehow, catch her right off guard... but how?
"You know I'm gonna catch you eventually right?" Clove calls to me. A knife flies past me, digging into a tree. The rough ground must be making aiming harder, thank goodness. "And when I do... heheheheh..."
A creaking sound attracts my attention swiftly. Looking up I scream as a tree starts to fall. Goodness gracious, it's huge! A gigantic redwood, I think. I press on, forcing my burning legs to keep moving. I pass through the danger zone swiftly. Glancing back I see Clove is forcing herself to run faster as well. I suppose being crushed by a tree is no way for a dignified Career to die. Beyond her, Glimmer is still falling behind. I don't even think she'll make it to the tree in time.
The ground rumbles heavily as the tree smashes to the earth. Glimmer screams, more out of fury than any kind of pain. She's being left behind.
"Bugger!" she snaps from afar. "Kill her Clove, but save some for me! I'll try to catch up."
Glancing back I can see that Clove tripped over into the mud. The force of the tree barely a few feet behind her must have knocked her a little unsteady. She looks up at me, meeting my eyes for just a moment. I shan't forget that bloodlusting look on her face...
It's hard to believe she's actually younger than I am.
"Ok Seven, let's do this!" she yells, leaping up to her feet.
As soon as she's risen, I've already made it near the raging river and hidden myself in a thick bush. I breath fast and light beyond my control, whimpering. Quietly, I slip the knife from where it got lodged into my backpack and slot it into my jacket. Holding my hatchet, I remain crouched low and perfectly still.
Clove soon comes by, slowing to a halt. She turns around in a swift circle, looking all over. She scowls, unable to see me. She sheathes her knife and balls her fists tightly.
"Where did she get to?" she mutters.
I remain still, waiting for the perfect moment. Timing is truly everything right now.
The second Clove turns her back to me I make my move. It's do or die, with vast preference to the former!
I charge at her, throwing all my weight forth to smash my elbow into her. She turns at me sharply, a second before impact. One moment I smash into her before she can grab for a knife and she starts to topple down to the raging water.
The next moment, I'm screaming as she grabs hold of my jacket and drags me down with her. I choke and gasp as the water fills my nose and mouth, spitting the horrible stuff out as I surface. Instantly the cold of the water hits me full force and I'm starting to writhe.
"AAARRGGHH! Let me out!" I scream and shout, not that I expect help to come. "Get me out of here, right now!"
Clove makes several muffled shouts and scream below me, forcing herself up from the water. In my panic, I'm briefly forgotten about her. Right now we're both clutching each other and being washed away at quite a speed.
"Real clever," she says, fumbling for a knife. "Too bad it won't help you."
I try to swing at Clove with my hatchet, but she dunks me under the water. Again my nose fills up and I'm screaming. Oxygen is quickly leaving my body, making everything faint and suffocating. I find myself trying to punch at Clove blindly, but it's not having any effect. Not until I ram the handle end of the hatchet into her gut. The force holding me lessens, allow me to surface once more and gasp for air.
"You... bitch..." Clove gags, coughing a bit. "You're gonna-."
I don't care to know what I gonna be, or do, or whatever the next word would imply. I take the chance to force myself on top of her and keep her head below the water. I can feel my energy starting to slip away, my chest by now sore from my pounding heart beats. Fortunately, the water is making Clove's energy also lessen. Though, will that even matter when she was far stronger than me to begin with?
I scream as Clove jerks up her knee right against my crotch with all the force of a hard punch. AAARRGGHH... aaaahhhh... owwwwww... that one really hurt...
Clove rises again, pulling roughly at me hair. That snarl, the twitch in her eyes, the way her hair is getting stringy and matted as we're carried along, it all adds up to make more of my breath leave me. She's terrifying, moreso than a wild bear in Seven.
"You better hope you drown, because if we both wash up on a bank you'll be begging for death!" she screams, her breathing heavy. I can't help but briefly ponder, in great fear of course, just how far her mental instability extends. How severe is it? "You'll... be... b-begging..."
Clove shivers from the cold, much like how I am as well. It's so freezing. So cold you'd be forgiven for thinking this was a tundra Arena. If we can't get out soon, then we're both gonna be dead. Any moment, I could lose my hold on my hatchet. I need it, I can't afford to lose it!
"Get off of me!" I scream, striking her right across the face with my free hand. Her cheek turns crimson swiftly. "NOW!"
The punch has her nose turn crimson too, even though the frozen water is making it hard to focus or hit hard. We're both screaming, but quieter now. Shit, not long now and we'll be getting hypothermia. I gotta get out of here!
Of course, the issue there is that Clove has a rock solid grip on me once again. She grits her teeth hard as she tries to force me under once again. I fight back, forcing her in return as much as I can. It hurts so much...
An explosion rips through the air, one that sounded very close by. I wheeze out in alarm while Clove lets out a curse. Glancing back for a moment I see what she means.
A tree on an upper section of the bank just got blown up and now lots of debris are in the river ahead of us. Smacking into them would be highly painful, especially at this speed. Nuts, nuts, nuts!
Glancing at the explosion zone I can see the gory remains of what seems like a big bear. A Mutt maybe? A moment later I see a tall girl in yellow and, I think, a short boy in blue, quickly running away.
Gadget! And that boy, what was his name? Where was he from?
...Urch, maybe? Something like that. The small boy from Four, he must be allied with Gadget. I suppose it makes sense for the youngest tributes to work together, just the same as it makes sense for the strong Careers to do the same.
Speaking of, Clove is so damn strong. I can't force her under properly. The best I can do is spin us around.
...
And that might just be the one thing I need. Fingers crossed, of course.
"Had... enough?" she chokes.
"Yes!" I wheeze, coughing out water. "How about you?"
At that last word I use what energy I've still got in me to spin our position around. Clove yells more, hitting me again, but a moment later the force of the water carries us right into a large, broken part of the tree that just got blown up. Clove takes all the impact while I just try to not sob too loudly, and hold on for the ride.
Clove babbles something unintelligible. I cannot make out what it is that she's saying, exactly. All I know for sure is that the force has left her dazed. I feel her grip loosen from me as she floats upon her back with her eyes spinning a bit in their sockets.
It's like I'm not even in control of myself, I act that fast. Of course, it's a poor excuse. I'm sure part of me, maybe a big part, knows what it is that I am doing. That being to put more weight upon her and force her under the water. She screams and shouts, writhing and choking, but now I have the upper hand. I may be tiny and pretty lightweight, but even I will gain the upper-hand if my opponent is knocked into being self-conscious.
"Die, die, die," I mutter, shaking and closing my eyes, unable to look at my actions. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
A meaningless apology if ever there was one. Emotionally I'm feeling tormented, but physically it gets easier and easier as Clove continues to run out of oxygen by the second. It's a whole minute of this watery violence before she finally stops struggling entirely, becoming limp under me.
I shake like a madwoman for a few seconds, each one passing in silence. Nothing exists to me expect my own pain and Clove beneath me.
Louder than any landmine, the cannon fires.
The feelings of cold, pain and guilt all build up in an instant, making me puke into the river. I... I just killed somebody. I didn't want to, surely that much is clear, right? It was just a case of outliving, not being a murderer, but now I've killed somebody.
If I survive the Games, then Seven will one day have a murderer for a leader.
Pathetic. Shameful.
But I'll cry about it later. I... I just need to face facts. Only killers win the Hunger Games, and I don't want to die. Pacifism never works. And... it was self-defence, right? I tackled her, but she threw a knife at me. Fuck, I'm a mess.
Looking around I can only flinch when I see the riverbanks either side of me are raised above the water by a few feet. The river must have flooded into a sort of forest canyon or cliff area. I can't climb out! I'll have to stay where I am until the river banks become possible for me to climb up. Well, assuming that I don't die from freezing beforehand.
The debris are flowing too far away for me to swim towards them for some sort of platform. I can only stay where I am right now.
That being, upon Clove's corpse. Shaking in disgust, I sit hunched over upon my fallen foe as she and I continue to flow down the river. I can only hope she won't sink before we hit some form of land.
"Told y-y-you I didn't n-need you J-J-Johanna," I stammer, huddling myself. Whether from cold or trauma, I don't know.
(Time passes...)
I'm stumbling in a trance by the time Clove's corpse and myself wash up against solid ground. Wheezing, I collapse upon the ground. I try to say something, but I don't rightly know what. It comes out muffled and slurred. Rolling over, I look up at the sky.
"At least the rain has stopped," I say, weakly pumping a fist. "Bliss."
It's some time before I sit up, but I force myself to do it. The Gamemakers are gonna want Clove's corpse to be taken away, and it's already been a very delayed pick-up. Not that I could help that, but I'd suspect they will not care. It's time to move on.
And time to eat too, I'm starving. Quite literally to death, in all honestly.
...I need to check Clove's stuff. She won't need it, and it's not like I'm the only tribute to ever, uh, body loot. I'm still alive and I'll see to it that it remains that way.
I'm make sure to be quick with the job, not doing it for a second longer than I have to. Clove's supplies aren't bad stuff, that's for sure. Besides the six knives she still had there's a bunch of stuff in her own backpack. Stuff I can use.
Two packs of meat.
One half eaten pack of dried fruit.
A first aid spray.
A miniature blowtorch.
I would have expected her to have had more than this, but perhaps one of the other Careers was assigned the role of supply carrier. Supplies are supplies, really, no matter how many of few of them there are. I swiftly pack it all into my own backpack, paying close attention to the blowtorch.
The perfect way to start a fire to warm myself up. Oh thank merciful heavens...
I pause, finding something else inside Clove's belongings. A hairclip, one with a plastic knife decoration upon it. It must be her tribute token. Can't let this one just be discarded to the tribute museum, can I?
Indeed not, so I pocket it just as I did with Weld's token. If I get out of here, I'll return it to her family. If I die... well, same end result for the tokens.
Step one, find a safer location. Step two, start a fire and prevent myself freezing to death in the next few hours. Not a complex plan, but sometimes simplicity rules.
The thunder booms once more, lighting striking a nearby tree. Not enough to cause me any pain or inconvenience, but certainly a fright. Not just the sound but the clear order I am being given.
Paraphrased, move away from the body or be dead as well.
I give a silent, quick nod and scamper away into the wet woodland. The sound of the hovercraft descending soon has me running even faster. I don't want to piss them off enough to fire upon me or something dreadful such as that.
Amazing how murder outside the Arena means death by firing squad. The only thing sparing me that fate now is the location I'm in. So insane...
(A while later...)
With every step I take, the value of a good night's sleep is becoming more and more apparent. I've never had issues sleeping before, not any that I really remember, but even if I have it can't have left me exhausted like I am now. I'm cold, miserable, yawning constantly and generally I just feel so done with the waking world right now, to be honest. I just want to light a fire and fall asleep beside it.
Maybe sleep will help ease up the guilt and self-disgust. Or, more likely, it won't but it'll at least help me feel less worn out. Of course, I cannot really set up for the night. Not here.
It's starting to approach sunset now. That kind of time in the evening where you know nightfall is on the way, but the golden glow of the setting sun hasn't quite made its pretty debut just yet. The kind of dying light that looks wonderful over a forest.
Much better than the dying light in somebody's eyes.
I'm walking up a large hill as the fake sun moves ever so slowly closer to the horizon. I remember overhearing Blight telling Wood to go for the high ground if possible, so I'm taking the tip and doing what my not-Mentor said. Perhaps I'll be able to see tributes from miles away. And if not, it's a nice view at least.
As I walk, I can't help but look over Clove's token again. Twirling the hair clip I notice a little inscription upon the back. It's really hard to make it out, but straining my eyes to the point they sting shows me what the swords say.
'Clove Collia Clayton, out little warrior. Love you always - Mr & Mrs Clayton'
It's as if I've been punched in the gut by somebody triple my size. She had a loving family, one who she shall never be going back to now. I mean, I suspect it's obvious that the odds are in favour that most of us in this Arena have loving families... but, seeing the proof for myself makes it all become much clearer. It also quadruples the guilt.
Suck it up. Suck it up. Suck it up.
I practically swallow back the guilt and force myself to keep on moving. The more I dwell on it, the harder victory is going to be. I need to just turn off my emotions and do what I've gotta do, whatever it may be. I have to think like Johanna. Hmm, would this mean I'd have to also hate myself? She hates me and... there I go overthinking.
I've seen enough hate for one day. One week. One month. Screw it, one lifetime to be honest.
I feel weary as I stumble to the base of a fairly large apple tree. I yawn, ready to just settle down here for the night, but I hear a sound that makes me freeze more than I already am.
A sneeze.
A human sneeze!
I scramble away from the tree, quickly peering up into the branches. I hold my hatchet tightly, like my life depends on it. Thing is, it probably does. Looking up there, I strain my eyes again to see who might be up there. It's hard to see through the thick leaves and many apples, but I soon get lucky in my search and spot a pair of eyes looking back at me.
It takes me a few moments to have any idea who they belong to, during which time I am backing away quickly. When the tribute pokes their head through the tree leaves and into plain site, flashing a cheeky grin, I suddenly find it hard to feel scared.
After all, the small girl from District Eleven is not exactly what I would call scary. Though, she's only a few inches shorter than I am. For all I know, she could grow to be one tall, scary woman. Though, for that to happen I'd have to die and...
I shake my head a little, looking right back at her.
"Hi," she says, looking down at me. "Had a nice day?"
"No, it's been bad," I reply, the words out my mouth before I can really consider them.
"You look soaked," the small girl says. "Fall in a river?"
"In a manner of speaking, it wouldn't be inaccurate to say so," I say, shivering. The setting sun is making things ever colder. So cold, so cold... "It's been a lot to deal with, honestly."
"It's not been great for me either. I think these apples are poisonous," the girl says, looking fairly huffy. "The branches and leaves are fine, but the apples... it's like we say back in eleven; apples apples everywhere but not a bite to eat."
"I would have assumed, perhaps naively in retrospect, you would have more to eat in Eleven. You grow food," I say, surprised. Oh wait, no... the Capitol exists. It's really no surprise.
"The Capitol gets most of it. We're not allowed to eat it ourselves," she says, shaking her head. Amazingly, she seems less depressed over this legally sanctioned starvation and more just perfectly 'meh' over it. "Eating food meant for the Capitol, that's a paddlin'."
For a time, we're both silent. I can't tell if that last part of her statement was meant as a joke, or that the Peacekeepers actually paddle people in Eleven. The thought has me gulp. The girl meanwhile just stays where she is, still looking at me.
"So, is this the part where we try and kill each other?" she says, climbing up a higher branch as she speaks. "I'd rather we didn't do that. But if we're gonna... my name's Rue."
I pause, pondering why she just randomly told me her name. A bit of a non-sequiter is it not?
"Uh," I pause again. "Why did you...?"
"Say my name? Some say it makes it harder to kill somebody if the would-be killer knows their name," Rue says, the cheekiest of smirks on her face.
Dammit, she's right! Not that I was planning on killing her, but now it's becoming harder. I know her as Rue now, not just a number. I should get moving, I'm cold and it's only getting worse. But having a talk with somebody not trying to stab me... its comforting, somehow.
Though, I'll certainly keep quiet about the fact her big District Partner died because he tripped over me. There's such a thing as being too honest.
"I'm not gonna kill you," I say to her. "Why try? You're up a tree and I'm not that good at climbing them. You have the advantage."
"And you're freezing as well," Rue adds. "Feel free to keep on moving. Be careful though, the boy from Ten went that way a few hours ago. If you think that's worth the dry higher round, by all means keep walking."
"I think I will," I say. "Better than going back down there to where Glimmer is hanging around, or where Gadget and Urch have their landmines."
"His name is Urchin," Rue says. "I remember his interview. He was cute. ...Wait, landmines? Ok, now I'm really not coming down."
"You mean you were going to before I said that?" I ask her.
"Well, no, but... just walk that-a-way," Rue says, pointing further into the high ground. "Watch out for snares or any tracks you leave. The boy from Ten knows how to set snares and track stuff, I saw him."
"I've... seen him before as well," I swallow nervously, my throat suddenly very dry. Of course, it'll be worse than dry if he gets near me. I can't help but think of Weld's screams as he was suffocated. "Be seeing you then Rue. Good luck."
Shivering all the way I start to walk away from the tree before breaking out into a full sprint. She may be twelve, but there have been twelve year olds who have killed people in past Hunger Games. I remember one got lucky and killed somebody aged eighteen. That being a real thing, a twelve year old killing somebody aged sixteen like myself, it means I'd be a fool to underestimate her.
I soon run out from open ground and into the forest. Getting the blood pumping makes the cold feel a little less, well, cold. Though, only a warm fire is really going to help me. Better yet, a change of clothes though that certainly isn't going to be happening any time soon. I try to cast away the thought of my walk-in closet back home.
Right as I'm starting to enter the deeper part of the high-ground forest my eyes widen as a dreaful sound fills up the air all around, especially by my ears.
A terrified scream.
Rue!
The cannon booms, loud and fearsome. I'm frozen in place, my heart pounding as I look back where I came. Backing away slowly I keep my ears sharp and attentive. It's not long before the hovercraft begins to lower back where I was only a few minutes ago. There's no doubt about it then, that cannon was for Rue. Practically a child, yet now she's dead. She was right there talking to me, and now she's gone forever.
I have no right to judge anybody on killing, yet I still feel my throat drying and my chest tightening at the thought of somebody killing a person so young. It feels... well, ever so awful. Who would do such a thing?
Somebody who isn't even half a mile from where I am now! Nuts, they might be on their way after me next!
I'm gasping and groaning as I sprint through the forest. I need to get out of here, right now. But it's not just fear in my eyes, but a flicker of determination to live. If sprinting through some tricky terrain is what'll save me, then so be it, it's what I shall do!
Nuts, I really need to light a fire and warm up. Like, now. Sure, my muscles are warm and the blood is pumping but it's hardly a cure for how I feel after the river battle. But do I dare light up a fire when the killer is so close to me? No! It might be Glimmer, or maybe Ramsay doubled back and saw her. It could even be the Career boys or... anybody!
The sun starts to set, the golden glow finally cast upon the forest from beyond the rain-clouds, but the beauty is among the last of things on my mind right now. First and foremost, I'm running for my life. It would not do for a lady to lay slaughtered on the ground, and I shan't be letting it happen.
Nuts... I just wish my legs were a lot stronger than they are...
(Later...)
I lay flat on the ground, groaning. It's hard to keep myself from being totally face-down, my mouth to the rock, but somehow I manage to keep my head up a little.
I honestly think I'd be dead if not for the blowtorch - and, on a related note, dead if Clove's backpack and mine were not waterproof - but it took courage to even dare to use it. A fire could give me away, and that person is still out there somewhere. A fire would be a signal to where I am, and I have no way of knowing who is asleep and who isn't. Paranoia, a thing that will strike down the wealthy and poor alike. Much the same as a falling tree in that respect.
But, temptation became too much as did the cold, so I caved and lit a fire. I was lucky enough to find a dark, dismal cave to settle down in. Sure, getting rid of those grubs was gross business - the puke stains on the wall of the cave attest to this fact - but at least now I have a shelter from the cold night. The rain has stopped, but it's still freezing.
So now, feeling very sorry for myself, I lay at the back of the cave next to the fire. I was mindful to only make a small one because dying by smoke build-up isn't something I've ever aspired for. I've dried off, but now my skin feels pretty sore. Hopefully come the morning it won't be as uncomfortable as it is now. I may be warming up, but I'm still shivering horribly. From cold, from guilt, from the possibility of water still in my lungs. Plenty to shiver over.
Twelve dead. Eleven more, and then I can go home to pick up the pieces and move on. Isn't it strange how I'm already halfway done, but escape feels more distant than ever? It does to me anyway. Anything may happen between now and the deadly finale; Mutts, a Feast, some kind of Event... lots of stuff.
Exhausted as I am, sleep isn't coming quickly to me tonight. I suppose it's no wonder with what went down today... not a typical day in my life. I fear it'll become the new norm, to be in danger and kill people. I hope these Games end swiftly this year.
Not too swift though...
I sit myself up, huddling by the fire. What can I do to pass time until I can finally sleep?
Seeing a sharp stone on the ground, I look between it and the cave wall. I think I have my answer.
A few minutes pass by, though to me it feels like it could easily have been longer than that. I carve away at the cave wall, idly drawing. It's not much, and I can't claim to be an expert, but it's keeping me occupied. My handiwork with the stone leads to etches of trees, a simple manor outline and R/N in a heart covering the cave wall. I don't expect a sponsor for this, but I can't hep hoping it might touch the heart of just one person out there. One with tons of money.
Letting the stone drop, I lay back against the wall of the cave and let out a deep, slow breath. I look up to the cave roof, closing my eyes.
"Please..." I whisper.
I open one eye, hearing the Anthem starting. I stay right here I am though. What's the point of going out where it's colder and where I risk being seen? I already know what'll happen; Capitol Seal, Clove and Rue in that order. The thought of the former has my guts tighten, a horrible sickliness passing through them.
It's certainly worse than indigestion which, to begin with, is pretty bad in itself.
I lay myself down beside the fire, using my damp backpack as a pillow. Not exactly silk or full of feathers, but right now I'll call it good enough. It's softer than rock, so what right to I have to complain? Very little, that's how much.
Just as I am settling down I hear the rain start once again. Will it be flooding the Arena further, or just make more mud? I can't help but wonder if the Cornucopia is going to become totally submerged if this keeps up.
Wait...
If the Cornucopia vanishes beneath the water, then the Careers won't have any supplies. They'd be gone! The thought of this fills me with some hope, the idea of deadly Marvel, fearsome Cato, glamorous Glimmer and traitor Peeta being without a lion's share of the supplies.
I just hope to not see them soon. I already threw out lots of their stuff. If they figure out Clove's death is my fault - and they surely will if Glimmer finds them and puts two and two together - no doubt they'll draw out my death for hours.
I may be small, spoiled and written off by Johanna... but despite my fear over how the Careers would react to what I did to Clove, fact is I killed a Career. Not just any Outlier can do that, right? Whether they can or not, I pulled it off. I did that, survived to day three and the top half... and I found shelter.
I cannot stop a little smile appearing on my face. Thinking about it, I've not been doing too bad for myself so far. It feels like I'm starting to have the odds put into my favour. Now, I'll have to make sure that they stay in my favour.
But, how to best do that when the Arena around me is gradually flooding? Soon enough it might become a sea sized swamp. We'd all drown, except maybe Urchin, unless we...
...
Mweeheehee... it would appear that I've got an idea for what comes next in this deadly Game I'm forced to play. After all, there's one thing that easily prevents drowning or any water danger.
"Tomorrow," I start to say as I finally, finally settle down. "I will build a boat. Somehow, someway."
END OF DAY 3...
REMAINING TRIBUTES
Marvel (District 1 Male)
Glimmer (District 1 Female)
Cato (District 2 Male)
Gadget (District 3 Female)
Urchin (District 4 Male)
Cinder (District 5 Female)
Wood (District 7 Male)
Nettle (District 7 Female)
Lacey (District 8 Female)
Rammy (District 10 Male)
Peeta (District 12 Male)
Katniss (District 12 Female)
THE FALLEN
13th- Rue (District 11 Female) – Spear thrown into chest, by Wood.
14th- Clove (District 2 Female) - Drowned, by Nettle.
15th- Weldar (District 3 Female) - Asphyxiated with a rope, by Rammy.
16th- Jason (District 6 Male) – Slashed several times in the stomach with a scythe, by Cato.
17th- Sparky (District 5 Male) – Speared in the gut with a spear and then stabbed in the chest with a knife, by Wood.
18th- Sickle (District 9 Female) – Stabbed in the chest with a knife, by Glimmer.
19th- Thresh (District 11 Male) – Disembowelled with a machete, by Cato.
20th- Marina (District 4 Female) - Struck in the neck with an axe by Weldar.
21st- Miller (District 9 Female) – Knife thrown into back, by Clove.
22nd- Tamora (District 6 Female) – Stabbed repeatedly in the gut, by Glimmer.
23rd- Sable (District 10 Female) – Stuck in the skull with an axe, by Cato.
24th- Callico (District 8 Male) – Stabbed with a kukri, by Marvel.
TRIBUTE NOTES
Clove: With her death at this point after her good performances in the first three versions of the 74th Games, at the time of writing I think this now makes Marvel the statistically best ranked tribute of all twenty four? Regardless, Clove herself remained fun to write for as per the norm. The mixture of her cold and serious nature as well as her more psychotic side and love of stabbing adds together to make her pretty dynamic and almost always able to contribute something. In this case, it was a strong presence in the talk with Peeta and showing herself as the primary threat of this chapter, an what a threat she was! Even taken mostly off-guard she's never one to be messed with, including when being washed away down a river during a fight. The duel was one of my favourite fights in The Nameless Chronicles so far, really fast paced and with a feeling of panic to it, at least from my view of the writing. I'd hope the debris that led to Clove's death did not come off as overly convenient? I figured using the first explosion to show Gadget was nearby would make it seem more natural. In any case, Clove is dead... and the Pack sure aren't going to be happy. Not that they were to begin with, at any rate.
Rue: Another early death for her, but per the norm she escapes the Bloodbath. Not much can really change the fact she runs off at the very start, after all. In her short appearance I enjoyed writing for her. Some cheek, some good lines and, I think, a nice conversation with our leading lady. Unfortunately she stayed in one spot for a bit too long, and so this is where she leaves the mortal world in this timeline. But as an extra note, it seems Nettle's own District Partner was the one who committed the kill. What might this mean in the future? In any case, Rue's always a fun one to write for. :)